About
Prior to joining the QUEST series, Michael began his professional career working on non-fiction programming for cable networks such as National Geographic Channel, Discovery Networks, and the Speed channel, while always pursuing independent projects that brought together his passion for travel, the environment, social issues, and the arts, some of which were aired on the independent news network Current TV. When Michael is not working in television, he enjoys traveling and volunteering in South America and Africa, in disaster response, computer literacy, or organic agriculture. As a member of the QUEST team, he relishes the opportunity to create engaging content that entertains, as well as educates.
All Contributions by Michael:
Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct: Big Fixes for Big Quakes
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is hard at work on a $4.6 billion, decade-long construction project to overhaul the Hetch Hetchy water system, which delivers water from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir in Yosemite National Park and five local reservoirs to 2.5 million residents in the Bay Area.
Video on Nov 08, 2011
QUEST Lab: Engineering Fire
In a dark lab at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, engineers and mathematicians are developing new burners and studying different flames in hopes of better understanding the power of fire and how to make the most efficient flame possible.
Video on Sep 27, 2011
Induced Seismicity: Man-Made Earthquakes
In California, more renewable energy comes from geothermal energy than solar and wind, combined. Today, a new technology known as Enhanced Geothermal Systems has the potential to extract even more heat and consequently energy to power steam turbines, but it’s not without challenges.
Video on Sep 20, 2011
Your Videos on QUEST: Dan Griffin of GG Films
"Ocean Babies on Acid" focuses on an experiment that Stephen Palumbi and UC Davis marine biologist Eric Sanford are doing to study the effects of ocean acidification on sea urchin larvae off the California and Oregon coasts.
Video on Sep 13, 2011
Your Photos on QUEST: Bryant Austin
Scotts Valley photographer Bryant Austin swims eye-to-eye with the world's largest animals in order to bring attention to the plight of these intelligent ocean denizens.
Video on Sep 06, 2011
Science on the SPOT: Northern Pacific Rattlesnake Tracker
Katie Colbert, a naturalist at the Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness, shares with us how she tracked dozens of Northern Pacific rattlesnakes and what surprised her about their movements and behaviors.
Video on Aug 17, 2011
Millie Hughes-Fulford: Scientist in Space
As the space shuttle program comes to an end, QUEST profiles Marin County former astronaut Millie Hughes-Fulford.
Video on Jul 26, 2011
Mt. Umunhum: Return to the Summit
QUEST treks 3,486 feet to the peak of Mt. Umunhum, rising steeply above Silicon Valley. During the Cold War, the Air Force installed a sprawling radar station atop the mountain. For more than 50 years the summit has been off limits to the public. Now it’s being cleaned up and will be opened as an open space preserve.
Video on Jul 19, 2011
The Science & Art of Cheese
Cheese. It comes in more than 2,000 varieties — hard, soft, fresh and aged – and it's been with us for thousands of years. Take a journey to Cowgirl Creamery in West Marin to learn how artisan cheese is made and how scientists are putting cheese under the microscope to gain new insights about this incredible, edible food.
Video on May 18, 2011
Searching for Life on Mars
After multiple unmanned missions to Mars, we still don't know if life has ever existed there. NASA scientists are hoping a new high-tech rover will help them solve the mystery. The Mars Science Laboratory is scheduled for launch in late 2011 and will search for any evidence that the Red Planet was once capable of supporting life.
Video on May 04, 2011
Into the Deep with Elephant Seals
Thousands of northern elephant seals — some weighing up to 4,500 pounds — make an annual migration to breed each winter at Año Nuevo State Reserve, on the San Mateo County coast. Marine biologists are using high-tech tools to explore the secrets of these amazing creatures, which can hold their breath for an hour and dive a mile below the surface.
Video on May 04, 2011
