Steve Johnson
EcoFS Director & Instructor
Steve founded the Ecosystem Field Studies (EcoFS) program in 2006 with a mission to provide unparalleled ecosystem field experiences for undergraduate college students. Steve has now safely and successfully taught over 40 EcoFS courses to over 800 students. He has over 30 years experience teaching Rocky Mountain and Caribbean ecosystem science. Steve is an expert in teaching complex scientific concepts with engaging, hands-on methods. He skillfully connects ecosystem components and conservation efforts of the course areas to students’ scientific research projects.
Steve earned his M.S. degree from the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Montana at Missoula (UM) and EcoFS is an official academic partner to UM. Before creating EcoFS, Steve was Program Director at Cal-Wood Education Center, a private non-profit near Boulder, Colorado and the current location for the Colorado EcoFS course. At Cal-Wood Steve established field science education programs to K-12 school groups. Other ecosystem education experience includes Naturalist for the National Park Service, Regional Coordinator for the Student Conservation Association, and Instructor for Yosemite National Institutes. He holds an Advanced Open water SCUBA certification with over 300 Caribbean dives. Steve lives, plays and works in Boulder, Colorado.
Dr. Elliott Steele
Instructor
Dr. Elliott P. Steele is a postdoctoral scholar and restoration ecologist in the Wild Energy Center at the University of California, Davis. His research explores how wildlife interacts with photovoltaic solar infrastructure, with the goal of understanding how renewable energy systems influence animal behavior and biodiversity. By integrating animal behavior, field ecology, and conservation science, his work aims to identify strategies that reduce potential ecological impacts while supporting sustainable energy development. Elliott received his PhD from Dartmouth College in 2022, where he studied the visual ecology of social behavior, investigating how sensory systems shape animal interactions in complex environments. He has conducted research across diverse systems, including marine invertebrates, waterbird communities, and terrestrial vertebrates.
Elliott was an Instructor in the Caribbean EcoFS course in 2023 and is thrilled to return to support students in their scientific understanding and expertise. Elliott has taught field ecology courses in Costa Rica through Dartmouth College where he mentored students in designing and conducting independent ecological research. Prior to his doctoral training, he worked as a conservation scientist at the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, contributing to captive rearing of endangered amphibians and reptiles for reintroduction programs. Elliott has been scuba diving since age 13 and has conducted ecological research using both scuba and snorkeling techniques, including his undergraduate honors thesis in French Polynesia, where he studied mantis shrimp species.
Olimpia Berdeja-Zavala
SCUBA & Snorkel Operations Director
Olimpia, originally from Mexico City, currently resides in Playa del Carmen, Mexico and works as a SCUBA Instructor. She is returning to EcoFS for her sixth course. She has always been drawn to the underwater world, eagerly diving into any opportunity to explore beneath the surface. This passion led her to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur in La Paz, Mexico. Her experiences range from conducting research on shark behavior to participating in coral reef health censuses and delivering educational lectures.
Since obtaining her SCUBA Instructor certification in 2018, she has been dedicated to teaching and inspiring others to explore and appreciate the ocean’s wonders in Spanish, English and French. Olimpia co-authored a chapter in a book on shark behavior, focusing on safety practices and protocols for snorkeling tourism. She firmly believes in the power of sustainable tourism and citizen science as crucial tools for environmental conservation. In 2022, Olimpia expanded her underwater horizons by becoming a certified cave diver. Since then, she has been captivated by the technical challenges of cave diving and the breathtaking beauty of the cenotes’ underworld. Olimpia’s journey is driven by her unwavering dedication to exploring, protecting, and sharing the wonders of the ocean, both above and below the surface.
Walter Pisco
Teaching Assistant
Originally from the Galápagos Islands, Walter moved to Baja California Sur in 2014 to pursue a degree in Marine Biology. Following his undergraduate studies, he earned a Master’s degree in Marine and Coastal Resource Management, specializing in high-impact conservation research. Throughout his career, he has worked on specialized projects involving elasmobranch telemetry and climate change monitoring.
Walter’s expertise extends deep into the field as a certified Dive Master, a role he has performed in both scientific expeditions and high-end tourism. He currently serves as a Naturalist for National Geographic, where he focuses on public outreach and sharing the wonders of the natural world. Complementing his scientific background, Walter is an accomplished documentary videographer, using his camera to highlight the positive influence humans can have on fragile ecosystems. He is thrilled to step into the Teaching Assistant role, eager to share his knowledge and learn from those around him.
Jessica Huson
Course Assistant
Jessica is a M.S. student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a strong passion for aquatic ecology and marine conservation. She is excited to return for her third Caribbean EcoFS course. As both a dedicated researcher and a mother to her daughter, Layla, Jessica’s commitment to protecting natural ecosystems is driven by a desire to create a more sustainable future.
Her love for fieldwork grew when she took the Caribbean EcoFS course winter-break 2024-25 where she conducted independent research on fire coral (Millepora). EcoFS became more than just a course for Jessica—it was a turning point that combined her curiosity, adventurous spirit, and love for the ocean into a clear direction for her future. Certified as an Open Water and Rescue Diver, Jessica blends scientific training with field-based skills. Looking ahead, Jessica is pursuing a Master’s degree in aquatic ecology and conservation biology—continuing her mission to protect ecosystems for Layla and future generations.
Ivo Urbancic
SCUBA Instructor
Ivo was born in the vast and snowy Argentinian Patagonia, a place that forged the soul of a Viking. But life is a journey, and Ivo’s took him to the west coast of the United States and Baja California Sur. When Ivo moved to La Paz, Mexico he found his calling underwater. Ivo fell in love with the vast and diverse marine life, understanding that the food chain underwater is much broader than on land, giving rise to an astonishing variety of species of all sizes.
His path ultimately led him to the Riviera Maya of Mexico to become a technical diver. Now, he lives and works in Playa del Carmen, Mexico as a SCUBA Instructor and is returning for his 6th course with EcoFS. He is fascinated by the topography of the caves and the psychology that allows people to dive into them. Today, diving is his passion and peace, a way of life that has taken him from a child afraid of the sea to a highly skilled diver. He is excited to share his passion for the ocean with EcoFS students.