Meet the year round science team!
Scientific Program Manager
Owen Porterfield is an islander born and raised, who developed a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of his island home at an early age. Years spent hiking the Vineyard’s numerous trails and beaches left him with the realization that not only are the Island’s natural resources incredibly unique, they’re also incredibly fragile if not protected. This prompted him to study environmental science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he completed an undergraduate thesis analyzing temporal changes in heavy metal concentrations within forest soils of the northeastern United States. While still in college, Owen spent the summer of 2022 as a summer science intern with the Great Pond Foundation (GPF), a position that allowed him to play an active role in maintaining the environmental health of the Vineyard. After graduating from UMass in the spring of 2023, Owen returned to GPF as the 2023 Field Crew Leader (a seasonal position) and is now the Scientific Program Manager.
Owen enjoys the unmatched serenity and scenic beauty that he finds on the Pond during the early morning sampling trips.
Science Communications Manager
Carly Inghram grew up in Bethlehem, New Hampshire where she learned to love the environment and appreciate all it has to offer. She graduated from Saint Michael’s College in 2023 earning a B.S in Environmental Science with a minor in Biology. Her academic journey complemented by immersive experiences has contributed to her growing interest in marine ecosystems and conservation. Throughout her college career Carly has participated in several labs studying Lake Champlain’s habitat and watershed. She also had the opportunity to study abroad in Panama where she focused on coral reef and fish conservation, allowing her to work with local communities to strengthen these fragile ecosystems and address environmental challenges. Carly joined GPF as the 2024 Field Crew Leader and enjoyed being a part of monitoring the ecosystem health of Martha’s Vineyard coastal ponds. She is now the Science Communications Manager.
Carly loves that every trip onto the pond is different and exciting. She loves how the ponds are always changing, and each trip gives a new experience.