Meet Our Team

Award-winning filmmakers and marine researchers dedicated to ocean education

Jonathan Bird

President & Cinematographer

Jonathan Bird is an award-winning cinematographer specializing in underwater production. He is the host and producer of Jonathan Bird’s Blue World, an educational family-friendly underwater adventure series with more than a million subscribers on YouTube @BlueWorldTV. This series has won 8 Emmy Awards. He has shot and produced over 50 films, airing all over the world, on networks such as National Geographic Channel, PBS, ABC, USA Network, Discovery and even the SciFi Channel. In 2020, he stepped into the giant screen documentary world directing the IMAX® film Ancient Caves. And recently, he directed his fourth IMAX® documentary Call of the Dolphins. Jonathan is the author of seven books of underwater photography, with articles and images published in hundreds of magazines, calendars and books. He is the president and co-founder of Oceanic Research Group, Inc.

Art Cohen

Secretary & Producer

Art Cohen Emmy is an award winning filmmaker and journalist. He has worked with Jonathan Bird and Oceanic Research Group since 1995 as a writer, video editor, narrator and producer on multiple television documentaries and the PBS TV series Jonathan Bird’s Blue World. His work with ORG has earned him eight New England Emmy Awards. Most recently he has worked with ORG on giant screen films including Ancient Caves (2020 release), Astronaut: Ocean to Orbit (2021 release), and Call of the Dolphins (2025 release). He is also the voice of ORG on the Blue World website with his exciting teases and introductions to each segment.

Cohen founded the news department at WFCR-FM in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1969 and worked for many years as a television reporter and documentary filmmaker for WGBH-TV in Boston. He produced a 52-part series on the history of western civilization for PBS and the Annenberg/CPB Project, and was also a producer for the PBS series Bodywatch. He has also worked as a segment producer for WCVB-TV’s long-running program Chronicle. For almost 19 years he was a part-time reporter and anchor for the WBZ Radio in Boston.

For almost 20 years he taught film and video production at the New England Institute of Art in Brookline, Massachusetts. He has also taught in the journalism program at Northeastern University and the communications program at Emerson College. He is on the Board of the Oceanic Research Group and is Chairman of the Board of the Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, a magazine for the LGBTQ community that has been publishing for thirty years.

Christine Bird, M.D.

Producer & Treasurer

Christine Bird brings a unique blend of medical expertise, organizational leadership, and oceanic passion to the Oceanic Research Group (ORG). As Treasurer and a long-time Board Member, she helps guide the organization’s mission to educate the public about marine life and promote ocean conservation through film and outreach.

Christine first discovered scuba diving while in medical school, a decision that changed the trajectory of her life. Her fascination with the underwater world soon led her to join ORG and collaborate on numerous documentary projects, including the Emmy-Award-winning PBS series Jonathan Bird’s Blue World. In recognition of her contributions to diving and marine education, Christine was inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame in 2011.

At ORG, Christine plays an active role both behind the scenes and underwater. She manages production logistics for film shoots, assists with underwater cinematography, and supports research efforts for the group’s educational projects. Her medical background also brings a valuable perspective on diving safety and first aid.

Beyond her professional contributions, Christine is dedicated to inspiring others to connect with and care for the ocean. Whether she’s organizing a shoot, reviewing a script, or helping coordinate outreach programs, her enthusiasm for sharing the beauty and importance of the underwater world is at the heart of everything she does.

Julia Cichowski

Cinematographer & Board Member

A diver since 1998, Julia’s career is in information technology and she has worked in Financial Services for over 20 years. Her planning and leadership skills have come in very handy as a Line Producer for ORG film projects and Blue World.

Julia organizes every aspect of a production from budgeting and expedition planning all the way through to assisting with the shots underwater. She makes sure we come home with all the shots we need to edit a segment. She is also the director of the ORG Scholarship Program.

Tim Geers

Cinematographer & Board Member

Based in Mashpee, MA, Tim is an accomplished filmmaker, professor and storyteller with a career spanning over three decades. He joined Jonathan over 20 years ago to help start Jonathan Bird’s Blue World and has filmed and help produce several ORG films including “Call Of The Dolphins” and “Astronaut: Ocean to Orbit”. His expertise in underwater and topside cinematography has been recognized with awards, including multiple Emmy Awards and a Best Cinematography Award from GSCA.

Tim serves as a faculty member at Lesley University and Bridgewater State University, where he teaches courses ranging from digital filmmaking techniques to advanced video editing. His classes emphasize hands-on learning, encouraging students to develop their skills through practical experiences. As a video artist with a passion for exploring the intersection of art and technology, his works have been featured in various exhibitions and festivals worldwide, including the Venice Experimental Cinema and Performance Art Festival and the Annual Berlin International Directors Lounge. His installations explore contemporary themes through innovative video techniques. Tim’s passion for film is still going strong and he always looks forward to the next filmmaking adventure!

Tomas Krasuski

Board Member

Tomas is a founding member and experienced diver with a passion for underwater exploration and filmmaking. Over the years, he has contributed to numerous ORG projects, including Beneath The North Atlantic, The Silent Wrecks of Kwajalein Atoll, and various educational films. When he’s not involved in film production, Tomas dedicates much of his time to designing and building the next generation of extremely large telescopes, which will help scientists explore the mysteries of our universe.

Todd Kelly

Legal, Cinematographer & Board Member

Todd Kelly—known to viewers as “Cameraman Todd”—is the steady hand and sharp eye behind many of the underwater shots on Jonathan Bird’s Blue World (@BlueWorldTV). A highly skilled underwater cameraman, Todd brings a rare combination of technical precision, calm problem-solving, and creative instinct to some of the most challenging filming environments on the planet.

Whether navigating tight wrecks, silty caves, or open-ocean dives, Todd is trusted to capture clear, compelling footage while keeping safety front and center. His ability to anticipate action underwater—and to remain unflappable when conditions deteriorate—has made him an essential member of the Blue World dive team. Viewers may not always see his face, but they see the results of his work in every crisp shot of marine life, historic wrecks, and adventurous exploration.

In addition to his role behind the camera, Todd also brings a very different kind of expertise to the production: he is a practicing lawyer and quietly handles Blue World’s legal affairs and contracts. This behind-the-scenes contribution helps keep the show running smoothly, allowing the team to focus on exploration and storytelling.

Off camera, Todd is known for his dry humor, practical mindset, and deep respect for the underwater world. As “Cameraman Todd,” he has become a fan favorite, representing the often-unsung professionals whose skill, discipline, and versatility make underwater storytelling possible.