Marine Biologist & Science Communication Filmmaker; Author of "Don't Be Such a Scientist"; Creator of the ABT Narrative Framework

Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Randy Olson Biography

Randy Olson is a marine biologist and filmmaker recognized for his contributions to science communication. Olson earned a doctorate in biology from Harvard University, conducting dissertation research on coral reef ecology on the Great Barrier Reef and spending a year on Lizard Island. Before transitioning to filmmaking, Olson served as a professor of marine biology at the University of New Hampshire. Motivated by a desire to improve the quality of science documentaries, Olson left academia after being awarded tenure to attend the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he earned an M.F.A.

At USC, Olson created a 20-minute musical comedy, "You Ruined My Career," which was featured in the Filmmakers of Tomorrow showcase at the Telluride Film Festival and recognized among the Top 100 Student Films in the history of USC Cinema School. Olson gained further recognition with his first feature-length film, "Flock of Dodos: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus," which aired on Showtime. He followed with "Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy." Both films address science topics such as evolution and climate change, aiming to engage audiences and foster interest in scientific issues. Olson also launched the Shifting Baselines Ocean Media Project, producing short films and commercials that combined his marine biology expertise with comic filmmaking, collaborating with Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Henry Winkler, Tom Arnold, and the Groundlings Improv Comedy Theater.

Olson is the author of three books focused on improving science communication. "Don't Be Such a Scientist: Talking Substance in an Age of Style" details his transition from science professor to filmmaker. "Houston, We Have a Narrative: Why Science Needs Story" serves as the foundation for Olson's Story Circles training, implemented at organizations such as the National Park Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Genentech. Central to this work is the "And, But, Therefore" (ABT) framework, which emphasizes narrative structures in effective communication.

Olson's narrative training programs have reached thousands of scientists across agencies including the National Park Service, USDA, NIH, CDC, NASA, FAA, NOAA, USGS, and USFWS. He received the John P. McGovern Award for Excellence in Biomedical Communication from the Southwest Chapter of the American Medical Writers Association. Olson continues to bridge the worlds of science and filmmaking, advocating for the use of narrative to connect experts with the public and enhance science outreach.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/27/2026.

Randy Olson Videos

Introduction to Flock of Dodos by film maker Randy Olson on Vimeo

Introduction to Flock of Dodos by film maker Randy Olson on Vimeo

Marine biologist turned film maker Randy Olson talks about his documentary Flock of Dodos. Flock of dodos asks the question "who are the real dodos?"...

Randy Olson Great Challenges Day at TEDMED 2013 - YouTube

Randy Olson Great Challenges Day at TEDMED 2013 - YouTube

Uploaded by TEDMED on 2013-06-24.

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Randy Olson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Randy Olson for your event is available upon request. Randy Olson generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Jeff Orlowski-Yang, Louie Psihoyos, Richard A. Muller, Robert Kenner and David Siev. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Randy Olson for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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