Jace Tunnell

Jace Tunnell is the Director of Community Engagement at the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, where he leads initiatives connecting people with the science, culture, and conservation of the Gulf. With over two decades of experience in marine science, coastal management, and environmental outreach, he is dedicated to translating complex science into engaging stories that inspire stewardship of our oceans and coasts.

He is the founder of Nurdle Patrol, an international citizen science project that mobilizes volunteers to track plastic pellet (nurdle) concentrations along coastlines and waterways. The program raises awareness of microplastic pollution, identifies hotspots, and informs policymakers working to reduce plastic contamination at its source. Under his leadership, Nurdle Patrol has grown from a local initiative into a global network of volunteers.

Jace also directs and produces the Beachcombing video series, which documents fascinating items washing ashore along Gulf Coast beaches. Through field-based storytelling, the series educates the public about coastal processes, marine wildlife, and threats facing ocean ecosystems. His outreach extends through a weekly Beachcombing newspaper column published in eight Texas newspapers, a weekly NPR radio segment, and televised episodes that air each Saturday evening on PBS-KEDT.

His conservation efforts focus on public education in marine science, coastal ecology, and the protection of natural resources. Jace holds a Master’s degree in Marine Biology from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi (2001) and has worked extensively in marine resource management, habitat restoration, and environmental policy. Whether on the beach with a camera, in the lab analyzing data, or speaking to a crowd, his mission is to connect people to the ocean so they will work to protect it.