Team Bio

BayQuest SeaSounds Project is a collaborative effort with a proven team of marine scientists, acousticians, engineers and whale ecologists who have provided expert guidance in the development of this important research project.

Among them, Cornell University Conservation Bioacoustics Lab, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Google Research, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, CalMaritime Academy, University of Washington, BC Whale, HappyWhale and others.

Ray Duran

Ray Duran is a professional captain and mariner with over 20 years working on and enjoying San Francisco Bay and near coastal waters. He is a USCG Licensed 100-ton Master who has served as lead training captain and fleet manager with a Bay Area-based high-speed private commuter ferry service which served passengers from points between South San Francisco and the Carquinez Strait up to Benicia.

His maritime experience includes at-sea expeditions with a well-respected naturalist-led whale watching and eco-tour operator accumulating countless missions on inland waters and over 200 documented trips offshore to the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and Farallon Island chain.

It was aboard this vessel which bills itself as a “classroom at sea,” that Ray gained first-hand familiarity with the burgeoning aquatic life while learning to navigate and interact safely in the presence of whales and other marine wildlife that call these local waters home.

An avid sailor with experience as captain of a San Francisco-based charter schooner and as crew aboard a legendary former America’s Cup yacht, Ray also served for years as a member of the Board of Directors and Keelboat Director for the Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors, helping to make the joy of sailing safe and accessible to differently-abled citizens throughout the Bay Area.

The BayQuest vision combines his experience as a professional mariner with a deep sense of connection with the vibrant local marine life – and a passion to help protect their vital habitat.

Dimitri William Ponirakis

I am a senior noise analyst and applications programmer for the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics. My main roles are developing tools and methods for noise analysis. I develop tools to process, analyze, model, and visualize acoustic data. Software development includes development of an Acoustic Ecology Toolbox to model the loss of communication space and masking of animal vocalizations from anthropogenic and abiotic sound sources. I am responsible for carrying out noise analysis on numerous projects from LNG terminal construction and operational activities off the East Coast, to seismic prospecting in the Arctic, to looking at the impact of cruise vessels in Glacier Bay National Park in the Pacific Northwest. Previous experience includes working for noise and vibration consulting firms, and assessing and researching the environmental impact of noise from transportation, industrial, mining, and entertainment sources.

Firuze Gokce

Experienced entrepreneur and marketing strategist Firuze Gokce has been leading ventures since 2000. Her first web project, “Exhibition of Grand Anatolia,” was acquired by the Turkish Government, marking the start of a dynamic career. She co-founded three startups, gained international recognition as a judge for the Affiliate Marketing Awards, and earned honors from Affiliates4u and other global industry leaders. Her influence in affiliate marketing has led to international invitations and accolades.
After relocating to California, Firuze discovered a new passion for marine conservation. She actively supports nonprofits such as the American Cetacean Society, BayQuest, Orcasound, and Sustainable Ocean Alliance, combining her love for the ocean with her artistic talent. A lifelong artist, Firuze channels her creativity to advocate for the protection of whale species and marine ecosystems.
Firuze debuted her art show, Whale Sounds on a Canvas, on May 23, 2024. She participated in the Sebastopol Art Center’s “Art Trails” program and the Art Star Gala Silent Auction. Her work, inspired by the ethereal beauty of whale sound waves and spectrograms, transforms acoustic patterns into vibrant visual expressions. These abstract artworks reflect the rhythmic complexity of marine sounds, bridging the auditory and visual worlds.
Blending scientific observation with artistic abstraction, Firuze’s art evokes a sense of wonder and connection with marine life. Her pieces serve as a visual interpretation of the ocean’s soundscapes, fostering appreciation for the unseen melodies of the sea and inspiring audiences to reflect on the mysteries of the marine world.

Stephen Kielar

An Adjunct Professor in the Oceanography lab at Cal Maritime Academy, Steve Kielar brings a unique blend of science, teaching methodology and vessel operations to the BayQuest team.

Steve is a marine ecologist with years of experience teaching environmental education and oceanography at sea and on land. He received an MS in Marine Biology with a focus on science teaching, applying active learning, assessment and diversity, equity and inclusion strategies into learning.

His experience includes teaching oceanography in the San Francisco Bay and near coastal waters and sailing as a Scientist for Sea Education Association in the Caribbean, Western Europe and the South Pacific.

Before joining Cal Maritime Academy staff, Steve was a professor of Oceanography and Marine Biology at Diablo Valley College and a Biology Laboratory Instructor at San Francisco State University. He is a licensed USCG 100-ton Captain, served as Director of Education for Call of the Sea and as a popular Field Science Educator for NatureBridge in Marin County.