Dr. Maurakis is Research Scientist and Adjunct Professor of Biology at University of Richmond, Science Advisor for VPM (PBS), and Chief Scientist Emeritus of Science Museum of Virginia. Eugene is formally trained in evolutionary biology, biogeography, ichthyology, and environmental sciences. With over 70 peer reviewed publications, he publishes regularly has been making natural history films since 1987. Currently, he is director for a NSF-funded documentary film on breeding behaviors and selfish herd theory of nest-building fishes. He has been project director for interactive exhibition development; copywriter and editor for graphics, media, and interactive exhibit label copy for $30 million of exhibitions; content developer for hundreds of digital media pieces aired on public radio; and director, writer, and producer or executive producer of various documentaries on plastic pollution, breeding behaviors of nest-building fishes, environmental and cultural changes in Greece and the Caribbean, and a climate science film distributed nationally for large format theaters and a web-based video for teachers.
Realizing his scientific publications are limited in their reach to elicit a change in behavior in the general public, Eugene has begun to make films to communicate science and natural history phenomena.
His 2020 film, Plastic Oceans, won Best Short in the VIrginia Enviromental Film Festival and was Semi-Finalist in the London Eco Film Festival.