About Jim Wiltens

Jim has worked as a research scientist, marine biologist, commercial diver, industrial chemist, university coach of championship teams, professional adventurer, and award winning columnist. As a scientist he operated laboratories in both the university and public sector. As an academic researcher he worked with electron microscopes, gas chromotography, and cutting edge fluorescence induction devices as well as supervising experiments in Canada and Hawaii where he spent extensive time underwater. As an Industrial chemist working for such companies as Polymetrics and Arrowhead, he helped coordinate the installation of one of the largest ultra pure water systems for chip manufacture at IBM in San Jose as well as sea water desalination systems for Saudi Arabia and the island of Malta. He owns a children’s summer camp (Deer Crossing Camp), and a small publishing business (Deer Crossing Press). As a professional speaker he delivers 120 presentations a year.

Jim's writing includes numerous articles and six books. He has written technical manuals, scientific research papers, stories for the San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News, magazine articles, and an award winning column that appeared in national and international publications. He is a three-time recipient of the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism award. His books include:

· Individual Tactics in Water Polo

· Edible and Poisonous Plants of Northern California

· Goal Express!

· No More Nagging, Nit-picking, and Nudging

· Memory Smart

· Camels, Skulls, and Cobras

Jim served on advisory boards for the San Francisco Chronicle Outdoors in the Classroom program and the San Jose Mercury News Venture Section.

Jim’s also works as a consultant to school districts in California, working extensively with Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) programs. His adventure background includes guiding expeditions both on land and underwater. He has ridden on camels across the Thar Desert of India, searched for ancient skeletons in the sacred wells of the Mayans on the Yucatan Peninsula, paraglided off an extinct volcano in Mexico, summited peaks in the Andes, white water kayaked down the headwaters of the Amazon, and searched for gold.