Studying the Black Guillemots of Cooper Island has largely been a solitary venture for George Divoky. While the discovery and initial years of the study were part of governmental research related to oil development in northern Alaska, for the past two decades the work has been conducted with occasional grants and much personal dedication. Long-term studies, such as George's, rarely can be conducted by government, which typically focus on immediate agency needs, while the duration of most academic research is insufficient to allow exposition of multi-decadal trends. Yet it is precisely this type of extended data set that is needed to monitor the long-term cycles and trends related to climate change and other atmospheric variation.

A primary goal of Friends of Cooper Island (FCI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit scientific organization, is to compile, preserve and distribute Cooper Island research for use by current and future researchers studying climate change and other Arctic phenomena. FOCI is also concerned with ensuring the continuation of this unique and timely research. In order to have continued relevance and integrity, it is critical that data be gathered on an annual basis and with the same rigor George has maintained for the past three decades. Finally, the organization is developing educational and public outreach programs for children and adults. The story of the Cooper Island Black Guillemots brings home the issue of climate change in a way that is not possible by the recital of physical changes in atmospheric or oceanographic conditions. Additionally, George is a dynamic and engaging speaker, with an infectious passion for his work. FCI programs will use George's data and desire to communicate his findings to others as the basis from which to examine a host of issues and challenges including climate change, arctic adaptations, and anthropogenic influences on high latitude species.

George Divoky is the founder of Friends of Cooper Island and serves as its director in collaboration with a governing board. George has been studying seabirds in arctic Alaska since 1970 and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he is a Research Associate at the Institute of Arctic Biology. Research priorities and directions are set with the advice of a Scientific Advisory Board composed of prominent arctic researchers from a number of disciplines.