Whenever big names in ocean conservation come up, our minds go directly to one lady in particular: Dr. Sylvia Earle. One of the great champions of the ocean, Earle has worked tirelessly for the last 50 years to educate the public about the importance of a healthy ocean ecosystem. Her accolades and accomplishments are as impressive as they are numerous. She has led National Geographic expeditions, is the founder of Mission Blue and SEAlliance, as well as Deep Ocean Exploration and Research, Inc. She is synonymous with the phrase “no blue, no green” which exemplifies the importance of our oceans and the vital role they play in keeping our planet — our “life support system” as she calls it — habitable.
Who Is Dr. Sylvia Earle?
Earle is a marine biologist and a well-known expert in the field of ocean conservation, as well as the founder of the nonprofit Mission Blue, which was created to protect and preserve the Earth’s oceans. Her work has earned her awards from a number of different institutions, including Smith College and the National Women’s Hall of Fame. She was even the subject of a Netflix documentary focusing on her education and accomplishments.
Mission Blue
Earle’s nonprofit, Mission Blue, seeks to identify and protect certain vulnerable areas of marine life around the globe. She calls these areas “hope spots.” At present, Mission Blue has identified over 50 hope spots, including the Central Arctic Ocean, the Bahamian Reefs, the Gulf of California and the Micronesian Islands. In this way, she hopes to expand the public’s awareness about the importance of ocean conservation.
National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence
Mission Blue is not Earle’s only accomplishment. She is a National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence and the leader of the group’s Sustainable Seas Expeditions. She has written more than 125 articles for a wide variety of publications. In 1986, she tied her husband, Graham Earle, for the world’s record in a solo dive depth in a submarine. She broke the women’s world record at the same time.
Pioneer in Underseas Expeditions
Earle has led more than 50 underseas expeditions and has helped to create the equipment necessary to survive deep beneath the sea. She was the captain of the first all-female team to live underwater. She did this as part of a U.S. government program called Tektite II. For two weeks, the women lived in an underwater laboratory in the U.S. Virgin Islands. They experienced an underwater earthquake during this period. During their time underwater, the women conducted in-depth ecological studies focusing on ocean conservation.
During the Persian Gulf War, Earle led a number of trips to assess the damage done by the destruction of the Kuwaiti oil fields. She is a highly regarded expert on the impact of oil damage to the environment. She has worked as a consultant during other oil disasters as well, such as the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
Sylvia Earle Early Live
Born August 30, 1935 in Gibbstown, New Jersey, Sylvia Earle was fascinated by nature from the very start, often exploring the woods surrounding her childhood home. When she was 13, the family moved to Clearwater, Florida and it was here that this future pioneer of ocean ecology got her first taste of scuba diving.
Education
After earning her Bachelor of Science degree at Florida State University, Earl continued her education, earning her PhD from Duke University. Holder of an additional 22 honorary degrees, she has authored works for nearly 200 scientific and technical publications. A riveting public speaker, Dr. Earle has lectured in countries around the world, promoting awareness of the importance of being good caretakers of our oceans, and she is the 2009 winner of the TED Prize.
Career Accomplishments
With more than 7,000 hours logged under the sea, Sylvia Earle has earned the moniker “Her Deepness” and was named Glamour magazine’s 2014 Woman of the Year. But her first breakthrough into the world of celebrity was the 1970 Tektite II/Mission 6 project, when Earle led a team of four women on a two-week long undersea mission that drew a lot of attention.
In 1970, Women’s Liberation was a powerful and growing movement, and Earle’s all-female scientific team made headlines. The group was honored with a ticker tape parade and a reception at the White House. Sylvia Earle was breaking through the glass ceiling, underwater.
As founder of Mission Blue, which is dedicated to the creation of “Hope Spots” (places vital to a healthy ocean), Earle has set a lofty goal: to safeguard 20 percent of the ocean by the year 2020, through the creation of a global network of marine protected areas. In her 2009 TED Prize acceptance speech, Earle said, “I’m haunted by the thought of what Ray Anderson calls “tomorrow’s child,” asking why we didn’t do something on our watch to save…the living ocean.”
We salute you, Dr. Earle, and will continue to join hands to carry on the great work you do for our oceans!
