Nat Geo 2010 Judge
Dr. Sylvia Earle is an oceanographer, explorer, author and lecturer, Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society, called Her Deepness by the New Yorker and New York Times, a Living Legend by the Library of Congress, and first Hero for the Planet by Time Magazine. She has more than 40 years of experience as a field research scientist, expedition leader, government official, and director for corporate and non-profit organizations including the Kerr McGee Corporation, Dresser Industries, Oryx Energy, the Aspen Institute, the Conservation Fund, World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, Ocean Conservancy, Ocean Futures, American Rivers, Mote Marine Laboratory, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Rutgers Institute for Marine Science, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. From 1980 to 1990 she served as Founder of Deep Ocean Engineering and from 1992 to 2007, she served as founder and chair of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research (DOER Marine) to further the development of new technologies for access to the sea.
She founded the Deep Search Foundation in 2008 and in connection with her 2009 TED Prize, initiated Mission Blue to promote ocean exploration, research, and conservation aimed at developing networks of “Hope Spots,” protected areas large enough to secure and restore health to the “blue heart of the planet.” (www.mission-blue.org). The DSF and National Geographic are collaborating in support of Mission Blue.
Formerly Chief Scientist of NOAA, Dr. Earle chairs Advisory Councils for the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies; the Ocean in Google Earth; the Marine Science and Technology Foundation and the Schmidt Research Vessel Institute. She has a B.S. degree from Florida State University, M.S. and PhD. from Duke University, 19 honorary degrees and has authored more than 175 scientific, technical and popular publications, lectured in more than 80 countries, and appeared in hundreds of radio and television productions.
Dr Earle has led more than 100 expeditions and logged nearly 7000 hours underwater with a record solo dive to 1000 meters and nine saturation dives including leading the first team of women aquanauts during the Tektite Project in 1970. Her research concerns marine algae and deep water ecosystems with special reference to exploration, conservation and the development and use of new technologies for access and effective operations in the deep sea and other remote environments.
She has been awarded more than 100 national and international honors including the Netherlands Order of the Golden Ark, the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the Academy of Achievement, the Women’s International Forum, and medals from the Explorers Club, the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences, Lindbergh Foundation, National Wildlife Federation, Sigma Xi, Barnard College, Society of Women Geographers, and the National Parks Conservation Association.
