Sylvia A. Earle, PhD

Sylvia A. Earle is Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society, Founder of Mission Blue, Founder of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research (DOER), a Founding Ocean Elder, Director, Deep Hope Foundation, Chair of the Advisory Council for the Harte Research Institute, Advisor for the Earth Observatory of Singapore at NTU, and former Chief Scientist of NOAA. Author of more than 230 publications, leader of more than 100 expeditions with years at sea and thousands of hours exploring under the ocean, service on numerous corporate and non-profit Boards, she is a graduate of Florida State University with MA and Ph.D. degrees from Duke University and 33 honorary doctorates. Her research concerns compassionate, science-based conservation of species and ecosystems, ecology and conservation of natural ocean systems, and development of technology for access to the deep sea. She is the recipient of more than 150 national and international honors and awards including being named Time Magazine’s first Hero for the Planet, a Living Legend by the Library of Congress, and recipient of the Netherlands Order of the Golden Ark, Tallberg-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize, Princess of Asturias Prize for Concord (Peace), the TED Prize, the Harris World Ecology Medal, the National Wildlife Federation Robin Winks Medal, the Explorers Club Medal, the Royal Geographic Society Patrons Medal, and the National Geographic Society Hubbard Medal.