Sylvia Earle

Sylvia Earle is the president and chairman of Mission Blue, an explorer at large at the National Geographic Society, founder of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research Inc. (DOER), chair of the Advisory Council for the Harte Research Institute and former chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A legendary marine biologist and trailblazer for women in science, “Her Deepness” is considered the grande dame of the oceans. She closes Chautauqua’s week on “Icons and Instigators: Women Who Change the World,” with stories and insights from her remarkable, singular career. The author of more than 225 publications and leader of more than 100 expeditions with over 7,500 hours underwater, Earle has focused her life’s research on the ecology and conservation of marine ecosystems and development of technology for access to the deep sea. She was one of the first people to adopt scuba diving equipment in the U.S. and pioneered submersibles in the ocean. Through her organization, Mission Blue, Earle has fostered a global network of marine protected areas called Hope Spots. Working beyond borders and ideologies, she has advised heads of state on marine protection legislation and water crisis response. Earle is the subject of the Emmy Award-winning Netflix documentary “Mission Blue,” and is the recipient of more than 100 national and international honors and awards. Earle was named Time Magazine’s first Hero for the Planet, a Living Legend by the Library of Congress, 2014 UNEP Champion of the Earth, Glamour Magazine’s 2014 Woman of the Year, member of the Netherlands Order of the Golden Ark, winner of the 2009 TED Prize, the Walter Cronkite Award, the 1996 Explorers Club Medal, the Royal Geographic Society 2011 Patron’s Medal, and the National Geographic 2013 Hubbard Medal. Earle is a graduate of Florida State University, with master’s and doctoral degrees from Duke University, along with 32 honorary degrees.