Dr. Sylvia Earle

 

Contact Information:
Harte Research Institute
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5869
Corpus Christi, Texas 78412-5869
Telephone: (361) 825-2552
Fax: (361) 825-2050
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dr. Sylvia Earle is a marine biologist, ocean explorer, author, lecturer, first woman to serve as NOAA's Chief Scientist, and now Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society. She has logged more than 6,000 hours underwater in many different kinds of underwater vehicles. In recent years she has become an advocate for underwater research and an internationally-known champion for ocean conservation. Dr. Earle is a well known author of over 100 scientific publications and numerous books on the oceans. Her book, Sea Change: A Message of the Oceans, is one of the elements that inspired Mr. Ed Harte to give his $46 million to endow the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies. She has lectured in more than 50 countries and often appears on television including ABC's 20/20 and Good Morning America, Niteline, CNN, CBS Sunday Morning, National Geographic Explorer, and many more. Dr. Sylvia Earle is the Chair of the Harte Research Institute's Advisory Board.

Area of Expertise/Interest:
Ocean exploration, ocean advocacy, marine botany

 

Field Work Summary:

  • 1998-2003: Leader of Sustainable Seas Expeditions, a NGS-NOAA-Goldman   Foundation program of exploration, research and education focusing on marine protected areas in the U.S., Mexico and Belize using Deep Worker Submersibles deployed from various NOAA, Navy and Oceaneering vessels; Other research expeditions to the Galapagos Islands, Belize, Cuba, Papua New Guinea, Australia, American Samoa, Tahiti
  • 1953-2003: Repeated research dives and expeditions to locations in various U.S Marine Sanctuaries, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida Keys, Bermuda, Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, Galapagos, Juan Fernandez, San Felix, Gulf of California and islands of the Indian Ocean, South Pacific, the Arctic and Antarctica. Subject: Research on systematics and ecology of marine plants, herbivore-carnivore interrelationships, deep water algae and marine ecosystems.
  • 1968-1998: Exploratory research dives in various submersibles: Johnson-Sea-Link I and II, Deep Diver, Forel, Star II, Wasp, Mantis, Jim, Deep Rover, Deep Rover II, Shinkai 6500, Aquarius, Delta, Deep Worker 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Subject: Ecology of deep water algae and deep water ecosystems; behavior of deep water/mid-water fish and invertebrates; bioluminescent organisms.
  • 1976-present: Repeated observations on the ecology and behavior of humpback whales and other marine mammals in Hawaii, California, Mexico, Alaska, Bermuda, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, islands of the northwestern Indian Ocean, Eastern South America, Galapagos, Antarctica.

Education:

  • A.A, St. Petersburg Jr. College, St. Petersburg, Fla.
  • B.S., Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
  • M.A, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
  • PhD, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
  • Honorary Degrees
    • Doctor of Humane Letters, 1990 Monterey Inst. for International Studies
    • Doctor of Science, Ball State University (1991)
    • Doctor of Science, Washington College (1992)
    • Doctor of Science, Duke University (1993)
    • Doctor of Science, University of Connecticut (1994)
    • Doctor of Science, Ripon College (1994)
    • Doctor of Law, University of Rhode Island (1996)
    • Doctor of Science, Plymouth State College (1996)
    • Doctor of Science, Simmons College (1997)
    • Doctor of Science, Florida International University (1998)
    • Doctor of Science, St. Norberts College (1998)
    • Doctor of Science, Massachusetts Maritime Academy (1999)
    • Doctor of Humane Letters, University of San Diego (2004)

Honors, Awards, Services:

  • Google Ocean Advisory Council (2007)
  • Order of the Golden Arc by the Prince of the Netherlands
  • U.S. Department of Interior Conservation Service Award
  • The Explorers Club Medal
  • The Lindbergh Foundation Medal
  • Society of Women Geographer’s gold medal
  • Marine Technology Society Compass Award

 

Selected Publications:

  • 2004. With John W. Tunnell, Jr. Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies: Initiatives in Marine Science research. 55th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute. Pp. 132-141.
  • 2004. With C. R. Beaver, et al. Mass spawning of reef corals within the Veracruz Reef System, Veracruz, Mexico. Coral Reefs (24) 324.
  • 2003. Coral Reefs. National Geographic Society. Washington, D.C. 31 pp.
  • 2000. With Wolcott Henry. Sea Critters. National Geographic, Washington, D. C.
  • Atlas of the Ocean, The Deep Frontier. National Geographic Society, 192pp.
  • 1997. Roll On, Deep Blue. Time. Special Issue. Our Precious Planet. Nov. Pp. 34 - 37.
  • 1995. The Frontier Below. In: Triumph of Discovery. Scientific American. Henry Holt and Company. New York. Pp.154 - 157.
  • 1995. Diving to 1000 Meters. Explorers Journal. June, 1995.
  • 2004. Sea Change. A Message of the Oceans. G. P. Putnam & Sons, New York. 362 pp.
  • 1991. Living Under the Sea. In: The Encyclopedia of the Earth, Oceans and Islands. Frank H. Talbot and Robert E. Stevenson, Eds. New York. p. 118 - 119.
  • 1980. A walk in the deep. National Geographic. 157(2): 624 - 631.
  • 1979. Humpbacks: the gentle whales. National Geographic. Jan. 155(1): 2 - 17.
  • 1971. My two weeks under the sea. Redbook. 136 (6): 75 - 77, 168 - 1
  • 2004. In: Glover, L. and S. Earle, eds. Defying Ocean's End. Time for a Sea Change. Island Press. Washington, D.C. Pp.