Sylvia Earle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sylvia Earle
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Earle in 2012
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| Born |
Sylvia Alice Reade
August 30, 1935 Gibbstown, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Alma mater | |
| Spouse(s) |
John Taylor
(m. 1957; div. 1963)Giles Mead
(m. 1966; div. 1975)Graham Hawkes
(m. 1986; div. 1992) |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Oceanography Marine Conservation |
| Institutions | NOAA, National Geographic |
| Thesis | Phaeophyta of Eastern Gulf of Mexico |
| Author abbrev. (zoology) | Earle |
Sylvia Alice Earle (born August 30, 1935) is an American marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, author, and speaker. She is a National Geographic Explorer. This means she travels the world to study and protect the ocean.
Earle was the first woman to be the chief scientist for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Time Magazine called her their first "Hero for the Planet" in 1998.
Earle is part of a group called Ocean Elders. This group works to protect the ocean and its amazing wildlife. She believes that protecting the ocean is key to a healthy planet.
Earle eats a vegetarian diet. She explains that large fish can have chemicals in them. She also notes that 90% of large fish populations have disappeared. She believes that the health of the oceans is linked to our food choices.
She has said that the seafood industry uses "factory ships vacuuming up fish and everything else." She compares this to using bulldozers to harm songbirds. Earle encourages people to choose plant-based foods to help the ocean.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sylvia Earle was born in 1935 in Gibbstown, New Jersey. Her parents, Alice and Lewis Earle, loved the outdoors. They supported her early interest in nature. Her family later moved to Dunedin, Florida, near the coast.
Earle studied at several universities. She earned an associate degree from St. Petersburg College in 1952. She then received a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University in 1955. She continued her studies at Duke University. There, she earned a Master of Science degree in 1956. In 1966, she completed her doctorate in Phycology, which is the study of algae.
Sylvia Earle's work has been greatly influenced by Rachel Carson. Carson was a famous writer and scientist. Earle wrote the introduction to a 2018 edition of Carson's book, The Sea Around Us. She admired how Carson could imagine herself as part of the ocean. Carson's writings showed great care for fish, birds, and other animals.
Career and Ocean Exploration
After earning her Ph.D. in 1966, Earle became a research fellow at Harvard University. She later worked as a research associate at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1969, she wanted to join the Tektite Project. This project allowed scientists to live underwater for weeks. Even though she had spent many hours underwater, she was not chosen at first.
The next year, Earle was chosen to lead the first all-female team of aquanauts in Tektite II. This was a big step for women in ocean science.
From 1979 to 1986, Earle was the Curator of Phycology at the California Academy of Sciences. In 1979, she made a record-setting dive. She used a special JIM suit to dive 381 meters (1,250 feet) deep near Oahu. This was the deepest solo dive by a woman, and it still holds the record today.
From 1980 to 1984, she advised the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere.
In 1982, Sylvia Earle co-founded Deep Ocean Engineering. She started this company with Graham Hawkes, who designed underwater vehicles. Their company created the Deep Rover research submarine. This submarine could go down to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) deep.
In 1990, Earle became the Chief Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She was the first woman to hold this important position. During her time at NOAA, she helped study the environmental damage from the Persian Gulf War oil spills in 1991.
In 1992, Earle founded another company, Deep Ocean Exploration and Research (DOER Marine). This company builds and operates equipment for deep-ocean environments. Her daughter, Elizabeth, now runs the company.
Since 1998, Earle has been a National Geographic Explorer. People sometimes call her "Her Deepness" or "The Sturgeon General."
From 1998 to 2002, she led the Sustainable Seas Expeditions. This program studied the United States National Marine Sanctuary. She also helped with the Ocean in Google Earth project.
Mission Blue and Hope Spots
In 2009, Sylvia Earle started Mission Blue. This organization aims to create marine protected areas around the world. These special areas are called "Hope Spots." Mission Blue's goal is to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. Over 200 organizations support this mission.
With Mission Blue, Earle leads expeditions to Hope Spots globally. The organization has created 122 Hope Spots so far. Past expeditions include trips to Cuba, Belize, and the Galápagos Islands.
In 2014, a Netflix documentary called 'Mission Blue' was released. It tells the story of Earle's life and her work to protect the ocean.
In 2016, Earle appeared in a short film called Plankton Rules the World!. This film was shown with The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.
Hope Spots are areas that are very important for the ocean's health. They can have many different species or unique habitats. They can also be important to local communities. Some Hope Spots, like seamounts, are also places where mining companies look for metals.
In 2020, a new expedition ship was named The Sylvia Earle in her honor.
Earle supports the 30X30 movement. This movement wants to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. She also believes that harming the environment should be a crime, like genocide. She says, "Our existence is on the line."
In 2024, Earle visited the Verde Island Passage in the Philippines. She dived with local scientists to promote its protection. Mission Blue named this area a "Hope Spot" in 2023.
Awards and Honors
Sylvia Earle has received many awards for her work. Here are some of them:
- 1970: U.S. Department of Interior Conservation Service Award
- 1976: NOGI Award for Science
- 1981: Knight of the Order of the Golden Ark (Netherlands)
- 1986: Set the women's record for a world solo dive depth
- 1990: Society of Woman Geographers gold medal
- 1996: Lindbergh Foundation award
- 1998: UN Global 500 Laureate
- 2000: National Women's Hall of Fame
- 2001: Robin W. Winks Award for Public Understanding of National Parks
- 2009: TED Prize
- 2009: Rachel Carson Award from the National Audubon Society
- 2010: Carl Sagan Award for Public Understanding of Science
- 2013: Hubbard Medal from the National Geographic Society
- 2014: UN Lifetime Achievement Award (Champions of the Earth)
- 2017: Rachel Carson Prize
- 2018: Seattle Aquarium Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2018: Princess of Asturias Award of Concord
- 2018: Doctor of Science from the University of Edinburgh
- 2023: Stibitz-Wilson Award from the American Computer & Robotics Museum
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See also
In Spanish: Sylvia Earle para niños
