SYLVIA A. EARLE is an oceanographer with a B.S. degree from Florida State Univ. (1955), M. S. and Ph D. degrees from Duke Univ. (1956, 1966) and honorary degrees from the Monterey Institute (1990), Ball State Univ. (1991), Washington College (1992), Duke Univ. (1993), Ripon College (1994), Univ. of Connecticut (1994), Univ. Rhode Is. (1996), Plymouth State College (1996), Simmons College (1997), Florida International University (1998) and St. Norbert’s College (1998). She was Curator of Phycology at the California Academy of Sciences (1979 - 1986) and Research Assoc. at the Univ. of California, Berkeley (1969 - 1981), Radcliffe Inst. Scholar (1967-1969 ) and Research Fellow or Associate at Harvard Univ. (1967 - 1981). From 1980 to 1984 she served on the President's Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere (1980-84). In 1990 she was appointed as Chief Scientist of NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) where she served until 1992. In 1992, she founded Deep Ocean Exploration and Research, (D O E R), to design, operate, support, and consult on manned and robotic sub sea systems.

     Recognized by the Library of Congress as a Living Legend, Dr. Earle is presently, Chairman of D O E R and the Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society. In addition, she serves as the Executive Director of Conservation International’s Marine Conservation Program, Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Harte Institute Marine Advisory Board, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Chairman of the Science Committee for the National Park Service Advisory Board and Honorary President of the Explorers Club. She led the Sustainable Seas Expeditions, a five-year study of the National Marine Sanctuaries sponsored by National Geographic and funded by the Goldman Foundation. She is an adjunct scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), a Director of Kerr-McGee Inc., and serves on various boards, foundations and committees relating to marine research, policy and conservation. These include the World Resources Institute, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, World Environment Center, University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Lindbergh Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, the Natural Resource Defense Council, United Nations Environmental Program and National Park Service.

     She is a Fellow of the AAAS, the Marine Technology Society, the California Academy of Sciences, and the World Academy of Arts and Sciences.

     Dr. Earle has led more than 50 expeditions worldwide involving in excess of 6500 hours underwater in connection with her research. She led the first team of women aquanauts during the Tektite Project in 1970 and holds a depth record for solo diving (1000 meters). Author of more than 100 publications concerning marine science and technology including the books, Sea Change (1995), Wild Ocean (1999), and Atlas of the Ocean (2001) she has participated in numerous television productions and given scientific, technical and general interest lectures in more than 60 countries. Books for children include Hello Fish, Sea Critters, Coral Reefs, and the award winning DIVE! Honors and awards include: The 2004 AAUS Scientific Diving Lifetime Achievement Award, 2004 International Banksia Environmental Award, 2003 Wyland Icon Award Lifetime Achievement Award, 2001 Robin W. Winks Award, 1999 Ding Darling Conservation Medal, 1999 Barbie Ambassador of Dreams, 1998 John M. Olguin Marine Environment Award, 1997 Bal de la Mer Foundation’s Sea Keeper Award, 1997 Julius B. Stratton Leadership Award, 1997 Sea Space Environmental Awareness Award, 1997 Marine Technology Society Compass Award, 1997 Kilby Award, 1996 Explorers Club Medal, the 1996 Lindbergh Award, 1995 Boston Museum of Science Washburn Medal, the 1995 Massachusetts Audubon Society's Allen Morgan Prize, 1992 Director's Award of the Natural Resources Council; 1991 DEMA Hall of Fame Award; 1991 Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement; 1990 Radcliffe College Alumnae Association Medal; 1990 Society of Women Geographers Gold Medal; 1989 New England Aquarium David B. Stone Medal; 1981 Order of the Golden Ark by the Prince of the Netherlands; 1980 Explorers Club Lowell Thomas Award; 1970 Los Angeles Times Woman of the Year Award and a 1970 U. S. Department of Interior Conservation Service Award. In October 2000, she was inducted to the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

     She has been profiled for the National Geographic Explorer program (1987), Life Magazine (1987), The New Yorker (1989), the New York Times Magazine (1991), Parade Magazine (1991), Tomorrow Magazine (1991), Scientific American (1992), Current Biographies (1972 and 1992), ABC TV 20/20 (1992, 1995), the Charlie Rose Show (1993), The Lauren Hutton Show, CBS Sunday Morning (1995), TIME magazine, CNN (1998), USA Today (1999), People magazine (2000), & Vanity Fair (2002).