Sylvia A. Earle

American oceanographer · United States · On the map · Born 1935 · age 91

Sylvia Alice Earle is an American marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, writer, and lecturer. She has been a National Geographic Explorer at Large since 1998.

Sylvia A. Earle is read about 275 times a day, in 39 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026

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A life in dates

2024Ken Burns American Heritage PrizeAward2021“If I were an evil alien wishing to alter the nature of life on earth, I would change the temperature of the ocean, I would change the chemistry.”In their wordswith Time (2021)Read the whole statement

“I’ve had the privilege of living underwater on 10 different occasions. It has enabled me to get to know individual moray eels, individual groupers, even individual lobsters.”In their wordswith Time (2021)Read the whole statement

“Knowledge is the superpower of the 21st century. Even the smartest people alive when I was born did not know what 10-year-olds today have available to them.”In their wordswith Time (2021)Read the whole statement

“Change happens because of individuals who team up with others or inspire others. And soon you’ve got 10 or 100 or 1,000, and then you’ve got a movement.”In their wordswith Time (2021)Read the whole statement

“we can't be happy or healthy if we don't take care of our life support system, the planet.”In their wordswith NPR (2021)Read the whole statement

2019Mendel MedalAward2018“there is a basic ethical attitude: respect for life, respect for other humans, certainly, but for all forms of life.”In their wordswith 'On Being' (2018)Read the whole statement

Princess of Asturias Award for ConcordAward2017Rachel Carson PrizeAward2014Honorary Doctor of the University of MiamiAward2013Hubbard MedalAward2011Patron’s MedalAward2010Carl Sagan Award for Public Understanding of ScienceAwardHans Hass AwardAward2009TED PrizeAward2003Women of Discovery - Sea AwardAward2000National Women's Hall of FameAward1990Gold Medal of the Society of Woman GeographersAward1981Order of the Golden ArkAward1935Born30 August 1935

People around Sylvia

Family

Sylvia A. Earle

Partners

Spouse Graham Hawkes

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Also in Deutsch

Media & music

Photos 4

TEKTITE-II all-female team, led by Earle, in rebreather training in 1970

Earle displays samples to an aquanaut inside the Tektite habitat in 1970

President Barack Obama talks with Dr. Sylvia Earle, during a visit to Midway Atoll, Sept. 1, 2016. Dr. Earle shows the President a photo of a newly discovered species of blue fish native to Midway waters.

In their own words 4

Sylvia A. Earle

4 statements, newest first

(What is the biggest threat to the ocean right now?) Deep-sea mining.
2021 · with Time (2021), Own words
The ocean is the blue heart of the planet.
2021 · with Time (2021), Own words
it's still there - the habit of thinking that the ocean is too big to fail. And we're still taking life in the ocean for granted.
2021 · with NPR (2021), Own words

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Awards

Ken Burns American Heritage Prize2024

Mendel Medal2019

Princess of Asturias Award for Concord2018

Rachel Carson Prize2017

Honorary doctor of the University of Liège2016

Honorary Doctor of the University of Miami2014

Hubbard Medal2013

Patron’s Medal2011

Carl Sagan Award for Public Understanding of Science2010

Hans Hass Award2010

TED Prize2009

Rachel Carson Award2009

Women of Discovery - Sea Award2003

National Women's Hall of Fame2000

Gold Medal of the Society of Woman Geographers1990

Order of the Golden Ark1981

Library of Congress Living Legend

About this person

Earle was the first chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and was named by Time Magazine as its first Hero for the Planet in 1998.

Country

United States

Status

Living

Dates

Born 1935 · age 91