Environmental Work
Sylvia Earle, as an oceanographer, explorer and researcher, led hundreds of expeditions, including the women aquanauts during the Tektite Project in 1970. These scientists stayed and lived alongside the coral reefs by US Virgin Islands to study the organisms living there. She has participated in ten saturation and solo dives in 1000- meter depth. This was all done to raise awareness about the marine ecosystems, biodiversity and climate change.
Earle is likewise known for her Mission Blue Foundation. This program was formed as a result of Sylvia Earle’s TED Prize wish. Mission Blue works to draw in public support for the protection of “Hope Spots”, which are marine protected areas that are vital to the blue heart of this planet. Less than 3% of the ocean is under protection and that’s why Mission Blue is here to change that. They are pursuing to bring an increase of the protection to 20% by 2020. Earle believes that these spots will still be able to thrive even under intense human activities if they are taken with caution and consideration. Hence why she named them ‘Hope Spots’. They currently have 57 hope spots, but is working on finding more. Under Earle’s outstanding leadership, Mission Blue has already set out on series of expeditions and shared their experiences through documentaries, social media, Google etc. They now work with over 100 different ocean conservation groups and researchers to further their understanding of the ocean and how to protect it.
Dr Earle also sits as a chair member of the Advisory Council for the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies. Through this program, she has once again led many expeditions around the protected areas in US, Mexico, Belize, Galapagos Islands, Cuba, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Tahiti. From 1953-2003 she went on more expeditions with a stronger focus on herbivore-carnivore interrelationships, deep water algae and marine ecosystems.
Sylvia Earle continues to travel around the world to tell, share and inspire to protect our oceans.
Earle is likewise known for her Mission Blue Foundation. This program was formed as a result of Sylvia Earle’s TED Prize wish. Mission Blue works to draw in public support for the protection of “Hope Spots”, which are marine protected areas that are vital to the blue heart of this planet. Less than 3% of the ocean is under protection and that’s why Mission Blue is here to change that. They are pursuing to bring an increase of the protection to 20% by 2020. Earle believes that these spots will still be able to thrive even under intense human activities if they are taken with caution and consideration. Hence why she named them ‘Hope Spots’. They currently have 57 hope spots, but is working on finding more. Under Earle’s outstanding leadership, Mission Blue has already set out on series of expeditions and shared their experiences through documentaries, social media, Google etc. They now work with over 100 different ocean conservation groups and researchers to further their understanding of the ocean and how to protect it.
Dr Earle also sits as a chair member of the Advisory Council for the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies. Through this program, she has once again led many expeditions around the protected areas in US, Mexico, Belize, Galapagos Islands, Cuba, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Tahiti. From 1953-2003 she went on more expeditions with a stronger focus on herbivore-carnivore interrelationships, deep water algae and marine ecosystems.
Sylvia Earle continues to travel around the world to tell, share and inspire to protect our oceans.