Earthwatch Annual Conference Honors Marine Scientist Sylvia Earle
Leading field scientists, educators, and supporters come together at the Cambridge, Massachusetts event to celebrate the role of women in science and sustainability
Earthwatch Institute presented its 2004 Earthwatch Conservation Award to Dr. Sylvia Earle, world-renowned marine scientist and explorer, at its annual conference on November 6, 2004. Dr. Earle's award capped an engaging day of events at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, Massachusetts, attended by a record 250 participants from all walks of life.
The conference, titled "Making Connections: Women, Science, and Sustainability," highlighted Earthwatch's unique role in supporting women scientists and inspiring other women to contribute to environmental sustainability. Attendees enjoyed posters and presentations by more than 80 Earthwatch-supported researchers from 20 countries around the world, representing research topics from archaeology to zoology.
"Earthwatch's great strength is that it gets people out into the world, to explore, experience, and understand," said Dr. Earle in her inspirational keynote address, which challenged attendees to get involved in environmental solutions. "A picture may be worth 1,000 words, but an experience is worth 10,000 pictures." The address was followed by a book-signing by Dr. Earle, the author of many books including Sea Change: A Message of the Oceans and Wild Ocean: America's Parks Under the Sea.
An Explorer-in Residence at the National Geographic Society and chair of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research, Inc., Dr. Earle has led more than 60 marine expeditions around the world involving in excess of 7,000 hours underwater. She has won worldwide acclaim for her undersea achievements and conservation efforts, including recognition as a Living Legend by the Library of Congress.
Dr. Earle was presented with the Earthwatch Conservation Award at the evening benefit dinner, attended by a sell-out crowd of 250 supporters. The event was hosted by Master of Ceremonies John Heminway, the Emmy-award winning writer, director, and producer, and co-chaired by celebrated actor Sam Waterston, star of The Killing Fields and many other movies.
A highlight of the conference was a panel discussion, featuring Dr. Earle and three other luminaries associated with Earthwatch, on the role of women in science and sustainability. The panel included Dr. Alison Leslie, principal investigator of Earthwatch's Crocodiles of the Okavango project and recipient of the 2004 scientist of the year award. It also featured anthropologist Dr. Ellen Messer (George Washington University), an Earthwatch International Science Advisory Committee member, and innovative educator Dr. Eleanor Duckworth (Harvard Graduate School of Education).
"Half the birds that fly are female," said Dr. Earle in her comments during the panel, where she reminisced on her early years as a pioneering marine scientist at a time when science was the domain of men. "Half the fish that swim are female. Men and woman have equal footing in our species too. Strange as it may seem, we're all in the same species. We need to get over it and just move on."
The conference celebrated the fact that many of the scientists Earthwatch supports, in fact 37 percent, are women, some of them in disciplines, such as Dr. Leslie's crocodile work, that have been historically dominated by men. Equally as significant, more than 60 percent of Earthwatch volunteers and more than 80 percent of the educator fellows are women.
The Earthwatch annual conference also featured an "Educator Track," where more than 80 educators from across the country shared exciting new curricula, on-line resources, and local research activities based on their Earthwatch experiences.
"How energized I feel; how re-invigorated I am," said Katherine Karch, a teacher and participant in the Educator Track. "I am walking away with a renewed sense of being able to make an impact."
A panel discussion by four Earthwatch artist fellows explored the integration of art in science education, and educators learned how they can join "teach live" expeditions hosted by three high school students who will be participating in 12 Earthwatch projects around the world in the coming year. Earthwatch also unveiled its "Earthbound3 Challenge," inviting school groups to launch local environmental projects and Earthwatch expeditions as prizes to three winning groups.
Earthwatch Institute is an international nonprofit organization that supports scientific field research by offering members of the public unique opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. Earthwatch's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment