“I have lots of heroes: anyone and everyone who does whatever they can to leave the natural world better than they found it.”

American marine biologist and oceanographer

Sylvia Earle is an American marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, writer, and lecturer. Born in 1935, she is known for her work in ocean science and for helping bring public attention to the sea. She has served as a National Geographic Explorer at Large since 1998. Earle was the first chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Time named her its first Hero for the Planet in 1998. Her writing and talks often return to the ocean and the need to understand and protect it.