Washington, D.C. - In recognition of her outstanding achievements in ocean science and her influential involvement with the designation of the Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument, the largest marine protected area in the world, Dr. Sylvia Earle was honored by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) on June 3, at their 2008 Leadership Awards dinner in Washington, D.C.

“Sylvia’s life has had an extraordinary influence on the world of ocean science” said Bob Talbot, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and a celebrated marine photographer and film maker. “Her contributions have been pivotal in the way ocean research is conducted today, and has given rise to much of what we now understand about the impacts humans are having on the ocean and the need for global ocean conservation.”

Known by many titles, including “Her Deepness” and “Hero for the Planet,” Sylvia Earle’s life reads like a science fiction adventure. From leading the first all-female research expedition of aquanauts to live and conduct research for two weeks in an underwater habitat, to captivating the world with one of the most celebrated dives in human history – walking on the sea floor untethered for over two hours in a pressurized suit at a depth of 1250 feet below the surface, her life has been defined by pushing boundaries in the name of ocean science and conservation.

“What drives me is the need to understand and determine what we need to do for the future,” said Earle. “The ocean drives the way the planet works. If the ocean is in trouble, our future is in trouble. It’s our responsibility to do something about it.”

Earle has conducted over 70 science expeditions, written over 170 publications, and spent more than 7000 hours underwater. She is a successful entrepreneur, Chairman of DOER, a company that designs and manufactures undersea vehicles, allowing scientists to study and understand ocean depths previously inaccessible. A former Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Dr. Earle also serves as scientist and “Explorer-in-Residence” for the National Geographic Society and is Director of the “Sustainable Seas Expeditions,” a project initiated in 1998.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s Leadership Awards Dinner is held in conjunction with the 2008 Capitol Hill Ocean Week, a three-day symposium that features ocean policy experts from government, private industry, nonprofits and academia. Participants seek to raise awareness of the important ocean and coastal issues among our nation’s leaders and to build bridges among various ocean constituencies.

Note to editors: Photos, and bio available upon request.