Samantha Schneider

David Hubert
POLS 1100 TR 8:30
December 9, 2014
Profile of Sylvia Earle
Ive been asked to write a profile on Sylvia Earle which in itself is a daunting task. Sylvia
Earle is not your average person you would meet on the street. Dr. Sylvia A. Earle, called
"Her Deepness" by the New Yorker and the New York Times, "Living Legend" by the Library of
Congress, and first "Hero for the Planet" by Time magazine, is an oceanographer, explorer,
author, and lecturer ("Sylvia Earle, Oceanographer Information, Facts, News, Photos -National Geographic"). And, thats just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this woman.
Throughout this profile I hope you will be able to gain knowledge about Sylvia Earle. However,
I will not only provide facts about her but I will offer my interpretation of the essence of Sylvia
Earle. I will supply you with the tools necessary to successfully understand the soul and spirit
that makes Sylvia Earle into the person she is today. Through this profile I want you to gain a
better understanding of exactly why Sylvia Earle has received all the titles and awards she has to
this day.
Sylvia Earle is 76 years old and has kept busy her entire lifetime. She received her B.S.
degree at Florida State University, M.S., and PhD. from Duke University accompanied by 22
honorary degrees. She has authored more than 190 scientific, technical, and popular
publications; lectured in more than 80 countries; and appeared in hundreds of radio and
television productions ("Sylvia Earle, Oceanographer Information, Facts, News, Photos -National Geographic"). Her diving career is quite extensive consisting of logging more than
7,000 hours underwater. She has lead more than a hundred expeditions and set a record for solo

diving in 1,000-meter depth. Her research concerns marine ecosystems with special reference to
exploration, conservation, and the development and use of new technologies for access and
effective operations in the deep sea and other remote environments ("Sylvia Earle,
Oceanographer Information, Facts, News, Photos -- National Geographic). All this and more
than a hundred national and international honors make up the marvelous person, Dr. Sylvia A.
Earle.
I decided to begin my profile of Sylvia Earle by watching a video of her interview for On
Being with Krista Tippett titled Her Deepness to get an understanding of who she is. I wanted
to understand why Sylvia Earle was named the first Hero for the Planet. Not just anyone gets
that type of title and I wanted to get to know her more other than all the achievements she has
received. Since Im not able to conduct an interview with someone of her caliber, I decided to
use the resources available to me. Right from the start of the interview you are able to understand
Sylvia Earles humor. Ms. Tippett: And you're still diving, aren't you? Dr. Earle: Well, yeah. I
breathe. So I can dive ("Transcript: Oceanographer Sylvia Earle"). Just by that statement you
cant help but not like her. Sylvia is incredibly humble all across the interview with moments of
pure humor on her part. She regards the ocean as not only her backyard but also her laboratory
and most of all her play place. Dr. Earle expands on her respect for the ethics of life, I think
there is a basic ethical attitude, respect for life, respect for other humans certainly, but for all
forms of life ("Transcript: Oceanographer Sylvia Earle"). I think this statement speaks for itself
in regard of the type of person Sylvia really is. Caring, kind-hearted, wonderful, nurturing, and
protective are among the many things Sylvia is. With these statements from the great Dr. Earle
you are able to gain a better understanding of her spirit.

I decided to delve into one of the many speeches Dr. Earle has made to help develop the
true essence of her. I chose Sylvia Earles speech My wish: Protect our oceans in which you
are able to get a feel of how passionate she is. You can understand just how much she is
personally invested in the environment and ocean. One minute into her speech she makes use of
the rhetoric technique ethos by grabbing your emotions. She states, I'm haunted by the thought
of what Ray Anderson calls "tomorrow's child," asking why we didn't do something on our
watch to save sharks and Bluefin tuna and squids and coral reefs and the living ocean while there
still was time ("Transcript of "My wish: Protect our oceans""). You are immediately hit with
several different emotions, uneasiness, sadness, scared, and most of all worried for what the
future has in store for us. Thats exactly what Sylvia Earle wants when she starts this speech and
uses this to her advantage. She breaks the ice in the room by cracking a joke, causing the
audience to laugh. She has the audience at her fingertips and does so by showing that even
something so serious there is still room to laugh.
Throughout the speech you are constantly running through emotions, overwhelmed by
them to say the least. But, you are able to gather an essence of Sylvia Earle in every part of her
speech. You did a great job with the land, the dirt. What about the water?" Since then, I've
had the great pleasure of working with the Googlers, with DOER Marine, with National
Geographic, with dozens of the best institutions and scientists around the world, ones that we
could enlist, to put the ocean in Google Earth ("Transcript of "My wish: Protect our oceans"").
Sylvia Earles personality is key in this last passage, her treasuring of the ocean and taking
initiative carelessly is radiant. She wasnt asked to create ocean, this essential piece in her eyes,
of google earth to make it whole. Sylvia Earle wanted to be a part of this all on her own. Offering
an even clearer understanding of Sylvia Earle and what makes her tick.

I was curious, as all of us are, to finally understand what the wish Sylvia Earle has with
this speech. To my approval she provides us with just that and so much more. I wish you would
use all means at your disposal -- films, expeditions, the web, new submarines -- and campaign to
ignite public support for a global network of marine protected areas -- hope spots large enough to
save and restore the ocean ("Transcript of "My wish: Protect our oceans""). She cares so much
about the ocean which is evident with the speech and with her entire life as a whole. Sylvia
spends her time trying to protect the ocean with hopes of receiving support from others to do so
also. Sylvia Earle is incredibly selfless in her way of taking care of the ocean. You are able to
grasp the idea that although she is asking for support from others, she knows she may not receive
it. Regardless, she will continue to do research constantly and continue to dive. Sylvia knows
exactly how to address the problems with our oceans, what she calls the blue heart of the planet,
and the people who abuse it. She does not place blame on anyone or anything specifically but
instead asks for support from all of us. You are slowly able to understand Sylvia and her whole
heartedness on the topic of the ocean. Her soul shines through watching and reading her speech.
With each piece of her speech you are able to find puzzle pieces that make up the fascinating
person who is Sylvia Earle.
Formerly chief scientist of NOAA, Earle is the founder of Deep Ocean Exploration and
Research, Inc., founder of Mission Blue and SEAlliance, and chair of the Advisory Councils of
the Harte Research Institute and the Ocean in Google Earth ("Sylvia Earle, Oceanographer
Information, Facts, News, Photos -- National Geographic"). Need I say more? Ive placed before
you the true substance that is Dr. Earle. She is a busy woman at the age of 76 and there is
nothing in her path from stopping her. She is an extraordinary person and all around the world it
is known. Living Legend by the Library of Congress, what a title to hold, regardless she is

living up to that title sincerely by her actions. I hope with providing the materials to understand
the phenomenon who is Sylvia Earle you can capture her essence. This woman is fantastic and
before you are some of the elements which make her up. My goal for this profile was to produce
the tools necessary for one to understand Sylvia Earle. I believe I have done just that. In
conclusion, I believe that actions do speak louder than words. I believe Sylvia has proven that
with her actions she is fully deserving of the many honors she has been given. In conclusion, I
have nothing but my best wishes for Sylvia to continue doing exactly what she has been doing
with her life and much, much, more.

Works Cited
"Sylvia Earle, Oceanographer Information, Facts, News, Photos -- National Geographic."
National Geographic. National Geographic. Web. 7 Dec. 2014.
<[Link]
"Transcript of "My Wish: Protect Our Oceans"" Sylvia Earle: My Wish: Protect Our Oceans.
TED. Web. 7 Dec. 2014.
<[Link]
ipt?language=en>.
"Transcript: Oceanographer Sylvia Earle." On Being. On Being, 7 June 2014. Web. 7 Dec. 2014.
<[Link]