Marine biologist Sylvia Earle has spearheaded research on marine ecosystems with emphasis on exploration and conservation. Earle developed an appreciation and empathy for the natural world at a young age by exploring the woods in her hometown of Camden, New Jersey. She carried her early passion for nature throughout her career in which she explored phenomena of the sea. As one of Time magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet”, Earle is recognized for her research in marine biology and development of new technologies for deep-sea and remote environment exploration. Earle broke barriers in her career being the first woman to serve as the chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the first woman to become National Geographic Society’s Explorer-in-Residence. Her over one hundred expeditions, more than 7,000 hours underwater, and over 190 publications have furthered oceanic health and productivity restoration.