Tierney Thys

Athlete, Brainstormer, Doctor, Educator/Teacher, Environmentalist, Explorer, Filmmaker, Idea generator, Scientist, Writer/Editor

Tierney Thys is a National Geographic Explorer, marine biologist, filmmaker, science media producer, TED All-star, parent of two, wife and past member of the TED braintrust. With medical anthropologist and fellow Nat Geo Explorer, Carroll Dunham, she is cofounder of an educational non-profit Around the World in 80 Fabrics (www.Aroundtheworldin80fabrics.com). ATW80Fabrics creates, exhibits and writes about maker communities across the world who are creating planet-friendly, non-petroleum fabrics. The organization is creating the world's finest teaching collection (both digital and tactile) of eco-friendly, regenerative textiles sourced from exceptional maker communities (many of which are endangered) worldwide. Instagram @ATW80Fabrics Dr. Thys is a trained biologist and both fascinated by and dedicated to protecting the natural world. After graduating in 1988 from Brown University in biology, she became a certified seaplane pilot and helped build a winged submarine at Deep Ocean Engineering in California with Sylvia Earle before getting a PhD from Duke University in North Carolina in Zoology and Biomechanics. Thys has a particular interest in giant ocean sunfishes (mola)and for decades has been studying these goofy behemoths which can grow more than ten feet long and weigh over 6,000 pounds mostly eating jellies. She recently compiled and coedited the first academic tome on the ocean sunfishes entitled: The Ocean Sunfishes:Evolution, Biology and Conservation. For more information check out www.oceansunfish.org. Thys has a strong interest in film and filmmaking and from (1998-2008) served as the Director of Research for Sea Studios Foundation , a non-profit production company dedicated to inspiring public understanding of science, technology and stewardship of the environment through entertaining and innovative media. The company co-produced National Geographic’s Strange Days on Planet Earth project (www.pbs.org/strangedays) and The Shape of Life (www.pbs.org/kcet/shapeoflife, TED talk). With members of the Plankton Chronicles (Christian and Noe Sardet and Sharif Mirshak she also wrote and produced several films for TEDed including The Secret Life of Plankton, How Life Begins in the Deep Sea,How Did Life Come to Land, The Complicated Journey of Marine Plastics and These Microbes Eat Your Trash. She has also written additional TEDed films including: How to Play Dead and Why are Shark so Awesome. Thys serves on the science advisory boards of Think Beyond Plastic, and the Plastic Pollution Coalition and is a judge for Conservation X's Microfiber Challenge. In an effort to better understand our powerful relationship with the nature world and how to catalyze long-term stewardship behavior, Thys has been exploring the neuroscience of nature and the brain—a discipline she calls Neurobiophilia. With an Innovations Grant from National Geographic, she worked with co-investigators Dr. Nalini Nadkarni and Tan Le exploring the brain's response to nature imagery using mobile EEG headsets and eye-tracking devices. She and Nadkarni have also investigated the physiological effects of placing nature imagery and soundscapes into nature-deprived settings such as jails in Utah. Her prison work with Nadkarni included the“Blue Room” at Snake River Correctional Institute in Oregon which was named one of the top inventions of 2014 by Time Magazine. She is currently collaborating the Knutson Lab and Nik Sawe from Stanford University mapping human brain responses to nature imagery and how to better leverage nature imagery for conservation uses. Dr. Thys consults for numerous film and conservation groups. She served as the Daily Explorer in the online game, Animal Jam for 7 years . Animal Jam features a virtual world where 6-11 year olds become an animal and learn about the animal kingdom. It garnered more than 130 million registered players and is now available in multiple languages in 120 countries. Thys also serves as an expert for NatGeo expeditions each year and depending on the year joins expedition to the Caribbean, student marine bio camps in Baja, family and adult trips to Galapagos, Palau, Channel Islands, Antartica as well as Around the World by Private Jet trips. Her greatest aim is to raise awareness of Earth's natural resources and in particular the health of the spectacular life within the deep blue, and the pivotal role our ocean plays in the livelihood of all humanity.

Biodiversity, sustainable fashion, fabrics, ocean, fish, water, education, nature, neuroscience, science and art for conservation, trash, nature deficit disorder, prison reform

How can fashion be a source of good? How can we reduce the fast fashion footprint while promoting indigenous traditions, bioinnovation, reduced consumerism and a circular economy mindset? What is really happening in our minds when we gaze at nature? Can we better optimize the creation and delivery of nature footage to maximize its social and therapeutic good in prisons, office settings, assisted living and any nature-deprived setting?

Biology, Conservation Education, film-making, textiles

My dear friend Paul MacCready suggested my name to Chris Anderson as a speaker many years ago and to Paul I remain forever grateful. We all miss him. TED has been a pivotal force of goodness and joy in my life and my gratitude is immense.

telling way too many dirty jokes