Edith Widder

Agnostic, Educator/Teacher, Environmentalist, Explorer, Inventor, Scientist

Edith Widder is a deep-sea explorer and MacArthur Fellow who combines expertise in oceanographic research and technological innovation with a commitment to reversing the worldwide trend of marine ecosystem degradation. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Tufts University and her MS in Biochemistry and PhD in Neurobiology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Two years after completing her Ph.D., Dr. Widder became certified as a Scientific Research Pilot for Atmospheric Diving Systems. A specialist in bioluminescence (the light chemically produced by many ocean organisms), she has been a leader in helping to design and invent new submersible instrumentation, and equipment to enable unobtrusive deep-sea observations. Her innovations have produced footage of rare sharks, jellyfish, and crustaceans, as well as led to the discovery of a new species of large squid and made the first ever recordings of the giant squid, Architeuthis, in its natural habitat. In 2005, in order to help protect the ocean she loves, Widder co-founded the Ocean Research & Conservation Association, a not-for-profit dedicated to the study and protection of marine ecosystems and the species they sustain through development of innovative technologies and science-based conservation action.

Ocean conservation

As the human population now exceeds 7 billion and continues to climb, dilution can no longer be peddled as the solution to pollution. The accumulating impacts on ecosystem health, human health and ultimately continued human existence on the planet demand sustainable solutions. This means galvanizing the political will and public support needed to stop pollution at its source. In order to accomplish this, we need to develop new ways to identify and map sources of pollution using technologies that are simple and low cost enough that they are accessible to community stakeholders. According to the latest theories of how to initiate change, knowledge is useful and used when it is jointly produced by participants in the decision making process and experts with technical and scientific knowledge. By having community stakeholders work with scientists to jointly produce the data needed, the result is science-based policy decisions and an informed constituency dedicated to improved outcomes.

Bioluminescence

The Kraken Revealed: First images of a giant squid filmed in the deep sea. The science behind the achievement . We've only explored 5% of the ocean and if the point is to find out who lives there, we've apparently been doing it wrong.