Dr. Sylvia Earle and Liz Taylor: Exploring the Deep Frontier

Vast frontiers beckon to be explored. As with the cosmos, the ocean is a place where humans have barely scratched the surface and have so much yet to be discovered. Dr. Sylvia Earle paralleled sea and space exploration drawing on a lifetime of exploring the ocean using both human occupied and remotely operated systems. Her daughter, Liz Taylor, described her current work with robotics at the Deep Ocean Exploration and Research Inc. (DOER) using submersibles for ocean exploration and how it can apply to space missions. Relevant to NASA Ames robotics technologies and human factors research, this intersection of technologies may be leveraged to enable further exploration to uncharted territories.

This event was cosponsored by Nelly Ben Hayoun Studios, SETI, SSERVI, and the Office of the Chief Scientist.

Abstract:
Dr. Sylvia Earle will examine the parallels that exist between space and ocean exploration that can benefit a wide variety of disciplines including human spaceflight. Dr. Earle will discuss the history of humans in the sea and her own experiences working with astronauts and taking them to inner space– the vast oceans on our planet. Dr. Sylvia Earle has spent a lifetime exploring the ocean using both human occupied and remotely operated systems. Maritime and astronautical missions have a lot in common; both require survival and exploration in extreme environments. Benefits from drawing parallels between ocean and space exploration include: materials science, life support systems, sampling tools, battery chemistry, and data storage. Liz Taylor of DOER will join Dr. Earle to share some stories of successful collaborations and ongoing projects connecting these two domains.

Biographies:
Sylvia A. Earle is Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society, Founder of the Sylvia Earle Alliance (S.E.A.)/ Mission Blue, and Founder of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research Inc. (DOER), Chair of the Advisory Concil for the Harte Research Institute and former Chief Scientist of NOAA. Author of more than 200 publications and leader of more than 100 expeditions with 7,000 hours underwater, she is a graduate of Florida State University with M.A. and PhD. degrees from Duke University and 26 honorary doctorates. Her research concerns the ecology and conservation of marine ecosystems and the development of technology for access to the deep sea. She is the subject of the 2014 Netflix film, Mission Blue and the recipient of more than 100 national and international honors and awards including being names Time Magazine’s first Hero for the Planet, a Living Legend by the Library of Congress, Netherlands Order of the Golden Ark, winner of the 2009 TED Prize, the Walter Cronkite Award, UNEP Champion of the Earth, Glamour Magazine’s 2014 Women of the Year, the 1996 Explorers Club Metal, Royal Geographic Society 2011 Patrons Medal, and the National Geographic 2013 Hubbard Metal.

Liz Taylor is the President of DOER Marine, a full service engineering solutions company. Over the last 17 years, Taylor has developed the company and currently oversees business development, government contracts, marketing, writing, and educational outreach. She works across multiple industries, collaborating with marine contracting firms, commercial diving companies, oil and gas service companies, government, law enforcement, environmental response, search and rescue, offshore wind farm services firms, aquaculture firms, mega-yachts, expedition yachts, film production companies, universities and marine science institutions. She was previously the president of the Caribbean Marine Research Center where she utilized both manned and unmanned undersea vehicles that support aquaculture and marine research. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley and has background in commercial diving and maritime operations.