2020 Women of Discovery Awards Gala

THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE CELEBRATION!

Three pioneers in ocean conservation and exploration won Women of Discovery Awards; three recent Flag Carriers told stories of courage and connection; two polar explorers shared how a dream to cross the Antarctic turned into reality; and much more!

Missed it? You can still enjoy the stories and joy of discovery at the link below.

Become a WINGS Patron or Sponsor

The need for independent science has never been greater. Women in science and exploration are doing groundbreaking work, yet they face gender bias at every turn. Their work is funded and cited significantly less than men’s work of equal merit. Your support helps change this imbalance and create a better future for us all. For more information, contact bnixon@wingsworldquest.org.

• $10,000 Summit Patron

  Underwrites a Women of Discovery Grant to an outstanding woman explorer

• $5,000 Expedition Patron

  Helps underwrite the annual Explorers Forum where Fellows and Flag Carriers have the opportunity to present their latest work to the public, network, and share ideas and initiatives for collaboration.

• $1,000 Field Patron

  Sponsors a Flag Carrier’s expedition and publication of their findings

• $500 Trail Patron

  Allows WINGS to bring a Fellow or Flag Carrier into a school or host an educational webinar

• $250 WINGS Explorer Patron

  Helps WINGS to maintain the WINGS communication platform

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Dr. Sylvia A. Earle

“Dr. Sylvia Earle’s visionary leadership, innovations and accomplishments throughout a life committed to ocean health and conservation have contributed immensely to the understanding and stewardship of our blue planet. WINGS is honored to present Dr. Earle with the 2020 Women of Discovery Lifetime Achievement Award also in recognition of her passion, perseverance, and creative thinking, which have inspired action from global corporate leaders, ocean scientists and the next generation of problem solvers.”  WINGS WorldQuest

Dr. Sylvia Earle is a pioneering oceanographer, marine biologist, explorer, author and lecturer with experience as a field research scientist, government official, and director for corporate and non-profit organizations. Called “Her Deepness” by the New York Times, “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress,” and first “Hero for the Planet” by Time Magazine, her research concerns the ecology and conservation of marine ecosystems and the development of technology for access to the deep sea.

Author of more than 225 publications and leader of more than 100 expeditions with over 7,500 hours underwater, Dr. Earle has broken many barriers, such as leading the first team of women aquanauts during the Tektite Project in 1970, setting a record for solo diving, and serving as the first female chief scientist at the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA).

Through Mission Blue, her special focus is on developing a global network of marine protected areas, “Hope Spots,” to safeguard the living systems that provide the underpinnings of global processes, from maintaining biodiversity and yielding basic life support services, to providing stability and resiliency in response to accelerating climate change.

INAUGURAL AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY

Liz Taylor

“The bold spirit of exploration and determined ingenuity of the DOER Marine Team, led by CEO Liz Taylor, have resulted in next-generation deep sea submersible technologies that are uniquely integrated for and adaptable to the many challenges that the ocean imposes upon explorers. With an emphasis on collaboration and innovative technologies that deliver impact in the fields of ocean life discovery and conservation, the DOER model for driving innovation, excellence and positive change is central to the new WINGS award and the future of our planet.”  WINGS WorldQuest

Since 1992, President and CEO Liz Taylor and her team have grown DOER (Deep Ocean Exploration and Research Marine) from a consulting and field services firm to a full-service engineering solutions company that is an industry leader in designing and building subsea robotic and manned systems for a variety of applications, ranging from deep ocean exploration to critical infrastructure inspection.

Ms. Taylor collaborates across multiple industries with clients that include marine contracting firms, aquaculture companies, government, environmental response, search and rescue, offshore wind farm services, and film production companies. DOER currently is focused on Project Deepsearch, an innovative endeavor to build a human-occupied submersible capable of full ocean depth, providing unlimited ocean access to science.

Through DOER, Ms. Taylor has been involved in numerous projects relating to coastal restoration, water/wastewater management, levees, and public access to the water. She is an advisor to the Wild Oyster Project and served on the Deep Water Horizon Study Group. She has over 25 years of experience in environmental sustainability with a focus on protection of biodiverse systems on the land and in the sea, particularly in the urban/agricultural/wildlands interface zones. She has participated in more than 60 scientific and educational ocean exploration projects and authored a number of articles and white papers.

SEA AWARD

Dr. Diva Amon

“Working at the intersection of science, policy and communication, Dr. Amon is paving the way for how we understand, manage and conserve our largest ecosystem, the deep ocean.  She has made it her priority to collect and communicate crucial data on how humans impact this rich and pristine environment, so that conversations among scientists, industry, regulators and the public are grounded in rigorous science. Her work with the UN and the International Seabed Authority on behalf of the Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative shows a unique ability to engage diverse groups on ecosystem-based management. Her nonprofit SpeSeas gives an important voice and platform for learning to her native Caribbean home, galvanizing the next generation of marine scientists and explorers.”  WINGS WorldQuest

Dr. Diva Amon is a Trinidadian deep-sea biologist with a special interest in deep-sea organisms and how human activity affects life far below the ocean’s surface. She is currently a Research Fellow at the Natural History Museum in London, UK, Co-Lead of the Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative’s Minerals Working Group, and a Pew-Bertarelli Ocean Ambassador.

Dr. Amon has dedicated much of her time to exploring some of the deepest and most remote ocean habitats, from Antarctica to the Mariana Trench. She regularly ventures to the depths in submersibles, with her deepest dive to 1.6 miles below the ocean surface in the Cayman Trench in the Caribbean. She has discovered six new deep-sea species, including a lobster and two sponges.

Dr. Amon is a strong voice on the need to effectively manage and protect the deep ocean from human impacts, including from mining, pollution and climate change. She is a leader in several organizations advocating for marine science, education and responsible practices. Dr. Amon is also interested in increasing the capacity of low to middle income countries to explore their deep oceans, as well as bridging the gap between science and policy. Additionally, she is a founder and director of the non-profit NGO, SpeSeas, which is dedicated to marine science, education and advocacy in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.