is an oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer. She is the National Geographic explorer-in-residence, leader of the Sustainable Seas Expeditions, and founder of Deep Search Foundation and Deep Ocean Exploration and Research. Earle is the council chair both for the Harte Research Institute and for Google Earth Oceans. Formerly, Earle served as chief scientist at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She is the author of 175 publications and has been the leader of more than 100 expeditions. Earle serves on many corporate and non-profit boards. She has received more than 100 national and international awards as well as 17 honorary doctorates. Her research concerns the ecology of marine ecosystems, development and use of ocean technologies, and marine conservation policies. Earle is a trustee of the Aspen Institute.