2013 marked the 125th anniversary of National Geographic, a year of celebration and inspiration dubbed the “Year of the Explorer.” As the sole official Chinese partner of National Geographic on the Chinese mainland, the magazine Chinese National Geography invited American oceanographer, marine explorer, and author Sylvia Earle to give a lecture titled “Sustainable Seas: Vision and Reality” at Beijing’s Fashion Space on September 6. The talk offered an oceanic visual feast to the hundreds of attendees, as she shared stunning marine images and shocking insights into the current state of ocean ecology, while calling on everyone to join her in protecting our blue planet.
During the lecture, Sylvia spoke about how she lived underwater for a week in a submersible device last year at the age of 76, alongside five other scientists. Just a week before that, she had also been diving in the Gulf of Mexico to observe how marine life was faring in the aftermath of the oil spill. She pointed out that climate change and glacier melting have the most significant impact on the oceans, which in turn affects marine life. She also highlighted the threats posed by bottom trawling, which not only sweeps up seabed organisms but also generates countless pieces of marine debris. While advocating for ocean conservation, she urged the protection of sharks and other marine species.
This year’s National Geographic feature “Exploring the Mariana Trench” was one of her collaborative projects with renowned director and NG explorer James Cameron in the field of diving.
Dr. Earle owns three companies dedicated to developing diving-related equipment. She hopes to create lightweight and user-friendly diving gear, and has indeed succeeded — she once piloted a self-developed submersible solo to a depth of 1,000 meters.
Throughout the lecture and the subsequent Q&A session, Sylvia stood throughout, sharing stories from her remarkable life and thoughtfully answering audience questions. Her witty and engaging responses captivated the crowd, immersing them in her oceanic world, with no one leaving early. Among the attendees were many of Sylvia’s devoted fans; one brought a 1981 issue of the magazine for her to sign, featuring her personal submersible, the Jim.
The lecture concluded successfully. For more exciting event updates, please stay tuned to Chinese National Geography magazine and its official website.