Ohio Northern University will host a lecture by leading oceanographer and author Dr. Sylvia A. Earle in the Freed Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. This lecture is free and open to the public.

Earle’s presentation is part of the Keiser Distinguished Lectureship in Life Sciences program, named in honor of Terry D. Keiser, an ONU alumnus and professor of biological sciences. The Keiser Distinguished Lectureship in Life Sciences brings nationally prominent life sciences scholars to ONU’s campus each year to lecture and interact with students for a week. The Keiser Lectureship was the first program of its kind at Ohio Northern.

“I feel very grateful to my friends, former students and alumni for providing the financial means to accomplish this,” said Keiser. “Each year, the lecture brings in prominent speakers to ONU, and it allows our students to interact with distinguished professionals.”

Earle is an oceanographer, explorer, author and lecturer with experience as a field research scientist, government official, and director for corporate and nonprofit organizations such as the Kerr McGee Corporation, Dresser Industries, Oryx Energy, the Aspen Institute, the Conservation Fund, American Rivers, Mote Marine Laboratory, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Rutgers Institute for Marine Science, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Research, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Ocean Futures, and Ocean Conservancy.

Formerly chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Earle is a National Geographic explorer in residence and founder of SEAlliance, Mission Blue, and Deep Ocean Exploration and Research Inc. She chairs advisory councils for the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, the Ocean in Google Earth, the Marine Science and Technology Foundation, and the Schmidt Research Vessel Institute.

Earle has lectured in more than 80 countries, appeared in hundreds of radio and television productions, and has authored more than 175 scientific, technical and popular publications including Exploring the Deep Frontier, Sea Change, Wild Ocean, Dive, The National Geographic Atlas of the Ocean and The World is Blue.

Earle has led more than 100 expeditions and logged nearly 7,000 hours underwater with a record solo dive to 1,000 meters and nine saturation dives, including leading the first team of women aquanauts during the Tektite Project.

Her research concerns marine algae and deep-water ecosystems with special reference to exploration, conservation, and the development and use of new technologies for access and effective operations in the deep sea and other remote environments. She has a B.S. from Florida State University, an M.S. and Ph.D. from Duke University, and 19 honorary degrees.