The Marine
Science Research Institute (MSRI) presented the 2019 Marine
Science Pioneer Award on Tuesday, Oct. 22, to deep-sea explorer, scientist,
inventor, and conservationist Dr. Edith Widder. She is the first woman to
receive the award.
President Tim Cost, ’81, presented the
award along with MSRI Director Dr. Quinton White to Dr. Widder during a luncheon
at the River House.
Dr. Widder spent Tuesday morning with
marine science students encouraging them to become life-long explorers before delivering
a similar, hopeful message during a luncheon awards ceremony presentation at
the River House.
Dr. Quinton White facilitated a question-and-answer session with Dr. Widder following her formal presentation to students. Marine science students Haleigh Cassidy, left, and Audrey Stewart, right, were among those who volunteered to help make Dr. Widder’s campus visit successful. Dr. Widder encouraged her audience to embrace life-long exploration as one way to help address perplexing societal problems, including climate change. Dr. Widder told luncheon attendees about her adventures in twice capturing video of the giant squid in its native habitat. After her formal lunch presentation, Dr. Widder engaged the audience in discussions about the wonder and work of scientific exploration. MSRI students model the 2019 Marine Science Pioneer Award T-shirt featuring an illustration of a giant squid. Dr. Widder’s most widely recognized exploration success involved filming the giant squid in its native environment for the first time. MSRI Director Dr. Quinton White, left, and President Tim Cost, ’81, right, presented Dr. Widder with the 2019 award.
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