Edith Widder Explained

Edith Widder
Birth Place:Arlington, Massachusetts, United States
Fields:Oceanography and marine biology
Education:Tufts University (B.S. 1973)
University of California, Santa Barbara (M.S. 1977, Ph.D. 1982)
Known For:Bioluminescence research
Awards:MacArthur Fellow (2006)
Spouse:David Smith

Edith Anne "Edie" Widder Smith (born 1951) is an American oceanographer, marine biologist, author, and the co-founder, CEO and Senior Scientist at the Ocean Research & Conservation Association.[1] [2] [3]

Early life and education

Widder was born in Arlington, Massachusetts[4] to Dr. David Widder, a Harvard University mathematics professor, and Dr. Vera Widder, a mathematician turned stay at home mother.[5] She also had an older brother, David Charles Widder.[6]

She graduated from Tufts University magna cum laude with a B.S. in Biology, from University of California, Santa Barbara with an M.S. in Biochemistry, and from University of California, Santa Barbara with a PhD in Neurobiology, in 1982.[7]

Career

Widder was a senior scientist and director of the Bioluminescence Department at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution from 1989 to 2005.[8] Certified as a Scientific Research Pilot for Atmospheric Diving Systems in 1984, she holds certifications that qualify her to dive the deep diving suit WASP[2] as well as the single-person untethered submersibles DEEP ROVER and DEEP WORKER.[9] She has made over 250 dives in the JOHNSON SEA LINK submersibles.[10] Her research involving submersibles has been featured in BBC, PBS, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic television productions.[11] [12] [13]

A specialist in bioluminescence, she has been a leader in helping to design and invent new instrumentation and techniques that enable scientists to see the ocean in new ways. These include HIDEX, a bathyphotometer, which is the U.S. Navy standard for measuring bioluminescence in the ocean,[14] and a remotely operated camera system, known as Eye in the Sea (EITS), an unobtrusive deep-sea observatory.[15] [16] [17]

In 2005, Widder co-founded the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA), a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting aquatic ecosystems and the species they sustain by developing innovative technologies and science-based conservation action. While translating complex scientific issues into engineerable solutions, Widder is fostering a greater understanding of ocean life as a means to better, more informed ocean stewardship. In September 2006 she was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation[18] and in 2010 she participated in the TED Mission Blue Voyage in the Galapagos.[19]

In 2012, a team of scientists comprising Edith Widder, zoologist Tsunemi Kubodera and marine biologist Steve O'Shea successfully filmed a live giant squid (Architeuthis dux) in its natural habitat aboard Oceanx's MV Alucia.[20]

In 2019, Edith Widder and Nathan J. Robinson filmed the first-ever footage of a live giant squid recorded in US waters.[21] This expedition was aboard the R/V Point Sur of the University of Southern Mississippi.

Personal life

Widder is married to David Smith, a computer engineer.[22]

Awards and honors

Publications

Selected publications include:

Books

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://teamorca.org/cfiles/home.cfm ORCA – Ocean Research & Conservation Association
  2. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/oceanage/04widder/welcome.html NOAA Ocean Explorer: OceanAGE Careers
  3. Web site: ORCA – Ocean Research and Conservation Association – Team & Staff . https://web.archive.org/web/20100418231221/http://www.oceanrecon.org/cfiles/about_team.cfm . 2010-04-18 . Oceanrecon.org. 2023-10-14.
  4. Web site: The Art of Exploration . The Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration Fort Worth . November 19, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070810223051/http://www.icfw.org/widder-final_widder-final.qxd.pdf . August 10, 2007 .
  5. Book: Ross, Michael Elsohn . 2014 . A World of Her Own: 24 Amazing Women Explorers and Adventurers . . . 131 . 9781613744413 . November 19, 2014.
  6. Web site: FAS Memorial Minute: David V. Widder . December 11, 1997 . News.Harvard.edu . . November 19, 2014.
  7. http://www.teamorca.org/pdf/Dr_Edith_Widder-cv.pdf Microsoft Word – Widder cv _3_.doc
  8. http://www.at-sea.org/missions/deepscope/docs/bios.html#widder Researcher Bios
  9. Web site: Edith Widder (Deep Sea Explorer). https://web.archive.org/web/20110903214834/http://www.amazingwomenrock.com/role-models/edith-widder-deep-sea-explorer.html. 2011-09-03.
  10. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/oceanage/04widder/media/widder4.html NOAA Ocean Explorer: Dr. Edie Widder Video Profile
  11. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/edith-widder.html NOVA | Profile: Edith Widder
  12. http://avod.films.com/id/6345/Midwater_Mysteries.htm Access Video On Demand – Midwater Mysteries
  13. https://www.amazon.com/National-Geographics-Ocean-Drifters-VHS/dp/6304475438 National Geographic's Ocean Drifters [VHS]: Movies & TV]. Amazon.com. Retrieved on October 21, 2011.
  14. Widder . E. . Case . J. . Bernstein . S. . MacIntyre . S. . Lowenstine . M. . Bowlby . M. . Cook . D. . 10.1016/0967-0637(93)90148-V . A new large volume bioluminescence bathyphotometer with defined turbulence excitation . Deep-Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers . 40 . 3 . 607–627 . 1993 . 1993DSRI...40..607W .
  15. "Eye in the Sea camera reveals mysterious life on the ocean floor", Palm Beach Post, KIM MILLER, March 8, 2009
  16. Schrope . M. . Marine biology: Lights in the deep . 10.1038/450472a . Nature . 450 . 7169 . 472–474 . 2007 . 18033270. 2007Natur.450..472S . 967413 .
  17. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-beauty-of-ugly/interview-dr-edith-widder/426/ The Beauty of Ugly – Interview: Dr. Edith Widder – Eye in the Sea | Nature
  18. https://web.archive.org/web/20060928174323/http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b.2070789/apps/nl/content2.asp?content_id=%7B8277DB01-A9EB-441A-99DC-82A77A5EAABC%7D&notoc=1 Edith Widder – MacArthur Foundation
  19. http://www.ted.com/talks/edith_widder_glowing_life_in_an_underwater_world.html Edith Widder: Glowing life in an underwater world | Video on
  20. Web site: Search For The Giant Squid. 2018-05-12. OceanX. en-US. 2019-03-29.
  21. News: Giant Squid Reappears on Video, This Time in U.S. Waters. Jarvis. Brooke. 21 June 2019. New York Times. 6 January 2020.
  22. News: Michaels . Marty . October 26, 2006 . Turning Back the Tide . . XIX . 2 . Washington, D.C. . November 19, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090902203850/http://www.teamorca.org/pdf/10424-color-web.pdf . September 2, 2009 .
  23. Web site: 2015 Roy Chapman Andrews Society Distinguished Explorer Award . Roy Chapman Andrews Society.
  24. Web site: 2019 Go Blue Awards - Eleanor Fletcher .
  25. Studying the swift, smart, and shy: Unobtrusive camera-platforms for observing large deep-sea squid. Deep Sea Research Part 1: Oceanographic Research Papers. 172. 2021DSRI..17203538R . Robinson . Nathan J. . Johnsen . Sönke . Brooks . Annabelle . Frey . Lee . Judkins . Heather . Vecchione . Michael . Widder . Edith . 2021 . 103538 . 10.1016/j.dsr.2021.103538 . 234817555 . free .

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