Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Dr. Eugenie Clark--A Recap of Her Week on Bonaire
Dr. Eugenie Clark spent a week on Bonaire in August, charming everyone who met her. This dynamic lady, 88 years young this past May, has spent her life studying the denizens of the deep, as her specialty is sharks.
Dr. Clark first became fascinated with the underwater world when she visited an aquarium when quite young. Her fascination continued and she studied ichthyology (the study of fish) at school. She was diving before it was fashionable, in fact, before the advent of SCUBA, as she was hard-hat diving as early as the 1940s.
Her true calling became apparent in the 1950s, when she began specializing in the study and research of sharks. In fact, her research in Florida came to the attention of the U.S. Navy, which then provided grants for her to conduct further research. Her studies on sharks were groundbreaking, and her future was ensured, as Dr. Clark became one of the leading ichthyologists in the world, and she achieved the highest level in her specialty, so much so that she became affectionately known as “The Shark Lady.”
In fact, she recently completed a 23-day around-the-(southern hemisphere)-world trip, where she attended the Sharks International Symposium in Cairns, Queensland, Australia before jetting over to South Africa to dive with and monitor sevengill sharks--the first time in her life she actually got to see them alive in their own environment. She dove in the 53-degree-F water (11.5 Celsius) with just a wet suit--definitely a hardier woman than I!
While on Bonaire, Dr. Clark gave a number of presentations to visitors and islanders alike, graciously signed copies of her books, and received the Lifetime Achievement Award (see prior story by clicking here) given to her by the island of Bonaire in recognition and thanks for all her work on behalf of the world’s oceans and its inhabitants. Images from her week on Bonaire are available on the Bonaire Insider Photo Gallery by clicking here.
So what’s in store for the future? This plucky lady is currently working on five new manuscripts, four of which she wishes to complete in the near future. Shortly, she will be winging her way across the skies once again, but this time to Japan. Although the purpose of her trip is personal, she will be sure to visit her friends (both human and finned) at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, where in the past she swam with the whale sharks who make their home there.
In conclusion, it was certainly an honor to get to know Dr. Clark, and everyone on Bonaire wishes her all the best in her future endeavors. We hope to see her back on the island again soon. (Source: Bonaire Insider Reporter)
