Marine biologist Sonia Rowley, a research fellow at the University of Hawai?i at M?noa, has been awarded the prestigious Sir David Attenborough Award for her research and fieldwork on deepwater corals in the South Pacific.
The Systematics Association and the Linnean Society of London bestowed the award, which honored her fieldwork where she used a rebreather to dive down to depths below 150 meters/492 feet to study Mesophotic coral ecosystems, otherwise known as “Twilight Zone Reefs.” Such reefs make up an estimated 20 percent of the world’s reefs, with the rest existing above 150 meters below the surface.
Rowley is only among a handful of people to have received the award.
Systematics Association President Mark Wilkinson said:
“The David Attenborough Award is made to a recipient of the Systematics Research Fund who has conducted pioneering and inspirational scientific research through fieldwork. Sonia Rowley’s work epitomises the spirit of the award.”
The award came as a surprise to Rowley, who is also a member of the British Sub-Aqua Club. She told the BSAC website:
“It was an absolute pleasure to receive it, especially if some good can come of it. One of the most valuable things is showing natural history and beauty off and these awards tell everyone about it.”
To learn more, check out her research at marineexploration.org or watch the video below.
