Here is some
more information about Evan B. Forde
I
was born in Miami Florida.
My
father was a High School Science teacher. My mom was a grade school teacher.
I
received my bachelor's degree in Geology from Columbia University in 1974 and
my bachelor's degree in Marine Geology and Geophysics from Columbia University
in 1976. My father and other
science teachers I had in Middle and High school helped to motivate and
interest me in becoming a scientist.
I was also intrigued every time I watched a television show called,
"The undersea world of Jacques Cousteau".
I
have worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
which
is a part of the Department of Commerce since 1973. I was the first Black
Scientist to ever do research dives in a submersible.
I
went nearly two miles down in the submersible ALVIN in 1980. However, my first
submersible dives on the Nekton Gamma in 1979. I did additional submersible
dives on the Johnson Sea Link in 1981.
My
specialty early in my career was on the Marine Geology of submarine canyons and
I have published a number of manuscripts on that subject.
I
was a musician and an athlete in high school and college. I played the trumpet
in high school and was a singer in a local band while I was a student at
Columbia University. I was also a high school football player and received many
scholarship offers to go to college. I decided to take an academic scholarship
rather than an athletic scholarship so that I could get the best education
possible and not lose my scholarship due to an injury. I did play on Columbia
University's football team and was also involved in many other aspects of
college life.
I
use a computer for most of my research at work (at least 8 hrs. per day). I am
also the webmaster for my laboratory and enjoy writing, computer programming
and computer graphics.
I am
still athletic. I enjoy roller blading, working out, tennis, swimming and golf.
I am
also involved in Equal Employment Opportunity and community outreach to school
children in South Florida because I feel strongly that it is important. I am
also the chairman of NOAA's new Educational Outreach Committee. I have won several awards for my community
involvement.
Here
are some questions I had to answer recently for an interview:
>1)
What gave you the idea to become an oceanographer?
I've
always wanted to be a scientist, but I enjoyed swimming and other water sports
and enjoyed watching Jacques Cousteau.
>2)
How long did it take you to actually become one?
It
took 4 years for my bachelor's degree and 2 years to get my Master's degree.
>3)
What feelings did others have towards your decisions to become an
>oceanographer?
My
mom didn't understand why I didn't want to be a Doctor, or lawyer and make more
money. Some of my friends thought it was 'cool'.
>4)
What types of classes did you have to take through out school?
I
took lots of science and math. I wish I had taken more writing classes. Writing
is an important part of my work.
>5)
When was your first actual dive in a submarine?
My
first dive was sometime in 1979, in Nekton Gamma in Norfolk Submarine Canyon.
and I don't have the exact date at my finger tips. My second series of dives
began on October 10th, 1980. I went down 2,384 meters (nearly 2 miles down) in
Wilmington submarine canyon in ALVIN.
>6)
What characteristics do you think that a person needs to become a good
>oceanographer
or to have a good career with marine biology?
A
good scientist must be diligent, persistent, enjoy solving mysteries and
patient enough to use the scientific method until they find the truth.
>1)
What risks did you take doing your exploring?
There
is an ever present danger of mechanical problems with submarines.
In
two of the submersible dives I went on, the sub was trapped on the bottom for
some time. Once, there was a small underwater landslide on top of ALVIN. On
another occasion, the sub got tangled in the rope from a row of deserted
lobster traps.
>2)
When did you start to explore?
When
I was a child actually. I will include some more information below about my
scientific career.
>3)
How did you adapt to the extreme environment?
>
It
is cold, damp, cramped and uncomfortable and a little scary in submersibles,
but other than that it isn't too bad.
In order to be able to take a 10 or 12 hour dive, you have to be
physically flexible (it's cramped) and adjust your eating and sleeping habits
(smile).
MORE
QUESTIONS ANSWERED…
How
does what you do affect everyday
life today?
One
of the fundamental problems faced by oceanographers is the large size of the
oceans. Oceans cover 70 per cent of the Earth's surface. Satellites allow
measurements to be made over vast ocean areas on a daily basis.
In
the United States alone, hurricanes have been responsible for at least 17,000
deaths since 1900. Hurricanes also cause
hundreds of millions of dollars in damage annually. It looks like we are in a weather cycle where hurricanes may be
getting worse and more frequent. Worldwide, 1998 was the worst hurricane season
in the last 200 years. Hurricane
Mitch (1998) was responsible for the deaths of over 10,000 people in Central
America. Right now I am involved in a study using a new satellite scatterometer (QUIKSCAT) to
improve the early detection of weather systems that may develop into
hurricanes.
Read
about this satellite at:
http://winds.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/quikscat/quikindex.html
How
does your work affect the scientific field?
When
I publish papers, it shows the scientists what advancements we are making and
how they can use our research to help them do their jobs better.
Read
a brief summary of a recent paper at:
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/rsd/satellite/qscatabs.html
Also,
>how
does the work affect you as an individual?
I
have tremendous job satisfaction but research is very demanding in terms of
energy and brain power (smile).
I am usually intellectually drained by the time I get home in the
evenings.
Some other web references for me
are listed below:
Please try:
http://www.moptopshop.com/forde_evan.htmll
(under Oceanographer)
http://www.enviroeducation.com/interviews/evan-forde/
http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/blackhistory/bios.html
I am quoted in a web based stories
at:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/hurricane_satellite000920.html
http://www.ametsoc.org/AMS/newsltr/nl_10_00.html
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