Cindy Van Dover is an oceanographer, explorer, and deep-sea biologist who has traversed the deepest parts of the ocean since 1985. She specializes in the ecology of deep-sea vent communities, especially vent invertebrates, food webs, and the taxonomy of newly discovered species. She is the first female pilot of the deep-diving submersible ALVIN and has commanded 48 dives. Cindy is also the author of the book, Octopus’s Garden: Hydrothermal Vents And Other Mysteries Of The Deep Sea, where she dissects how hydrothermal vents paved the way for marine life to thrive in the bottom of the ocean.

Cindy joins me today to share some of the fantastic things she saw while exploring the deepest parts of the ocean. She describes what her school career was like and how she found her passion for oceanography. She explains how deep-sea vents allow temperatures warm enough for a wide array of creatures to endure the ice-cold depths. She discusses her experience as ALVIN’s pilot and what some of their explorations were like. Cindy also shares her thoughts on deep-sea mining and what we should be prepared to do if it becomes an environmental concern.

\"It is not a homogeneous environment in any sense of the word, not on these mid-ocean ridges.\" - Cindy Van Dover

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

●     Cindy’s experience exploring the deepest parts of the ocean

●     Cindy\'s dives as the pilot of ALVIN

●     What makes ALVIN a unique submersible

●     The changes made to ALVIN that improved the diving experience

●     What made Cindy want a career in deep-sea exploration

●     Why Cindy\'s academic life was not a typical school experience

●     The experiences of ALVIN pilots walking on the seafloor

●     What you would expect to see on the seafloor

●     Cindy\'s thoughts about data gathering missions and exploring the seabed

●     The difference between doing ROV work and piloting ALVIN

●     Unusual and fascinating tube worms

●     Why most animals on the seabed are white or transparent

●     Cindy’s interesting red shrimp story

●     What Cindy wants people to consider about seafloor mining

●     Some of Cindy\'s favorite deep-sea creatures

Connect with Cindy Van Dover:

●     Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment

●     Book: Octopus\'s Garden: Hydrothermal Vents And Other Mysteries Of The Deep Sea

●     Cindy Van Dover on LinkedIn

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are--spaceship not required.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

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