Dawn Wright is the Chief Scientist of Esri, a platform that provides data solutions with geographic information systems (GIS). Esri believes a data’s full potential is locked behind location intelligence, and GIS is the best tool to bring that potential out. As Chief Scientist, Dawn strengthens the scientific foundation for all software and services provided by Esri. Dawn is also known as “Deepsea Dawn” due to her expertise and vast research contributions in marine geology. She is also the first African-American woman to do a deep-sea dive with ALVIN.

In this episode, you’ll listen to Dawn recount her experiences growing up in Hawaii as an African-American and explain why there was a huge culture shock when they moved to the American mainland. She opens up about her various hobbies and why she is fond of collecting LEGOs. She tells the story of the open space philosophy her high school once had and why we’ll never see that type of educational system applied again. You’ll also hear Dawn’s opinions on being a female in a male-dominated field and how she didn’t let her gender or race be an obstacle to success.

\"I encourage young people to follow what feels right; hopefully you have consensus with your parents or with people who are raising you to follow that instinct, because that\'s what\'s really most important.\"

 - Dawn Wright

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

●     Dawn\'s LEGO collection and her other hobbies and interests

●     Who the young Dawn Wright was and her stepping out years

●     What drew her mother over to moving to Wheaton College

●     What it was like being the only African-American in a classroom

●     Dawn\'s experience being part of the minority as a child in the 60\'s

●     Where Dawn’s passion for deep-sea exploration started

●     How the political activism in the US affected Dawn as someone living in Hawaii

●     Why Dawn\'s family moved back to Maryland and the cultural differences they experienced

●     The open space philosophy her old high school practiced

●     Dawn\'s advice to people who hesitate to follow their dream

●     Dawn\'s experience being a woman in a male-dominated field

●     When one of her thesis professors didn\'t endorse her

●     Being the first African-American woman to dive to the deep seafloor with ALVIN

●     The technologies oceanography students can expect to learn

●     Where Dawn would want to explore if she could have one more deep dive

Resources Mentioned:

●     Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

Connect with Dawn Wright:

●     Esri

●     Dawn Wright on LinkedIn

●     The Cyberworld of Deepsea Dawn

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.

Visit my website at kathysullivanexplores.com to sign up for seven astronaut tips to improving your life on earth and be the first to discover future episodes and learn about more exciting adventures ahead!

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