Dr. Lisa A. Levin, Distinguished Professor Emerita at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, has been a leading voice in the scientific community advocating for the responsible stewardship of deep-sea ecosystems.
With a career spanning over four decades, Levin's research has significantly advanced our understanding of the biodiversity and ecological functions of deep-sea habitats, particularly in the context of emerging industrial activities like deep-sea mining.
Levin earned her B.A. in Biology, summa cum laude, from Radcliffe College in 1975, and her Ph.D. in Oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego in 1982.
She began her academic career as a professor at North Carolina State University before returning to Scripps in 1992, where she served as the Director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from 2011 to 2017.
Throughout her career, Levin has led or participated in over 50 oceanographic expeditions and has made approximately 70 submersible dives across the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans.
Her research has focused on the structure and function of continental margin ecosystems, including methane seeps and oxygen minimum zones, and the impacts of climate change and human activities on these environments.
She has authored or co-authored more than 275 scientific publications, contributing significantly to the fields of marine ecology and conservation.
Beyond her academic contributions, Levin has played a pivotal role in integrating science into policy.
She co-founded and co-leads the Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI), which aims to inform ecosystem-based management of deep-ocean resources. She also co-leads the Deep Ocean Observing Strategy (DOOS), a program within the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) that coordinates deep-ocean observing to address climate science and societal needs.
Levin has contributed to multiple Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports and has been actively involved in United Nations negotiations concerning the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Levin's work has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the American Association of Limnology and Oceanography’s Redfield Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and the Prince Albert I Grand Medal in Ocean Science in 2019.
In 2024, she was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, reflecting her significant contributions to marine science and policy.
As deep-sea mining ventures advance, Levin continues to advocate for precautionary approaches, emphasizing the need for comprehensive scientific understanding before the exploitation of deep-sea resources.
Her leadership underscores the importance of integrating scientific research into policy decisions to ensure the protection and sustainable use of deep-ocean ecosystems.
