Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity
Throughout the month of May, DEC celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and the contributions of our diverse staff who identify with the various groups of people this month honors, including people whose families originated from: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, the Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam, and elsewhere in Asia and the Pacific.
Asian and Pacific Islander families started migrating to the United States in small numbers as early as the 1800s, but some in the AAPI community credit the advocacy work of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders for increased numbers that began during the Civil Rights Movement. The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 led to the overhaul of our immigration system in the U.S. The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which removed origin-country quotas and created employment-based immigration pathways, provided an entry for a growing number of professionals and students from India, China, Japan, and other locations.
Learning about and understanding the people that make up America teaches us to appreciate and respect each other. Throughout modern history, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders overcame many challenges but unfortunately, some remain, such as bias, discrimination, and harassment. By learning more about the stories of adversity and diversity from Asian American and Pacific Islanders from all walks of life, we can help educate others and combat ongoing violence and discrimination. One resource that can provide helpful insight into these stories and perspectives is the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center website.
Asian American and Pacific Islanders helped shape New York in countless ways, including our understanding of our natural environment. One notable New Yorker who traveled the world both above and below the surface is Dr. Eugenie Clark.
Dr. Eugenie Clark (1922-2015)
A trailblazing Japanese American scientist who made significant contributions to the field of marine biology, particularly in her research on sharks. Born and raised in New York City, her fascination with marine life was sparked during childhood visits to the New York Aquarium at Battery Park. Despite being the only student of Japanese ancestry in her elementary school in Woodside, Queens, she fearlessly shared stories about her family's Japanese culinary traditions, including eating raw fish and seaweed, which she said, "amazed and shocked her classmates and teachers."
As a young girl, Dr. Clark looked up to naturalist William Bebe and dreamed of following in his footsteps. However, when she expressed her aspirations to her family, they suggested that she learn typing to become a secretary to someone like Bebe. Undeterred, she pursued her passion for marine life and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in zoology from Hunter College, followed by a Master of Arts from New York University. In 1950, she earned her PhD from New York University, researching the genetics and behavior of freshwater poeciliid.
When Dr. Clark was hired by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to carry out fish surveys in the Philippines she was detained by the FBI because of concerns about her Japanese heritage. She resigned from the position.
Dr. Clark's research skill and dedication to marine conservation led her to establish the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, in 1955, which is now known as the Mote Marine Laboratory. In 1968, she joined the faculty of the University of Maryland as a marine biology professor, where she taught until her retirement in 1992.
It was important to Dr. Clark to dispel public fear of sharks through education. She was a prolific writer. In addition to writing and publishing over 160 scientific research papers, she also wrote three books for general audiences, including Lady with a Spear (1953), Lady with the Sharks (1969), and The Desert Beneath the Sea (1991), as well as numerous articles for popular magazines such as National Geographic. She also served as a consultant, narrator, and co-director for 24 documentaries about marine life, and she sailed with Jacques Cousteau aboard the Calypso.
Dr. Clark's dedication to field research was unparalleled. She led over 200 research expeditions to more than 20 countries and served as chief scientist for 72 submersible dives to study deep-sea sharks. Her work led to the discovery of new fish species, and several fish have been named in her honor. Her illustrious scientific career spanned more than 50 years and earned her numerous accolades, including honorary doctorates from Dartmouth College and the University of Guelph, as well as more than 25 prestigious medals and awards.
On March 16, 2015, the U.S. Congress posthumously recognized her for her outstanding efforts in understanding and protecting marine life, further solidifying her status as a pioneering figure in marine biology. Her unwavering passion for marine conservation, her dedication to educating the public, and her contributions to research have made her an inspiration to future generations of marine scientists.