The Ocean

Ocean Hero: Tierney Thys

Photo: Tierney Thys

Photograph by Brett Hobson

Name: Tierney Thys
Place of Birth: San Leandro, California
Current Home: Carmel, California
Occupation: Marine biologist, science media producer

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Ever since I can remember I have always wanted to be a biologist and study living things. After I discovered the ocean, I wanted to be a marine biologist.

How did you get started in your field?
All through my schooling, from grade school through high school, college, and eventually graduate school, I have been fortunate to have had numerous inspirational teachers and role models. In college, my advisor encouraged me to think for myself and create independent research projects. During my summers, I chose internships that allowed for independent study and apprenticeships with scientists whose research I found interesting. One spring break I had the opportunity to do fieldwork with a marine biologist out on Catalina Island off the coast of California. It was on that magical island, studying the feeding habits of crazy little animals called sea hares, that I convinced myself I could follow a career in marine biology.

What is a typical day like for you?
I am a mother of two, so much of my time is spent caring for our energetic, fun-loving little ones. When the kiddiumps are occupied, at school, or asleep, I work on several projects simultaneously. These include writing talks and articles, creating media products like films or TV series that champion the importance of marine conservation and environmental stewardship; analyzing recorded data from satellite tags that we’ve deployed on ocean sunfish around the world, processing sightings data, writing up data into manuscripts; planning upcoming expeditions; and wishing there were more hours in the day.

What inspires you to dedicate your life to the ocean?
Once you realize how much the ocean gives us, from the oxygen it adds to our air, to the influence it holds over our climate and rainfall, to the huge amounts of carbon dioxide it helps sink, to the healthful foods and medicines it provides, to the tranquility, recreation, and inspiration it provides simply by touching our shores—it becomes impossible to turn a blind eye to the destructive effects our actions are having on the marine world.

It becomes impossible to watch our ocean fill up with garbage, to witness the destruction of our coasts, and to see our harvests dwindle without wanting to do something to reverse these downward trends.

What has been your favorite experience in the field?
I was diving in the Cocos Islands off Ecuador and suddenly realized a very large Pacific female manta ray was swimming right next to me. I slowly reached out to touch her wing and when I did, her whole body seemed to quiver. This manta stayed next to me for another ten minutes or so, and then she effortlessly pulled ahead. Right in front of me she did a semisomersault and returned upside down to swim just a few inches under me, her belly to mine. Then she disappeared. I was in a state of euphoria for several days after that, and it remains one of the most precious moments in my life.

Do you have a hero?
I have many heroes. My greatest heroes are all those people in the world who despite their incredibly busy lives—juggling kids, jobs, pets, and their normal day-to-day responsibilities—take time out to do beach cleanups and buy and prepare food that helps to restore life instead of deplete it.

My heroes are today’s parents who are nurturing their kids’ natural senses of wonder, who are teaching their kids about the natural world, and encouraging their kids to explore, get wet, ask questions, and respect life everywhere—be it in the sea or on land.

If you could have people do one thing to help the ocean, what would it be?
I would ask for us all to dedicate some concentrated time to thinking about what we eat, how we live, and what behaviors we can change to decrease our footprint on our natural resources. During this look inward, I would ask ourselves to visualize what kind of role models we want to be for future generations. Visualizing change is the first step toward making it a reality.

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