Edith Widder — American Scientist

Edith Anne "Edie" Widder Smith is an American oceanographer, marine biologist, and the Co-founder, CEO and Senior Scientist at the Ocean Research & Conservation Association... (wikipedia)

We've only explored about 5% of our ocean. There are great discoveries yet to be made down there - fantastic creatures representing millions of years of evolution and possibly bioactive compounds that could benefit us in ways we can't even imagine.
Exploration is the engine that drives innovation. Innovation drives economic growth. So let's all go exploring.
I just was mesmerized by all of this life everywhere I looked. And so I wanted to be a marine biologist.
I loved anything to do with animals from a very early age.
I never, ever would have imagined the kind of career I've had. It just wouldn't have occurred to me that anything like this could have been possible. I didn't have any such aspirations. And I still can't believe my good fortune.