Evan Forde
Encyclopedia
Evan B. Forde is an African-American
oceanographer.
Forde was born in Miami, Florida
and received his primary education in the local public school system. He received his bachelor's degree in Geology
and his Master's degree in marine
geology
and geophysics
, both from Columbia University
in New York
. Forde became a researcher in the Marine Geology and Geophysics laboratory at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
's (NOAA) Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
(AOML) while an undergraduate at Columbia during the summer of 1973.
Utilizing his background in classical Marine Geology techniques, Forde became a recognized authority on the formation, evolution and sedimentary processes of east coast U.S. submarine canyons. Additional scientific research efforts by Evan have included studies of gravity-induced mass sediment movements on continental slopes, 3-dimensional mapping of hydrothermal plumes
, and the study of ocean-atmosphere exchange of anthropogenic carbon dioxide
.
In 1979, Forde became the first African-American oceanographer to conduct a research mission aboard a submersible craft when he did dives in Nekton Gamma. He subsequently completed submersible dive expeditions in Alvin
in 1980 and the Johnson Sea Link in 1981.
Forde has also worked extensively in the area of science education. He developed and taught graduate level courses on Tropical Meteorology targeted towards K-12 teachers for 7 years, authored science experiments in a children’s magazine for three years, created a Severe Weather Poster for NOAA that was distributed nationally to 50,000 teachers by the National Science Teachers Association
. He has spoken to greater than 40,000 school children through presentations about his oceanographic and academic careers. Forde has been the subject of three museum exhibits, and has been featured in numerous periodical articles, text books and many other publications on prominent African American scientists.
In addition to his scientific career, Evan Forde has served as a PTA President, a church trustee, Scoutmaster, youth basketball coach, church webmaster, Sunday School and youth ministry teacher, neighborhood Crime Watch chairman and in numerous other roles that have fostered youth and improved his community. He has initiated programs that feed the needy and has a host of career and community awards that include being named NOAA's Environmental Research Laboratories EEO Outstanding Employee, South Florida's Federal Employee of the Year (Service to the Community category), a Congressional Commendation, and NOAA Research Employee of the Year. Evan has also had days named in his honor by the City of North Miami, and by Miami-Dade County, Florida.
He is currently is conducting research on the effects that dust storms from Africa have on the formation of Atlantic basin hurricanes and he has just completed a curriculum designed to introduce oceanography to middle and high school students in inner-city schools.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
oceanographer.
Forde was born in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
and received his primary education in the local public school system. He received his bachelor's degree in Geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and his Master's degree in marine
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and geophysics
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
, both from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Forde became a researcher in the Marine Geology and Geophysics laboratory at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
's (NOAA) Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
The Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory , a federal research laboratory, is part of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research , located in Miami, Florida...
(AOML) while an undergraduate at Columbia during the summer of 1973.
Utilizing his background in classical Marine Geology techniques, Forde became a recognized authority on the formation, evolution and sedimentary processes of east coast U.S. submarine canyons. Additional scientific research efforts by Evan have included studies of gravity-induced mass sediment movements on continental slopes, 3-dimensional mapping of hydrothermal plumes
Hydrothermal vent
A hydrothermal vent is a fissure in a planet's surface from which geothermally heated water issues. Hydrothermal vents are commonly found near volcanically active places, areas where tectonic plates are moving apart, ocean basins, and hotspots. Hydrothermal vents exist because the earth is both...
, and the study of ocean-atmosphere exchange of anthropogenic carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
.
In 1979, Forde became the first African-American oceanographer to conduct a research mission aboard a submersible craft when he did dives in Nekton Gamma. He subsequently completed submersible dive expeditions in Alvin
DSV Alvin
Alvin is a manned deep-ocean research submersible owned by the United States Navy and operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The vehicle was built by General Mills' Electronics Group in the same factory used to manufacture breakfast cereal-producing...
in 1980 and the Johnson Sea Link in 1981.
Forde has also worked extensively in the area of science education. He developed and taught graduate level courses on Tropical Meteorology targeted towards K-12 teachers for 7 years, authored science experiments in a children’s magazine for three years, created a Severe Weather Poster for NOAA that was distributed nationally to 50,000 teachers by the National Science Teachers Association
National Science Teachers Association
The National Science Teachers Association , founded in 1944 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is an association of science teachers in the United States and is the largest organization of science teachers worldwide...
. He has spoken to greater than 40,000 school children through presentations about his oceanographic and academic careers. Forde has been the subject of three museum exhibits, and has been featured in numerous periodical articles, text books and many other publications on prominent African American scientists.
In addition to his scientific career, Evan Forde has served as a PTA President, a church trustee, Scoutmaster, youth basketball coach, church webmaster, Sunday School and youth ministry teacher, neighborhood Crime Watch chairman and in numerous other roles that have fostered youth and improved his community. He has initiated programs that feed the needy and has a host of career and community awards that include being named NOAA's Environmental Research Laboratories EEO Outstanding Employee, South Florida's Federal Employee of the Year (Service to the Community category), a Congressional Commendation, and NOAA Research Employee of the Year. Evan has also had days named in his honor by the City of North Miami, and by Miami-Dade County, Florida.
He is currently is conducting research on the effects that dust storms from Africa have on the formation of Atlantic basin hurricanes and he has just completed a curriculum designed to introduce oceanography to middle and high school students in inner-city schools.