Edith Widder, Ph.D.

Roles: Special Guest

Dr. Edie Widder is a MacArthur Fellow, deep-sea explorer, and ocean conservationist renowned for her pioneering research on bioluminescence. A leader in developing innovative technologies explore the ocean’s depths, she has captured extraordinary footage of previously unseen species and behaviors—including the first-ever video of a giant squid in its natural habitat. Her work has been featured in productions by the BBC, PBS, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic, and chronicled in her acclaimed 2021 memoir Below the Edge of Darkness: A Memoir of Exploring Light and Life in the Deep Sea, described by The New York Times Book Review as a “thrilling blend of hard science and high adventure.”

The 2025 documentary A Life Illuminated celebrates Widder’s lifetime of exploration and discovery, weaving together new submersible footage and archival material to reveal the hidden wonders of the deep sea. Beyond her groundbreaking deep sea research, Widder has also led the development of innovative water-quality monitoring systems and pollution-mapping techniques. In 2005, she co-founded the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) to advance.