15 Facts About Evan Forde

Evan Forde was the first African-American scientist to perform research in a submersible.

Evan Forde was born in Miami, Florida, and received his primary education in the Miami-Dade County public schools.

Evan Forde became a researcher in the Marine Geology and Geophysics laboratory at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory while an undergraduate at Columbia during the summer of 1973.

Evan Forde has stated that French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau was a large inspiration in his love of oceanography.

In 1979, Evan Forde became the first African-American oceanographer to conduct a research mission aboard a submersible craft when he dove in the Nekton Gamma.

Evan Forde subsequently completed submersible dive expeditions in Alvin in 1980 and the Johnson Sea Link in 1981.

Evan Forde has additionally conducted research on the effects that dust storms from Africa have on the formation of Atlantic basin hurricanes.

Additional scientific research efforts by Evan Forde 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.

Evan Forde has worked extensively in the area of science education.

Evan Forde has spoken to more than 40,000 school children through presentations about his oceanographic and academic careers.

Evan Forde created and taught a graduate level tropical meteorology course for the University of Miami's INSTAR program for seven years, and created and teaches an oceanography course for middle school students called Oceanographic Curriculum Empowering Achievement in Natural Sciences.

Evan 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.

Evan Forde has initiated programs to combat community food scarcity and actively supports NOAA's Equal Opportunity Employment initiatives.

In 2001, Evan Forde was named NOAA Research Employee of the Year.

Additionally, Evan Forde has been the recipient of a host of career and community awards that include being named NOAA's Environmental Research Laboratories EEO Outstanding Employee.