A specialist in "bioluminescence," Dr. Edith Widder has been a leader in helping to design and invent new submersible instrumentation and equipment to enable deep-sea observations. In 2012 Dr. Widder, along with other scientists, filmed the giant squid in its natural habitat for the first time ever. This innovative work earned her the 2018 Explorers Club Citation of Merit; she became one of just six women to earn this honor. Dr. Widder founded the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA), a scientific based conservation nonprofit, in 2005. Spoke at Yakima Town Hall- November 13, 2019
"I very much enjoyed the lively Yakima Town Hall group which made sharing my experiences a great pleasure. Many thanks for the invitation and I will try to keep in touch from time to time with developments from Kenya." - Louise Leakey, Leakey Family Dynasty Pioneer/Paleoanthropologist