Evan Forde

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^[1] 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 ^[2] and he has just completed a curriculum designed to introduce oceanography to middle and high school students in inner-city schools.

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