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 Sea LegsTales of a Woman Oceanographerby Kathleen Crane Aug 31, 2004
DescriptionSea Legsis the story of Kathleen Crane, one of the first women oceanographers out of the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. By turns personal and objective, Crane tells how her quest for freedom led her to the sea and her research of deep-sea underwater volcanoes. As research doors in the United States closed during the 1980s, Crane charted her scientific future with the Europeans and with scientists from the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. In the process she became an unwitting diplomat. From the Galapagos dives in the Alvin and the early searches for Titanic, to many of the first scientific expeditions of the Arctic, Crane offers an exclusive and compelling first-hand account as a pioneer for women in oceanography. An explorer, environmentalist, and filmmaker, Crane's story encompasses the world's oceans, politics, international relations, scientific espionage, ships, and a passion for the natural world. At its heart, however, this is a story about humanity and the forces that drive people to persevere, despite the odds, and do the things they love. This paperback edition includes a Reader's Guide, featuring questions for discussion and suggestions for further reading. Reviews"I highly recommend Sea Legs, not just for marine geologists, but for anyone with an interest in the oceans, the environment, Cold War intrigue, and the story of one very adventurous woman." "…a diary of a remarkable woman." "Immensely readable." "Among men of science there is an utterly unscientific view of women, one which will take the sacrifices of many more of Kathleen Crane's stripe." "From research on undersea volcanoes, to meeting and befriending Soviet Union scientists during the height of the cold war, Sea Legs is a memorable and informative autobiographical journey filled with a love of science, a respect for the sea, and the sheer joy of reaching out to embrace the world." "[Crane's] been all over the world and involved in fascinating and sometimes dangerous research. And, as a woman, she has frequently had to fight for her place in a macho world." "[Crane's] insights into the roles that espionage and cold-war politics have played in international scientific research are sobering." "Crane's experiences are diverse, dramatic, and important: her understanding of international affairs and environmental realities laudable and moving; and her triumphs over personal sorrows and illness impressive and inspiring." "Crane is an excellent writer and an honest one in her vivid portrayal of the joys and difficulties of doing science in a man's world. Her memoir is essential for young people, especially women, considering careers in marine science. Highly recommended." "For those with wanderlust and a taste for the salty nether regions of the sea, Sea Legs is a refreshing dive into human depths." "Tells the story of an energetic woman, a skilled scientist who overcame difficulties real and imagined to rise to the top of her profession." "Kathy Crane has written an intensely personal account of a life dedicated to the science of the deep oceans. In a career spanning three decades she has been at the cutting edge of some of the most important discoveries in the marine realm. Not only is the science fascinating, but the tough realities for a woman to do this pioneering work onboard ships working in the most remote seas is compelling reading. Beyond the science, however, the author also forcefully brings to the reader's eye an understanding of the growing threats that humankind poses to the viability of the world's oceans. Sea Legs is not only a tale of one woman's odyssey, it is also a call to action for all of us." "This is a magnificent autobiography, beautifully written by one of the pioneering women who by sheer perseverance and brilliance crashed open the doors and forged the way for females in the oceanographic sciences. The book takes the reader on oceanographic vessels from the tropics to the Arctic, on submersibles to depths of several thousand meters, through peaceful tropical seas, violent storms, frigid turbulent Arctic waters. A splendid read." "Dr. Kathy Crane has written a spirited book about what it is like to be an oceanographer, from the passion for adventure that develops in childhood to the world travel that takes us to the ends of the Earth and the bottom of the sea. The seduction of the science, as Kathy Crane reveals, is the inevitability of discovery as one explores the unknown. Sea Legs is a gem of an autobiography, with prose written from the heart of a poet, mother, scientist, and explorer." "A compelling story of a woman's struggle to break into the male dominated world of oceanography. Her brave efforts to be an accepted equal member of this community has made it much easier for the young women following in her footsteps." Selling TerritoryWorld |
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