BLUE Ocean Film Festival Names Carl Safina Winner of Sylvia Earle Award Honoring the commitment to outstanding ocean advocacy BLUE Ocean Film Festival, presented by Monterey Bay Aquarium August 24-29 in Monterey, CA, today named environmentalist Dr. Carl Safina the recipient of the 2010 Sylvia Earle Award. Dr. Earle will present the award August 28 at the festival’s BLUE Carpet Awards Ceremony. BLUE Ocean Film Festival is a one-of-a-kind film industry and community event bringing together films, filmmakers and leaders in ocean research and conservation.

Carl Safina's writing explores the scientific, moral, and social dimensions of our relationship with nature. His writing has been awarded such distinctions as New York Times Notable Book of the Year, Los Angeles Times "Best Nonfiction," Library Journal's "Best Science Book," Lannan Literary Award, John Burroughs Medal, the National Academies' "Year's Best Book for communicating science." Safina is a recipient of the Pew Scholar's Award in Conservation and the Environment, Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo’s Rabb Medal, and a MacArthur prize, among many other honors. He is an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University, and founding president of Blue Ocean Institute.

Honoring her long legacy of groundbreaking achievements as a deep-sea explorer, noted marine scientist, accomplished underwater filmmaker, renowned author and tireless ocean advocate, the award was presented to Dr. Earle in 2009 and carries her name. BLUE and Dr. Earle have joined forces to present this special achievement award for outstanding ocean advocacy.

BLUE’s Global Advisory Board was charged with selecting this year’s recipient. Award guidelines specified the nominees should be individuals whose work has made important contributions in one or more of the following categories: ocean science, issue awareness, educational outreach, conservation advocacy, effective policy implementation, public engagement in ocean conservation and sustainability, grass roots action and tangible results in preserving ocean health.

The BLUE Carpet Awards Ceremony will take place 6:30 pm August 28 at the Golden State Theater in Monterey, CA. Winning films in 19 categories will be honored, selected from more than 85 of the world’s best ocean films screened during the festival.

FOR MORE INFO: http://www.blueoceanfilmfestival.org/home.html