From Booklist
*Starred Review* Crane chronicles the relentless adversity she faced in becoming a world-class oceanographer with a modest matter-of-factness that almost camouflages the high caliber of her achievements. During the 1970s, when Crane was struggling to accomplish her demanding and pioneering fieldwork on underwater volcanic activity--she was the first to postulate the existence of the now famous deep-sea hot springs--female scientists either weren't allowed on expeditions at all or only in pairs, and they were not only forbidden below deck but also lectured patronizingly on their apparel and behavior. Drawn to the "unexplored and the unexplained," poetic, and committed to doing meaningful and unprecedented scientific work, Crane, who has worked at such major oceanographic centers as Scripps, Woods Hole, and the Naval Research Lab, found more conducive and respectful working conditions on international projects, collaborations that brought her to the challenging and environmentally crucial region she has made her own, the frigid waters of the Arctic. 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.
Donna SeamanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Sea 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.