Edith Widder, Ph.D., is a MacArthur Fellow, a deep-sea explorer and conservationist. A world authority on marine bioluminescence, she has completed hundreds of dives in deep diving submersibles, both as passenger and pilot. Widder helped develop new tools for deep-sea exploration that produced observations of animals and behaviors never seen before, including the first video of a giant squid filmed in its natural habitat. She has also spearheaded the development of water quality monitoring systems and new methods of mapping pollution. In 2005, in order to help protect the ocean she loves, Widder helped found the Ocean Research & Conservation Association. Widder has written over 100 scientific papers and her recent book, “Below the Edge of Darkness: A Memoir of Exploring Light and Life in the Deep Sea,” is featured at the 2022 National Book Festival.