Stephanie Schwabe

Stephanie Schwabe
Born (1957-01-01) January 1, 1957 (age 67)
Germany
Alma materUniversity of Queensland
College of Charleston
Mississippi State University
University of Bristol
Occupation(s)geomicrobiologist, diver, underwear researcher

Stephanie Jutta Schwabe (1 January 1957 in Germany) is a geomicrobiologist. She completed a Ph.D. in the biogeochemical investigation of caves within the Bahamian carbonate platforms, commonly referred to as blue holes. She is an expert geologic diver mostly in Bahamian blues holes, though her experience extends to expeditions in U.S. waters. Diver International named her one of the top 40 divers in the world.

Schwabe earned a degree in law at the University of Queensland with a focus on international environmental law in 2003.[1] She also earned a graduate degrees at the College of Charleston in South Carolina and Mississippi State University, and a doctorate from the University of Bristol in England.[2]

Schwabe works as a professor at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and as a scientist at the University of Kentucky.[2][3]

Schwabe is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London. She was named a NASA fellow in exobiology for her discovery of a unique life system found only in the black fresh water holes in the Bahamas, and was featured in the book titled Women of Discovery: A Celebration of Intrepid Women Who Explored the World.[4][5]

In 2004, Schwabe was given the Women of Discovery Award for Courage by Wings WorldQuest.[4]

Exploration

Schwabe began diving in caves in either in the mid-1980s[2] or in 1992.[1] Since that time, she has participated in eighteen scientific expeditions to the Bahamas, as subjects for masters and doctoral research. She has participated in a number of film expeditions. In 2000, Schwabe's discovery quest led her to the Black Hole of Andros, Bahamas.[2]

Schwabe discovered a species of purple sulfur bacteria she named Allocromatium palmerii in 2003 after her late husband and diver Rob Palmer.[6][7]

Schwabe is the founder and director of the Rob Palmer Blues Holes Foundation, a nonprofit organization.[8][3] The foundation is dedicated to the scientific and physical exploration of blue holes within the Bahamas and related environment. The foundation's goals are to encourage education and conservation of Bahamian caves and blue holes.[9]

Third Man phenomenon

Schwabe also describes the Third Man phenomenon that occurred to her while lost as she was solo diving in a cave.[10] Her husband, British diving pioneer Rob Palmer, died on a pleasure dive in the Red Sea in 1997.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Wayman, Erin (July 2008). "Stephanie Schwabe". Geotimes. Retrieved 2001-03-14.
  2. ^ a b c d e Warren, Jim (2011-03-15). "UK scientist has her lab in underwater caves". Lexington Herald. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  3. ^ a b "Underwater Cave Diving in the Bahamas: Stephanie Schwabe | University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences". www.as.uky.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  4. ^ a b "Stephanie Jutta Schwabe, 2004 Women of Discovery Courage Award". Wings WorldQuest. 2009-11-19. Archived from the original on 2011-08-15. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  5. ^ Polk, Milbry; Tiegreen, Mary (2001). Women of Discovery: A Celebration of Intrepid Women Who Explored the World. Clarkson Potter Publishers. ISBN 0-609-60480-5.
  6. ^ staff. "Exploring the Black (and Blue) Holes of the Bahamas". LI-COR Biosciences. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  7. ^ Schwabe, Stephanie. "The floor on fire". Diver Magazine. Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2001-03-14.
  8. ^ staff. "About: Stephanie Jutta Schwabe Founder and Director of the Rob Palmer Blue Holes Foundation". Retrieved 2001-03-14.
  9. ^ staff. "Objectives". Retrieved 2001-03-14.
  10. ^ Geiger, John (2009-09-13). "Guardian Angels Or The 'Third Man Factor'?". NPR. Retrieved 2001-03-14.

Bibliography