Tierney Thys, marine biologist and interpreter of the sunfish
Tierney Thys, a marine biologist, spent decades studying the giant ocean sunfish, using its unique form to ask broader questions about life in the open ocean. Thys, who died in March at 59, was a National Geographic Explorer and advocate for the ocean who worked to make complex ecological processes accessible to wider audiences.
Tierney Thys, a marine biologist and National Geographic Explorer, died in March at 59. She spent decades studying the giant ocean sunfish, asking questions about its form and movement. Thys was trained in biology and engineering, and worked on a winged submarine with Sylvia Earle and Graham Hawkes. She tracked sunfish across the world's oceans, tagging individuals to follow their movements and diving patterns. Thys worked to make complex ecological processes legible to a wider audience through documentary series such as 'Strange Days on Planet Earth' and 'The Shape of Life'. Her work linked issues like textiles and microplastics to ocean health, and explored how people come to value the natural world.
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