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Dr. Asha de Vos is an internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan marine biologist renowned for her groundbreaking research on blue whales in the Northern Indian Ocean. As Sri LankaтАЩs first deep-sea explorer and a fervent advocate for marine conservation diversity and equity, she has made significant contributions to ocean science and education.
Asha holds degrees from prestigious institutions including the University of St. Andrews, the University of Oxford, and the University of Western Australia. She transitioned from academia to establish Oceanswell, Sri LankaтАЩs first marine conservation research and education organisation. Her work has garnered international attention, being featured by prominent media outlets such as the BBC, the New York Times, TED and National Geographic.
Among her numerous accolades, Asha de Vos holds the distinction of being the first Sri Lankan woman to have her portrait displayed at Oxford University. She is also honored with a deck named after her on the MV Sylvia Earle cruise ship and has her handwoven portrait featured in the тАШWomen + WaterтАЩ exhibit at Manitowish River Studio in the USA. She was recognized on the BBC 100 Women 2018 list and named Sri Lankan of the Year by Lanka Monthly Digest the same year.
Her notable awards include the inaugural Maxwell-Hanrahan award in field biology in 2020, Scuba Diving MagazineтАЩs Sea Hero of the Year, and the Vanithaabimani Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. She also received the T├дllberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize and was named the equity and diversity champion of the British Ecological Society in 2023. Additionally, she became an Osher Fellow at the California Academy of Sciences. In 2024, Asha de Vos was invited to join the UN Secretary-GeneralтАЩs 7-member Scientific Advisory Board, underscoring her global influence and commitment to advancing marine conservation and social equity.
