Extraordinary Women Leaders in Speleology (EWLS)

My small size "was like something that had been a disadvantage [but when I became a caver] it suddenly made me a super hero.” Stacy Gantt-Blackwood Environmental Scientist and  2014 EWC #ScienceWomen #WLeadership #ewls www.ewls.org

“I enjoy taking people underground for the first time, and seeing that look of wonder on their faces.” Mary Sue Socky NSS Fellow, Retired Biology Teacher, and  2014 EWC #ScienceWomen #WLeadership #ewls www.ewls.org

“Caving gives me ideas for songs, and artwork - along with self-confidence ... Caving truly changed my life." Marian McConnell Author, over 30-year caver, and  2014 EWC #WLeadership #ewls www.ewls.org

"Saving habitats, extending known species records, and rescuing and promoting conservation is my calling.” Kirsten Alvey-Mudd Chef with a Masters in Biological Sciences, Executive Director of Missouri Bat Census, and 2014 EWC #ScienceWomen #WLeadership #ewls www.ewls.org

Kelly is a caver from Tennessee. She has been caving for 13 years. However, she did not join the NSS until 4 years or so into her caving. She is now a lifetime member and Fellow of the NSS. When she started with photography, she used a typical point and shoot camera. On a photography trip Tumbling Rock Cave, a SCCi Preserve in Alabama in 2005, Kelly was inspired by Nathan Williams who taught her a few tricks that day. After this, she purchased her first DSLR and some flashes and self-taught from there. She’s always preferred FUJI cameras but she’s not to technical. She works very simple in caves. Her work has been on two covers of the NSS News, and she has won a few Merit Awards as well as Honorable Mention s Awards in the NSS Salons. Kelly designed newsletter covers for TAG Caver and has won awards for that as well. She tells new cave photographers “be prepared that anything you take underground can be destroyed by a cave environment. If you purchase hig...

"All my caving is geared towards education, conservation, exploration, and especially fun.” Gayle Chaney Audiologist, caver for 24 years, and 2014 EWC #ScienceWomen #WLeadership #ewls www.ewls.org

Cristina was born in Mexico in 1966. She is a photographer as well as a Marine Biologist. For the past 20 years she has been working as a writer and photographer. In 2005 she funded the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP). Cristina has elevated conservation photography to a whole new level. Back then when she started out with Nature and conservation photography it was considered taboo to talk about the environment. In 2010 she was awarded the Mission Award from North American Nature Photography Association; an organization that experiments with ideas to show how photographers can have an impact on conservation. The organization is now launching a non-profit called Sea Legacy whose mission is to share the power of photography and story-telling to raise awareness of biodiversity and marine conservation. Cristina uses her photography to show the importance of cave conservation. The destruction of species and landscapes ignited by her passion for conservation. S...