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She was the first in the development of marine sciences in her country, Dominican Republic. -
The scientist Idelisa Bonelly was a renowned Latin American researcher and teacher. -
She was born on September 10, 1931 in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. -
In 1940, when she was still a child, she moved to Santo Domingo with her family and there she grew up very close to the coastal cliffs -
While she was studying high school she was always looking for answers to her concerns about different marine species. -
She entertained herself by catching crabs, snails and clams that were hiding in small puddles between the rocks, which is how her passion for the marine world began.
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In 1951, she graduated as a medical technologist at Winchester Community College in New York. Here, her professors, seeing her interest, recommended that she study Marine Biology at Columbia University. -
In 1956 she obtained her bachelor’s degree in marine biology which was a great achievement considering that her parents didin’t have much money. -
In 1961 she received her Magister in the New York University. -
In 1966 she joined the University of Santo Domingo where she promoted marine environmental sciences by creating the Marine Biology Institute which later became a research and teaching center. -
Among her numerous achievements, the fundamental contribution in 1986 that she made to the creation of the first protected area for humpback whales in the North Atlantic stands out. -
In 1991 she created the Dominican foundation for marine studies fundemar, dedicated to promoting the sustainable use of marine ecosystems and resources through research. -
Between 2008 and 2013 he received multiple recognitions from different foundations and international organizations, for her excellent work. -
Idelissa Bonnelly, considered the mother of Marine conservation in the Caribbean. Her died on July 3, in 2022 at the age of 90, leaving a great legacy in the world of science.