Mark Benfield is a 57-year-old oceanographer and professor at LSU’s School of the Coast and Environment. He believes that oceans are the most unexplored and least understood environment on earth, but he is working on changing that fact by studying the depths of the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana’s coast.
Though Mark has lived in Baton Rouge for 20 years, he moved around a number of times before he arrived. Mark completed his bachelor’s degree at University of Toronto, his master’s degree at University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, and his doctoral degree at Texas A&M. He originally came to Baton Rouge in 1996 for a one-year postdoctoral position at LSU, but since he realized all that the city offers he hasn’t wanted to leave.
Mark is one of the speakers at TEDxLSU, which is coming up on March 5. I wanted to learn more about Mark outside of just his long career and celebrated research. I recently had the opportunity to ask him a few questions.
You’re known as an oceanographer, but what are three other things about you that people might be surprised to learn?
I was a soldier for eight years in the Queen’s York Rangers (1st American Regiment), a light armored reconnaissance regiment in the Canadian Army, and I retired as a Captain. I also used to co-own a vineyard in Washington State growing Sangiovese and Syrah grapes. Lastly, I still get seasick when I go to sea, but I have learned that I will always get over it.
The theme of TEDxLSU 2016 is “Why”; when wondering about the world, what is your biggest “why” question?
Why don’t we take climate change seriously? Given the potentially catastrophic impacts, surely a precautionary approach is warranted.
When you’re prepping yourself for a deep-sea day, what music do you play to get yourself in the zone?
Coldplay, Sting, Jimmy Buffett, Roxy Music. Most remotely operated vehicle control vans have a good stereo system, and I’ll listen to whatever the pilots want to play.
When not involved in academic or scientific pursuits, what is your favorite recreational water activity and why?
I like fishing. I learned to saltwater fly fish when I was at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. It’s very relaxing, but I just wish I was a better caster.
You’ve gone to school in three different countries; how have your multicultural experiences impacted your view of the world?
People aren’t as different as you might think; we all have similar aspirations. The more I travel, the more I realize just how privileged we are in the United States and Canada.
If you could invite one person in particular to come watch your TEDxLSU 2016 talk, who would you choose and why?
Fred Speed. Mr. Speed was my high school science teacher. He had a profound impact on my career direction when I was younger, and I hope he would be proud of what I’ve accomplished.
Which other TEDxLSU 2016 speaker’s talk are you most interested to hear, and why?
I have always admired and appreciated General Honoré<’s service to our country and to our state. I know he will be inspirational.
Lastly, if you could be any sea creature, which one would you choose and why?
I would want to be a copepod (which is a type of small crustacean less than a 10th of an inch in size). I suppose I wouldn’t last very long, but I have spent so much time studying tiny planktonic animals that it would be amazing to actually experience their world. Because of their small size they experience water in a fundamentally different way than we do; to them it’s like swimming in honey or syrup.
To learn more about Mark or about TEDxLSU 2016, follow TEDxLSU on and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Tickets are on sale now to come to the event and listen to Mark’s talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2016 speakers.
