Dr. Elena Ortiz

Senior Correspondent, Deep Frontiers

Dr. Ortiz earned her PhD in Marine Biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, specializing in deep-sea extremophiles. She has participated in over a dozen expeditions, from the Antarctic ice sheets to the hydrothermal vents of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Her reporting for 'National Geographic' earned her a citation from the Overseas Press Club for its visceral, on-the-ground perspective. Elena's 'Field Notes' column for 'Science and Exploration' is a reader favorite, blending personal reflection with hard-hitting environmental science. She believes that to understand the science, you must first understand the place and the people conducting the research.