Jane Lubchenco has spent most of her life thinking about our relationship with the sea. It's a relationship that continues to amaze her.

“Half the oxygen on planet Earth is produced by plants in the ocean," said the Oregon State University distinguished professor.

By 2009, Lubchenco had ventured into much deeper waters.

That’s when President Barack Obama tapped Lubchenco to head up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The post gave her influence on the policies that affect the environments she’s been exploring throughout her career.