Idelisa Bonnelly

Idelisa Bonnelly was a Dominican marine biologist who is considered to be the "mother of marine conservation in the Caribbean". She founded the Institute of Marine Biology and the Dominican Foundation for Marine Research.

Bonnelly was born in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, in 1931. She studied marine biology at the University of Miami and then returned to the Dominican Republic to work on conservation projects.

Bonnelly was a pioneer in marine conservation in the Dominican Republic. She founded the Institute of Marine Biology in 1962 and the Dominican Foundation for Marine Research in 1972. She also worked to create the first marine protected areas in the Dominican Republic.

Bonnelly was a tireless advocate for marine conservation. She travelled the world giving speeches and raising awareness about the importance of protecting the oceans. She was also a prolific writer, authoring over 100 scientific papers and books.

Bonnelly was a role model for many young women in the Dominican Republic. She showed them that they could achieve anything they set their minds to, even in a male-dominated field like science.

Idelisa Bonnelly de Calventi was a pioneering journalist and businesswoman in the Dominican Republic.