Eugenie Clark Stamps

The U.S. Postal Service honors pioneering marine biologist Eugenie Clark (1922-2015) with the release of a commemorativestamp. Affectionately known as the "Shark Lady," Clark conducted many important studies that provided fascinating insightsinto shark biology and worked tirelessly to change public perception about sharks.

The stamp art features a digital collage created by multidisciplinary atist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya. Phingbodhipakkiya'sdesign includes a photograph of Clark taken by David Doubilet as well as a photograph of a lemon shark taken by ReinhardDirscherl. Wavy blue elements in the stamp's background evoke an undersea scene.

Clark earned the nickname "Shark Lady" for her wellpublicized work as director of the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory (now theMote Mlarine Laboratory) on Florida's west coast from 1955 to 1967. in a series of aroundbreaking experiments, Clarkdemonstrated that lemon sharks could be trained to do complex tasks and debunked myths about sharks as vicious, fearsomecreatures. She also made significant contributions to the study of hermaphroditism in fishes.

A prolific scientist animated by an unyielding sense of curiosity, Clark carried out more than 200 expeditions across the globeduring her career. One of her most unforgettable moments occurred in 1973. At the request of local divers, Clark traveled toMexico's Yucatan Peninsula to study a group of requiem sharks that appeared to be sleeping at the bottom of an underseacave, After 99 subseguent dives, Clark and her team determined that they had discovered a "cleaning station" an area wherewater conditions caused parasites to release their grip from the motionless sharks. Their discovery helped disprove the notionthat some shark species must keep swimming in order to survive.

Clark's enthusiasm for sharks and for the preservation of marine environments around the world was infectious, She publishedmore than 175 scholaly and popular scientific articles and narrated several film and television documentaries. Crowds offascinated listeners of all ages packed her public talks. For her contributions to marine science, she received the Franklin L.Burr Award from the National, Gecgraphic Society, the Explorers Club Medal. and the Medal of Excellence from the AmericanSociety of Oceanographers, among numerous other recognitions.Antonio Alcal¡ served as art director for this stamp.

The Eugenie Clark stamp is being issued as a Forever® stamp. This Forever stamp will always be equal in value to thecurrent First-Class Mail® one-ounce price

Made in the USA.