Avelin Mary

Avelin Mary is a marine biologist and a Roman Catholic nun belonging to the Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows, Servants of Mary. She is a Director of Sacred Heart Marine Research Center (SHMRC), Tuticorin.

Education Mary received her Ph.D. in marine biology from Marathwada University, Aurangabad. She completed her post-doctoral work at Osborne Laboratories (New York Zoological Society) and Duke University Marine Laboratories (Beaufort, North Carolina). She was a visiting scientist at Tulane University, Duke University, University of Delaware, University of Hawaii and Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan.

In 2002, she was recognized by India's National Environmental Science Academy (NESA) in New Delhi as one of 14 Scientists of the Year. She received the award in Calcutta.

In January 2003, she was one of 12 recipients of the Jagruthi Kiran Foundation's 2003 Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose National Award for Excellence.