[3] Her research group focuses on a range of topics, including marine invertebrate biology and diversity to climate change and its impacts on disease ecology.
[7] The book explores Harvell's work as curator of the Cornell University Collection of Blaschka Invertebrate Models, which includes 570 detailed and highly accurate sculptures of marine creatures.
Harvell's recognitions for her writing and professional accomplishments include: 2015 - Elected to the Ecological Society of America (ESA) Fellows Program[9] 2016 - National Outdoor Book Award Winner, in the category of Natural History Literature for A Sea of Glass: Searching for the Blaschkas’ Fragile Legacy in an Ocean at Risk.
[11] 2017 - Honorable Mention, Rachel Carson Environment Book Award, Society of Environmental Journalists, for A Sea of Glass: Searching for the Blaschkas’ Fragile Legacy in an Ocean at Risk.
[14] 2020 - Selected to give the Rachel Carson Lecture for the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2020 on "Oceanic Pandemics from Foundation to Keystone Species.