Helen Rost Martins (HRM) is a Norwegian-Portuguese marine biologist. She began her career in 1949 when, as a high school student, she wrote her 1st scientific note on new freshwater gastropod in Norway. HRM studied zoology and chemistry in the University of Bergen, and physical geography, geology and paleontology in Oslo University. Her thesis was on bivalves from the Silurian of Gotland. Her first job was curator at the Natural History Museum of the University of Oslo. In 1976, HRM founded the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries (DOP), the campus of the University of Açores at Horta and shaped what Institute OKEANOS (then DOP) is today. HRM participated in oceanographic campaigns, dived in deep-sea submersible, worked with natural history museums, started a reference collection and a specialized library, is editor of the scientific journal Arquipelago Life and Marine Sciences and started to build up an international scientific network with American and European colleagues. HRM published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers, and many other scientific contributions. Most of the research lines Helen started are still in progress today. Helen Rost Martins is honorary member of OKEANOS, University of the Azores.