While many dream of studying these incredible animals, it is easy to feel discouraged by the thought of spending many years getting a PhD before contributing to their research and conservation. But here’s a little open secret: you don’t need a PhD to make meaningful contributions to the field. To prove it, we asked six […]
Whale research without a PhD? Yes you can! Read More »
So, you have finished your undergraduate or master’s in marine science and set your heart on pursuing a PhD working on a charismatic cetacean species. Whether it’s the killer whale, the beluga, or another species at risk, you would like to find a cool research project, study your dream species, and make a difference. The
Want to do a PhD on killer whales? Start by narrowing your research niche Read More »
Attending a marine mammal conference is an exciting opportunity to learn, share your research, and meet new people who share your passion. Whether it’s your first conference or you’ve been to many before, it can still feel a little overwhelming with so much happening all at once. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of
A complete guide to attending your first marine mammal conference Read More »
In a newly published study in Seismica, researchers used instruments on land designed to monitor earthquakes (seismometers) to detect the presence of fin and blue whale calls in the Gulf of St Lawrence. What is a seismometer? Seismometers are instruments that measure the ground motion and are typically used to study earthquakes. However, they can
Eavesdropping on whales using land seismometers Read More »
Marine mammals are difficult for scientists to study; they spend most or all of their lives in and around water habitats. Because of their vastness (hundreds of thousands of square kilometers) and depth (thousands of meters), marine mammal habitats are difficult for humans to access and explore. Cetaceans – whales, dolphin, and porpoises – spend
How To Study The Deepest Diving Whales? Use Chemistry! Read More »
The death of a whale can happen at sea or onshore if the animal beaches itself. Examining the dead whales can reveal many secrets like the cause of death, but also how a whale’s body works. In this post, we will explore the lesser-known area of cetacean research, post-mortem investigations, commonly known as necropsies. We
What secrets can we uncover from dead whales? Read More »
One of the most fundamental pieces of information about individuals (including dolphins) is their age. In biology studies, scientists need to know how old an animal is to understand many aspects of its life history and, for example, to estimate the viability of a population. But estimating an animal’s age is no easy feat when
Scientists can now use the DNA of dolphins to know their age Read More »
This week, we are partnering with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), aka the public body that advises the UK Government and devolved administrations on UK-wide and international conservation. They just launched a new tool for conservation called the Joint Cetacean Data Program (JCDP). By accessing the portal, researchers can now obtain tons of sighting
Hey Whale Scientists, You Can Now Access A New Free Cetacean Database For Research! Read More »
Science communication (also called #scicomm) is a skill. It involves sharing science with a larger audience, beyond Academia, in an understandable way. Effective science communication relies on a delicate balance between too few details and too much information, which can confuse a non-expert audience. Above all, it should be entertaining and tell a story. With
Why Should Early-career Scientists Engage in Science Communication? Read More »
Photo-ID has been around for decades: it allowed researchers to study the marine mammal populations and opened the door to awesome whale research worldwide. So what exactly is photo-ID, why is it important, and how can you gain skills in this discipline? Find out in this post. A picture says more than a thousand words
Photo-ID is the heart of whale research Read More »
