Emma is based in Orkney, an island off Scotland’s northeast coast, where she works for Whale and Dolphin Conservation on a citizen science project called Shorewatch. When not out looking for whales and dolphins, and when the weather allows, she’ll be out on her paddleboard or sea kayak exploring the coastline from a different perspective.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-steel-a62a59b6/

www.whales.org/shorewatch

Magdalena – born in a small town in central Poland, far from the sea, but as a child she spent every holiday by the Polish seaside. She has always felt a bond with water, regardless of whether it was large or small bodies of water. When she began oceanography studies, specializing in marine biology, she moved to Gdansk, on the Polish coast and settled there for good. After graduating, she did not work in her profession, but her love for the sea did not subside. And it was completely by accident that she became an MMO. As an MMO, she found a path that she has been following for 17 years now. She willingly takes part in different courses that help her expand her knowledge and gain new experiences. Among other things, she obtained the Marine Mammal Medic certificate. In the meantime, she visits schools in her hometown and tells students about her job and how beautiful sea creatures are and how important it is to protect them. At every opportunity she raises awareness among friends and acquaintances about the importance of protecting the seas and oceans. She enjoys walking along the beaches of Gdansk looking out for seals and hopes that he will meet some someday.

Contact: mmlipka@gmail.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/magdalena-lipka-117782b8/

Monica’s journey to becoming a marine mammal scientist has been exactly the wildly improbable series of events you’d expect from someone who spent her childhood doodling dolphins. It all started at the tender age of six when she declared, with the absolute certainty that only a six-year-old can muster, that she would be a marine biologist. This was a bold move for someone barely tall enough to see over the kitchen counter, but the decision was made, nonetheless. This proclamation was followed by years of shoehorning dolphins and bioacoustics into every school project, art assignment, and casual conversation. By high school, finding her hand in term papers that bore suspiciously dolphin-shaped watermarks wasn't unusual —her teachers suspected these were entirely deliberate. At 17, however, Monica encountered what can only be described as one of those life plot twists that would make a lesser person reconsider their dreams. At the cusp of university, she veered slightly off course, choosing to study biology to become a veterinarian. It was, in essence, like aiming for “Marine Mammal Scientist” and winding up as a “General Practitioner for Creatures with Paws.” Yet, ever the enthusiast, Monica dove headfirst into veterinary medicine with the same fervor she’d once applied to doodle dolphins in the margins of her notebooks. For several years, she followed this path diligently. But marine mammals, being the devious charmers they are, never truly let go of their hold on her. In time, Monica returned to her first love with a vengeance, now equipped with an arsenal of skills that allowed her to approach it renewed vigor. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at California State University with a concentration in Ecology. She then spent several years as a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO), a role that involved peering out over the vast, blue expanse, ensuring humans weren’t disturbing the dolphins' conversations. It was, she realized, the perfect way to get paid to do what she already loved—namely, stare at the ocean for hours on end. After a sojourn to her father’s native land of Chile and encounters with the endemic dolphin and porpoise species there, she packed her bags for the University of St. Andrews, where she studied Marine Mammal Science. Because if you’re going to study dolphins, why not do it in a place practically dripping with marine mammals? In the meantime, Monica continued her not-so-secret side hobby: surfing. Her love for it was undeniable, though her skill level could generously be described as “aspirational.” While she spent more time tumbling off her board than gliding smoothly over waves, the dolphins who frequently appeared alongside her didn’t seem to mind. They appeared to be showing off, as dolphins are prone to do. Monica didn’t take it personally—mostly because she was too busy trying to stay upright. But Monica isn’t finished yet. Now, with an eye toward decoding dolphin behavior and language (yes, really), she’s diving into Data Science and Machine Learning through MIT. Because what better way to talk to dolphins than with a bit of help from algorithms? As she embarked on this new quest, one thing was clear: Monica wasn’t just earning degrees; she was gathering tools to unlock the mysteries of the deep. And if there’s one thing dolphins have taught us, they’re always one step ahead. As they famously said before leaving Earth in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “So long, and thanks for all the fish.” Monica, however, is determined to figure out precisely what they meant by that—and maybe even ask them a few more questions before they leave again. Standing at the intersection of science, technology, and ocean advocacy, Monica is uniquely positioned to ask questions that could lead to real regulatory change, ensuring that these charismatic creatures—and the oceans they call home—are protected for future generations.

Marina Batochio, ocean and cetacean lover, biologist, master in Ecology and southern right whale’s.

Anna Victoria Pyne Vinje is a marine biologist from Norway. In this podcast, we're both currently involved in the North Atlantic Sightings Surveys (NASS) project as marine mammal observers (MMO) at the Institute of Marine Research (IMR).

Victoria began her journey in marine biology after working as the only female fisherman on an old longline boat, where she gained invaluable maritime skills and resilience. Her academic path took her from the University of Bergen to James Cook University (JCU) in Australia and then to a Master's in Arctic Animal Physiology and Marine Biology at the University of Tromsø (UiT). During her Master's, she worked as a research technician at UiT, handling species such as the hooded seal, reindeer, and ptarmigans.

Her professional career started as an MMO with the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and the National Marine Mammal Foundation on the 'SOST minke whale hearing project,' contributing to the very first hearing measurements on baleen whales to study the impact of human-made noise on these marine mammals and mitigate this form of pollution. Leading research at OneWhale, she focuses on conserving and managing the famous beluga whale Hvaldimir, aiming to translocate him back to a wild population. This project seeks to provide scientific insights and study the adaptation of a previously captive animal.

In her field, she has faced challenges such as misconceptions, polarized opinions, and personal harassment, which are unfortunately common for women in male-dominated fields. She handles these situations by valuing solid ethical foundations and clear communication. Victoria hopes to inspire other young biologists, especially women, to pursue their passion in the field and encourages the younger generation to strive for a fair and equitable working environment for all genders.

Driven by the chance to make a meaningful impact on marine conservation, the ocean's vastness and mystery continually fascinate her. Her transition from a fisherman to a diving marine biologist shows her dedication to the maritime world, a passion she continues to pursue while living on her sailboat, staying connected to the sea.

Links:

Capture and Release of Minke Whales Offers New Research Opportunities, Including Measurements of Mysticete Hearing. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.50.4.2024.352

www.nmmf.org/our-work/biologic-bioacoustic-research/minke-whale-hearing/

www.onewhale.org

Episode 18 features three marine biologists:

Cristina was born and raised in Italy, in a small city nearby. Milan, far away from the sea. She has always felt a calling for marine life and dreamed of becoming a great marine biologist, to have the opportunity to study and help conserve what she thinks are the most beautiful creatures on Earth. Following this call, she enrolled in the University of Milano-Bicocca for a Bachelor's in Biology. During those years, she participated in workshops at her university, in their center in the Maldives, where she better understood the marine environment's threats. After graduating, she enrolled in the master's degree course in "Marine Sciences," which she is currently enrolled in attending her last year. Her passion and interest in marine mammals led her to Portugal, in AIMM, where she is an intern building experience in marine mammal research and working on her thesis on the impacts of environmental variables on the occurrence of the minke whale.

Janneke den Hollander grew up in The Netherlands, and was already drawn to the ocean from a young age. Having a big love for animals, she enrolled in a BSc Biology in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Here, she quickly realized that the field of animal behavior and wildlife conservation attracted her the most, leading her to do her BSc thesis and internship about the social competence of rhesus macaques. However, due to her continuous love for the ocean, she decided to start a career in the field of marine biology and research. After her BSc in Biology, she went to Zanzibar to work in dolphin behavioral research, where she fell in love with working with these marine mammals. Traveling to the Maldives to work with sea turtles and coral restoration for 6 months broadened her knowledge and love for the ocean. Still, she couldn't stay out of the field of marine mammal research for long, as she is now working as a research assistant at AIMM, performing research on cetaceans and occasionally marine megafauna.

Amy was born in Perth, Western Australia and grew up in WA country towns. Amy has always loved animals and, throughout schooling, had a dream to work with dolphins. In 2013, Amy graduated from Murdoch University with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and Conservation and Wildlife Biology. Amy followed her passion for dolphin biology, conservation, and research to get her dream job in 2015 as a Reserves Officer with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Parks and Wildlife Service in Monkey Mia, Gutharraguda (Shark Bay, WA). As a Reserves Officer in Monkey Mia Amy was responsible for managing the dolphin human interactions for the dolphin experiences as well as conservation, interpretive activities, compliance and monitoring. Over nine years of working in Monkey Mia Amy gained knowledge and experience in conservation, wildlife biology and ecology, management tools, techniques and legislation and gained a versatile skill set that can be applied and adapted to different roles and environments. During time in Shark Bay, Amy was a team leader for the Malgana ladies’ group for the loggerhead turtle tagging on Dirk Hartog Island, volunteered for the Monkey Mia seagrass restoration project, conducted dolphin surveys and focal follows, assisted international dolphin researchers in Monkey Mia and contributed to reports and writing protocols and procedures for the Monkey Mia Dolphin Experience Management plan. In 2024 Amy decided to expand her learning of marine mammals to the other side of the world. She took the opportunity to join AIMM Marine Environment Research Association in Portugal as research assistant. Amy is enjoying working with the AIMM team learning about the marine mammals and environment of the region and has plans to begin her master’s by research in Perth in 2025. Amy is passionate about wildlife, the environment and promoting sustainability. Amy hopes to educate and inspire others about the conservation of the marine environment.

Ann Carole Vallejo is a marine biologist who graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of New Brunswick, Saint John, Canada. Later obtained a master’s degree in Nordic Marine Ecosystems and Climate from a joint Scandinavian program. Has worked on different projects around the world in the field of marine mammal research and conservation, habitat use and distribution, public awareness, education, and outreach.

IG & Twitter: @reoceancom

FB & LinkedIn: R&E Ocean Community Conservation

Julie Guiderdoni's journey from an international horse rider to a yacht broker in Cannes to the co-founder of Valhalla Expedition in north Norway is a testament to following one's passion for marine life. Her deep connection with orcas led her to prioritize animal welfare and ethical tourism practices.

Through Valhallab, an NGO dedicated to understanding marine life through bioacoustics, Julie and a French university in Toulon aim to protect the environment for future generations.

For those interested in her work, they can reach out via Valhallaorcaexpedition@gmail.com or visit their website, valhallaexpedition.com or social media.