Dear Marine Mammal Community,
We are delighted to share the recipients of the 2026 Louis M. Herman Research Scholarship.
The scholarship honors the legacy of Louis M. Herman, a pioneer in dolphin sensory perception and cognition and humpback whale behavioral ecology. Dr. Herman founded the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory in 1969 and co-founded The Dolphin Institute, shaping decades of groundbreaking research and mentoring generations of marine mammal scientists. Established in 2017 by his family, colleagues, and friends, the scholarship is awarded biennially to support research that reflects his innovative and rigorous scientific approach.
This year, we received an exceptional 45 proposals from researchers across the globe, representing Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Israel, Madagascar, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The quality and breadth of submissions were the highest on record, making the review process both inspiring and highly competitive.
We appreciate the efforts of all the applicants and would like to thank everyone who submitted an application for this award.
After careful consideration, the Herman Family generously elected to support two outstanding applicants this year:
