Marine Mammal Online Experience – July 2020

Interested in learning more about marine mammal research and conservation from experts in the field? The California Ocean Alliance invites you to sign up for The Marine Mammal Online Experience (MOE)! This is a unique and engaging one-week online educational course designed to provide each student the opportunity to work directly with world experts in marine mammal science and conservation. Each day we will explore the underwater world of seals, sea lions, whales, dolphins, and sea otters, showing you our strategies for conserving and protecting ocean ecosystems. Target audience for this course is high school and college students interested in careers in marine mammal biology. Students will be presented with a combination of exciting lectures and group-based online, interactive activities. Additionally, individuals will have access to scientific papers, multi-media material, and guidance from top marine mammal researchers. Curriculum highlights include:

Interactive lessons from researchers at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History on the evolution of marine mammals

Virtual tours of seal breeding colonies in California

Virtual tours of the newly-renovated captive marine mammal research facilities at UC Santa Cruz. See how we train captive seals, sea lions, and dolphins, and cooperatively conduct cutting edge research right here in Santa Cruz!

Analyzing video data obtained from multi-sensor tags on the backs of humpback whales

Learning about the use of drone technology to study the health of marine mammals, and how to measure animals, including killer whales

Introduction to the underwater acoustic world of marine mammals, current threats of sound pollution, how to analyze marine mammal sounds, and why this is important

Panel discussions with leaders in the field about how to pursue a career in marine mammal science and conservation

Given this unique and unprecedented time, we have the opportunity to offer students the chance to virtually interact with and leading experts in the field of marine mammal science and conservation from around the United States. These professors and scientists include:

Dr. Nicholas Pyenson – Research Geologist and Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals at the National Museum of Natural History. World expert on marine mammal evolution

Dr. Ari Friedlaender – Associate Researcher at UC Santa Cruz and Director of Research for the California Ocean Alliance. Leading researcher in whale foraging ecology and use of tag technology

Drs. John Durban and Holly Fearnbach – SEA Senior Scientist and Marine Mammal Research Director for SR3. Premier population ecologists and pioneers of using drones to study marine mammal health (including southern resident killer whales)

Dr. Brandon Southall – President and senior Scientist of Southall Environmental Associates, Inc. (SEA). Leading scientist exploring communication, hearing, and the effects of noise on marine mammals

Dr. David Wiley – Research Coordinator for Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Dr. Wiley’s groundbreaking research led to the relocation of shipping lanes to reduce ship strikes of large whales

Dr. Charles Littnan – Division Director of the Protected Species Division/Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program for NOAA Fisheries. Conservation biologist leading the effort to save Hawaiian monk seals

Dr. Lars Bejder – Associate Researcher and Director of the Marine Mammal Research Program at the University of Hawaii. Uses innovative technology to quantify habitat use, movements, and body condition of marine mammals for conservation purposes

Dr. Caroline Casey – Director of Education, California Ocean Alliance. Behavioral ecologist and acoustician studying communication in marine mammals

Dr. Colleen Reichmuth-Principal investigator and Senior research scientist of the UCSC Pinniped Cognition and Sensory Systems Lab. Has led the research efforts in marine mammal cognition, bioacoustics, and behavioral ecology for over 25 years.

Course details:

Daily Schedule: 9:00am-12:00pm PST Monday-Friday