24: Why Whales Sing: Decoding the Oldest System of Culture and Communication on Earth. A Conversation with Acoustic Ecologist, Dr. Michelle Fournet

About this episode

The episode features a conversation with Dr. Michelle Fournet about whale communication and the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems.

About Dr. Michelle Fournet : Michelle Fournet is a National Geographic Explorer, a professor of marine biology at the University of New Hampshire, a behavioral ecologist, and the director of the Sound Science Research Collective. As a bio acoustician, Fournet specializes in listening to the world's oceans and the marine animals who live there. Her research focuses on investigating how animals communicate underwater, and how anthropogenic (man-made) activities are changing ocean ecosystems. Fournet is particularly interested in marine mammals including humpback whales, bowhead whales, harbor seals and bearded seals. Fournet's research experience spans pole-to-pole with expeditions and projects ranging from Antarctica to the Alaskan Arctic, and Hawaii to the Caribbean. However, most of Fournet's research focuses on the calling behavior of humpback whales in Southeast Alaska. She was a longtime resident of Juneau, Alaska where the Sound Science Research Collective was founded and has spent the over 15 years listening to the voices of Alaska's whales. About Douglas Barr : Doug is Board Chair of the Educational Non-profit, Saint Helena Forum. He moved to Napa Valley from Los Angeles…

People in this episode

Host: Douglas Barr

Guest: Dr. Michelle Fournet

Topics covered

• whale communication
• marine biology
• acoustic ecology
• humpback whales
• ocean ecosystems

Keywords

• whales
• communication
• marine mammals
• acoustic ecology
• ocean research

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National Geographic, University of New Hampshire, Sound Science Research Collective

Places: Southeast Alaska, Juneau, Alaska, Antarctica, Alaskan Arctic, Hawaii, Caribbean

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