Author talk: Dr Vanessa Pirotta, wildlife scientist about Humpback Highway

About Dr Vanessa Pirotta:

Vanessa is a wildlife scientist and science communicator. Her research uses innovative technologies for wildlife conservation. Her best-known research involves using drones to collect whale snot (lung bacteria) from humpback whales for an assessment of whale health. Whale research has taken Vanessa around the world to places such as Antarctica, Tonga and Madagascar. In addition to marine science, she also works on conserving native Australian wildlife and exotic terrestrial species through her role as the chief scientist on a major illegal wildlife trafficking detection program for the Australian Federal Government.
Vanessa is a passionate science communicator who loves making science accessible to all. Vanessa’s work as an early career researcher and advocate for STEM in schools has been recognised by the Australian Financial Review as one of the top 100 Women of Influence and has seen her listed as one of Science & Technology Australia’s Superstars of STEM. Recently, Vanessa has become a children’s book author with her publication The Voyage of Whale and Calf (CSIRO Publishing) which documents the annual whale migration in Australian waters.

“I will never forget the moment I entered the water quietly and saw two humpback whales sleeping diagonally in the distance. It was like two school buses just hanging there in space …
Acclaimed wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta has been mugged by whales, touched by a baby whale and covered in whale snot. In Humpback Highway Pirotta’s enthusiasm and deep knowledge of whales shine through as she explores a variety of timely topics – from why whale snot and poo are important for us and the ocean to the life cycle of whales, the challenges humans present to these marine giants, and the new technologies – including tagging whales via satellite – so we can see where they swim, listen to them talk and even spy on them underwater.”

Host or Publisher Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts (SMSA)