After graduating with a degree in Natural Science (University of Cambridge, UK), Tom has spent the last three years working for various whale research and conservation groups. As part of this, he interned for the University of Iceland in Húsavík, contributing to photo-ID and behavioural research. During this time, he formed the idea of promoting a more sustainable whale watching industry in Iceland and beyond. This idea has transformed into Whale Wise, with the broader aim of reducing human disturbance to whales. Our behavioural, blow sampling and body condition research will form part of Tom’s PhD with the University of Edinburgh.

Alyssa has spent nearly 10 years working in the whale research field. Meeting close friends with similar passions over the years, Alyssa joined forces with other young researchers and co-found Whale Wise in 2018. Obtaining a BS in Marine Environmental Science from Western Washington University and MSc in Marine Systems and Policies from the University of Edinburgh, Alyssa has learned that real change is made through the combination of research, conservation and education. If you are interested in contacting and/or working with Whale Wise, feel free to reach out to Alyssa directly using info@whalewise.org.

Amelie is currently graduating with a BSc. in biology in Germany. Soon she will be studying the master of biological oceanography in Kiel. During three years of travelling before uni she learnt from and contributed to different research groups, following her passion for marine science. Working in whale research along the way she met Tom, Alyssa and Abigail and since then she’s a part of the team in Iceland. Amelie runs our acoustic research, understanding the underwater soundscape of North Iceland. As part of her current undergraduate dissertation, she is studying the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the acoustic habitat of the humpbacks in Skjálfandi Bay.

Flo graduated from McGill University (Montreal, Canada) with a Bachelors in Biology, with a concentration in marine biology. A class on marine mammals in the Bay of Fundy made her the whale enthusiast she is today. She completed her master’s dissertation in 2019 (Marine Systems and Policy, University of Edinburgh), where she assessed the ability of using drones to measure body condition of humpback whales in Iceland with Whale Wise. Flo now runs our diatom and co-runs our scars from above projects, as well as helping with all sorts of Whale Wise research and engagement projects. Her favourite whales are North Atlantic right whales because they are cute, slow and chubby.

Abigail is from New Zealand and has always felt a draw to the ocean. Growing up in a family that spent summers fishing and diving, meant that she encountered cetaceans from a young age, and has always scanned the horizon for them ever since. While studying a BAppSc. in Biodiversity Management (Unitec, Auckland), she spent field seasons in 2014-16 working as a research assistant for Cook Islands Whale Research. This was when she learned to fly a drone, and capture humpbacks from an angle that offers many new research opportunities. Abigail is our drone pilot, taking Whale Wise to the skies to collect blow samples and aerial images. Currently she works as a Biosecurity Officer in New Zealand.

Josephine grew up landlocked in the middle of Germany, but found her passion for oceans when learning to surf as a teenager during summers spent in France. This passion brought her to Aberdeen, Scotland, to study Environmental Sciences in her undergraduate while living closer to nature. During this degree, she also spent a semester at the University Centre in Svalbard, where she specialised in Arctic Biology and had her first encounters with marine mammals during various kayaking trips. Since then, Josephine has been hooked on cetaceans and worked as a research assistant on beluga whales in Québec as well as a naturalist and guide onboard small cruise ships to the Arctic and Antarctica. Her particular research interests lie in the field of acoustics, and this is what she focussed on for her undergraduate thesis as well as her MSc in Marine Mammal Sciences at the University of St Andrews. Most recently, she has moved to Tromsø in Norway to do an internship at the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) and to enjoy the sea and mountains around. For Whale Wise, Josephine is supporting the acoustic analysis of data from the previous Arctic Sense Expedition.

Ívar Örn is a local Icelander from Bíldudalur in Iceland and grew up there. Since childhood, Ívar has been interested in whales and marine life and has, among other things, worked at sea in commercial fishing. Unlike other members of Whale Wise, Ívar has a different background and education as a lawyer. However, Ívar has contributed his knowledge to assist the Whale Wise team, especially regarding citizen science, translations and statistics. Ívar is a proud member of the Whale Wise team and will carry on working with and assisting the other members.

Sarah graduated with a BSc in Biology from Queen Mary University of London and is currently studying MSc Marine Systems and Policies at the University of Edinburgh. For her master’s dissertation she will be working in partnership with Whale Wise to study the potential of HydroMoths deployed on static fishing gear to monitor cetaceans. Sarah has contributed to marine mammal research in the North Sea and is a volunteer marine mammal medic.