Bringing Humpback Whale Song Science to Remote Scottish Communities
Dr Natalie Sinclair
University of St Andrews
In June 2024, I embarked on a public engagement initiative supported by the Challenger Society for Marine Science's Stepping Stones Bursary. The project aimed to bring a free marine science workshop to remote communities in Scotland, specifically focusing on the Outer Hebrides, including Harris and North Uist.
The core of the project was a presentation on the cutting-edge research on humpback whale song evolution in the North Atlantic Ocean. This research, which I conducted in collaboration with Marine Scotland and SAMS, analysed humpback whale vocalisations for the first time off the west coast of Scotland. My presentation dived into the complex world of whale songs, emphasising the significance of these songs for conservation efforts.
As part of the project, I had the opportunity to speak at the Outer Hebrides Wildlife Festival, presenting "Songs of the Scottish Humpbacks: Unlocking the Secrets of Whale Communication in the Outer Hebrides" at Talla na Mara arts centre in Harris on 24 June and at Taigh Chearsabhagh in Lochmaddy, North Uist on 26 June. The presentation focused on research conducted in collaboration with Marine Scotland, SAMS, and the University of St Andrews. The first talk, held at Talla na Mara arts centre in Harris, attracted a full event space of 30 people, including both community members and a group on an exchange from Barbados. The audience ranged in age from teenagers to over 70s, demonstrating the wide appeal of the topic. The second event, held at Taigh Chearsabhagh in North Uist, also drew a full house of 30 community members, further highlighting the interest in marine science in these remote communities. The audience members were full of questions at the end (and during!) and we were able to allow another 30 minutes of questions on top of our 60-minute event. Lastly, while on the islands I was invited to host a hybrid 'Natter for Nature' in South Uist. I compered a discussion with the CEO of Bumblebee Conservation Trust, a nature writer and the Community Engagement lead for the RSPB.
My collaborative research has revealed connections between Scotland and the Caribbean through humpback whale songs. This project not only educated but also celebrated the interconnectedness of our oceans, which was particularly relevant given the presence of the Barbadian exchange group at the Harris event. The presentation also featured an exciting collaboration with artist Samantha Gare and musician/researcher Alex South. Samantha discussed how art can be a powerful tool to share stories of our natural world and help process complex emotions, whilst Alex talked about his 'multispecies musicking' shaped by the sounds and structures of animal vocalisations. This interdisciplinary approach enriched the project and highlighted the importance of diverse perspectives in marine science communication. Following the festival, Samantha, Alex, and I are now in discussions to create innovative marine science community participation creations, further extending the impact of our collaboration.
Throughout the project, I made strong connections with the Festival organisers based in the Outer Hebrides, which may lead to more collaboration opportunities in the future. These connections will be invaluable for fostering ongoing engagement with remote communities and promoting marine science education and conservation efforts.
The Stepping Stones Bursary provided me with an incredible opportunity to share my knowledge and passion for marine science with remote communities in Scotland. Engaging with diverse audiences, including teenagers, adults, and even a group from Barbados, allowed me to inspire a wide range of individuals and foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the marine environment. I'm really happy that I could bring this, soon to be published, research to the communities that are closest to the whales in Scotland! I wanted the community to know that these coastal communities’ matter when research is being conducted around their shores, and so I emphasised that the research findings were coming to them first. Finally, the interdisciplinary collaboration with artists and musicians during the Outer Hebrides Wildlife Festival showcased the power of combining science, art, and music to create a more holistic and engaging approach to marine science education. This experience has broadened my perspective on the potential for innovative collaborations in science communication.
Profile of Award Holder:
Dr Natalie Sinclair is a Scottish marine biologist and conservationist who recently obtained her PhD from the University of St Andrews. Sinclair received her Master of Science degree from the University of Glasgow, for which she was awarded the Graham Kerr Memorial Prize for Excellence in Marine Science. She has worked with a diverse range of fauna, utilising non-invasive technologies for animal behaviour research and conservation monitoring. This process included the use of bioacoustics to aid conservation of threatened water bird and seal species in Scotland. Her work in conservation policy, alongside Scottish Natural Heritage, led to the implementation of remote time-lapse photography to monitor seabirds at a colony in the Northern Isles of Scotland, which unearthed unknown behaviour patterns. Sinclair's passion for public engagement and diversity in science is evident in her extensive voluntary work across Scotland and abroad. With the Dundee Science Centre, she co-organised the 2018 International Women and Girls in Science Lecture at the University of St Andrews and established Wild Bannockburn, a grassroots community action group focused on protecting nature. Her PhD research focused on the fine-scale cultural evolution of humpback whale song in the North Atlantic and South Pacific oceans. Sinclair is a National Geographic Explorer with a 2019-2020 National Geographic Early Career Grant and currently works as a National Geographic Expert for National Geographic Expeditions in Scotland, Iceland, and New Zealand.
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Workshop on the contribution of UK Arctic Ocean science to the International Polar Year 32/33
12:00 11th June – 16:00 12th June 2025: NOC Southampton (In-person with online option): Registration deadline 16th May
REGISTER HERE
Pre-meeting questionnaire (open to all)
The purpose of this workshop is for the UK Ocean Science community to discuss and then draft a prospectus document outlining the priority Arctic research questions the community would like to address during the run up to, throughout and beyond the International Polar Year 32/33. Additionally, to identify what unique strengths and technologies the UK has to help fill these knowledge gaps.
The second day of the workshop will be dedicated to writing groups, one for each of the priority research questions identified - from both the pre-meeting questionnaire (HERE) and day one discussion. By the end of the meeting, each group will have produced draft text and sourced supporting figures for the prospectus.
Post meeting, the draft will be opened for comments and suggestions from everyone, regardless of whether they were able to attend the workshop or not. It will then be shared with UK funders (UKRI, FCDO, DSIT, ARIA) and potential international programmes with whom we would like to collaborate (e.g. Arctic 2050, Norway). It will form a basis from which wider integration with terrestrial, atmospheric and cryosphere communities can be built, e.g. at the UK Arctic Science Meeting in September in Northumbria.
To ensure balanced community and ECR representation, and to ensure that the size of the writing groups is efficient and effective, if the number of registrations from individual institutes becomes overwhelming, we may contact individuals or teams and ask that each institute selects a smaller number of individuals to attend in-person. Please wait for confirmation of in-person attendance before finalising travel arrangements.
The workshop will be open to hybrid attendance and contributions on both days.
Challenger Society Council Position Vacancy
The Challenger Society for Marine Science (CSMS) are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to support the next generation of ocean scientists and innovators. CSMS are looking for a new Council member to fill the Student Travel Awards and Stepping Stones Portfolio. The successful applicant will administer the travel and research grants available for Early Career Researchers.
The role involves:
- Receiving applications for the two schemes and responding to applicant inquiries
- Soliciting and compiling input from the rest of the Council for assessing the applications
- Communicating with successful and unsuccessful applicants for the two schemes
- Working with the Honorary Treasurer on allocating funds to successful applicants
- Following up with award winners on their reporting requirements
- Attending Council meetings four times a year (in person or online) and contributing to discussions and decision making for CSMS
The usual term for Council members is three years.
For more information about the CSMS Council, please follow this link: https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/The_Council
For more information about our Early Career Researcher grants and awards, please follow this link:
https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/Stepping_Stones
and
https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/Travel_awards
If you are interested in applying or have any questions regarding the role, please contact kathen@bas.ac.uk
NOC Association (NOCA) AGM 2025
The 14th AGM of the NOC Association will be held on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th May 2025. This free, on-line event will take place on Zoom, across two consecutive mornings, each starting at 10:00 and ending at 12:30. The agenda will focus on national capability (NC) science, ships, and autonomous vehicles, and how the community can engage. There will be an update on AtlantiS and on the new marine science scoping group. All are warmly welcome to join.
To participate, please complete your registration here.
For enquiries: Jackie Pearson, Secretary to NOCA: jfpea@noc.ac.uk