Heidi Pearson

Humpback whales in the time of Covid-19: Examining their responses to changes in vessel traffic

About the Speaker

Heidi Pearson is a professor of Marine Biology at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS). She earned her BS in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, and Biology, from Duke University and her PhD in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University. At UAS, Heidi teaches courses in marine mammalogy, marine ornithology, and marine herpetology. She also mentors graduate students through the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Heidi's research focuses on the behavior, ecology, and conservation of marine mammals, with specific expertise in humpback whales, sea otters, and small dolphins. Her current research includes development of non-invasive multi-sensor tags for dolphins, examining social bonds in whales and dolphins, exploring blue carbon ecosystem services provided by marine mammals, and assessing the costs and benefits of whale watching. Heidi has published over 65 scientific papers, book chapters, and popular articles. She enjoys sharing her research with the public and her work has been covered by the BBC, PBS, CNN, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Discovery Channel, and the Naked Scientist. Heidi is also a Fulbright Scholar and National Geographic Explorer. Heidi has brought UAS students to Sitka WhaleFest for the past 12 years and is excited to present this year.