Using Acoustic Tags and Uncrewed Aerial Systems to Study Cetaceans
Organizer: Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS)
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 15, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
Location: Virtual
Format and Highlights:
- Duration: 1.0 h
- Format: Virtual (Zoom webinar with YouTube Live stream)
About This Event: The Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS) program hosts a resource-rich website aimed at introducing users to the science and uses of sound in the sea by people and animals. As part of its 2026 webinar series, this session explores the deployment and use of acoustic tags on cetaceans to study their movement and behaviors, alongside the growing role of uncrewed aerial systems in marine mammal research.
Each webinar runs approximately 60 minutes and features presentations by expert researchers followed by a facilitated Q&A with attendees. Professional development certificates are available to individuals who attend or watch the archived video of all four DOSITS webinars in a calendar year and complete the associated questionnaire for each session. All webinars are recorded and archived on the DOSITS website and on Vimeo.
What to Expect:
- Presentation on using acoustic tags for cetacean movement and behavioral research
- Discussion of uncrewed aerial systems (drones) as tools for studying whale populations
- Facilitated Q&A with attendees following the presentation
- Access to archived recording after the live session
Panel Presenters / Speakers:
- Dr. Marc Lammers — Research Ecologist, NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS); Co-Founder and President, Oceanwide Science Institute; Affiliate Faculty, Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology
- Dr. Susan Parks — Professor of Biology, Syracuse University
Contact or Registration: Register via Zoom: https://uri-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3q7tuGDJQ9ueeiS1uGGKwg#/registration For questions, contact the DOSITS Team: askDOSITS@gmail.com