Speaking: Cathy Cahill, Eyal Saiet, and Andrew Wentworth, University of Alaska Fairbanks
The UAF Geophysical Institute presents the virtual 2021 Science for Alaska Lecture Series. Tune in at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays to learn about exciting science from measuring the aurora, monitoring whale populations with unmanned aircraft, and participating in the largest Arctic expedition in history. RSVP to watch on Zoom or watch live from the UAF or GI Facebook pages.
The North Atlantic right whale is a critically endangered species with only some 400 individuals left in the wild. A dwindling food supply has forced these whales further north, where collisions with cargo vessels in busy shipping lanes has been a major cause of mortality. In this talk, members of the ACUASI team will discuss how unmanned aircraft normally deployed for geophysical studies are being used to monitor whales in the North Atlantic and how that information is used to protect their populations. Three seasons of this mission has taught many lessons and helped to mature the state of unmanned aviation in North America. Plans are underway for a fourth season of flying to “save the whales.”
Talks are free and for the public. All ages are encouraged to attend. This is the fifth in a series of six free, public lectures for the virtual 2021 Science for Alaska Lecture Series.