User:ShaneGero

Shane Gero Scientist-in -Residence | Carleton University I am a Canadian whale biologist whose research is at the forefront of understanding cetacean societies, communication systems, and their cultures. I am the Founder of The Dominica Sperm Whale Project, a long-term research program focused on the sperm whale families living in the Eastern Caribbean, which has provided unprecedented detail about the lives of these enigmatic ocean nomads. Through thousands of hours of observation since 2005, his and the DSWP team’s research focuses on the behavioural ecology of whales and publishes on topics as diverse as anthropogenic disturbance, diet, foraging ecology, habitat use, acoustic communication, whale culture, genetic population structure, animal social networks, and population biology.

I am also is also the Biology Lead for Project CETI, a non-profit organization and TED Audacious Project applying advanced machine learning and gentle robotics to decipher sperm whale communication. I earned my PhD at Dalhousie University and is currently a Scientist-In-Residence at Ottawa’s Carleton University. I am also Adjunct at Dalhousie University, an Affiliated Researcher at Aarhus University in Denmark, and a National Geographic Explorer.

I am also passionately driven to share my findings with a wider audience than my scientific peers. With scientific denialism at epidemic levels in today’s society, contributing to public awareness is crucial for scientists now more than ever. I have always felt strongly that the public needs to be connected to biologists undertaking research. A new academic culture which encourages public engagement is needed! This is one of the reasons I started editing Wikiepdia. I am new to being an editor of Wikipedia, but I will be gaining steam particularly in editing articles on or related to cetaceans, the ocean, and conservation. My focus will be on maintaining up-to-date scientific accuracy on those pages and linking to current publications in scientific journals.

Ultimately, my generation must be THE generation to enact dramatic changes to our interactions with the oceans. My personal success will stem from endeavoring to help lay the foundation for that change by increasing our knowledge through innovative research, developing awareness of our impacts through education, and promoting action through advocacy