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Vanessa is a

Marine biologist,

Science communicator,

Woman in STEM

Keep up to date with Vanessa’s work below…

National Science Week

The Living Room (Channel 10) with Dr Chris Brown.

Vanessa welcomed Dr Chris onboard her whale snot collecting mission. Catch all the highlights below.

 

School outreach.

Vanessa spoke to school students about her research. Students loved the opportunity to hold the whale snot drone.

On the air with Dr Karl.

Vanessa hit the air with Dr Karl during National Science Week. She answered questions about the marine environment from around Australia. Vanessa even took her drone into the studio!

Vanessa met ocean explorer Dr Syliva Earle.

This was an absolute thrill for Vanessa. Dr Earle gave Vanessa a high five for finishing her PhD in marine science.

Thanks to the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Vanessa’s research voyage to the Coral Sea

Marine biologist in the Coral Sea.

Vanessa pictured here with a dogtooth tuna jaw.

Dr Vanessa listed as one of Whimn’s 2019 Power Women

Vanessa gave a TEDx talk in Melbourne, Australia

Watch this space the for the video of her talk..

Video coming soon… Photo: Arek Rainczuk

Video coming soon… Photo: Arek Rainczuk

Vanessa’s recent science communication:

NBC News America MACH

Vanessa was asked to provide expert comment for the following story: “High-tech thermal cameras could protect whales from deadly collisions with ships” by Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky.

Earth Day 2019 CBS Morning News America

Vanessa’s was asked to provide expert comment for CBS News regarding plastic in the ocean.

ABC News

Vanessa recently provided expert comment for ABC News regarding the 2019 whale watching season and her latest drone research.

ABC Radio National

Vanessa spoke with Hamish Macdonald on Radio National Breakfast about the whale migration off Australia and her drone research.

Sydney Morning Herald/Traveller AU

Five things travel has taught me: Dr Vanessa Pirotta, marine biologist

ABC and SBS World News

Vanessa recently provided expert comment for both the ABC and SBS World News regarding the beluga whale wearing a harness.

Vanessa commenting on ABC News.

Vanessa commenting on ABC News.

The Australian Museum

Vanessa’s makes whale sounds to describe the difference between toothed and toothless whales.

Questacon’s Enterprising Australians

Vanessa’s research is the latest feature in Questacon’s (Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre) Enterprising Australians, supported by The Ian Potter Foundation.

Vanessa’s interview with ABC television discussing her global shipping research:

Australasian Science

Vanessa is a contributing author in the current issue of Australasian Science. Vanessa’s article details her latest research discussing global shipping impacts for marine giants.

Summary of research

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD):

Vanessa’s focus over the last few years has been cetaceans, which is a collective term for whales, dolphins and porpoises. Vanessa has investigated threats to cetaceans around the world. She has applied theoretical frameworks and created practical applications to change our thinking on how we manage human activities in the ocean.

Vanessa’s most well-known research is the use of drones to collect whale snot for an assessment of whale health. Vanessa is also a big advocate for citizen science to assist scientists for wildlife conservation.

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Master of Research (MRes):

Vanessa’s master of research looked at the use of whale alarms (small sound devices) to try and prevent whale entanglement in fishing gear.

This work was conducted off Sydney, Australia, where Vanessa learnt how to become a whale surveyor using a theodolite. This is a very precise machine placed on top of a tripod and connected to a computer using Pythagoras theorem (yes, high school math is important). Vanessa used it to track whale movements in the ocean. 

Bachelor of Science (BSc):

Vanessa studied Zoology and Evolution and Ecology at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.

Perks of the job:

Vanessa’s research has taken her to some wonderful places around the world including Tonga, Antarctica and Madagascar.

Vanessa at the bottom of the planet

Vanessa at the bottom of the planet

Vanessa at the top of Tonga

Vanessa at the top of Tonga

Vanessa is also a passionate science communicator:

“We need more women scientists to put their stories out there so girls can see what they can be when they grow up, and boys can see girls in these jobs, too.”
— Nicole Small, president of the Lyda Hill Foundation, Nature Article

Watch Vanessa tell you all about whale snot:

Vanessa’s whale snot collection research explained in 60 seconds. This was filmed for the international BBC Earth presenter search.

 

Follow Vanessa on social media:

Vanessa’s latest tweets: 

And on Instagram....

The Amazon is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been 🦎🐍🦋🐛🐒Protecting it is crucial to ensure this amazing environment and biodiversity is there for many more years to come🌱🍃🌿 . . . . . #sloth #sloths #amazon #biodiversity #wildlife #nature #naturelovers #awareness #wildlifephotography #wildlifeconservation #protect #travelphotography #travelling #southamerica #tree #photography #photooftheday #animals #animalsofinstagram #canon #rainforest #g7 @leonardodicaprio
Honoured to have been invited to deliver 2️⃣ school keynotes yesterday🏫 The first keynote was at @canberragirlsgrammar where I took part in the X2 Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Symposium, which was a celebration of girls’ participation in STEM. This was so much fun😀As part of last weeks @nationalscienceweek theme of “Destination Moon”, I spoke to 500 girls about solving real world problems and the importance of girls in the field of STEM/STEAM (with arts). I also encouraged the students to get involved and to follow their passion. My second keynote was via @Skype to 300 schools students and parents at Ashgrove State School for their Tech Kids CreaTech event. This was a lot of fun and a very special event to be welcomed by so many enthusiastic students and parents 👏 #STEM #STEAM #school #schools #education #learn #inspire #thisismylab #science #technology #engineering #math #maths #art #arts #nextgeneration #drone #drones #whale #whales #whalesnot #research #fun #photooftheday #kids #kid #children #inspiration #womeninSTEM #womeninscience @ausacademyofscience @riaus @thescicommunity @women.doing.science @syd_marine_science @heliguyscientific @pintofscienceau @sciencemagazine
Buzzed while #freediving by a pod of offshore bottlenose dolphins🐬I still can’t get over how amazing and clear this water was‼️Note the dolphin on the left. This individual acted like the pod protector. It swam close and checked me out. It was so great to hear their vocalisations underwater 💦 #scicomm ✅ Dolphins make sound using their nose. . . . . #underwaterphotography #blue #ocean #sea #dolphin #dolphins #pod #bottlenosedolphin #cetacean #freedivingart #freedivinglife #girlswhofreedive #underwater #wildlifephotography #wildlifeperfection #wildernessculture #underwater_world #animals #animalsofinstagram #photo #photooftheday #swimming #gopro #adventure #explore #travelphotography #naturephotography @maestro320
It’s ‘hump’ (🐳) day‼️Learn why #whalesnot is important and why we collect🧐🤓For those who missed it, here’s two small snippets from the latest @livingroomtv episode with @drchrisbrown 🐳👩🏻‍🔬👨‍⚕️🧫🧬🦠. Eye protection 😎thanks to @officialmauijim . . . . . #whaleon #humpday #science #whalewatching #boat #boatlife #vet #bondi #sydney #sydneyaustralia #whales #humpbackwhale #lifejacket #womeninstem #womeninscience #women #tech #technology #engineering #environment #drone #drones #dronephotography #dronestagram #petridish #microbiology #bacteria #microbiome @heliguyscientific @nsweducation @nswnationalparks @women4oceans @women.doing.science @world_wildlife @oceana @thenorthface_aunz @thenorthface @thenorthfacevancouver @dr.sylviaearle @maestro320
Do marine biologists get seasick❓Yes, yes they do... well unfortunately I sometimes do. This is a little piece to camera I did during our crossing from New Caledonia into the Coral Sea. To my credit, our vessel was only 12 metres in length transiting across open ocean 🌊👊 I’ll also add here that I never once got this sea sick on my 51 day voyage to Antarctica 👊 That’s maybe because I was nice and cosy on a 96metre ship at the time......anyway, still no whales! What’s going on here??? At least I had my brown faced booby friends to keep up the wildlife excitement 👆swipe to see on our port light😀😎 👏More exciting action to share soon! 🤢Do you get seasick? I’m curious to find out what your sea sickness remedy is? Tell me below 👇 . . . . 😎Shades provided by @officialmauijim Onboard with @barefootcaptain 🤠💦 . . . #ocean #sea #vlog #blog #openocean #oceancrossing #boat #boatlife #imonaboat #whale #whaleon #girlswhofreedive #girlswhodive #adventure #travelling #travelblogger #seasick #womeninscience #womenempowerment #marinebiologist #remedy #selfie #selfies #instagram #experience #sailing #sailinglife #woman #wild @mountainhardwear @maestro320 @newcaledoniatourism @travelandleisure @travelchannel @natgeotravel @travellerau @nytimestravel @dametraveler @bbc_travel @cnntravel @travelbloggeres @qftravelinsider @sailingworldmag @animalplanet @natgeoexplore @natgeotravel @natgeo @natgeoau @google
#repost @profalanduffy ・・・ The entries were incredible but with the help of fellow judge Dr @drvanessapirotta (and of course Grant Bot!) we were able to decide on the final winners of the @officemax_au WINC STEAM GRANTS! Huge congratulations to Villawood North Public School in NSW for being judged the national winner. I also cannot praise the state winners enough - including St Benedict's Primary Narrabundah (ACT), Seaford North Primary School (VIC), New Town Primary School (TAS), John Curtin College of the Arts (WA), East Marden Primary School (SA), Parap Primary School (NT) and Ormeau State School (QLD). I honestly cannot wait to see what these incredibly creative schools choose to do with the $50k of STEAM grants and the experiments they can buy. Thank you all for entering (and sharing!) this award, it’s going to make some educators and their students very happy indeed!
Eye see you! Whale action off #Sydney today! This juvenile whale was chin slapping and breaching. Chin slapping is a behaviour where a whale raises its head out of the water and then slams it down against the surface. #scicomm ✅ We don’t exactly know why whales do this but it’s most likely a form of communication as it makes a lot of sound in the ocean. Swipe 👆to see my quick breakdown of this whales features 😀 . . . . . #whaleon #whalewatching #whale #whales #humpbackwhale #nature #naturelovers #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #travelphotography #travelling #underwaterphotography #animals #animalsofinstagram #animalphotography #cetacean #pic #photooftheday #photography #canon #marinebiologist #marinebiologistlife #boat #abcmyphoto #boatlife #sydney #australia @drchrisbrown @nswnationalparks @oceanconservancy @syd_marine_science @dr.sylviaearle
#repost @drchrisbrown ・・・ Sure an animal that can produce hundreds of litres of snot should probably be avoided but tonight I’m working with @drvanessapirotta who uses a special drone to catch whale snot as a way of checking their health. As humpback whales migrate up the coast from Antarctica, millions of bacteria and viruses can come along for the ride. And this drone catches them in the most amazing way. But seriously, if you had the chance to smell a whale’s breath wouldn’t you take it? Tonight on @livingroomtv at 730 #thelivingroom @heliguyscientific
We welcomed @drchrisbrown aka @bondi_vet this year on our #whalesnot collecting mission💦🐳🧫🦠🧬👩🏻‍🔬👨‍🔬👨‍✈️You can “catch“ (🤧😂🤓) all the action of our #whale #research on air tonight (‼️) 730pm AEST (16 Aug) on the @livingroomtv @channel10au 📺 Perfect timing for @nationalscienceweek 👏 🤓😀Find out why whale snot is important, how we collect it, meet Alastair our pilot/engineer (@heliguyscientific ) and see whales from the air! 🐳💦🤧 . . ⚠️All drone operations under animal ethics and scientific licence. 🤝👏 A very big thank you to Roads and Maritime Services for their support. . . #science #drone #drones #dronestagram #whaleon #ocean #health #vet #bondi #bondivet #marinebiologist #travelling #adventure #microbiology #conversation #education #tv #scienceweek #australia #sydney #womeninstem #womeninscience #tech #technology #engineering #environment 🐳💦🧫🧬🦠 @amandarosekeller @baz_dubois @thecrazybull @officialmauijim @animalplanet @sea.museum @ausacademyofscience @aubritish @ukinaustralia @studio10au @natgeo @natgeoau @bbc @bbc5live @abcaustralia @abc_thedrum @abcradionational @riaus @servicensw @macquarieuni @mqbiol @nswnationalparks @nswenvironmentandheritage @visitnsw @nsweducation @screennsw @dronesharkapp @macquarieuni @adrenofreediving @syd_marine_science @sydney_festival

The important stuff.

Drone information: 

All drone footage collected under NSW National Parks & Wildlife Services scientific licence 101743. Animal ethics obtained via Macquarie University. Licensed Civil Aviation Safety Authority drone pilots used.  

A BIG thank you to the following:

Whale snot drone collection thanks to Heliguy Scientific. Southern right whale drone footage thanks to SkyCam Media. Underwater whale footage thanks to Emerald Films and SeaLight Pictures. Thank you Joanne Stephan for the Macquarie University lab video. Thank you SkyCam Media and Australian Aerial Imagery for their assistance filming the BBC Presenter Search video. 

Website development- thank you to Cath from the wonderful Catfish Creative!

Portraits by the wonderful Arek Rainczuk from Five Castles Portraits.

Eye protection in the field provided by Maui Jim- thank you!!!

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