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Vanessa is a

Marine biologist,

Science communicator,

Woman in STEM

Keep up to date with Vanessa’s work below…

Vanessa’s TEDx talk is now LIVE!

Watch below:

Vanessa named one of The Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence for 2019.

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.

School science communication.

Vanessa spoke with 500 school students from Canberra Girls Grammar School.

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 Sylvia 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’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 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 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....

‪An incredible week in #Rome, #Italy at @FAO of the @UN 🇺🇳 Honoured to be an invited #marinemammal expert. Being able to contribute to #international discussion is incredibly powerful 🌍 🐳🐬. . I can’t explain how much I’ve learnt here 🇮🇹 To actually be at a meeting discussing the issue of marine mammal #bycatch globally is a great opportunity for me post PhD. Seeing my research in global reports in this meeting is so reinforcing. The experience has been overwhelming positive. I’ve made some wonderful connections. I love learning and hearing from different cultures and I’m so grateful for this opportunity. . . Additionally, being able to embrace my cultural background (Italian/Maltese) and speak Italian (the small amount that I know) has been so fulfilling for me! I welcome further opportunities like this and will continue to do my best to aid in the conservation in marine wildlife 👊 . . . . #global #scicomm #achievement #experience #adventure #learn #science #fisheries #womeninscience #womenempowerment #100WOI #change #changetheworld #fisheries #marinemammal #whale #dolphin #porpoise #unitednations #fao #WomenInSTEM #UnitedNations #womenempowerment #womanofinfluence #scientist @financialreview @macquarieuni @unitednations @sea.museum @tedfellow @4ocean @women4oceans @unwomenaust @womeninstemmau @thescicommunity @officialmauijim @riaus @syd_marine_science @oceansoulsthefilm @oceanographic_mag
Last weekend I witnessed an entangled #humpback #whale off #Sydney, #Australia 🇦🇺Today this whale became an example of #marinemammal #entanglement at the @fao 🇮🇹 A great opportunity to participate here in #Rome, #Italy as an invited marine mammal expert at the “Expert Meeting to Develop Technical Guidelines to Reduce Bycatch of Marine Mammals in Fisheries”. This is an amazing opportunity for me to meet experts from around the world and work towards international guidelines to reduce marine mammal #bycatch in fisheries. Having the opportunity to speak up and make change is incredibly powerful and a humbling experience, especially given that we are all working towards protecting wildlife that play important ecological roles in our ocean and need a voice! . . . . . #marinemammal #mammal #ocean #sea #fishing #fish #fisheries #conservation #management #welfare #marinebiologist #marinebiologistlife #100woi #womeninscience #career #careergoals #scicomm #meeting #network #science #selfie @sea.museum @women4oceans @unwomen @futurewomen @women.doing.science @unwomenaust
When in Rome 🇮🇹 24hrs of flying and i’m here! Getting in some sight seeing before my big week ahead at the @fao 🐳🐋🐬It’s been 11 years since I’ve visited Rome. Such a fabulous and culturally rich city. It’s also warm here! 32degs. Time for some sleep before exciting things this week! . . . . . #scicomm #meeting #marinemammal #expert #rome #italy #marinebiologistlife #girl #womeninstem #womeninscience #travel #travelphotography #travelling #selfie #photo #exercise #wheninrome #romewasntbuiltinaday #colosseum #italian #heritage #learn #network
#HappeningNow: Entangled #humpback #whale off #Sydney, #Australia 🇦🇺@nswnationalparks, NSW Maritime (@servicensw) and @orrcaaustralia notified. This individual was 1 of 4 in a pod. Resources in place for action #tomorrow morning to hopefully resight and disentangle. All eyes out tomorrow if it sticks around Sydney tonight 🤞❤️ . . . . #whaleon #whale #whalewatch #entanglement #fishinggear #whales #watch #news #help #ocean #conserve #photo #photos #share #scicomm @9newssydney @abcnews_au @Quad_Finn @7newssyd @visitnsw @syd_marine_science @sydneymorningherald
Book launch🚀 📚❗️Underwater Sydney by Dr Inke Falkner and @turnbull.john is a beautiful celebration of #Sydney harbour and it’s coastline. Stunning photography from the air and underwater captures this dynamic environment and some of the amazing marine creatures that live here and visit 🐳 It was my great pleasure to have been a contributing photographer. This book also features our whale research!!! A very big congratulations to both Inke and John! This is a fabulous book for all ocean lovers with great messages. Highly recommended! . . . . . . #book #booklaunch #underwater_world_ #underwaterphotography #underwatersydney #sydney #ocean #sea #sydneyharbour #coral #fish #underwater #scuba #scubadiving #girlswhodive #freedivephotography #dive #whale #whaleon #photography #photooftheday #naturephotography #scicomm #education #womeninscience #shark #photographer @sea.museum @macquarieuni @syd_marine_science @sydney @cityofsydney @sydneyweekender @abcinsydney @sydneymorningherald @nswnationalparks @visitnsw @adrenofreediving @adrenoscubadiving @abcradionational
#Repost Allen’s Legal: What do a Privacy Commissioner, a marine biologist and a specialist banker have in common? They're all extraordinary women. Thanks to Angelene Falk, from @OAICgov, @drvanessapirotta and Reeta Dhar from @westpac who joined Partner @valeskabloch for our Women@Allens event! . . . . #100WOI #women #woman #women@allens #allens #womeninscience #womeninstem #scicomm #womenintech #career #careerwoman #law #lawfirm #legal #powerwomen #bank #bankers #womenempowerment #sydney #australia #womenofinfluence #womenswear #photo #pic #photooftheday
I spoke with @sea.museum about being named one of the 100 Women of Influence by the @financialreview 💦Online via the @sea.museum website 💦 Copy and paste: https://www.sea.museum/whales-and-wonder . . . . . #100WOI #women #woman #womanofinfluence #womenofinluence #AustralianFinancialReview #FinancialReview #womeninstem #womeninscience #womenintech #science #technology #tech #engineering #drone #drones #math #art #arts #womenempowerment #australia #sydney #photooftheday #award #influencer #ocean #drvanessapirotta
Sunset in the Coral Sea🐚🌅Time for some wildlife photography❗️I absolutely love booby birds and photographing them. This shot captures the moment I sat and enjoyed the sunset after a long ocean crossing 💦🌅 #scicomm ✅ These are Masked boobies. This species are often seen in pairs. They lay their eggs 🥚 on low lying areas so they are able to take off into the wind 💨 . . . . #wildlife #wildlifephotography #wildlifephoto #photography #photooftheday #bird #booby #ocean #sea #coralsea #animals #animalsofinstagram #photo #pic #wildlifeperfection #travel #travelphotography #sunset #throwback #island #maskedbooby #ocean #experience #love #abcmyphoto #happiness #happy @birdlifeoz @birdlife_insta @birdsofaustralia
It was girl power today at Emanuel School’s Innovation Festival 👊🍎. Proud to be one of four invited STEAM professionals along with A/Prof Ronika Power, Meg Tonkin and Dr Katie Sizeland. We each spoke to 300 school students from years 1-6, parents, community members and high school students. A great opportunity to help inspire the next generation of STEAM enthusiasts! #visibilityiskey . . . . #womeninstem #womeninscience #steam #science #technology #art #arts #engineering #math #outreach #scicomm #science #sciencecommunication #school #schools #learn #education #experience #womenempowerment #drone #drones #sydney #australia #100woi #whaleon @nsweducation @visitnsw @riaus @women4oceans @women.doing.science @unwomen @macquarieuni @nationalscienceweek @officialmauijim
Delighted to have been invited by Kambala Girls School to take part in their women in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) forum. This is where women in STEAM talk about their journey into STEAM. On the panel was creative technologist Ann Chesterman and forensic scientist Dr Rosemary Isaacs. A very timely talk given these are year 11 and 12 students about to embark on the next exciting chapter in their education! #Goodluck #studyhard . . . . . . #steam #stem #science #technology #math #arts #art #school #schools #scicomm #learn #education #sydney #australia #facts #womeninstem #womeninscience #afr100 #innovation #tech @nsweducation

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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