Bringing Humpback Whale Song Science to Remote Scottish Communities

Dr Natalie Sinclair

University of St Andrews

In June 2024, I embarked on a public engagement initiative supported by the Challenger Society for Marine Science's Stepping Stones Bursary. The project aimed to bring a free marine science workshop to remote communities in Scotland, specifically focusing on the Outer Hebrides, including Harris and North Uist.

As part of the project, I had the opportunity to speak at the Outer Hebrides Wildlife Festival, presenting "Songs of the Scottish Humpbacks: Unlocking the Secrets of Whale Communication in the Outer Hebrides" at Talla na Mara arts centre in Harris on 24 June and at Taigh Chearsabhagh in Lochmaddy, North Uist on 26 June. The presentation focused on research conducted in collaboration with Marine Scotland, SAMS, and the University of St Andrews. The first talk, held at Talla na Mara arts centre in Harris, attracted a full event space of 30 people, including both community members and a group on an exchange from Barbados. The audience ranged in age from teenagers to over 70s, demonstrating the wide appeal of the topic. The second event, held at Taigh Chearsabhagh in North Uist, also drew a full house of 30 community members, further highlighting the interest in marine science in these remote communities. The audience members were full of questions at the end (and during!) and we were able to allow another 30 minutes of questions on top of our 60-minute event. Lastly, while on the islands I was invited to host a hybrid 'Natter for Nature' in South Uist. I compered a discussion with the CEO of Bumblebee Conservation Trust, a nature writer and the Community Engagement lead for the RSPB.


Profile of Award Holder:
Dr Natalie Sinclair is a Scottish marine biologist and conservationist who recently obtained her PhD from the University of St Andrews. Sinclair received her Master of Science degree from the University of Glasgow, for which she was awarded the Graham Kerr Memorial Prize for Excellence in Marine Science. She has worked with a diverse range of fauna, utilising non-invasive technologies for animal behaviour research and conservation monitoring. This process included the use of bioacoustics to aid conservation of threatened water bird and seal species in Scotland. Her work in conservation policy, alongside Scottish Natural Heritage, led to the implementation of remote time-lapse photography to monitor seabirds at a colony in the Northern Isles of Scotland, which unearthed unknown behaviour patterns. Sinclair's passion for public engagement and diversity in science is evident in her extensive voluntary work across Scotland and abroad. With the Dundee Science Centre, she co-organised the 2018 International Women and Girls in Science Lecture at the University of St Andrews and established Wild Bannockburn, a grassroots community action group focused on protecting nature. Her PhD research focused on the fine-scale cultural evolution of humpback whale song in the North Atlantic and South Pacific oceans. Sinclair is a National Geographic Explorer with a 2019-2020 National Geographic Early Career Grant and currently works as a National Geographic Expert for National Geographic Expeditions in Scotland, Iceland, and New Zealand.