Halfway There: Milestones, Memories & Marine Mammals

As this week marks a full year of drone flights for the Aberdeen Marine Mammal Project, it also marks the halfway point in my data collection and, incredibly, the halfway point in my PhD journey. Time really does fly (almost as fast as the drone on a calm day over the colony)!

Poster submission for 2025 SGSSS Impact competition

First and foremost, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported me during the SGSSS Impact Competition. It meant so much to be shortlisted, and although I didn’t win, the experience was incredibly rewarding. I was truly touched by the kind feedback from those who voted and took the time to leave encouraging comments. Your support and enthusiasm is why I love sharing this research—it’s not just about seals and science, but about people, and the collective curiosity and passion we share.

One of my favourite events to be part of Pint of Science.

One of the parts I’ve enjoyed most this year has been the chance to talk about my work with so many different audiences. From conferences to pubs, it’s been a joy to see others enthused and chat about better understanding and protecting the seals. Pint of Science was a real highlight—I had another brilliant chance to showcase the joys (and challenges!) of blending technology with ecology. Who knew seals and artificial intelligence would make such a great double act?

My Poster presentation at the International INSA Sunbelt Conference last year.

And the conversations aren’t over yet! I’m really looking forward to giving another public talk on Monday, 2nd June at Forvie Nature Reserve Centre at 7pm. This one will be a little different from my previous research talks. While I’ll be sharing updates from the current project, the team at Forvie has invited me to dive into stories from my earlier roles—working with seals in more remote and unusual settings. I’m excited to revisit some of those memories and share them with a new audience. If you’re nearby, I’d love to see you there!

A taster of the talk

None of this—neither the research nor the outreach—would be possible without the incredible community around this project. Whether you’ve helped by sharing a GPS track, lending a hand on the beach, coming along to a talk, or simply supporting me from the office (or afar), thank you. Your involvement, in big ways and small, keeps this work going and makes it meaningful.

Celebratory "1 year of drone data" cinnamon buns and dolphin watching

Reaching the halfway mark of both the fieldwork and my PhD feels like a huge achievement—a moment to take stock, celebrate the progress so far, and gear up for the road ahead. I can’t wait to see what the next half brings, and I’m so grateful to have your support going forward.

Here’s to seals, science, and shared stories—onward we go!

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