The narrative of science can often take a passive role. When it does, the importance of the story that it tells can be misconstrued or simply misunderstood. The job of a scientist should also include telling the story as an active participant.
Story Projects
Seals and Society
Learn how different people and cultures relate to seals, how seals forage and sense their world, where they go and more.
This traveling exhibit was created by Dr. Andrea Bogomolni, Ren Bettencourt, Elizabeth Bradfield and Elizabeth James-Perry. Robert Rocha, Associate Curator of Science and Research at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and Monica DeAngelis, Marine Mammal Biologist at NUWC, served as contributing editors.
Seals and Society is supported by the David P. Wheatland Charitable Trust and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and would not be possible without the steadfast support of the New Bedford Whaling Museum.
To learn more about the project, the New Bedford Whaling Museum and where it will be in 2024, go to: www.sealsandsociety.com
For a video on Seals and our evolving relationship check out:
New Bedford Whaling Museum- Local History Guild | Seals and Society: An Evolving Relationship
WHOI’s Ocean Science Cafe
Community Science was at the heart of the creation of WHOI’s Ocean Science Cafe. The first Ocean Science Cafe was held in January 2018 and addressed the rising conflict between seals, sharks and humans. Andrea Bogomolni and Owen Nichols (Center for Coastal Studies) brought forth the idea for a Science Cafe and worked with WHOI to develop the first talk for this successful series.
Northwest Atlantic Seal Research Consortium FAQs
The Northwest Atlantic Seal Research Consortium (NASRC) stemmed from a series of workshops to bring together seal researchers and those interested in increasing seal populations in the NW Atlantic. In 2013, NASRC was established as a consortium with the goal of increasing collaborations and discussions in the region. NASRC has been at the forefront of providing fact based information for local government, media and education centers throughout the region.
A link to our most recent FAQs focusing on seals of the Northeast can be found here.
Atlantic White Shark Conservancy & The Northwest Atlantic Seal Research Consortium
“Healthy Predators for Healthy Oceans”
The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and NASRC compiled information on great white sharks and seals and the importance of predators for healthy ecosystems. This Tri-Fold PDF can be downloaded here:
Seals & Sharks: How Do We Study What People Think about the Rewilding of Cape Cod? Lower Cape TV
Listen: Podcasts
TerreScience Podcast: Dr. Bogomolni on Ocean Fishing Controversies, Seal Conservation and Community Science Methods August 19th 2022
Wildlife Conservation Insights Podcast: Humans, Pinnipeds and Sharks: How Do We Co-exist? With Dr. Estelle Rousselet. June 24th 2021
Wildlife Health Connections Podcast: Seals as Sentinels of Ocean Health with Dr. Michelle Kneeland. November 25th 2020
Cold, Dark and Sharky. OUTSIDE/IN. Sept 29 2019
Going Full Ninja on Smelly Seals With Andrea Bogomolni. Shark Tales. Boston 10 NBC. October 8 2019.
Does Cape Cod Have A Gray Seal Problem? We Dig Into The Science. WBUR Boston. Aug 20, 2019
Read: Research in Popular Media
Most Beachgoers want to Coexist with Sharks and Seals. WCVB Boston. April 11 2022
Down to Earth: Seals, sharks and sustainability. Anne Mazar. MetroWest Daily News, Aug 02, 2013
Pathobiology Student Making Waves. Sheila Foran. UCONN Today. October 11, 2011. Foran
How Kitty is Killing the Dolphins. Written by C. Solomon. Scientific American, May 2013.
Sea Sick. Written by B. Kessler. Conservation Magazine September 2010. August 26th 2010. Volume 11, Number 3.
Disease Agents Are Accumulating In Sea Life. Written by K. Thoms. Oceanus. Oct 2009, Vol. 47 Issue 2, p 30.
Scientists Investigate Mysterious Duck Die-offs. Written by K. Madin. Oceanus; Oct 2009, Vol. 47 Issue 2, p 34.
Watch: Documentaries and Video Stories
After the Bite. HBO. Director Ivy Meeropol.
The Return of the White Shark. National Geographic, Disney September 2023. Director Adam Geiger.
The U.S. East Coast from Above. VIDICOM, Germany. Featured segment: 1 of 5. Filmed September 2013.
Marine Mammals Meet Modern Medicine. Video Ari Daniel Shapiro, Oceanus Online. August 23, 2013.
Sharks and Seals. Interview on WCAI, Public Radio Station, Woods Hole, MA. July 2013
More above! (see video links)
In The News
Since 2005, the conflicts between seals and humans on Cape Cod have become more tense. In response to growing misinformation in the media about seals, communication has been central to correct myths and misinformation and redirect the narrative through radio, print and social media as well as through lecture series and invited outreach events.
Highlights:
Seals and Sharks are More Common on the Cape. How do the humans feel about them? Boston Globe April 11, 2022.
Fear of Cape Cod as Sharks Hunt Again. New York Times Magazine. Oct 20, 2021
Culling Seals Is Wrong Answer to Shark Threat, Scientists Say‘. Provincetown Independent August 23, 2019
NPR. Seals On Cape Cod Are More Than Just Shark Bait. WBUR. Aug 2 2019
Cape Cod National Seashore –Panel Discussion: Shark, Seals and Public Safety.
CBS News–Gray seals taking a bite out of Cape Cod’s fishing industry
Public Outreach for Local Town Officials on Cape Cod
- Wellfleet, MA September 2018
- Chatham, MA December 2018
- Truro, MA January 2019
Watch: Lectures on Seals, Sharks & Ocean Health
Andrea Bogomolni 