Reading in Covid-19 Times
During the current Covid-19 crisis, we have not been out on the water in accordance with the regulations of the Spanish government’s state of alarm and for the safety of our team members and residents of the island. In addition to our data analysis work, we have kept ourselves busy with a couple of fun land-based activities — including constantly reading in Covid-19 times. We would love to share some of our land-based activities with you!
Our Recommendations — Reading in Covid-19 Times
It is very important for any scientist to stay up to date with recent publications in their field. We have taken this opportunity to read more about what has been happening in the field of marine mammals, so if you’d like to read along with us, we recommend checking out the following peer-reviewed scientific journals: Marine Mammal Science, Journal of Mammalogy, Animal Behaviour and Aquatic Mammals.
In the spirit of reading more scientific papers, we are very proud to announce that we will be running a SCIENTIFIC READING CHALLENGE over the next 10 weeks. Each week, we will choose a different scientific paper to read, highlighting different topics within the marine sciences. We invite you to read along with us and follow us on social media as we explore different aspects of the marine sciences. To follow along, simply show us your interest by clicking here and filling in the contact form, or simply send us an email at info@biosean.com. You will receive a PDF version of our selected paper each week, for a total of 10 weeks. We look forward to reading with you!
Because we have also been reading some wonderful books! Our associate researcher, Emma, strongly recommends The Cultural Lives of Whales and Dolphins by Hal Whitehead and Luke Rendell. This book explores the different cultures found in whale and dolphin societies, and draws on some wonderful scientific studies to argue that culture exists in animal species beyond hominids. Definitely worth a look!
For those readers more interested in data analysis and biostatistics, our director, Misael, recommends checking out Hal Whitehead’s book Analyzing Animal Societies. This book highlights statistical techniques for navigating data and uncovering more information about animal sociality. And for those looking for a field guide to cetaceans, Mark Cawardine has published a new Handbook of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises of the World this year. His work and other published field guides have been instrumental in the field of marine mammals. Give it a look!
Moving Forward
Now that the Spanish government has eased certain restrictions, at BIOSEAN we are thrilled to announce that we are back on the water! Strictly complying with all regulations to ensure the safety of our guests and team members, disinfecting all our surfaces, wearing protective masks and limiting the number of passengers on board.
We can’t wait to see you on board! In the meantime, we hope everyone stays busy, safe and healthy during this crisis. Lots of love from Tenerife!
