Dr. Michelle Fournet leads the Marine Bioacoustics and Behavior Lab (“Sea BABEL”) at the University of New Hampshire where she is a Visiting Assistant Professor in Acoustic Ecology in the Department of Biological Sciences. She also serves as the Associate Director for Education for the UNH Center for Acoustics Research and Education (CARE) and as the director of the Sound Science Research Collective (Sound Science), a conservation non-profit based on bioacoustics research. As a marine acoustic ecologist, Dr. Fournet uses sound to investigate questions of ecological importance in the aquatic environment. This includes investigating how marine organisms use sound to facilitate vital life functions (animal communication), as well as investigating the potential impact of noise and climate

change on marine species (anthropogenic impacts), and how sound can be used as an indicator of ecosystem health (acoustic indicators). She is particularly interested in using bioacoustics as a tool to further conservation and to assess species’ resilience to a rapidly changing ocean. Much of her research investigates calling behavior in Alaskan humpback whales, as well as the impact of climate change on Arctic seals and bowhead whales, and also studies invertebrates and fishes. Dr. Fournet has a bachelor of fine arts in theater and was a playwright and creative writer before becoming a research scientist. Her field work is the subject of the much acclaimed film Fathom, produced and distributed by Apple+ Films.