Experience a captivating lecture about the world's largest animals and how modern technology is revolutionizing our understanding of whales' secret lives underwater. Through drones and advanced measuring equipment, researchers can now observe whales in their natural environment in unprecedented ways.
Throughout the lecture, several fascinating species and their strategies are explored: the porpoise as the world's smallest whale species hunting in Danish waters, the sperm whale diving to depths exceeding 1,000 meters to find food, the bowhead whale surviving extreme cold by feeding on countless krill organisms in Disko Bay, and the humpback whale mother nursing a calf for half a year without eating herself. The lecture also addresses how whales have evolved extraordinary adaptations to aquatic life through evolution, and why these apex predators are crucial for ocean ecosystems. Additionally, sustainable coexistence between humans and whales in a world undergoing climate change is discussed.
This is a revised version of a popular lecture originally given in spring semester 2019. The event is part of the series Public Lectures in Natural Science, led by Aarhus University in collaboration with various hosts around the region and financially supported by the Carlsberg Foundation.
Practical Information
- Location: Dokk1/Aarhus Main Library
- Format: Livestream from Aarhus University
- Admission: Free
