Reshaping Ocean Science: Dr. Vanessa Pirotta’s Story of Curiosity and Conservation
From using drones to collect whale snot to fighting for wildlife with AI, Dr. Vanessa Pirotta is reshaping how we study the natural world. She is a wildlife scientist, woman in STEM, a storyteller, and a science communicator who aims to make science accessible.
Vanessa’s work is a blend of innovation and intuition - using cutting edge technology to access animals in unique ways, decoding illegal wildlife trafficking with artificial intelligence, and partnering with Indigenous rangers to merge ancient knowledge with modern research. Whether she's at sea using innovative technologies for wildlife conservation or writing books that bring the ocean to life for young minds, Vanessa’s voice rises at the intersection of technology, conservation, and wonder.
Vanessa was kind enough to share her story and advice on how to make it in the ocean conservation space with Blue Vagabonds this World Oceans Day!
Despite growing up 3 hours away from the closest beach in Canberra Australia, Dr Vanessa Pirotta always dreamed of working with cetaceans. From hearing the soothing tones of David Attenborough through her living room to devouring books about whales, her curiosity was sparked at a young age. Perhaps inspired by the beloved movie Free Willy, she knew that her curiosity for whales and dolphins would shape her career path. After living her dream of working with these amazing animals in a zoo and as a dolphin trainer, Vanessa transitioned into science and never looked back!
While her love for the ocean was sparked in childhood, Vanessa believes there is no single path that leads to a career in the ocean space. For her, the journey has been shaped not just by passion, but by a willingness to say “yes” to every opportunity, every challenge, and every unknown. From academic research to hands-on fieldwork - even the lessons learned in her first job at a high school café - Vanessa believes that working extremely hard and bringing skills from all realms of life has helped shape her path in ocean science.
When asked about a typical day at work, she says, “Every day is different. Most of the time I’m working behind a computer writing and then going into the field.” Regardless of what her day entails, Vanessa says it’s always interesting. “I love being able to have a practical component to what I do,” she says. “Seeing and being part of nature is so important to me.”
For Vanessa, the heart of ocean conservation is passion. Her main advice for those wanting to get involved is to follow your heart and what interests you. She is also a big advocate for getting out of your comfort zone, and above all else being kind to yourself. “It is not easy and takes time”, she says. “Always be kind and stick with the people who help lift you.”
Vanessa also passionately believes that we can all do our part to protect and preserve our oceans. Firstly, the ocean is vast and relatively unexplored which means that we don’t always know or see the impact our actions have. Vanessa believes that the ocean needs to be at the forefront of our decision making around the environment because it is such a key component of life on earth. From a personal standpoint, she says the list of things we can do as individuals is endless including being mindful of what we put down our drains, not releasing balloons into the sky, and considering how our waste may end up in the oceans and impact marine life.
