Louis M. Herman Research Scholarship

Louis M. Herman Research Scholarship

Background
Louis M. Herman, Ph.D. and Emeritus Professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, was a pioneer and trailblazer in research on dolphin sensory perception and cognition, and humpback whale behavioral ecology. This work was carried out through the world renowned Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory (KBMML) that he established in 1969 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He also co-founded The Dolphin Institute (TDI), dedicated to dolphins and whales through education, research, and conservation. KBMML/TDI’s findings on marine mammals were published in over 160 scientific papers and featured in more than 230 national and international media articles, television and radio programs, and documentary films. Dr. Herman’s life’s work significantly influenced marine mammal conservation. It also had an enormous impact on the lives and careers of countless interns, undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, visiting faculty, and volunteers from around the world, all of whom played important roles in the unique research team he assembled over more than four decades. Dr. Herman will always be remembered for his innovative, creative, and scientifically rigorous approach to the study of the marine mammals he so loved, and for the future generations of marine mammal researchers he and his work continue to inspire. Read more about Dr. Herman’s legacy here.

Dr. Herman’s family, colleagues, and friends established the Louis M. Herman Research Scholarship in 2017 to honor his legacy, by promoting the type of research that was the focus of his ground-breaking studies. The Scholarship is given every two years. You can learn about our past awardees here.

2024 Winner
The 2023-24 call for proposals inspired 15 proposals from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Hong Kong SAR, Madagascar, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, and the United States of America. The quality of submissions was extremely high and competitive, making the review panel’s task challenging. On April 16thh, 2024, to mark Louis’ birthday, the 2024 Louis M. Herman Research Scholarship recipient was announced. Congratulations to Emma Chereskin, the University of Bristol, UK, for her proposal entitled:

“Vocal communication and the cooperative mind: Exploring vocally mediated collaboration during a polyadic cooperative act in wild bottlenose dolphins”

Emma at work in Shark Bay, Australia

  

Thank you to the Chair and members of the LMHRS review panel for their hard work!

THE APPLICATION PORTAL WILL REOPEN IN LATE 2025.

Enquiries
Please address all inquiries to the Awards and Scholarships Chair, Dr. Lindsay Porter (awardschair@marinemammalscience.org)