Meher Datta is a Master’s student in the Coastal Science and Policy program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her research interests lie in cetacean conservation, focusing on the fragile Arctic region. She hopes to help mitigate the growing threat of ship strikes through engaged collaboration with the shipping industry. She is also interested in bioacoustics and has extensive experience in dolphin monitoring, sea turtle genetics, and migration research. Meher holds a Bachelor of Arts and Environmental Studies from Eckerd College, Florida, and is enthusiastic to work alongside the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program.