Among Giants... Inspiration over Lunch

Yesterday, Knauss fellows went to a brown bag seminar about a wonderful life (and career) of traveling the world in search of whales.  Who is lucky enough to land such a job, you might ask?  One Flip Nicklin has been doing this since the early 1960s, which is nearly the beginning of time as far as whale research is concerned.  Not only has he worked at the forefront of cetacean discovery since its birth, but he has seen it all through the lenses of his camera, both above and below the water.  That’s right folks, Flip not only participates in whale expeditions, but he’s been the National Geographic photographer responsible for some of the most iconic images that introduced whales to the world.

As with so many careers, this one also began fortuitously.  When Flip was a kid, his sea-faring father saw a whale close to their boat and simply jumped into the water to swim with it.  As if that wasn’t enough, Flip’s dad mounted it’s back and rode the whale long enough to get a quick photo snapped.  This image made him a sensation across the country and a whale expert overnight, and the rest has fallen into place ever since. 

This humble yet passionate man before us hasn’t just seen history, he’s been one of a select few that has written it, for whales that is.  In this era of the primacy of science, it is easy to forget that so little was known about whales even sixty years ago.  Through his work, Flip pioneered the use of new technologies such as photo ID and acoustic surveys to track “friendlies” and listen to “singers.”  Through decades of stunning images and experimental observation and science, Flip has shown society the nuances of different whale species.  He acknowledged that this hasn’t always been as easy as it sounds, because it is through this type of work that people define their perceptions of and relationships to these mysterious giants.  In a way, what we think toward so many animals, people, or geographic regions is completely governed by what we know or see, and it is important to remember that our knowledge is often a compilation of snapshots or partial-truths that inevitably engender bias.  Without realizing it, this bias determines our values, especially when it comes to conservation and resource management. 

Of course, I am not arguing for any particular set of values, just that we all think about the root of our own beliefs and truths.  Through his snapshots (or works of art, really), Flip shared many of his most heartfelt experiences with us.  His work has taken him around the world to the exotic landscapes of Sri Lanka and the frozen wonderland of the Arctic.  I can’t think of a better way to spend my lunch hour than learning about these gentle giants.  Thanks for the inspiring presentation, Flip!