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Dr Vanessa Pirotta

Australian wildlife scientist (whales)

Latest news from under the sea:

Dr Vanessa Pirotta: Premier's NSW Woman of Excellence 2025 Recipient

Explainer: Recap of the rescue effort to free an entangled humpback whale, June 2025

Dive into Vanessa’s educational books


Who is Dr V?

  • Wildlife scientist

  • Science communicator

  • Woman in STEM/STEAM

  • Children’s author

  • Premier's NSW Woman of Excellence 2025

  • TEDx speaker

  • Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence

  • Superstar of STEM, Science & Technology Australia

  • Antarctic Science Foundation Ambassador

  • Founder of Wild Sydney Harbour citizen science program

  • Speaker at the United Nations, Rome, Italy

  • Vessel operator

Follow Vanessa

Click the image to read the story.

Vanessa hosts the 25th Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science

Dr V hosted the 25th Prime Minister’s Prize’s for Science. Click to learn more and nominate for the 2025 prizes. Photo: Australian Government.

Whale-y good viewing:


Meet Dr V

Vanessa’s research uses innovative technologies for wildlife conservation. 

As one of Australia’s leading wildlife scientists, Dr Vanessa Pirotta merges cutting-edge technology with conservation science. From using drones to collect whale snot to developing AI tools to combat illegal wildlife trafficking. A passionate communicator, Vanessa has been recognised as one of Science and Technology Australia’s Superstars of STEM, the Australian Financial Review’s Top 100 Women of Influence, Women’s Agenda 2024 Emerging Leader in Science and in 2025, Vanessa was named the NSW Premiers Woman of Excellence.

As the lead scientist for the citizen science project Wild Sydney Harbour, she connects communities with marine life while promoting the fusion of Indigenous knowledge and Western science. Vanessa is also a proud author of educational children’s and adult books, which illuminates her vision for STEAM being part of the everyday.


Marine mammal research with the Gamay Rangers

Vanessa is working collaboratively with the Gamay Rangers to merge First Nations knowledge with science. This project is aimed at monitoring marine mammals on Sea Country and connecting community with our blue backyard of Sydney, Australia.

Wild Sydney Harbour

Sydney’s first dedicated citizen science program for the research of dolphins and fur seals.

Tooth marks and dorsal fins: Understanding Sydney’s dolphins. Click image to read article.


AI for the detection of illegal wildlife trafficking

Vanessa’s land-based research

Click the image to read the full article published in Frontiers in Conservation Science via The Conversation.


Dr V on Play School

Dr Vanessa was invited to join the Play School crew as part of Down at the Beach series. Vanessa spoke about the importance of keeping our beaches clean, provided fun facts about whales and brought in some of her underwater equipment. Play School is Australia’s longest running children’s television show.


Science to help save Australian wildlife

Vanessa is working collaboratively with the Australian Federal Government, Rapiscan Systems and the Taronga Conservation Society Australia to help combat illegal wildlife trafficking. The team proudly joined The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water and The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC, Minister for the Environment at Taronga Zoo regarding Australia’s efforts to help stop illegal wildlife trafficking.


Dr V and Vogue

Vanessa wrote a letter to her 8 year old self for International Women’s Day. Click image to read.

Vanessa was an invited key speaker at the Vogue Codes summit in Sydney, Australia.

Click the image to read the Vogue article.

The mystery of whale strandings

Lunch with Dr V

Click on the image to read article.

Dr V on TV

Every career path into STEM looks different
— Dr V

Want to become a whale citizen scientist?

Find out where you can get involved around Australia. Vanessa has teamed up with the ABC to highlight key whale research projects helping us learn more about whales nationally.


Antarctic Science Foundation Ambassador

Dr Pirotta is a proud ambassador for the Antarctic Science Foundation, which is advancing our understanding and protection of the Antarctic through science. Click the photo to learn more.

Watch Vanessa’s TEDx talk about the ocean:

Terri Irwin and Vanessa chat with Leah

Vanessa surprised Leah (11) with Terri Irwin for one of her mentoring sessions! Here’s a sneak peak:

Do whales fart and sneeze?

Dr Vanessa Pirotta wrote a fun piece for The Conversation Curious Kids section.

Dr Vanessa Pirotta wrote a fun piece for The Conversation Curious Kids section.

Whale vs Croc

Vanessa’s article in The Conversation was the most read article that week!

Vanessa’s article in The Conversation was the most read article that week!

We need more women scientists to put their stories out there so girls can see what they can be when they grow up, and boys can see girls in these jobs, too.
— Nicole Small, president of the Lyda Hill Foundation, Nature Article

National Science Week

A whale of a tale from the CSIRO’s RV Investigator

Click the image to read the blog.

Marine scientist in the Coral Sea.

Vanessa sailed from New Caledonia into the Coral Sea on a remote research expedition.

 

Follow Vanessa


The important stuff.

Drone information: 

All drone footage collected under NSW National Parks & Wildlife Services scientific licence 101743. Animal ethics obtained via Macquarie University. Licensed Civil Aviation Safety Authority drone pilots used.