The Blue Whale Project, established in 2008, represents the first long-term study conducted on blue whales within the northern Indian Ocean. Founded by Sri Lankan marine biologist Asha de Vos, this initiative fundamentally altered scientific understanding of cetacean behavior by demonstrating that a unique population of blue whales remains in the waters surrounding Sri Lanka year-round.
Academic Foundation
Born in 1979 in Sri Lanka, de Vos pursued an extensive international education to specialize in marine and environmental biology. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She subsequently obtained a master's degree in integrative bio-sciences from the University of Oxford and earned a PhD from the University of Western Australia. This achievement distinguished her as the first and only Sri Lankan to hold a doctorate in marine mammal research.
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Before transitioning to independent research, de Vos served as a senior programme officer in the marine and coastal unit of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. As an invited member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Cetacean Specialist Group, she influenced international policy, leading the International Whaling Commission to prioritize the conservation of Sri Lankan blue whales regarding ship strikes. She also held a post-doctoral position at the University of California Santa Cruz.
Institutional Advocacy
De Vos founded Oceanswell, Sri Lanka's inaugural marine conservation research and education organization, to address disparities in global scientific practices. She actively opposes parachute science, advocating for the training and investment of local populations in developing countries rather than reliance on external researchers. Her career includes recognition as a Duke University Global Fellow in Marine Conservation and as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
Awards and Recognition
Her professional contributions have earned global distinction. She was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2016, a Pew Marine Fellow in 2016, and received the WINGS WorldQuest Women of Discovery Sea Award in 2018. Additionally, she appeared on the BBC 100 Women list in 2018 and was identified as a TED Senior Fellow. In 2020, Scuba Diving magazine designated her as Sea Hero of the Year, and in 2023, she was named a laureate of the Asian Scientist 100.
Fast facts
- Born: 1979, Sri Lanka
- Primary Field: Marine Biology
- Notable Project: Blue Whale Project
- Doctoral Institution: University of Western Australia
- Organization Founded: Oceanswell
- 2018 Recognition: BBC 100 Women
- 2013 Award: TED Fellow
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of the Blue Whale Project?
It is the first long-term study of blue whales in the northern Indian Ocean, which discovered that a specific population stays in Sri Lankan waters year-round.
What does Asha de Vos advocate regarding scientific research?
She promotes local capacity building and opposes parachute science, where researchers from developed nations conduct studies in developing regions without investing in local expertise.
Achievements
- Educated at University of Oxford, University of St Andrews and University of Western Australia
- Fields of research: marine biology
