As part of our mission to better understand and protect the Potomac-Chesapeake bottlenose dolphins and their ecosystem, we make it a priority to promote environmental stewardship through sound education and community outreach.

Darya Assil, Dr. Janet Mann, and Arielle Solomon scanning for dolphins aboard Ahoya

Student Education

  • Graduate and undergraduate students are involved in the PCDP, both in the field and at Georgetown University.

  • Some students work on specific research projects, while others assist in processing general project data.

  • A notable project is by Kate Jin, an undergraduate, who developed a senior thesis on mother-calf synchrony and presented it at the European Cetacean Society's annual conference in Funchal, Madeira.

  • Ann-Marie, Associate Director of PCDP and Duke University graduate student, researches population dynamics and other projects for her PhD.

  • Undergraduate students play a crucial role in processing photographs, coding them for valuable data, and helping match dolphins to the Mid-Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin Catalog.

Student Opportunities

  • We are always looking for passionate students, not limited to Georgetown University, to join the project.

  • Students interested in joining can fill out a quick questionnaire.

Community Outreach

  • First Field Season (July-October 2015):

    • Dr. Janet Mann gave a research seminar, exciting locals about the project.

    • Residents participated in learning about and naming dolphins.

  • Ongoing Outreach:

  • Explore more of our community outreach events below:

 

    • Presentation to the DC Climate Change & Resiliency Knowledge Forum and Exchange: Government of the District of Columbia Commission on Climate (January)

    • Potomac Conservancy Riverside Chat; Washington, DC (May 17)

    • Presentation to Women in STEM (WiSTEM); St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, IL (December 1)

    • Guest lecture, Greg Silber's Marine Mammals Course; Chincoteague Bay Field Station

    • Profs and Pints, Dolphins of the Potomac; Washington, DC (January 26)

    • Community Lecture sponsored by the Potomac Conservancy and Patagonia; Washington, DC

    • Community Lecture sponsored by Palisades Village; Washington, DC

    • Washington Post Op-Ed (April 13)

    • Feature on public television documentary "Outdoors Maryland" (November 20)

    • Presentation to the Potomac River Fisheries Commission on the PCDP (December 7)

 

Raising Awareness

  • Public awareness through media collaborations, including NPR's Morning Edition and social media attention from figures like Chelsea Clinton.

  • Educating the larger public about dolphins in the local environment.

Get Involved

  • Community members can contribute photos, sighting data, and GPS information on dolphin sightings.

    • The public has a critical role in helping track wide-ranging dolphins.

  • For reported sightings of bottlenose dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay, visit chesapeakedolphinwatch.org.

  • Consider donating to our project so we can continue learning about our local dolphins!