Senior Research Specialist, Biology

Dolphins have long been thought to communicate using complex “language,” an idea popularized by shows like Flipper. Laela and her team explore how scientific understanding of dolphin communication has evolved and what researchers know today. Her work focuses on the structure and function of dolphins’ unique signature whistles, as well as other, less-understood sounds. She also highlights current research tools—from acoustic tags to playback experiments—and how sound monitoring may help prevent mass stranding events. See Laela Sayigh's lab website.