Connecting Learning, Life and Aloha
‘O ka ‘imi na‘auao, ke ola a me ke aloha kā kākou e huliāmahi ai

Dr. Adam A. Pack

Media Coverage

Over my career, it has been gratifying to have the media interested in reporting the findings of our studies of marine mammals as well as the scientific perspective on issues related to marine mammals, their marine habitat and conservation. Below, is a list with links to recent media coverage of my collaborative studies on dolphins and whales.

Media Coverage of Scientific Endeavors and Discoveries

2009-2018

  • KFSK radio Petersburg, Alaska (July 27, 2018). Radio interview with Adam Pack from UH Hilo talking about his latest research on habitat use in humpback whales in the Hawaiian breeding grounds. https://www.kfsk.org/2018/07/27/whale-researcher-to-detail-latest-work-on-humpback-behavior/

  • PBS South Florida WPBT Television Series “Changing Seas.” (June 20, 2018). Dolphins: Cracking the Code. Television documentary on the Wild Dolphin Project in the Bahamas featuring collaborative research between Dr. Denise Herzing, Dr. Adam Pack and Dr. Matthias Hoffmann-Kuhnt. Commentaries and video footage of Dr. Pack participating in two-way communication research. Dr. Pack’s affiliation as a Professor at UH Hilo is promoted. Web-based program links: https://www.changingseas.tv/season-10/dolphins-breaking-the-code/ and https://video.wpbt2.org/video/dolphins-breaking-the-code-enlqs9/

  • Science Trends Internet Stories (June 13, 2018). “Strategies humpback whale mothers employ as their calves mature and grow to avoid male harassment.” Story by Adam A. Pack about his latest collaborative research published in 2017 in Animal Behaviour and Marine Mammal Science in 2018 examining factors associated with changes in habitat preferences by female humpback whales in the Hawaiian breeding grounds. Web link: https://sciencetrends.com/strategies-humpback-whale-mothers-employ-as-their-calves-mature-and-grow-to-avoid-male-harassment/

  • The North Edinburgh News (December 8, 2017). “Acoustic camouflage’ keeps the humpback boys at bay.” Article featuring humpback whale research study in Hawaiian waters: Pack et al. (2017) in Animal Behaviour. Dr. Pack quoted and University of Hawaii affiliation mentioned.

  • In the Deep Series. “Inside our quest to talk to dolphins.” (October 12, 2017). On-line film featuring Dr. Adam Pack’s commentary on his collaborative studies with Dr. Denise Herzing on dolphin communication in the Bahamas. Produced by Erik Olsen, Quartz. Facebook. University of Hawaii at Hilo affiliation noted.

  • New Scientist Magazine, UK (February 9, 2017). Commentary by Dr. Adam Pack on new research publication by Clegg et al. (2017) on dolphin cognition. Dr. Pack’s affiliation at UHH is noted. The article may be found at https://www.newscientist.com/article/2120805-synchronised-swimming-seems-to-make-dolphins-more-optimistic/

  • Hawaiʻi’s Tomorrow Radio 760 AM (November 14, 2016). Featured guest (along with Dr. Hannah Herman and Dr. Joseph Mobley) on radio broadcast for program COSEE All Things Marine. Title of show: “A Tribute to Dr. Louis M. Herman”.

  • BBC Radio (United Kingdom) (October, 2016). Radio interview about Adam Pack’s reflections on the life and research career of Dr. Louis M. Herman, former founder and director of the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory. Dr. Pack’s affiliation at UHH is noted and the radio interview may be heard at the following link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07ww88j

  • KFSK Radio (Petersburg, Alaska) and Alaska Public Media (August 5, 2015). Humpback researchers see ‘Old Timer’ again after 44 years. Radio interview featuring Dr. Adam Pack and his discovery documenting the first 44-year resighting span of any humpback whale in the world. Dr. Pack’s affiliation at UH is noted and the full radio interview may be heard online.

  • The New York Times (Science Times) (Aug 4, 2015). A Happy 44th-Year Reunion with a Whale. Story features Dr. Pack’s re-sighting of a humpback whale in Alaska whose earliest sighting was in 1972. The 44-year resighting span is the longest thus far of any humpback whale in the world. Dr. Pack’s affiliation at UH is noted. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/summer-of-science-2015/latest/old-timer-whale-sighting?smid=tw-nytimesscience Story was reprinted in The Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio, Aug 9, 2015).

  • Petersburg Pilot (Petersburg, Alaska, July 30, 2015). Local humpback obtains longest re-sighting record. Story features Dr. Pack’s re-sighting of a humpback whale in Alaska whose earliest sighting was in 1972. The 44-year resighting span is the longest thus far of any humpback whale in the world. Dr. Pack’s affiliation at UH Hilo is noted.

  • National Geographic Magazine (May, 2015). Thinking Like a Dolphin: Understanding one of the smartest creatures on earth. Story on recent research attempting to study dolphin cognitive abilities. Story quotes Dr. Adam Pack from UH Hilo.

  • Honolulu Star Advertiser (Jan 18, 2015). Humpback Love: The whale’s courtship and mating rituals remain a mystery after 35 years of research. Story features findings from Dr. Pack’s research and notes his affiliation as a professor at UH Hilo.

  • Australian Geographic (May-June 2014). Story on humpback whales with interview responses on research findings by Adam Pack of UH Hilo.

  • BBC NEWS: Edinburgh, Fife, East Scotland (April 9, 2014). Female humpback whales swim to shallows to avoid sexual harassment. Story on research article documenting humpback whale female segregation in Hawaiian waters by co-authors Alison Craig, Louis Herman, Adam Pack and James Waterman.

  • International Science Times (January 4, 2014). Injuring Whales They Love to Watch: Tourist Boats Hitting More Humpbacks in Hawaii. Story on research article documenting historical trends in vessel collisions with humpback whales by co-authors Marc Lammers, Adam Pack, Edward Lyman and Lisa Espirtu.

  • ScienceNow (December 26, 2013): ScienceShot: When Whale Watching Turns Deadly. Story on research article documenting historical trends in vessel collisions with humpback whales by co-authors Marc Lammers, Adam Pack, Edward Lyman and Lisa Espirtu.

  • The Sydney Morning Herald, National: Australia (August 28, 2013). Web-based video streaming interview on humpback whale song and recent scientific publication “Humpback Whale Song: Who Sings?”http://media.smh.com.au/system/ipad/humpback-whales-and-their-chorus-of-song-4687394.html

  • Hawaiʻi’s Tomorrow Radio 760 AM (February, 2013). Guest “live” radio interview on recent vessel collisions with humpback whales in Hawaiian waters and issues with Hawaiian monk seals.

  • The New York Times: Science Times (January, 2013). “Humpback Whales Seek Pairings Based on Size” (p.D3). Feature story on Dr. Pack’s recently published paper in Animal Behaviour on whale size in humpback whale male-female pairs. Re-published by Honolulu Star Advertiser.

  • Hawaiʻi’s Tomorrow Radio 760 AM (September, 2012). Featured guest on live radio broadcast for program COSEE All Things Marine. Title of show “So you want to know about humpback whales?”

  • Outside Magazine (September, 2012). “Talk to Me” Feature story on Dr. Pack’s collaborative research on wild spotted and bottlenose dolphins in the Bahamas with Dr. Denise Herzing of Florida Atlantic University.

  • The New York Times (September 20, 2011). Comments made on wild spotted dolphin research in Bahamas by colleague and collaborator Dr. Denise Herzing of Florida Atlantic University.

  • Hawaiʻi Tribune Herald (August 10, 2010). Story on free evening community lecture by Dr. Pack on humpback whale research to be given at NHERC on September 8, 2010.

  • National Geographic feature film DVD (spring 2010). Feature Documentary Film “Humpbacks: Inside the Pod.” Film focuses on Dr. Pack’s work in Hawaii on humpback whales using Crittercam. Film aired internationally and credits UH Hilo as Dr. Pack’s institutional affiliation.

  • National Geographic Television (spring, 2009). Feature Documentary Film “Humpbacks: Inside the Pod.” Film focuses on Dr. Pack’s work in Hawaii on humpback whales using Crittercam. Film aired internationally and credits UH Hilo as Dr. Pack’s institutional affiliation.

  • Honolulu Advertiser (Feb. 23, 2009). “In whale love, big girls are what’s hot.” Story on Dr. Pack’s latest publication on humpback whales (Pack et al., 2009). Story credit’s UH Hilo as Dr. Pack’s institutional affiliation. Page B5.

  • Science. ScienceNOW Daily News website (Feb. 24, 2009). “Big = Sexy in Whale Society.” Story on Dr. Pack’s latest publication on humpback whales (Pack et al., 2009). Story credit’s UH Hilo as Dr. Pack’s institutional affiliation.

  • Discovery News. Discovery Channel News website (Feb. 13, 2009). “Male Whales Prefer Enormous Females.” Story on Dr. Pack’s latest publication on humpback whales (Pack et al., 2009). Story credit’s UH Hilo as Dr. Pack’s institutional affiliation. Story also featured on the following websites: Animal Planet, msnbc.com,

1993-2008

  • Smithsonian, February 2008. “Big Love.” Story on Dr. Pack’s whale project. Pages 56 – 63.

  • National Geographic Radio with Boyd Matson. October 17, 2007. Radio interview with Dr. Adam Pack on research with dolphins and whales of UH Manoa’s Kewalo Bain Marine Mammal Lab.

  • PBS “Wild Chronicles.” August, 2006. Television documentary featuring segment on Dr. Pack’s collaborative research with National Geographic’s Remote Imaging Department to use Crittercam to study humpback whales.

  • TV Tokyo (Japan): Dobutsu (Animal) Miracle Power. November, 2005. Interview with Dr. Adam Pack his on dolphin intelligence for 2 hour special.

  • BBC Television (England): Wildlife on One: Dolphins – Deep Thinkers? 2003 – 2004. Television documentary featuring the dolphin intelligence work of UH Manoa’s Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Lab and starring Sir David Attenborough.

  • National Wildlife, Feb./March 2002. “Tuning in to Humpback Whales.” Pages 14-23. Story on Dr. Pack’s whale project.

  • **KGMB’s Island Treasures: Hawaii’s Humpback Whales, March, 2000. ** An award winning documentary featuring Dr. Pack’s humpback whale research.

  • Dolphins, IMAX Theaters film. Opened April 2000. DVD features interview with Dr. Pack about dolphin intelligence studies.

  • National Wildlife, December/January 1997. “Seeing with sonar.” Page 13. Story on Dr. Pack’s dolphin echolocation research.

  • The Economist, December 1996, Vol. 341, No. 7997. “Dolphin Perception: The Sound of Shapes”. Page 118. Article describing Dr. Pack’s work on the dolphin’s ability to form “images” of complex shapes through echolocation.

  • Discover, June 1996. “Seeing with Sonar.” Page 20. Article on Dr. Pack’s discovery that dolphins can immediately recognize complex shapes across the senses of echolocation and vision.

  • Tigress Productions (England) and Nature (PBS), January, 1995. “Into the Wild - Dolphins, with Robin Williams.” Documentary on Dolphins featuring Robin Williams learning about Dr. Pack’s dissertation research on dolphin echolocation.

  • BBC School T.V., Jan. 1994, Seeing Through Science 2: “Listening Through Science.” 1-hour special featuring Dr. Pack and his work on dolphin echolocation.

  • The Discoverers. IMAX Theaters film. Opened September 19, 1993. Featured segment on Dr. Pack’s collaborative discoveries of dolphin abilities for understanding television displays.

Please contact me for more information. Visit the Pack Marine Mammal Lab site .