Dr. David Gruber is a renowned marine biologist and the Founder and President of Project CETI, the Cetacean* Translation Initiative. Project CETI is a nonprofit, multidisciplinary initiative focused on decoding sperm whale vocalizations through machine learning and linguistic analysis.
Simply put, using a variety of high-tech tools and robotics, Project CETI aims to understand what sperm whales are saying and share that information broadly and freely, using it to raise awareness of humankind's place on the planet, drive conservation efforts, and ultimately foster a deeper connection between humans and nature. Since 2020, Project CETI has conducted research off the coast of Dominica in the eastern Caribbean, gathering data on sperm whale communication and behavior.
In his talk, Dr. Gruber reflects on his early years, his lifelong fascination with diverse life forms, and the paths that led him to marine biology and, ultimately, sperm whales. Throughout the recording, he references those in his Radcliffe Fellowship Class and his Project CETI colleagues, a multidisciplinary team whose collective expertise drives CETI’s mission. Click on the links provided for background information on his collaborators and colleagues.
Dr. Gruber is featured in Story Preservation’s PIONEERS IN SCIENCE initiative, a project that honors scientists at the forefront of discovery and whose work has the potential to fundamentally transform our understanding of the world.
*A group of marine mammals comprised of whales, porpoises, and dolphins.
Take a Deep Dive - Educator Project Prompts
David Gruber - Researching with Respect and a Gentler Touch: National Geographic
Scientific American: Anyone Can Learn Echolocation (Learn how sound is “visualized” in the brain). This may require a subscription.
