Alisa Schulman-Janiger, a marine biologist and cetacean researcher, was honored on December 1 for her 40 years of dedication to the ACS-LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project.
In a surprise presentation, colleagues from the American Cetacean Society Los Angeles Chapter (ACS-LA) and Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor John Cruikshank recognized Schulman-Janiger at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center, coinciding with the start of the Pacific gray whale migration season.
Patty Farrell, president of ACS-LA, highlighted Schulman-Janiger's role in one of the longest-running citizen science research projects, where she trains volunteers to document gray whales and other marine mammals.
Working with over 100 volunteers, Schulman-Janiger tracks the migration of gray whales from Arctic feeding grounds to winter breeding lagoons in Baja California. Her daily summaries and annual reviews aid the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in estimating populations and studying behaviors for species protection.
In addition to her work with the ACS, Schulman-Janiger is a research associate at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History and has taught marine biology for over 20 years.
Upcoming training sessions for new volunteers as 'citizen scientists' are scheduled for December 7 and 8, from 10 a.m. to noon.