Dr Els Vermeulen, Research Manager of the Mammal Research Institute’s (MRI’s) Whale Unit and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Zoology and Entomology at the University of Pretoria (UP), has been appointed to the South African National Committee of the global Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR).

This prestigious appointment recognises Dr Vermeulen’s significant contributions to marine mammal research and her commitment to advancing scientific understanding in Antarctic and Southern Ocean science.

“Having been elected to SCAR is a great recognition not only for myself and the work I have dedicated my life to, but also for the MRI Whale Unit and its leading role in baleen whale research in South Africa,” Dr Vermeulen said. “Due to this, I am in a unique position to be able to leverage decadal datasets of baleen whale research initiated by the late Professor Peter Best [a former Head of the MRI Whale Unit who was described as the world's foremost authority on the whales and dolphins of Southern Africa] and lead the unit forward as a nationally important and globally relevant research group on these charismatic megafauna. Being nominated to contribute to SCAR is, therefore, a strong testament not only to the current research of the unit but also to its long-standing history.”

She explained that one of the largest research themes in the unit relates to the role of large whales in Southern Hemisphere Ocean ecosystems, with a very strong relevance to the Southern Ocean and Antarctic environment. “With my appointment, I envisioned significantly strengthening South Africa's strategic position in baleen whale research in the Antarctic while contributing to developing a strong national Antarctic research programme. At the same time, I aim to contribute significantly to promoting international collaboration, especially through my position in the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the global governmental body tasked with managing and conserving large whales. SCAR and IWC already work together globally, and I aim to strengthen South Africa's position and contribution within this framework. At the same time, I wish to contribute to the conservation and management of our ocean resources, especially in the Antarctic, and aim to do so through scientific advice to the South African government on matters related to the Antarctic region, ensuring that policies are based on the latest scientific advice.”

She added, “Both the chair and vice-chair of the South African National Committee (SANC) are women, and I feel privileged to be able to contribute to SANC and learn from these leading female academics.”

Dr Vermeulen is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Cetacean Specialist Group, IUCN Red List Authority, and an Invited Participant to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. In addition to her research expertise she has a strong capacity to bring together diverse experts across various fields to advance overarching global goals in cetacean research, as evidenced in her leadership in the IWC-Southern Ocean Research Partnership (IWC-SORP) research area on southern right whales, the Southern Right Whale Consortium (SRWC), the South African Humpback Dolphin Consortium (SouSA), and the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin Network (HuDONET).