Dr. Payne
Dr. Roger Payne founded Ocean Alliance in 1971. Dr. Payne is considered one of the founders of the modern field of whale biology and was labeled the ‘archdeacon of whale biology’ by National Geographic in the 1970s. He was particularly well known for his groundbreaking discovery that humpback whales sing songs (a discovery made alongside Katy Payne and Scott McVay. He also initiated the Southern Right Whale program, the longest ongoing study on a great whale on the planet. Roger passed away in 2023, and we strive to uphold his legacy every day. It is a difficult legacy to live up to – few people – living or dead – have made a more significant contribution to whale conservation than Dr. Roger Payne.
Five days before passing away, Dr. Payne published an essay in TIME magazine, I Spent My Life Saving the Whales. Now They Might Save Us. You can read this wonderful essay here
Several beautifully written obituaries were written on Roger’s life after he passed away. For a selection of our favorites, please see here:
Roger Payne, who shared whale songs with the world, dies at 88
