Dylan Smyth, MSc Student
Cetacean Conservation Program Associate
Dylan is an aquatic sciences technician with a focus on marine mammal ecology and conservation. After graduating in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science, Dylan spent several years working on various projects involving juvenile salmon survival before switching gears to marine mammals. He loves being on the water, playing with boats, drones, and various other scientific toys. His keen interest, and ear, for marine mammal acoustics has given him the privilege of working with a variety of organizations such as OrcaLab, Ocean Wise, and DFO.
After nearly 10 years of field work up and down British Columbia’s coastline, Dylan is now returning to school to pursue a Masters degree with the University of the Algarve in Portugal. Working closely in collaboration with Raincoast and Simon Fraser University, his research will investigate the effects of anthropogenic noise on southern resident killer whale call type selection.
Recent articles
The social and cultural lives of belugas
Exploring beluga sociality and culture through the lens of behaviourial…
Effects of boat- and land-based ecotourism on bears
This body of evidence will help guide ecotourism and conservation.
New scientific review highlights the complex and culturally rich social lives of belugas
Belugas live in multilevel, dynamic societies shaped by kinship, sex,…
The grizzly hunt is no way to solve conflict between humans and bears
Grizzlies involved in conflict and those killed by hunters are…
The utility of science
Grizzlies don’t go looking for conflict. And conflict cannot be…
Do belugas have bromances?
Belugas live in far more complex and culturally rich societies…
A year in review: What was Achiever up to in 2025?
Watch our research vessel travel around the BC coast using…
Long-term research on long-lived species takes a village
We’re listening to protect killer whales, and we need your…