Tara Howatt

Tara is an assistant professor of geography and environmental science at Yukon University. She has a background in physical oceanography. Her research focuses on oceanic water movements, how these movements are influenced by climate change, and the implications of those changes on marine biology, such as plankton and whales. She uses novel technologies such as autonomous underwater gliders (think underwater robots!) to collect ocean samples and data.

Tara is passionate about conservation efforts in northern environments. She is currently collaborating with the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada to launch an underwater glider to explore how ocean and ship noises influence bowhead and beluga whale distributions in the Canadian Arctic.

Continuously changing conditions due to interannual variability, climate change, development of shipping routes, and oil and gas activity are factors she that help her understand what influences whale distributions. Knowing this is critical to conserve whale populations.

Tara is hosted by the Aurora Research Institute and the Western Arctic Research Centre as part of this POLAR Fellowship.

Degrees

• PhD in Oceanography at the University of British Columbia.
• Master's in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science at McGill University.
• Bachelor's in Oceanography and Geophysics also at the University of British Columbia.