Science Friday Asha de Vos’ Journey From Deck Hand To Marine Science Leader
Oct 1, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Asha de Vos, a pioneering marine biologist and the founder of Oceanswell, shares her groundbreaking discovery of Sri Lanka's non-migratory blue whale population. She reflects on the challenges of establishing marine research in a context where resources were scarce and faced cultural skepticism as a female scientist. Asha also sheds light on the phenomenon of parachute science, emphasizing its impacts. With a focus on her journey, Asha inspires with her vision for advancing marine science in Sri Lanka.
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Discovery While Cleaning Toilets
- Asha de Vos spotted multiple blue whales while working as a deckhand and realized she might have found something unusual.
- The sighting of six whales tightly grouped sparked her curiosity and launched her interest in researching them.
Unexpected Tropical Feeding Behavior
- Blue whales normally migrate to cold waters to feed and use warm tropics to breed, but Sri Lankan whales fed locally in warm waters.
- This behavior suggests a unique, non-migratory blue whale population in Sri Lanka needing focused study.
Whale Poop Eureka Moment
- Asha found bright red blue whale poop which indicated nearby feeding in tropical waters where feeding was not expected.
- That unexpected evidence contradicted textbooks and became her 'Eureka' moment to study why the whales stayed.