Nienke van Geel

Dr. Nienke van Geel is a Research Fellow (Post-Doctoral Research Associate) at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), University of the Highlands and Islands, where she works within the Energy Innovation Team. Her research focuses on marine mammal ecology and acoustics, particularly cetacean distributions and anthropogenic interactions.

Her primary research interests include:

• Cetacean spatio-temporal distributions and habitat preferences
• Marine mammal bioacoustics and conservation
• Interdisciplinary approaches integrating biology, ecology and conservation methods
• Environmental impact assessments of marine renewable energy developments

Dr. van Geel's publications consistently address marine anthropogenic impacts, particularly from wind farms and tidal turbines, using acoustic monitoring techniques. Her work demonstrates strong focus on:

• Population-level impact assessments of marine infrastructure
• Acoustic telemetry applications for marine species management
• Standardization of underwater sound analysis methodologies

She actively contributes to public understanding through media engagements, including:

• Webinars on dolphin behavior (e.g., 'Barra Boys' dolphin pod)
• Participation in global underwater sound experiments
• Research features on whale and dolphin acoustics in Scottish waters