Faculty & Staff Directory
Jennifer Lewis
- Adjunct Faculty
- Science Communication
- Animal Behavior
- Marine Mammals
Contact Info
- Name
- Jennifer Lewis
- Job Title
- Adjunct FacultyScience CommunicationAnimal BehaviorMarine Mammals
- Office Number
- David King Hall, Room 3026, MSN 5F2
Affiliations
Departments
Education
PhD Biology Florida International University
MS Marine Science University of Alabama
BS Biology San Diego State University
About
I began my career studying the evolution of behavior in marine mammals. Locations for my work have included the United States, Costa Rica, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, and New Zealand. I have written and published on the topic of behavioral ecology and on the conservation needs of these species, particularly smaller dolphins in the tropics. Today, I remain active in international collaborations, advising students and teaching courses (e.g., Global Policy and Conservation of Marine Mammals, George Mason University).
More recently, I have shifted my focus toward science communication. Through my production company, Que Sera Sera Films, I create documentaries primarily focusing on conservation. My work has also included partnering with NGOs to produce films, and supporting other filmmakers with writing, editing, and production. In addition, I have written about science communication (see Publications) and currently teach on this subject (e.g., Conservation Storytelling; Media Production for Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University).
Teaching Focus
Courses taught:
Conservation Storytelling
Media Production for Environmental Science and Policy
Global Policy and Conservation of Marine Mammals
Selected Publications
Lewis, J. (2024). The Battle for Science. Learn how to communicate to win for science.ASIN B0DFV1VPT2 (Amazon Publishing)
Lewis, J. S. and M. Heithaus (in prep) Response of bottlenose dolphins to disturbance by vessel traffic mirrors sub-lethal reactions to natural predators, Biological Conservation
Lewis, J., M. Rahman, S. Milne and G. J. Ashik. (2016). Current conservation issues affecting dolphins in the tropics. In Tropical Conservation; Perspectives on Local and Global Priorities, A. Aguirre and R. Sukumar (eds.) Oxford University Press.
Paudel, S., Timilsina, Y. P., Lewis, J., Ingersoll, T., & Jnawali, S. R. (2014). Population status and habitat occupancy of endangered river dolphins in the Karnali River system of Nepal during low water season. Marine Mammal Science.doi: 10.1111/mms.12192
Lewis, J. S., D. Wartzok, M. Heithaus and M. Krützen (2013) Could relatedness help explain why individuals lead in bottlenose dolphin groups? PLoS One 8(3): e58162. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058162
Lewis, J. S., D. Wartzok and M. Heithaus (2013) Individuals as information sources: Could followers benefit from leaders’ knowledge? Behaviour 150: 635-657.
Lewis, J.S., D. Wartzok and M. Heithaus (2011) Highly dynamic fission-fusion species can exhibit leadership when traveling. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 65: 1061-1069
Lewis, J. and W. Schroeder (2003) Mud Plume Feeding; a unique foraging behavior of the bottlenose dolphin in the Florida Keys. Gulf of Mexico Science, 21, 1: 92-97
Contact Info
- Name
- Jennifer Lewis
- Job Title
- Adjunct FacultyScience CommunicationAnimal BehaviorMarine Mammals
- Office Number
- David King Hall, Room 3026, MSN 5F2