Highlighting Scripps College's Prominent Student: Jessica Sportelli
In the heart of the University of California San Diego, Jessica Sportelli is making waves in the field of marine biology. Pursuing a master's degree, Jessica's research is being conducted under the guidance of John Hildebrand, a distinguished professor in the Marine Physical Laboratory at Scripps.
Jessica's focus is on the bioacoustics of killer whales in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. This fascination was sparked during her senior year of undergrad when John Hildebrand and PhD student Josh Jones noticed killer whale calls in recordings of narwhals in the same region.
Jessica's research aims to describe the dialect of an unknown pod of killer whales and understand their migration patterns. By studying the vocal behavior and acoustic communication of these whales, she hopes to uncover how they use these sounds for social interactions, navigation, and hunting. Furthermore, she aims to understand how environmental factors in the Arctic may influence their acoustic behavior.
This research contributes significantly to conservation efforts. It provides insights into killer whale ecology and how changing Arctic conditions might affect them. Jessica hopes her work will contribute to the development of conservation laws and practices, particularly for the native Inuit people of Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada, who are concerned about the impact of killer whales on narwhal populations.
Jessica's days at Scripps are filled with lab meetings, where she hears about her lab mates' projects, and work in her office located in Ritter Hall. When she needs a break, she can be found at Pinpoint Cafe, sipping on vanilla lattes and enjoying chorizo breakfast burritos.
Looking ahead, Jessica plans to continue working in the North Atlantic/Arctic region, focusing on marine mammal communities. Her ultimate goal is to make a difference in Indigenous communities or endangered marine mammal communities through her research.
It's worth noting that mental health is an important challenge for students at Scripps, as it is for many university students worldwide. Jessica, like many others, navigates this challenge with resilience and determination, driven by her passion for marine biology and her commitment to making a positive impact.
- Beyond her marine biology work, Jessica also has an interest in education and self-development, aiming to make a difference in Indigenous communities or endangered marine mammal communities through continued learning.
- In addition to her research in the health-and-wellness of marine life, Jessica recognizes the need for attention in the mental health of university students, including herself, and navigates these challenges with resilience and determination.
- Jessica's work in the field of marine biology seeks to not only contribute to the science of ocean life but also to the fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and personal-growth of Indigenous communities dependent on the health of marine ecosystems.
- Jessica's dedication to her studies in marine biology at the University of California San Diego inspires her to engage in broader fields of learning, such as health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and personal-growth, for the betterment of the world around her.
