BEGIN seminar – Dr Tilen Genov
Date: Tuesday, 8th September 2026, 2pm-3pm (UK time)
Location: Online (MS Teams) and in-person
Dolphins of Slovenia, Africa and Globally: The Importance of Studying Dolphins and Whales
Abstract
Whales and dolphins act as messengers of the sea in various ways – either as charismatic species that draw public attention to the protection of biodiversity, or as indicators of anthropogenic changes in the marine environment. Some species are abundant and globally distributed, whilst others are endemic and on the brink of extinction. Through largely independent yet interconnected case studies, Tilen Genov will highlight the broader significance of studying whales and dolphins. Drawing on his own work, he will discuss the research and conservation of two very different species of dolphin in the northern Adriatic and off the coast of West Africa, and explain why cetacean conservation is important from the perspective of mitigating climate change.
Recording:
Bio:
Dr Tilen Genov is a marine biologist specializing in marine mammals and conservation. After completing an MSc in Biology in Slovenia, he went on to earn an MRes in Marine Mammal Science and a PhD in Marine Biology from the University of St Andrews. With over 20 years of research across the Mediterranean, Red, Arabian, and North Seas, and the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, he studies marine mammal population dynamics, habitat use, social structure, behavior, and their interactions with fisheries, chemical pollutants, and underwater noise. He founded the Morigenos – Slovenian Marine Mammal Society, and is an Assistant Professor at the University of Primorska, Slovenia. He is a member of the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group and the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, and a Chair of the European Cetacean Society. Tilen is from Slovenia and outside of marine research, he enjoys martial arts, rock climbing and calisthenics, as well as learning languages.
