<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This paper examines the development of socio-technical strategies and practices for the study and display of marine mammals. It considers how techniques initially developed for terrestrial use were deployed under marine conditions, not least through the adaptation of strategies and habits originating in industry, commerce and the military, in order to facilitate researchers’ access to their subjects. In particular, it examines how these methodological developments intersected with the terrestrial display of marine mammals. Throughout, it shows how the agency of the animals under observation had a key role to play in the emergence of cetology as a profession and as a form of knowledge.</p></abstract>

This paper examines the development of socio-technical strategies and practices for the study and display of marine mammals. It considers how techniques initially developed for terrestrial use were deployed under marine conditions, not least through the adaptation of strategies and habits originating in industry, commerce and the military, in order to facilitate researchers’ access to their subjects. In particular, it examines how these methodological developments intersected with the terrestrial display of marine mammals. Throughout, it shows how the agency of the animals under observation had a key role to play in the emergence of cetology as a profession and as a form of knowledge.

Elemental problems, methodical solutions: expertise, ecology and entertainment in the study of marine mammals

HoST - Journal  of History of Science and Technology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This paper examines the development of socio-technical strategies and practices for the study and display of marine mammals. It considers how techniques...

Elemental problems, methodical solutions: expertise, ecology and entertainment in the study of marine mammals

Published Online: Nov 15, 2019

Page range: 5 - 30

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/host-2019-0011

Keywords
agency, methodology, field science, marine mammals, popular science

© 2019 Amanda Rees, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Elemental problems, methodical solutions: expertise, ecology and entertainment in the study of marine mammals

Published Online: Nov 15, 2019

Page range: 5 - 30

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/host-2019-0011

Keywordsagency, methodology, field science, marine mammals, popular science

© 2019 Amanda Rees, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
agency, methodology, field science, marine mammals, popular science