Ever since Chérine Baumgartner saw her first fin whale at the age of five, she has been intrigued by the ocean and its megafauna – a passion that made her become an environmental scientist which led to a Masters Degree at the ETH University in Zurich.

Her main research interest is the social complexity of megafauna, in particular the vocal communication of orcas. In her own research project, she investigates the role of vocal cues in mediating coordination, when orcas hunt herring. While acquiring solid data as such are important as a basis for effective conservation.

Since 2021, Chérine Baumgartner engages at the science and policy interface as a scientific officer at OceanCare. As scientific officer she contributes to the fisheries work programme with focus on the protection of sharks and the animal and species conservation programmes.