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Steve Dawson is Emeritus Professor in the Department of Marine Science at the University of Otago. He holds an MSc from the University of Auckland and a PhD from the University of Canterbury. His research specializations include the conservation biology of marine mammals, with particular emphasis on Hector's dolphin, incidental catch of marine mammals in fisheries, acoustic behaviour and communication in cetaceans, line-transect surveys for inshore cetaceans, and photogrammetry. Dawson has held appointments including Professor and Head of the Department of Marine Science at the University of Otago, and he continues active research following his transition to emeritus status.
Dawson has received several awards, including the Sir Peter Blake Leader Award (Science) in 2025 jointly with Professor Elisabeth Slooten, the Division of Sciences Outstanding Teacher award from the University of Otago in 2020, the John Morton Medal from the New Zealand Marine Sciences Society in 2016 jointly with Slooten, the University of Otago Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2012, and the Sir Charles Fleming Award from the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2004 jointly with Slooten. His work has contributed to long-term studies on species including Hector's dolphins, Fiordland bottlenose dolphins, and sperm whales, as well as the application of passive acoustic monitoring and UAV photogrammetry in cetacean ecology. Dawson maintains involvement with the New Zealand Whale & Dolphin Trust and has supervised numerous graduate students through to completion of their degrees.
Explore how University of Otago's latest eDNA research on Hector's dolphin population connectivity is revolutionizing conservation efforts in New Zealand's coastal waters.
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