Dr. Roger Payne is best known for his discovery (with
Scott McVay) that Humpback whales sing songs, and for his theory that
the sounds of fin and blue whales can be heard across oceans. He has studied
the behavior of whales since 1967 and is founder and President of the
Whale Conservation
Institute. His BA degree is from Harvard University, and his Ph.D.
from Cornell.
He has led over 100 expeditions to all oceans and studied every species of
large whale in the wild. He pioneered many of the benign research
techniques now used throughout the world to study free-swimming whales, and
has trained many of the current leaders in whale research, both in America
and abroad. He directs long term research projects on the songs of
Humpback whales, and on the behavior of 1300 individually known Argentine
Right whales - the longest such continuous study.
Payne publishes technical articles and writes for general audiences.
One of his three articles in National Geographic Magazine contained a
record of whale sounds for which 10.5 million copies were printed-still
the largest single print order in the history of the recording industry.
His publications include the book, "Among Whales" (1995) and three recordings:
"Songs of the Humpback Whale" (1970 -- the best-selling natural history
recording ever released), "Deep Voices", (1975), and (with Musician Paul
Winter) "Whales Alive", (1989 -- compositions composed by whales but arranged
and played by humans). Payne has lectured at most major universities in
the U.S. and England, and has appeared on most major TV and radio talk
shows. He is a writer and presenter for television documentaries, and
co-writer of the IMAX film Whales - a co-production of The
National Wildlife Federation, Destination
Cinema, and Zephyr Productions (Payne's company).
Much of the material in this film is based on experiences from Payne's
life.
Payne's honors and awards, include: a knighthood in the Netherlands, a
MacArthur Fellowship (a $250,000 prize) the similar Lyndhurst Prize
Fellowship ($120,000), the Joseph Wood Krutch Medal of the Humane Society of
the U.S., The Albert Schweitzer Medal of the Animal Welfare Institute, and
a UNEP, "Global 500" Award. His films and CD-ROM on whales, have received
awards that include two Cable Ace awards, a Cable Ace nomination, an
Emmy nomination and a Golden Eagle award. His hour-long interview with
Charlie Rose also won the 1994 Emmy for Best Interview.
| A Whale of a Film |
Copyright Whales, LLC 1996.