Organiser: The Alan Turing Institute

In the first Turing Lecture for everyone aged 11+, wildlife filmmaker Tom Mustill reveals how a close encounter with a humpback whale inspired him to find out whether we could ever talk to these ocean giants.

We invite you to submerge yourself in Tom’s underwater world, hear about the amazing advances scientists are making in decoding animal communication, and be rumbled by the voices of our deep-sea orca-stra!

In 2015, wildlife filmmaker Tom Mustill was almost crushed by a humpback whale while kayaking in California. Fascinated by these otherworldly creatures, he began to investigate how researchers are using AI, undersea robots, and animal spying devices to do something incredible: decipher whale song. Tom will break down what it will take to speak to a whale, in a whistlestop tour covering the biology and lives of whales, new discoveries about their communications, what AI is and how it can help, and updates from the latest research expeditions. The event will feature videos from the backs of whales, recordings from the deep sea, pieces of real whales and dolphins, and the chance to feel the vibrations of the biggest voices on the planet through your entire body.

This is a hybrid event with a discretionary donation suggested for virtual attendance and ticketed in-person attendance from £10. Further details: The Turing Lectures: How to speak whale | The Alan Turing Institute.