Divya Panicker is an oceanographer and marine mammal researcher working at the intersection of science, conservation, and community engagement. Her research focuses on blue whales, bioacoustics, soundscape ecology, cetacean distributions, and monsoonal influences in the northern Indian Ocean, with a particular interest in oceanic waters around the Lakshadweep archipelago. She works closely with Lakshadweep’s fishers and diver communities and has partnered with institutes in India and abroad to advance research and capacity building in India.

She is  interested in long-term scientific studies that track changes in marine ecosystems, including how large-scale oceanographic processes influence the movement and behavior of whales and dolphins. In addition to her research, Divya is involved in ocean education and outreach.  Inspired by the sea, she and has authored children’s books, Razia Learns to Swim and Have You Ever Heard a Whale Sing?

Divya enjoys reading, going for walks, and quiet early mornings.