Conor Ryan is a zoologist with a particular interest in the ecology of baleen whales. Although his doctoral research was using environmental chemistry to study whale movements and diet, his current research has focusses on acoustics, bioethics and historic whaling.

He has an affinity for islands and polar places where he works as a wildlife guide and a self-employed scientist. Conor is a research associate on the research vessel Song of the Whale and regularly works on Lindblad Expeditions / National Geographic ships in Antarctica and the Arctic.

Originally from Cobh in Ireland, Conor has lived on the Isle of Mull for almost 8 years. He enjoys expedition kayaking around the Hebrides, foraging for seaweeds and fungi and learning about tiny, overlooked and obscure things such as lichens.