New York, New York, United States
David Gruber is the Founder & President of Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative), a nonprofit organization and the largest and most interdisciplinary interspecies communication effort to date. CETI has made pioneering scientific discoveries in understanding the communication system of sperm whales. He is Distinguished Professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences at the City University of New York and National Geographic Explorer. His research bridges animal communication, climate science, marine biology, microbiology, and molecular biology, and his inventions include technologies to perceive the underwater world from the perspective of marine animals. His long-standing collaboration with the Harvard Microrobotics Laboratory has led to the engineering of some of the most gentle robots ever created to better understand and interact with life in the ocean. Gruber holds the Lagrange Prize in complex systems science for his advancements “focused on the conservation of biodiversity, protection of resources and the safeguarding of ecosystems.”
Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative) is a nonprofit scientific and conservation organization applying advanced machine learning and gentle robotics to translate the communication of sperm whales. In listening to and interpreting their voices, we are boldly demonstrating that today’s cutting-edge technologies can be used to benefit both humankind and other species. CETI is a National Geographic Society program.
National Geographic Explorer and Lead of the Project CETI-National Geographic Society Partnership
Baruch College, Department of Natural Sciences PhD Program in Biology, City University of New York, The Graduate Center David's interdisciplinary research builds bridges between marine biology, biophysics, climate science and animal communication while his inventions deploy groundbreaking technology to help humans view the underwater world from the perspective of those who call it home. His deep-diving scientific diving teams have discovered scores of unique biofluorescent compounds, some of which have been developed into tools to find better cancer drugs. A former tropical forester for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gruber’s research utilizes Remote Operated Vehicles, extended-range SCUBA and soft robotics (in collaboration with the Harvard Microrobotics Laboratory) to investigate corals, sponges and delicate forms of marine fauna. Gruber is passionate about utilizing modern technology to view the underwater world from marine creatures’ perspectives. In this vein, his group developed a “shark-eye” camera to gain a shark’s perspective of their marine environment. He is currently leading Project CETI that applies advanced machine learning and non-invasive robotics to better understand sperm whales.
Associate at the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, working collaborative with the Harvard Microrobotics Laboratory.
Research Associate, Invertebrate Zoology.