DugongWatch: research to protect marine mammals

On 28 September 2026, Nina Schläger presents the DugongWatch project on Deutschlandfunk Nova. The focus is on protecting these endangered marine mammals and on the science behind the project.

On 28 September 2026, Nina Schläger is a guest on Deutschlandfunk Nova to present DugongWatch. The programme is about dugongs – also known as sea cows – and about how these fascinating marine mammals can be observed and protected more effectively.

The project’s main initiator is Prof. Dr. Ralph Schill of the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems at the University of Stuttgart. DugongWatch combines scientific research with the aim of learning more about dugongs, their habitats and the threats they face. The presentation shows why reliable observation data are an important basis for protecting the animals and their marine environment.

Nina Schläger will introduce the project to a broad audience and give insights into its background and significance. DugongWatch shows that modern marine conservation depends on cooperation, scientific accuracy and public attention.

The broadcast is part of Deutschlandfunk Nova’s initiative “Nova auf die Eins”, which gives committed people airtime for the topic that matters to them.

“DugongWatch shows that scientific knowledge can be the first step towards effectively protecting threatened habitats.”

Photo: Nina Schläger