Our Experts
Katherine McKenna
Associate Research Scientist
Ecology, Mapping and Assessment of Marine Populations, Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean LifeEducation
BA, Biology, College of the Holy Cross, 2015
About
o Katherine McKenna is an associate research scientist with the Ecology, Mapping, and Assessment of Marine Populations department (EcoMAP) at the Anderson Cabot Center. She is a member of the aerial survey team and participates in surveys of wind energy development areas, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, and throughout the Gulf of Maine. In addition to fieldwork, her focus areas include data and photo management, photogrammetry, and contributing to scientific reports and publications.
Prior to joining the Aquarium, she worked as a naturalist on whale watching boats in Massachusetts and in the marine animal rescue, necropsy, and rehabilitation field through positions at the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s Marine Mammal Rescue Program and the New England Aquarium’s Rescue and Rehabilitation Department.
Featured Research
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Extralimital sightings of a gray whale in the western North Atlantic
Aquarium Affiliate Author(s): Orla O’Brien, Kate Laemmle, Katherine McKenna, Jessica V. Redfern, PhD
Published September 11, 2025 -
Perspectives on using Protected Species Observer (PSO) data to fill knowledge gaps about marine species distributions and habitat use
Aquarium Affiliate Author(s): Laura Ganley, PhD, Katherine McKenna, Jessica V. Redfern, PhD
Published June 05, 2024 -
Repatriation of a historical North Atlantic right whale habitat during an era of rapid climate change
Aquarium Affiliate Author(s): Orla O’Brien, Dan Pendleton, Ph.D., Laura Ganley, PhD, Katherine McKenna, Scott Kraus, PhD, Jessica V. Redfern, PhD
Published July 20, 2022
Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life
Through pioneering conservation research and strategic partnerships, our team of 40 scientists works to combat the unprecedented impacts on the ocean from climate change and other human activities.
