The Last 73 Orcas in the Pacific Northwest: Can AI Help Save Them?

Can AI help save endangered orcas? The answer is yes! In the Pacific Northwest, only 73 southern resident orcas remain, threatened by ocean pollution and declining salmon populations. But scientists are turning to AI and machine learning to help protect them. Gracie Ermi, a passionate conservation technologist, writes AI-driven code to identify individual orcas from drone images, helping researchers track their health and well-being without disturbing them. Learn how technology and conservation are working together to protect these incredible animals.

Meet the women changing the face of STEM! The IF/THEN Collection, now proudly housed at the Museum of Science, Boston, is the world’s largest free digital library showcasing real, contemporary women in science, technology, engineering, and math. From groundbreaking researchers to space explorers, these role models prove that if she can see it, she can be it. Explore videos featuring behind-the-scenes interviews, and hands-on STEM inspiration for students, educators, and lifelong learners.

This project is funded by Lyda Hill Philanthropies.

Research engineer Gracie Ermi builds technology platforms that just might help save our planet! Her work focuses specifically on saving endangered animals and preserving ocean health. Gracie works at the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Seattle, WA. She builds machine learning technology - training computers to do the most tedious aspects of conservation work so that experts can focus on more important tasks. She is passionate about sharing her story as a way to inspire people, especially women and girls, to pursue computer science as an avenue to make a change in their communities and around the world. She wants to emphasize to people that coding is not magic; with practice, anyone can learn to do it. Plus, learning to code busts open a whole world of financially beneficial and socially engaging opportunities. Gracie holds both a B.S. and a M.S. in computer science from Western Washington University. In her free time, she loves knitting, spending time with family and friends, cheering on Seattle sports teams, reading, and getting outside in the incredible Pacific Northwest.

See the full IF/THEN Collection.