Blair Irvine, Ph.D.
Vice President of the Board
The Dolphin Biology Research Institute is a Sarasota-based 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation established in 1982 to provide logistical support to the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program with research vessels, towing vehicles, computers, cameras, field equipment, etc.
Dr. Blair Irvine began his career as a civilian working for the U.S. Navy, training dolphins to work in the open sea. In 1970, he left to train dolphins to attack sharks at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. His interest in wild dolphin behavior led him, and then-16-year-old Randy Wells, to start the research that would eventually become the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program.
In 1980, he changed careers, moved to Oregon, and developed NIH-funded interventions to change health-related human behaviors, including to improve skills to care for and communicate with persons with dementia.
Because his heart never quite left the dolphins of Sarasota, Blair returned at least yearly from 1983-2017 to volunteer in the water during dolphin health assessments, and he has served on the Dolphin Biology Research Institute Board since its inception.
A more detailed summary can be found here.
