Students for Environmental Awareness and Speak Out for Species will team up to show the documentary “A Life Among Whales” tonight.

The 57-minute film profiles Roger Payne, who helped to discover “singing” in humpback whales in 1967 and founded the Ocean Alliance in 1970. The documentary also delves into Payne’s activism for and research about whales and their ocean environments.

“A person attending the screening should be prepared to be awed by the power and majesty of whales . Individuals will also receive a compelling environmental lesson on the importance of protecting and preserving all marine life,” said John Schell, associate professor in occupational studies.

Schell is the co-founder of the “Whale Class” which takes University students to Gloucester, Mass. to observe and learn firsthand about whales. He will be joined by Cynde McInnis, a naturalist with the Ocean Alliance, for an informal discussion after the film. McInnis will be there via video conference.

SEA president Ashley Dronenburg hopes students leave the blue-card event better informed about environmental issues discussed in the film or by McInnis and Schell.

“It’s important because the ecological turmoil of the oceans is an issue that is not well understood and is not well publicized. This film shines a light on some of the most difficult obstacles facing ocean ecosystems today,” said Dronenburg, a junior from Lawrenceville.

Both Dronenburg and SOS advisor Eric Griffith said the film’s message matched the missions of SEA and SOS. It is the fourth year that the two groups will hold a movie event together.

“There’s a lot of things in the film that aren’t limited to just whales. It talks about the impact of pollution on the entire marine environment and how that impacts the planet,” Griffith said. “Dr. Payne says that if we can’t save the whales, we can’t save anything. And that idea sums up the film’s message very directly.”

Schell said the importance of that message to him personally is the reason he is participating in the screening.

“Our understanding of oceans and marine life are critical to sustaining life on earth. I have six grandchildren who will have to live with the environmental mess that we are leaving,” Schell said. “The critical message is that by acting now we can save the ocean environment for whales of all kinds, but also for future generations.”