Sharks, Diversity, Equality & Adventure

When I got the gig to narrate David Shiffman’s Why Sharks Matter, I never dreamed that I would find myself on a boat idling 150 yards off of the coast of Bill Braggs State Park in Miami, attaching a tracking tag to the dorsal fin of a blacknose shark. I also didn’t anticipate how this adventure would open my eyes to the need for diversity and equality in marine science.

First, let me say that David Shiffman’s book is a fantastic read. His voice really comes through, and it was a ball to narrate. I never thought a nonfiction book in the science category could be a page turner, but Why Sharks Matter certainly was.

David and I connected on Twitter, and once the project was wrapped up, he invited me down to Miami to join a 2-day shark tagging trip with the Field School on the R/V Garvin.

Some of the crew of R/V Garvin, members of the Field School, and members of MISS

Now, on the one hand, I’m irrationally terrified of sharks. I think too much swimming in the murky Atlantic waters of the Jersey shore let my imagination run wild.

On the other hand, I definitely love adventures, and I’m not usually one to turn down an opportunity to challenge myself.

My adventurous side beat my irrational side into submission, and I winged it down to Miami last month for two days on the water and to face one of my greatest fears down.

The short version: the trip was awesome (I’ll share some pictures on my Instagram and Twitter soon), I was not eaten, a Florida Man towed his kids through a chum line like a slalom course, and I met some incredible, dedicated people.

As usual, with any adventure, it’s the people who make the most impact. The sites and activities are always memorable, but it’s the interactions with people familiar and new that really elevate things like this.

One of the things that stuck with me was that many of these folks, professionals in shark research and marine biology at large, was the common theme of the lack of diversity and equality in marine science.

Now I’m not shocked that inequality exists for women, minorities, and the LGBTQ communities. I was shocked, however, that it existed so rampantly and blatantly in the scientific community, and by some of the stories of sexual harassment and misogyny that seemed all-too common.

I guess I just thought the scientific community would be a little better, more focused on learning and discovery than on wielding power over subordinates. I suppose I thought that, while there would always be ego involved with “top players”, that there would be more of the “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations” philosophy espoused by the Vulcans of Star Trek.

Sadly, this is not the case.

I was also surprised by the amount of “old money” that is involved with pursuing a career in marine science. In order to advance in the field, one must have field research experience. In many cases, this means an unpaid internship, which is just not a possibility for some people. In other cases, it’s actually “pay-to-play”, where one must pony up the money for the opportunity.

It makes me sad, thinking about a) all of the people who wanted to pursue a career in marine science and found out that they wouldn’t be able to play the game, and b) how much knowledge have we missed out on discovering because of this rampant gatekeeping.

But there is hope. Mister Rogers always said, “Look for the helpers.”

In this case, I had the pleasure of meeting two groups of helpers who are working to increase the amount of diversity and opportunity in marine research.

The Field School, run by Dr. Catherine Macdonald (there are women shark scientists, despite what some people would have you believe), focuses on providing field experience for the under-represented. I was told that they hire for kindness first, and take the time to train “hard skills” like tying knots. You can teach someone a bowline; you can’t teach someone not to be a jerk.

Their vessel, the Garvin, proudly flies these flags:

MISS (Minorities In Shark Science), founded by Amani Webber-Schultz, Carlee Jackson, Jaida Elcock, and Jasmin Graham, had several members on board the Garvin, and one of their core philosophies is,

“We believe diversity in scientists creates diversity in thought, which leads to innovation.

Right on, ladies. That’s what I’m talking about. Oh, they also say this on their website:

…we hope to topple the system that has historically excluded genders like us and create an equitable path to shark science.

Cue up the bagpipes, thems is fightin’ words, and I’m here for it.