Melissa Cristina Márquez is a marine science education expert, TEDx speaker, author, and podcast host currently finishing her doctoral degree. She has been featured in NPR, Allure, InStyle, GQ, Seeker, Popular Science, and appeared on Disney+, BBC, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Acciona, and Good Morning America. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Mexico, Melissa has worked at the forefront of marine science education and communication for over a decade, her work taking her all over the world to the US, New Zealand, and now Australia. In this episode, we chat about how Melissa balances science and outreach, the importance of role models, and her work demystifying misunderstood predators.
Connect with Melissa: Instagram| Facebook| Twitter
Quick Links
Wild Survival Books by Melissa Cristina Marquez
Sicklefin Lemon Shark
Milk Shark
The Fins United Initiative
OceanXplorer
Pygmy Seahorse
A Blue New Deal by Chris Armstrong
Show Notes
0:08 Melissa has always had a fascination with misunderstood predators which has led her to advocate for shark in her research. She grew up around the ocean and decided to pursue shark research in her career to learn more about their important role in the ecosystem she loved so much.
2:08 Melissa is currently working to finish her PhD. She knew this was the path for her because she was determined to conduct her own research to answer ocean questions she is fascinated in.
3:08 In addition to academia, Melissa has written books and been featured on shark week. She discusses that speaking about her science came as a natural extension to her research which allowed her to branch out into these areas of marine biology.
4:29 As a child, Melissa was inspired to pursue science from her mother who was an engineer and biologist. Her interest in marine biology also came largely from big names in conservation such as David Attenborough, Jane Goodall, Sylvia Earle, and Eugenie Clark.
5:08 Melissa wrote a trio of books called Wild Survival which all feature stories about animals that have a bad reputation for being dangerous. She was excited to showcase these animals in a positive light while also including characters of various races that are often not represented in the conservation sphere.
7:31 Melissa was invited on shark week after a TedX talk where she spoke about the importance of representation in the marine biology and conservation world. She speaks about her experience branching into tv production.
8:44 Melissa is a firm believer that the world is our classroom which allowed her to travel around the world to continue her studies and learn new things from each place.
9:34 Melissa speaks about her experiences being a shark conservationist in Australia. Encouragingly, she has mostly seen support for shark protection from the public although there are still issues that can be improved.
10:54 In her PhD thesis, Melissa is combining both ecological and social sciences to consider human and ecological dimensions of conservation. Although she cannot speak in detail about her work before it’s done, she is using various technology to try and understand shark habitat use and how media portrayal of sharks influences people’s perception of them.
16:02 Since the start of her PhD, Melissa’s research questions have changed due to unforeseen circumstances with COVID-19. Although her work had to be modified in various ways, her love for sharks has only grown more.
18:39 Melissa founded The Fins United Initiative with the mission to teach others about sharks, skates, rays, and chimeras as well as highlight those that are involved in their conservation. Although currently going through a re-branding, she is excited to start up the initiative once she completes her PhD.
20:33 After she completes her PhD, Melissa is not yet sure what will come next, but she does plan for a break. She speaks about normalizing taking breaks from academia, taking those “pay-your-bills” job, and taking the time to get inspired and gain perspective in life.
25:33 Melissa had the opportunity to sail on the ocean explorer and film for an upcoming shark-related show. She shares how humbling the experience was for her and how it impacted her PhD progress.
27:52 Melissa speaks about the major differences between schooling in Australia vs. the United States when it comes to graduate degrees.
31:09 Apart from sharks, Melissa’s favorite sea creature is the pygmy seahorse because of their incredible camouflage.
32:03 To Melissa the ocean stands for endless possibilities. It is home and familiar but at the same time it is unpredictable and mysterious.
32:31 With a blank cheque, Melissa would tag animals of various species to track their movement and better understand how they use habitats. With this information we could come up with better strategies to co-exist with them and have both humans and animals thrive at the same time.
34:49 Melissa’s favorite field story is when she went out to lead her own field work for the first time in western Australia.
35:30 Melissa’s conservation ask- Read “A Blue New Deal” by Chris Armstrong.