Shark Research & Conservation

The Shark Research & Conservation Program (SRC) at the University of Miami conducts conservation-relevant research on sharks and rays while inspiring scientific interest and environmental engagement in youth through hands-on field research experiences.

Every year, SRC brings hundreds of people, mostly school-children, out on research vessels to survey, sample, tag and study sharks. We especially try to serve communities that have been historically (and often currently) excluded from STEM opportunities, including connecting girls with women scientists through our F.I.N.S. Program. To reach beyond South Florida, SRC uses a variety of online education tools, including social media, educational videos, and online curricula to communicate shark science to the public.

Our research focuses broadly on the ecology, biology, and conservation of sharks and rays. Our approach includes studying the habitats and food web relationships sharks and rays rely on, especially in highly human-impacted environments like South Florida. The SRC Team is comprised of University of Miami faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students.

SRC is based at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, which is recognized as one of the top collegiate programs for marine research in the world.

Our work includes three overlapping focal areas:

Science – Education – Conservation

These priorities acknowledge the importance of interdisciplinary scientific research in addressing conservation challenges. While all three are core to SRC’s mission, our primary goal is to conduct conservation-relevant research, and our outreach, education, and communication goals are shaped by our science.

Since 2009, SRC has brought over 12,000 citizen scientists into the field to participate in shark research.

“Because the Shark Research & Conservation Program lies squarely in the intersection between science and policy, it provides students across the University of Miami, and high school students, including those in underserved populations, with access to field experiences that will foster intellectual curiosity and help to position them as effective environmental leaders for the future.”
— Donna Shalala, Former President, University of Miami
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