Ask a Shark Expert
Read shark researcher Mark Marks' responses on the following shark topics:
Disappearing sharks
Shark evolution
Shark deterrent?
Nonstop swimmers?
Shark posturing
Swimming with the sharks?
Shark diving
Shark education
Shark enemies
Shark reproduction
Great white disposition
Favorite shark
Shark eyes
Shark companions
Bite pressure
Bladderless sharks
Warmblooded killers
Hammerheads
Thresher sharks
Great whites in captivity
Shark protection
Q: On Shark Education
Dear Mark,
I'd like to know a school (most preferably a college) that has special professors who teach people to study sharks. When I grow up, I want to protect these sharks.
Sincerely,
Anna
There are universities where the biological sciences are their specialty. If you were interested in sharks academically, then I'd suggest pursuing a BSc. (bachelor of science) degree with a major in the fields of zoology, marine biology or ichthyology. There are few schools that offer classes exclusively focused on sharks, but that's not to say that classes can't be found. In fact, I have taught shark biology and ecology at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, Alaska. What you will likely find with a bit of homework is that there are biologists who teach, for example, marine biology courses, who have specialized their own research with sharks and tend to emphasize the shark as a focal subject for examining a variety of topics. Search for those schools that offer majors in marine biology, such as Humboldt State University, Florida Marine Institute, University of Miami or University of Maryland. Good luck...We certainly need more women in the biological sciences!
