NSU Student f2f with Sharks in the Name of Research

NSU students tagged 10 sharks through a graduate-level course that partners with a non-profit, the Field School. David Shiffman, NSU adjunct professor led the class to South Beach, in waters more than 100 feet deep, showing them the important roles of shark scientists. The Field School helped with safely holding the sharks. Students touched the sharks to collect data from them, tagging the new sharks. When away from the sharks, the students sorted bait, prepared the drum line, which is a technique used to reel in the shark and handled the boat’s maintenance. Weeks of reading textbook pages, listening to lectures and studying led up to hand-on experience with the top of the food chain. With three days on the boat, they learned what exactly does it take to be a shark scientist. Unlike your regular classroom, this one took sail with plenty of lessons on deck.