Science Saves Sharks is an online science communication platform where we share shark research in a fun and understandable way. A major focus of ours has been to connect and collaborate with different local ocean stakeholders so that scientific research can have a wider reach and impact. Our goal is to make scientific findings more accessible and highlight the incredible work that scientists are doing to a broader public network. Moreover, we hope to unite diverse ocean stakeholders under the common cause of ensuring healthy oceans for our future. Science Saves Sharks was founded by three students in the Genetics Department at Stellenbosch University. We use molecular tool to study the distribution patterns and adaptive potential of threatened, endangered and endemic shark and ray species. Jess is currently pursuing her PhD and conducting an evolutionary ecological genomics study to inform conservation and management of the common smoothhound. Mia’s
PhD is employing an integrated approach consisting of evolutionary genomics and community-based surveys to expand our knowledge of rhino rays for her PhD. Karla is currently pursuing her MSc in Genetics, focusing on developing and optimising molecular tools to enhance species analysis of stingrays, with a particular emphasis on the leopard whipray species.
