Jaida Elcock, a graduate student studying basking sharks in Falmouth, Massachusetts, advocates for shark conservation after gaining insights from TV documentaries. She has faced racism and discrimination while pursuing her biology career. The murder of George Floyd led her to connect with other Black naturalists and co-found Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS). MISS aims to support underrepresented communities in marine science, providing community, knowledge, and training opportunities. The organization has grown to approximately 400 members across 30 countries, promoting diversity and inclusion in the field.
"I really don't want to know what an ocean without sharks looks like," she says.
MISS works to support under-represented and historically excluded communities to help them to feel confident and accepted in science by providing them with access to a community, knowledge and training opportunities.
Having earned a biology degree at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, and worked her way up through various internships and laboratory technician positions, Elcock is now a graduate student based in Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Pleasantly surprised to realize there were other Black women working in shark science, the four came together and founded Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS).
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