According to Stony Brook University, high school and college students spent two weeks in a marine science class analyzing underwater camera footage and practicing surgical stitches for shark tracking tags during campus sessions held over the past two weeks. The specialized curriculum, now in its second year at the university’s Southampton campus, is designed to give students direct involvement in ongoing marine research while teaching them how to study and protect local shark populations.
Hands-On Marine Research at Stony Brook University
During the two-week program, students participated in boat surveys, shark dissections, and behind-the-scenes tours of local aquariums. According to Marissa DeBonis, a lecturer at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, many participants had never encountered a shark in the wild before joining the class. DeBonis noted that the fieldwork lets students touch the unique texture of shark skin while contributing to active scientific studies.
Did you know? More than a dozen shark species—including sand tiger, sandbar, dusky, and thresher sharks—inhabit the waters off Long Island each summer, with several holding vulnerable or protected status.
Dispelling Misconceptions and Shaping Future Biologists
DeBonis launched the course last year to educate students about the crucial role sharks play in marine ecosystems. According to the instructor, these members of the very top of the food chain help maintain ecosystem balance by controlling population levels of species lower down the food chain.
Isabella Hitchcock, a 19-year-old marine science student from Mahopac, stated that a key takeaway was learning proper terminology to advocate for the species. According to Hitchcock, even major media platforms like Shark Week sometimes use wording that portrays sharks negatively. Leah Nehme, a 20-year-old marine vertebrate biology student from Albany, added that the course solidified her career aspirations to specialize in shark biology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What activities do students perform in the Stony Brook shark conservation class?
According to Stony Brook University, students analyze underwater camera footage, practice surgical stitching for shark tracking tags, conduct boat surveys, and participate in shark dissections.
Why are sharks important to marine ecosystems according to researchers?
According to Marissa DeBonis, sharks serve as members of the very top of the food chain that control population levels of underlying species to maintain overall ecosystem balance.
How many shark species inhabit Long Island waters during the summer?
According to university faculty, more than a dozen shark species visit the waters off Long Island each summer.
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