What is like anti -racism and sexual discrimination in shark science

I grew up in the Chicago, Illinois, Phoenix deserts, Arizona, Jeda Elcok was unable to reach the ocean – and was afraid of sharks. But the more you learn in TV documentaries, I realized that we should defend memorization. “I don’t really want to know what the ocean looks without sharks,” she says.

After obtaining a scientific degree in biology at the Northern Arizona University in Flagstav, and worked on her way through many technical positions in training and laboratory bicycles, Elkuk has now become a student of high studies based in Falas, Massachusetts, and studied the environment of sharks movement (The Great Setirinus). Along the way, racism, sexual discrimination and discrimination faced, she says.

In 2020, the killing of George Floyd, a black man, caused civilian disturbances in the United States. On the same day he informed Floyd’s march, one of the white dogs was falsely informed Christian Cooper Christian Cooper after he asked her to put her dog on the lead. This inspired many black natural scholars, including Elcock, to speak on social media about their right to exist and occupy external spaces. This also led to the #Blackinnator, through which Elcock began chatting with his colleague researchers in the shark Amani Weber Schultz, Jasmine Graham, and Carly Jackson-Bouhnon.

I was surprised by the pleasure of realizing the presence of other black women working in sharks, and the four came and established Minorities in shark science (Miss), registered in Pradmenton, Florida. Its mission is to enhance marine science by challenging the current situation when people believe that the world appears to be. MISS is supporting the representative societies, an incomplete and historically excluded representation to help them feel confident and acceptable in science by providing them by reaching community opportunities, knowledge and training. Five years later, the organization includes about 400 members in more than 30 countries.

How was it for you as a young black shark scientist?

I got a lot of decline in my desire to become a marine scientist. I was once told that I got a university scholarship because of positive work, not because I deserved it. People may say things like “Blacks cannot swim. How will it work with sharks?” These funny stereotypes are found due to systemic racism that led to a fear of generations of water in many black societies, and this is not our mistake. (When public swimming pools became common in the United States in the twenties and thirties of the last century, the separation meant that blacks had less access and less chance to learn swimming.)

I was also told that, as a woman, I will not be strong enough to deal with sharks and I must be in the kitchen or raising a family.

For many people, confronting racism and sexual discrimination is incredible. Why do you want to start a profession in which you might hear these things all the time? But I used this decline as fuel. If you tell me that I could not do anything because of a terrible and irrational cause based on hatred, racism and sexual discrimination, I will say: “Well, see me.”

When we participated in the establishment of Miss, we wanted to create a community of people with joint experiences who support each other, provide a safe space and create opportunities to help them continue their career. The destruction of social and financial barriers to obtain opportunities in the field of marine science was a major goal.

We were launched at Juntenth (June 19) 2020. This is an important day for the black society in the United States: It is the day when the last slave people received a speech released, two years after the declaration of liberation, in which President Abraham Lincoln announced that all slaves in neighboring countries have now been considered. The launch on this day was a way to show our dedication, support and pride in it.

Do you feel that what the shark looks like to change?

Yes, at least in the areas I am. With Miss, we now have a community of minority scientists that people can contact when they want to highlight certain people in science, whether for a television program or a school talk.

There are now television production teams somewhere to go to when most sharks are in their shows are white men and want to highlight the amazing work of other scientists as well. This does not mean that these white men are not good in their job, but we want to remind people that there are other scientists there.

For younger people, seeing themselves is very important, and I think we see a shift. Young people are now more likely than all of these diverse people in science. Seeing another person seems to do so indicates that it can be an option for them as well.

Do you see any similarities between the stereotypes of those who can be the world of sharks and any of 500 types of sharks or so usually get more attention, such as the great white shark fish (Carcharodon Carchaias))?

In nature shows, you always see the same thing – the wonderful eggs penetrate – and this is great. But what about swollen shark (Cephaloscylium Ventriosum), Which swallows sea water to prevent itself from eating it by predators? What about the pocket shark (Softquama PariniWhat is emitted by Go Biwininism from a pocket behind her fins?

There are similarities with diversity in science, for sure. You often see this type of scientist – the same way you see this type of shark – but there are many other great options. We can also show appreciation to all other sharks and sharks. The more the diversity we have in people, the more the diversity we will think. This will lead to more innovation, more discovery and science as a whole.

How does Miss help its members?

We manage online seminars and to sure people with mentors to help them apply for financing opportunities, fellowship programs or graduate schools. We also collect donations and apply for grants to support marine scientists from minority groups. We also manage cooperative working groups, opportunities such as Shark workshops And Diversify ocean sciences The program, where people can learn laboratory and field work techniques.