[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] sharks they’ve taken me from buggy
sharks they’ve taken me from buggy
sharks they’ve taken me from buggy Florida to the beautiful shores of the
Florida to the beautiful shores of the
Florida to the beautiful shores of the Bahamas and have landed me in the
Bahamas and have landed me in the
Bahamas and have landed me in the freezing cold waters of South Africa
freezing cold waters of South Africa
freezing cold waters of South Africa I’ve had to wait hours in the cold for
I’ve had to wait hours in the cold for
I’ve had to wait hours in the cold for two nurse sharks to let go of one
two nurse sharks to let go of one
two nurse sharks to let go of one another and had to drink
another and had to drink
another and had to drink way more than the recommended about a
way more than the recommended about a
way more than the recommended about a Red Bull person should ever have in one
Red Bull person should ever have in one
Red Bull person should ever have in one night to stay up to possibly see this a
night to stay up to possibly see this a
night to stay up to possibly see this a breach with over 500 species of sharks
breach with over 500 species of sharks
breach with over 500 species of sharks alone never mind their relatives I have
alone never mind their relatives I have
alone never mind their relatives I have been kept busy the past couple of years
been kept busy the past couple of years
been kept busy the past couple of years and now sharks have brought me here two
and now sharks have brought me here two
and now sharks have brought me here two years ago I moved to New Zealand from
years ago I moved to New Zealand from
years ago I moved to New Zealand from Florida to get my master’s degree in
Florida to get my master’s degree in
Florida to get my master’s degree in marine biology at Victoria University
marine biology at Victoria University
marine biology at Victoria University here in Wellington I study sharks and
here in Wellington I study sharks and
here in Wellington I study sharks and their relatives the skates the Rays and
their relatives the skates the Rays and
their relatives the skates the Rays and the chimeras I specifically look at
the chimeras I specifically look at
the chimeras I specifically look at their habitats use in migratory behavior
their habitats use in migratory behavior
their habitats use in migratory behavior answering where they are and why they’re
answering where they are and why they’re
answering where they are and why they’re there and how social media and the media
there and how social media and the media
there and how social media and the media and general covers them now chances are
and general covers them now chances are
and general covers them now chances are well I’ve been talking about these
well I’ve been talking about these
well I’ve been talking about these animals you’ve been thinking of them as
animals you’ve been thinking of them as
animals you’ve been thinking of them as neutral just sharks neither male nor
neutral just sharks neither male nor
neutral just sharks neither male nor female that was done on purpose because
female that was done on purpose because
female that was done on purpose because often when you turn on the TV see you
often when you turn on the TV see you
often when you turn on the TV see you nature show and it has sharks you’ll
nature show and it has sharks you’ll
nature show and it has sharks you’ll hear the narrator say wow he’s a big one
hear the narrator say wow he’s a big one
hear the narrator say wow he’s a big one followed by some bleeped out curse words
followed by some bleeped out curse words
followed by some bleeped out curse words and this is done even without seeing the
and this is done even without seeing the
and this is done even without seeing the key external giveaway on whether a shark
key external giveaway on whether a shark
key external giveaway on whether a shark is a male or a female the class purrs
is a male or a female the class purrs
is a male or a female the class purrs now to put it bluntly claspers are the
now to put it bluntly claspers are the
now to put it bluntly claspers are the Sharks version of a penis plural because
Sharks version of a penis plural because
Sharks version of a penis plural because sharks have two of them commercials do
sharks have two of them commercials do
sharks have two of them commercials do this to one of my favorites is a
this to one of my favorites is a
this to one of my favorites is a Snickers one and there’s two sharks
Snickers one and there’s two sharks
Snickers one and there’s two sharks three debating on what human they were
three debating on what human they were
three debating on what human they were prefer to eat and while never identified
prefer to eat and while never identified
prefer to eat and while never identified as male the husky voices by male actors
as male the husky voices by male actors
as male the husky voices by male actors linked to the idea that these sharks
linked to the idea that these sharks
linked to the idea that these sharks were in fact male now there are other
were in fact male now there are other
were in fact male now there are other things that are wrong with this
things that are wrong with this
things that are wrong with this commercial like it doesn’t not
commercial like it doesn’t not
commercial like it doesn’t not to dispel the myth that sharks eat
to dispel the myth that sharks eat
to dispel the myth that sharks eat people but the thing that teenage
people but the thing that teenage
people but the thing that teenage Melissa was mad about sharks didn’t have
Melissa was mad about sharks didn’t have
Melissa was mad about sharks didn’t have claspers they’re not that hard to draw
claspers they’re not that hard to draw
claspers they’re not that hard to draw in my dad found it hilarious that that
in my dad found it hilarious that that
in my dad found it hilarious that that was what bugged me the most not the fact
was what bugged me the most not the fact
was what bugged me the most not the fact that the Sharks were talking at all this
that the Sharks were talking at all this
that the Sharks were talking at all this is often the case when talking about the
is often the case when talking about the
is often the case when talking about the scientists who study these animals you
scientists who study these animals you
scientists who study these animals you see the males it’s like we female
see the males it’s like we female
see the males it’s like we female researchers are like deep-sea sharks
researchers are like deep-sea sharks
researchers are like deep-sea sharks lurking in the darkness there but
lurking in the darkness there but
lurking in the darkness there but nobody’s paying attention that’s how it
nobody’s paying attention that’s how it
nobody’s paying attention that’s how it was in the field for a while your peers
was in the field for a while your peers
was in the field for a while your peers your mentors your professors were all
your mentors your professors were all
your mentors your professors were all male and it sucked not having anybody to
male and it sucked not having anybody to
male and it sucked not having anybody to turn to who has taken your path when
turn to who has taken your path when
turn to who has taken your path when things were overwhelming or confusing I
things were overwhelming or confusing I
things were overwhelming or confusing I had a male professionals rip the shark
had a male professionals rip the shark
had a male professionals rip the shark tags out of my hands because I wasn’t
tags out of my hands because I wasn’t
tags out of my hands because I wasn’t strong enough to get them through the
strong enough to get them through the
strong enough to get them through the Sharks thick and protective skin when I
Sharks thick and protective skin when I
Sharks thick and protective skin when I asked them what I could do to get
asked them what I could do to get
asked them what I could do to get stronger I was met with laughter and I
stronger I was met with laughter and I
stronger I was met with laughter and I snide leave it to the males we work out
snide leave it to the males we work out
snide leave it to the males we work out so we can do this sort of thing now
so we can do this sort of thing now
so we can do this sort of thing now there are more females in the science
there are more females in the science
there are more females in the science fields and that’s great but we rarely
fields and that’s great but we rarely
fields and that’s great but we rarely get the spotlight in fact female sharks
get the spotlight in fact female sharks
get the spotlight in fact female sharks they have to a sexually reproduce in
they have to a sexually reproduce in
they have to a sexually reproduce in order to get their 15 minutes of fame
order to get their 15 minutes of fame
order to get their 15 minutes of fame that’s right
that’s right
that’s right tinder for sharks has not been invented
tinder for sharks has not been invented
tinder for sharks has not been invented yet so some females have actually
yet so some females have actually
yet so some females have actually developed the ability to have babies on
developed the ability to have babies on
developed the ability to have babies on their own now while some species can
their own now while some species can
their own now while some species can store sperm for long periods of time and
store sperm for long periods of time and
store sperm for long periods of time and reproduce that way these babies these
reproduce that way these babies these
reproduce that way these babies these pups were special that they only had
pups were special that they only had
pups were special that they only had their mother’s DNA it’s extraordinary
their mother’s DNA it’s extraordinary
their mother’s DNA it’s extraordinary and maybe not unusual that they’ve
and maybe not unusual that they’ve
and maybe not unusual that they’ve switched from sexual to asexual
switched from sexual to asexual
switched from sexual to asexual reproduction but cool nonetheless that
reproduction but cool nonetheless that
reproduction but cool nonetheless that they decided to take reproduction into
they decided to take reproduction into
they decided to take reproduction into their own fins
the other extraordinary factor of this
the other extraordinary factor of this the females that study these animals
the females that study these animals
the females that study these animals I’ll introduce you to one of them this
I’ll introduce you to one of them this
I’ll introduce you to one of them this is my friend Megan McCord she’s a
is my friend Megan McCord she’s a
is my friend Megan McCord she’s a scientist the shark scientists in South
scientist the shark scientists in South
scientist the shark scientists in South Africa and I want to tell you a story
Africa and I want to tell you a story
Africa and I want to tell you a story about her and a bull shark Megan and her
about her and a bull shark Megan and her
about her and a bull shark Megan and her team caught a four metre long almost
team caught a four metre long almost
team caught a four metre long almost half a ton bull shark Megan was six
half a ton bull shark Megan was six
half a ton bull shark Megan was six months pregnant when she did that
months pregnant when she did that
months pregnant when she did that the bull shark was also pregnant yeah
the bull shark was also pregnant yeah
the bull shark was also pregnant yeah spoiler alert the big boys you see
spoiler alert the big boys you see
spoiler alert the big boys you see flying through the air are often big
flying through the air are often big
flying through the air are often big girls yes I look for claspers on flying
girls yes I look for claspers on flying
girls yes I look for claspers on flying sharks I don’t know what that says about
sharks I don’t know what that says about
sharks I don’t know what that says about me but it stays nonetheless that the
me but it stays nonetheless that the
me but it stays nonetheless that the females do tend to be larger than the
females do tend to be larger than the
females do tend to be larger than the males
males
males which can lead to some interesting
which can lead to some interesting
which can lead to some interesting encounters like male-female eating a
encounters like male-female eating a
encounters like male-female eating a smaller male oops now while we female
smaller male oops now while we female
smaller male oops now while we female researchers don’t eat our male
researchers don’t eat our male
researchers don’t eat our male counterparts who annoy us though
counterparts who annoy us though
counterparts who annoy us though sometimes we wish we are pretty stubborn
sometimes we wish we are pretty stubborn
sometimes we wish we are pretty stubborn we have to deal with things in the field
we have to deal with things in the field
we have to deal with things in the field that men just don’t have to deal with
that men just don’t have to deal with
that men just don’t have to deal with periods pregnancies pumping breast milk
periods pregnancies pumping breast milk
periods pregnancies pumping breast milk in field conditions that are less than
in field conditions that are less than
in field conditions that are less than ideal I’ll give you an example I’m a
ideal I’ll give you an example I’m a
ideal I’ll give you an example I’m a menacing five-foot 148 kg that’s a
menacing five-foot 148 kg that’s a
menacing five-foot 148 kg that’s a hundred pounds for the Americans
hundred pounds for the Americans
hundred pounds for the Americans listening and I was asked to pick up the
listening and I was asked to pick up the
listening and I was asked to pick up the anchor that’s half my size both in
anchor that’s half my size both in
anchor that’s half my size both in height and also weight that’s fine oh by
height and also weight that’s fine oh by
height and also weight that’s fine oh by the way you’re doing it in a storm alone
the way you’re doing it in a storm alone
the way you’re doing it in a storm alone and everyone else is seasick okay it
and everyone else is seasick okay it
and everyone else is seasick okay it didn’t end well
didn’t end well
didn’t end well I apologize to my parents for all the
I apologize to my parents for all the
I apologize to my parents for all the medical scares I’ve had the past couple
medical scares I’ve had the past couple
medical scares I’ve had the past couple of years just like female researchers
of years just like female researchers
of years just like female researchers have to deal with certain things in a
have to deal with certain things in a
have to deal with certain things in a male-dominated field sharks female
male-dominated field sharks female
male-dominated field sharks female sharks have some issues to deal with
sharks have some issues to deal with
sharks have some issues to deal with like their own like sex gone are the
like their own like sex gone are the
like their own like sex gone are the champagne and the rose petals instead
champagne and the rose petals instead
champagne and the rose petals instead males actually have to bite onto females
males actually have to bite onto females
males actually have to bite onto females to keep them still during the act
to keep them still during the act
to keep them still during the act ouch I know now you would think that
ouch I know now you would think that
ouch I know now you would think that would hurt the females and to an extent
would hurt the females and to an extent
would hurt the females and to an extent it does are not to with those teeth but
it does are not to with those teeth but
it does are not to with those teeth but females have actually adapted in that
females have actually adapted in that
females have actually adapted in that their skin is up to three times as thick
their skin is up to three times as thick
their skin is up to three times as thick in some areas like where the males bite
in some areas like where the males bite
in some areas like where the males bite we female researchers have also had to
we female researchers have also had to
we female researchers have also had to adapt to having thick skin as a Latina
adapt to having thick skin as a Latina
adapt to having thick skin as a Latina marine biologist I am not alone in
marine biologist I am not alone in
marine biologist I am not alone in dealing with racism sexism ageism and
dealing with racism sexism ageism and
dealing with racism sexism ageism and more in a field that is still
more in a field that is still
more in a field that is still predominated by males in fact on Twitter
predominated by males in fact on Twitter
predominated by males in fact on Twitter 92% of the most followed scientists
92% of the most followed scientists
92% of the most followed scientists males think Bill Nye sort of thing and
males think Bill Nye sort of thing and
males think Bill Nye sort of thing and when females are added into the
when females are added into the
when females are added into the narrative it’s because of our appearance
narrative it’s because of our appearance
narrative it’s because of our appearance not because of our achievements to be
not because of our achievements to be
not because of our achievements to be honest I actually worried about what you
honest I actually worried about what you
honest I actually worried about what you guys thought about my outfit today more
guys thought about my outfit today more
guys thought about my outfit today more than what you thought about my words and
than what you thought about my words and
than what you thought about my words and I’m not alone in that actually I held a
I’m not alone in that actually I held a
I’m not alone in that actually I held a poll recently and the 682 women that
poll recently and the 682 women that
poll recently and the 682 women that voted 74 percent of them had their
voted 74 percent of them had their
voted 74 percent of them had their appearances critiqued over their work
appearances critiqued over their work
appearances critiqued over their work think about that for a second 74 percent
think about that for a second 74 percent
think about that for a second 74 percent it’s a combat that we’ve come up with
it’s a combat that we’ve come up with
it’s a combat that we’ve come up with hashtags like distractingly sexy and
hashtags like distractingly sexy and
hashtags like distractingly sexy and dressed like a woman to reject the
dressed like a woman to reject the
dressed like a woman to reject the sexist idea that our appearance or our
sexist idea that our appearance or our
sexist idea that our appearance or our very existence is a distraction to our
very existence is a distraction to our
very existence is a distraction to our male colleagues when I tell people I’m a
male colleagues when I tell people I’m a
male colleagues when I tell people I’m a marine biologist a lot of them say oh
marine biologist a lot of them say oh
marine biologist a lot of them say oh that’s what I want it to be I asked them
that’s what I want it to be I asked them
that’s what I want it to be I asked them why they didn’t pursue that you want to
why they didn’t pursue that you want to
why they didn’t pursue that you want to know what lack of role models they
know what lack of role models they
know what lack of role models they didn’t see them
didn’t see them
didn’t see them selves where I now am and that’s a
selves where I now am and that’s a
selves where I now am and that’s a problem because we’ve now got
problem because we’ve now got
problem because we’ve now got organizations worldwide who are
organizations worldwide who are
organizations worldwide who are realizing this this lack of diverse role
realizing this this lack of diverse role
realizing this this lack of diverse role models and are we’ve got programs
models and are we’ve got programs
models and are we’ve got programs cropping up worldwide to try to combat
cropping up worldwide to try to combat
cropping up worldwide to try to combat that to encourage young girls to pursue
that to encourage young girls to pursue
that to encourage young girls to pursue the sciences and shedding a much-needed
the sciences and shedding a much-needed
the sciences and shedding a much-needed spotlight on diverse women in those
spotlight on diverse women in those
spotlight on diverse women in those fields role models I wish I had when I
fields role models I wish I had when I
fields role models I wish I had when I was seven years old
was seven years old
was seven years old now hopefully kids that age can look up
now hopefully kids that age can look up
now hopefully kids that age can look up and see those people and maybe see
and see those people and maybe see
and see those people and maybe see themselves among them I grew up with no
themselves among them I grew up with no
themselves among them I grew up with no latina marine biologists and today I
latina marine biologists and today I
latina marine biologists and today I know very few and I realize I’m now in a
know very few and I realize I’m now in a
know very few and I realize I’m now in a position to be that role model I wish I
position to be that role model I wish I
position to be that role model I wish I had when I was seven years old even
had when I was seven years old even
had when I was seven years old even though I don’t know where I’m going to
though I don’t know where I’m going to
though I don’t know where I’m going to end up I’m young I’m 23 but I know I’m
end up I’m young I’m 23 but I know I’m
end up I’m young I’m 23 but I know I’m going to continue being an advocate not
going to continue being an advocate not
going to continue being an advocate not only for the representation of diver
only for the representation of diver
only for the representation of diver sharks but also for diver scientists and
sharks but also for diver scientists and
sharks but also for diver scientists and I’m doing that already through my
I’m doing that already through my
I’m doing that already through my organization the fins United initiative
organization the fins United initiative
organization the fins United initiative because I’m hoping that someone out
because I’m hoping that someone out
because I’m hoping that someone out there can see themselves in me and say
there can see themselves in me and say
there can see themselves in me and say she did it I can do it if she’s doing it
she did it I can do it if she’s doing it
she did it I can do it if she’s doing it I will do it it’s not that hard and I’m
I will do it it’s not that hard and I’m
I will do it it’s not that hard and I’m hoping through stories like mine we can
hoping through stories like mine we can
hoping through stories like mine we can smash the stereotypical portrait of what
smash the stereotypical portrait of what
smash the stereotypical portrait of what a scientist is because think about it
a scientist is because think about it
a scientist is because think about it when you ask a child to draw scientists
when you ask a child to draw scientists
when you ask a child to draw scientists you get a guy in a lab coat you don’t
you get a guy in a lab coat you don’t
you get a guy in a lab coat you don’t get me it’s as easy as the sort of a
get me it’s as easy as the sort of a
get me it’s as easy as the sort of a hashtag to someone who has a platform
hashtag to someone who has a platform
hashtag to someone who has a platform and is willing to pay attention like say
and is willing to pay attention like say
and is willing to pay attention like say bill 9 yeah that hashtag I hope to start
bill 9 yeah that hashtag I hope to start
bill 9 yeah that hashtag I hope to start that and he responded and I’m glad he
that and he responded and I’m glad he
that and he responded and I’m glad he did because the continued lack of
did because the continued lack of
did because the continued lack of diverse role models makes me wonder what
diverse role models makes me wonder what
diverse role models makes me wonder what unrealized potential we continue losing
unrealized potential we continue losing
unrealized potential we continue losing because people can’t see
because people can’t see
because people can’t see themselves where I am where we are just
themselves where I am where we are just
themselves where I am where we are just like visibility is important for kids
like visibility is important for kids
like visibility is important for kids it’s also important for the women
it’s also important for the women
it’s also important for the women already in these fields our voices are
already in these fields our voices are
already in these fields our voices are absent from the leadership table and
absent from the leadership table and
absent from the leadership table and that’s sending a really strong message
that’s sending a really strong message
that’s sending a really strong message as a latina marine biologist I was
as a latina marine biologist I was
as a latina marine biologist I was uplifted and championed by other women
uplifted and championed by other women
uplifted and championed by other women and I hope to pass that along I hope
and I hope to pass that along I hope
and I hope to pass that along I hope that women can understand that they are
that women can understand that they are
that women can understand that they are just as competent as their men
just as competent as their men
just as competent as their men counterparts and that no matter their
counterparts and that no matter their
counterparts and that no matter their size their color or whether they have
size their color or whether they have
size their color or whether they have claspers or not a shark is still shark
claspers or not a shark is still shark
claspers or not a shark is still shark don’t let the women researchers in your
don’t let the women researchers in your
don’t let the women researchers in your life be like the deep-sea sharks
life be like the deep-sea sharks
life be like the deep-sea sharks pay attention shine a light we’re here
pay attention shine a light we’re here
pay attention shine a light we’re here thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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