Interview with Melissa Cristina Márquez

by Emma Claisse

During my incredibly elongated spring break, I realized that this extra time was the perfect opportunity to find out more about how some amazing women are doing their part to help sharks.

One person I researched was Melissa Cristina Márquez, a prominent Latina marine biologist. She is the founder of her own non-profit organization aimed at educating people around the world about sharks and their conservation, called The Fins United Initiative, as well as her own Spanish language podcast, ConCiencia Azul, demonstrating her commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in science. On top of all this, Melissa has been a speaker for TEDx, featured on Shark Week, and is also a regular contributor to Forbes Science.

I reached out to Melissa, and she graciously agreed to answer some questions about her work, her inspirations, and how she got to where she is today:

When and how did you realize you had a passion for the ocean and a special interest in sharks? Ever since I was little, I have been fascinated with the ocean!

I don’t remember a time I wasn’t enamored with our oceans or sharks.

I’m amazed by everything you do! It seems that you are equally as much an entrepreneur as you are a scientist. What inspired you to start your organization and your podcast?

While living in Sarasota, Florida I realized that many people who used Sarasota Bay didn’t know sharks called it home! With the encouragement of a professor, she set me up with a classroom to go in and teach about sharks. I loved it so much I decided to offer these “shark talks” worldwide on the side while I studied my degrees. As for the podcast, Speak Up For Blue’s Andrew Lewin came up with the idea and allowed me to run with it! I believe that conversations about conservation should be had in every language.

Could you talk a little about your educational journey?

“I have always been fascinated by sharks and was privileged enough to get my scuba diving license back in 2009 (when I was a teenager), solidifying my want to study marine biology. I worked hard in high school and got accepted to New College of Florida in Sarasota, Florida where I was able to ‘create’ my own degree of Marine Ecology and Conservation. New College is unique in that it has the month of January off as an “ISP” (Independent Student Project) time that allows one to pursue local and international projects with the idea of it becoming a thesis in your last year. During these ISP’s I went to the Bimini Shark Lab (Bimini, Bahamas) and Ocean’s Research (South Africa) to work with sharks.

During my undergraduate degree I also founded The Fins United Initiative (TFUI; formerly known as Sarasota Fins) and began doing scientific outreach on a national scale...I moved across the world to study at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand in August 2015 graduated with my MSc in Marine Biology in 2016...

What advice would you give to high school students who want to pursue a career path similar to yours?

My advice is get good grades, follow your passions, and try to volunteer with aquariums or museums that allow you to interact with the animals.”

You mentioned that you’re currently based in Australia! What are you up to over there?

I’m doing my PhD at Curtin University! I am focusing on shark habitat use (why sharks are where they are) and human-wildlife conflict.

You are definitely a role model to me and many other students! Who were your role models growing up and who are they now?

My role models are Eugenie Clark (RIP) and David Attenborough, still to this day! They both brought the natural world to life for me and I cannot thank them enough for how they have shaped my views of wildlife and nature.

Melissa’s commitment to her field as well as education is truly inspiring, especially to other young women who want to pursue a career in marine sciences.