“I even stopped calling myself a shark scientist”
When Dr Lauren Simonitis began volunteering, she found a strong community and amazing support.
WITH A PHD ON BONNETHEAD SHARKS AND now employed as a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Labs, you’d expect Lauren Simonitis to be a prominent member of the shark science community. However, it was only when she became a member and volunteer of Minorities in Shark Science (MISS), when it launched in June 2020, that she finally felt welcomed.
Why did you first get into volunteering?
When I attended my first shark scientific conference, I felt extremely ‘othered’. I was constantly in rooms of people that didn’t look or act like me, and who didn’t respect my presence in the shark science community. I even stopped calling myself a shark scientist after that, because of the negative association I had with the term, and it wasn’t until I found MISS that I felt comfortable associating myself strongly with shark science again. The sense of community and support I found through MISS was unparalleled, both through its members and the ‘Friends of MISS’ allies who don’t identify as gender minorities of colour, but want to support us.
What does your volunteering involve?
I mentor high schoolers, undergraduates and graduate students, as they navigate their path through shark science. I also plan professional development workshops on how to write scientific papers or navigate scientific conferences, as well as social events that allow our members to network and socialise. My proudest moment has been working on our upcoming book, of which I am the lead on a chapter, and being named as MISS Member of the Year 2021. It is a testament to MISS that it takes time to thank and recognise its volunteers.
Do you have any hopes for your volunteering future?
The aim of MISS is to not only help sharks (we love them!), but also to help others who don’t feel represented in this world. As someone who grew up speaking Spanish with my family but English in a science education setting, I struggle to communicate my science in Spanish. I would love to create a group of members who have a similar experience, so we could work together to perfect our Spanish in a scientific setting.