Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist

A deep dive into a subject you know nothing about can be engaging if you have an enthusiastic, knowledgeable guide—and Jasmin Graham is certainly that. A self-styled "rogue shark scientist", Graham researches sharks and their habitats off the Florida coast, works to educate the public about sharks, and advocates for great representation of and participation by historically-excluded groups in her field.

I've never been super into sharks, but Graham certainly convinced me of their ecological importance, and I think she did a good job for unpacking for the reader how what might seem to an outsider like a rather esoteric topic (such as a species of shark) intersects with all sorts of important economic, social, and political show more considerations.

Graham weights her writing style towards the accessible, and her focus a little more towards the personal/memoir than towards the scientific. Sharks Don't Sink might not be for you if you already know a tonne about sharks and want more Cool Shark Facts™. But I think if you're interested in how academia works (or doesn't) to include non-white people or how the personal informs a scholarly research agenda, you might want to pick this up. And if you know a teen who's thinking about pursuing a career in marine studies/conservation, absolutely get them a copy of this book because I think it will be invaluable for them in giving them a clear-eyed sense of what grad school is like—and what it's possible for them to achieve. show less

In SHARKS DON’T SINK: ADVENTURES OF A ROUGE SHARK SCIENTIST, Jasmin Graham tells the compelling story of her untraditional path to becoming a marine biologist including co-founding Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS) -- an organization dedicated to providing young women of color with support and opportunities in the field of marine science. Graham’s book reminds me in some ways of Imbler’s How Far the Light Reaches as both combine nature writing with memoir to explore race, relationships, and survival. Graham provides insight into the largely white male academic world of marine science, discussing mental health, misogyny, and social justice. Her approachable and easy-to-digest writing exudes enthusiasm for shark species and their show more conservation, though this is overall not a book of shark facts. I highly recommend SHARKS DON’T SINK for readers interested in Black women in STEM memoirs. show less

nonfiction/memoir - young Black shark science student leaves the toxic sexist/racist/misogynist environment of academia to form her own grant-funded research group that supports women and minorities in science. Also follows a few days on the job where Ms. Graham and others collect data for their various ongoing research projects -- less informative about sharks, although there are some tidbits there, and more informative about what a shark science student might expect to be doing and how they might expect to be treated and that they aren't necessarily alone.

Loved this story of empowerment and happy to see the group in action, supporting each other and making an impact towards a more inclusive environment. It was also fun to tag along show more with Graham's friendly fisherman dad.

See also: Written in the Waters for another Black woman's experiences in finding work she believes in (documenting the archaeological findings of wrecked slave ships under water--via lots of research and scuba diving) show less

Jasmin Graham always knew she wanted to be a marine biologist, and growing up as an Army brat moving from place to place, she also always knew that being a Black girl often made things more challenging. So, encountering a lot of sexism and racism in the academic world may not have been surprising, but she still bristled under the weight until she found a group of women like her. Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist is part memoir and part science as Graham shares stories of growing up and making her way into academia along with information about sharks and her research. This is an excellent memoir for readers interested in social justice, sharks, and science in general.

Interesting biography of the difficulties and joys of being one of a handful of black marine scientists