Why this marine biologist studies people as much as sharks starts with one brutal night in Cuba in 2018. Melissa Cristina Márquez was filming for Discovery's Shark Week when a crocodile lashed out and dragged her by the leg, leaving roughly 80 stitches behind. She survived, has spoken publicly about it since, and got back in the water anyway. That single moment sits inside a much bigger career built on one idea: understanding sharks also means understanding the people who live alongside them.
Márquez, publicly known as the Mother of Sharks, holds a bachelor's degree in marine ecology and conservation from New College of Florida and a master's degree in marine biology from Victoria University of Wellington, and is currently a PhD candidate at Curtin University in Australia. Her specialty is chondrichthyans, sharks, rays, skates, and chimaeras, but her research digs into the human dimensions of shark conservation: how Indigenous peoples, local communities, and modern media shape our relationship with animals she calls widely misunderstood predators. With more than ten years in wildlife education and DEI work, she has founded three initiatives built around making science accessible: The Fins United Initiative, offering free bilingual chondrichthyan education materials for educators worldwide; ConCiencia Azul, a Spanish language podcast connecting ocean researchers directly with Spanish speaking audiences; and Ecocuentos, a bilingual book club connecting families with nature through stories that celebrate cultural and ecological diversity.
In her own words, she sees her work as giving voice to those who cannot communicate for themselves, while teaching other people how to communicate about science effectively. In February 2026, she published her newest book, Leo's Lobo (El Lobo de Leo), the story of a boy, a pet shelter search, and a magical alebrije rooted in Mexican cultural themes. She's a new mom, a dog mom, and by host Andrew Lewin's account, a phenomenal scientist and a great friend making the most of life in Australia.
Chapters:
0:20 – The Tug on Her Leg: The Crocodile Bite
1:48 – 2018: Bitten and Dragged by a Crocodile on a Shark Week Shoot
3:09 – Known Publicly as the Mother of Sharks
3:42 – The Research: The Human Side of Shark Conservation
5:36 – New Book: Leo's Lobo, Published February 2026
Takeaways:
Melissa Cristina Márquez was bitten and dragged by a crocodile in 2018 while filming for Discovery's Shark Week, survived, and returned to diving and filming afterward.
She's publicly known as the Mother of Sharks and specializes in chondrichthyans: sharks, rays, skates, and chimaeras.
She holds degrees from New College of Florida and Victoria University of Wellington and is a current PhD candidate at Curtin University in Australia.
Her research centres on the human dimensions of shark conservation, how communities and cultures shape our relationship with sharks, with a focus on Latin America and the Caribbean.
She has founded three initiatives making science accessible: The Fins United Initiative, ConCiencia Azul, and Ecocuentos.
Her newest book, Leo's Lobo (El Lobo de Leo), was published in February 2026.
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