History

The Shark Research & Conservation Program (SRC) was founded by Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, who began volunteering with high school science students at South Broward High School while he was a Masters student in 2003. That work culminated in an opportunity for high school students to join him in the field to conduct research in South Africa in 2004. Following that experience, he began developing an outreach program based at the University of Miami, initially named the South Florida Student Shark Program (SFSSP). With help and support from philanthropic organizations and incredible local teachers, SFSSP conducted over 200 field trips, laboratory sessions, and workshops, exposing more than 1000 students to field research in its first three years.

Shark Research & Conservation Program (SRC)

In January of 2010, with the help of many supporters, SFSSP was reconstituted as the Shark Research and Conservation Program (SRC). Operating at the intersection of science, education and outreach, SRC enables the University of Miami to build upon its internationally recognized programs in marine and ecosystem science and foster innovative interdisciplinary approaches to emerging environmental issues in marine conservation. SRC is a joint initiative of the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science and the Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy at the University of Miami. Since 2010, the Program has continued to grow thanks to the generous support of its staff, students, volunteers, partners and sponsors. Currently SRC conducts more than 80 days of field research each year and supports undergraduate and graduate internships for approximately 30 University of Miami students annually.