Science Pub: Sharks Basking in Online Attention

Join us for the Science Pub event titled "Sharks Basking in Online Attention," where Olivia Cleek, P.S.M., will present her groundbreaking research on Basking Sharks, a species that once thrived off the West Coast of North America but faced significant decline due to increased fishing and targeted eradication in the twentieth century. The last formal sighting of this understudied population was in 2018. To fill this data gap, Olivia collected social media posts documenting Basking Shark sightings from the past 15 years, revealing new insights into their current distribution and seasonal patterns.

Olivia, an experienced aquarist currently at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and a recent Environmental Science graduate from Oregon State University, has dedicated her career to the conservation of endangered species. The event will take place at Dargan's Irish Pub & Restaurant in downtown Santa Barbara, with no tickets or reservations needed. However, as this program is popular, it's advisable to arrive early for good seating, enjoy food and drinks, and participate in a raffle to support science education. The Science Pub series offers free science talks on the second Monday of each month. For further information, contact Kelsey Perry at kperry@sbnature2.org.