‘SharkFest’ is the UK’s only festival dedicated to shark and ray enthusiasts and five students from the Sheils Lab went along to share their knowledge with the public!

The focus of the festival was around how the changing oceans affect the sharks, who are the marine ecosystem’s most iconic predators. Wearing ‘Ask a Shark Scientist’ t shirts the students engaged with their audience, answering questions on topics such as plastic pollution, the shark-finning industry, and most notably, “How do I get to be a shark scientist too?!”.

Dr Shiels commented, “The University of Manchester fosters a culture of social responsibility amongst its students by providing space and funds for engagement on pressing issues. Sharks are in peril worldwide and many aspects of their biology that could aid conservation efforts are still unknown. I am thrilled and often awed by the time, energy and commitment students show to studying these animals and raising awareness of their plight with the public.”

Over the coming years, the Shiels Lab will be investigating the effects of climate change on the behaviour, physiology, and fitness of sharks, and will return to SharkFest in the future to share their findings with the community.

Dan Ripley, 4th Year MSci Biology student who attended the event said: “Without change, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans by 2050. Events such as SharkFest are crucial for instigating change, and promoting the move towards a sustainable way of life.”