In this 50th episode of the Beyond Jaws podcast, co-hosts Andrew Lewin and Dr. David Ebert celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the Save Our Seas Foundation with special guest James Lea, the foundation's executive director. The episode takes a look at the history of shark science, from the early days when all people knew about sharks was that they sometimes bit humans, to the current state of the field, which encompasses genetics and ecology. The episode also explores Lea's career and how he became the executive director of Save Our Seas.
The Save Our Seas Foundation has a key focus on building capacity and supporting individuals from developing countries who are interested in establishing themselves in the field of marine conservation. The foundation recognizes that there is a need for more opportunities for young professionals to pursue shark research and conservation work, particularly in under-resourced regions where individuals may not have the financial means to support themselves while pursuing their goals. To address this issue, the foundation has created a Conservation Fellowship program that provides financial support to individuals for a two-year period, allowing them to focus on their work without the added stress of juggling multiple jobs to survive. The fellowship is specifically designed for those working on shark conservation or related fields. The foundation also supports projects in underdeveloped communities that lack the necessary baseline information for effective conservation efforts. The foundation believes that building capacity and supporting individuals from developing countries will help to advance the field of marine conservation and create a more diverse and inclusive community of conservationists.
During the podcast episode, the foundation's storytelling grants were discussed as a means of encouraging researchers and scientists to communicate their work and connect with a broader audience through various forms of storytelling. These grants cover categories such as photography and writing, with plans to expand to other areas such as filmmaking, podcasting, art, and illustration. The grants aim to create content and stories that help people identify with the animals and the people doing the work, as humans are an integral part of the story. The foundation provides mentorship and support to those who receive the grants, with the goal of getting their stories published and interacting with a mentor who has been through the process themselves. The foundation believes that storytelling is essential to inspiring action and that while science tells you what you need to do, it's the story that makes people want to do it. Overall, the foundation's storytelling grants aim to make science and conservation more accessible and relatable to a general audience.
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Beyond Jaws is supported by Save Our Seas
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