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Sharks Don't Sink
Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist | Jasmin Graham
12 posts | 8 read | 3 to read
The uplifting story of a young Black scientists challenging journey to flourish outside the traditional confines of academia, inspired by her innate connection to natures most misunderstood animalthe shark. "Jasmin Graham has that winning combination of talent and grit needed to excel as a scientist. Every girl who wants to be a marine biologist should have this book." Hope Jahren, New York Times bestselling author of Lab Girl and The Story of More Sharks have been on this planet for over 400 million years, so there is a lot they can teach us about survival and adaptability. For example: how do sharks, which unlike other fish are denser than water, stay afloat? They keep moving. When Jasmin Graham, an award-winning young shark scientist, started to feel that the traditional path to becoming a marine biologist was pulling her under, she remembered this important lesson: keep moving forward. If navigating the choppy waters of traditional academic study was no longer worth it, then that meant creating an ocean of her own. Jasmin joined with three other Black women to form Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS), an organization dedicated to providing support and opportunities for other young women of color. She became an independent researcher: a rogue shark scientist, seeking ways to keep these extraordinary endangered creatures swimming freejust like her. Sharks Dont Sink is a riveting, moving, and ultimately triumphant memoir at the intersection of science and social justice: a guidebook to how we can all learn to respect and protect some of natures most misunderstood and vulnerable creaturesand grant the same grace to ourselves.
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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

Resilient, defiant, joyful, gentle. The tone of this work really surprised me. As much as Graham is clear about her and others' negative experiences of racism and misogyny in academia and scientific field research, it's clear that in pursuing her own path she has provided a place of hope and curiousity undaunted by biased, apathetic and oppressive forces, not just for herself but for other Black people and other minority groups, 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? and in doing so improves the future of marine science and marine ecology.
There are hints of How Far the Light Reaches (parallel in relating personal and broader moments of minority struggles with those of sea life) and Owls of the Eastern Ice (focus on how study could change policy for the better for protection of species).
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Robotswithpersonality 3/? While there are scientific reflections and descriptions of research including shark details provided, this is primarily an activist memoir. There are moments in the current timeline recounting fulfilling work in the field and efforts to bring change to the scientific/academic community, contrasted with moments from the past; both proud and fond remembrances of family, and necessary identification of historical racist initiatives and how 6d
Robotswithpersonality 4/? they affected generations of Grahams; moments of discovery over a childhood and young adulthood making the decision to pursue marine science in academia and the pitfalls encountered therein facilitated by intolerant and unethical behaviour. 6d
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Robotswithpersonality 5/? I am so happy for and proud of Graham for what she's accomplished, for how she broke away to do what was best for her, how clear she makes it that the institutions made it impossible to stay, and join her in looking forward to a time when the initiatives she's worked hard to put in place are no longer required, when the scientific community and the community at large is a more equitable and open place. 6d
Robotswithpersonality 6/? I will say from a reading flow perspective, there were a few passages that felt like the same material reintroduced, rather than just referenced, multiple times. If the work was set up to dip in and out of, I could see ensuring any one chapter with portions of the same material carried all the explanatory information, but this is very much a linear narrative, so it felt a bit odd to go over the same ground again. 6d
Robotswithpersonality 7/7 My hunch is that between writing grants and scientific papers, Graham is very accustomed to explaining things thoroughly, and the benign side effect is that certain information is made very clear by being reviewed on multiple occasions.
⚠️racism, misogyny, mental health concerns, mention of sexual harrassment, SA
(edited) 6d
14 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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Post THIS up in every high school guidance counselor's office:

TheKidUpstairs Yes! 💯🎯 6d
11 likes1 comment
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Robotswithpersonality
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👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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Robotswithpersonality
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Okay, but I LIKE it. Look at that chill little fishie!

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Robotswithpersonality
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Relatable.

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JenReadsAlot
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this one!
#NFNovember @Bookwormjillk

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JenReadsAlot
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Amazon 3 for 2 sale got me!

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ClairesReads
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Mehso-so

An interesting memoir about shark science, and being a scientist. I did think that it wasn‘t entirely sure what kind of memoir it wanted to be; a story about shark science, a story about the demands of academic scientific pathways, or a story about the racist flaws of academic pathways. It wasn‘t quite enough of any of these things to truly capture me, although all were relatively interesting. A bit superficial.

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Jen2
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Pickpick

So good!!!

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britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Change small pieces of the world; shift the tides. Shark science is a white male dominated field. Shocker, I know. After connecting with other female scientists of color, Graham finds camaraderie and support in her passion, and advocates to change the system, while advocating for these incredible creatures.

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JamieArc
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Pickpick

Between a pick and a so-so. A look into the life of a black female shark scientist, though most of the story focused on her journey getting there and her struggles as a black female in a very white male dominated field. I can‘t help but to wonder if this was also a revenge piece against a former professor. I would recommend this in print form. While excellent at her job, a great audiobook narrator she is not.

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JamieArc
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1. JamieArc is for my name (Jamie Archer). I only just realized that people might think Arc is for advanced reader‘s copy. Nope 😂
2. I typically drive, grocery shop, clean, do a puzzle, or walk while audiobooking.
3. Last audiobook was True Gretch, tagged is current interesting listen.
#WondrousWednesday

Eggs Thanks for joining in🥳🥳 6mo
29 likes1 comment