| Think you like sharks? Well if you do then you will get along great with MSI Instructor Vicky Vasquez! Vicky has been with MSI just over one year, coming to us after completing an internship with the non-profit Oceans Research in South Africa. Her work included following around Great White Sharks and conducting acoustical research to learn more about their behavior. She brings her love of sharks and a whole lot more to our organization. |
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Vicky teaching aboard the Robert G. Brownlee |
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Many MSI Instructors have second jobs or volunteer activities. Everyone remembers Vicky coming in with her collection of incredible bugs from around the world! In addition to volunteering with the California Academy of Sciences and Shark Stewards, Vicky worked with Save Nature - a non profit based in San Francisco that teaches about our fantastic world of insects. "Marine Biology is a really exciting field," says Vicky, "and if you want to pursue it yourself, it is really important to volunteer with organizations doing work that you love. In many cases, it will lead you to paid work you will love." |
Creepy Crawly? No way, these bugs are cool! |
Vicky attributes her deep appreciation of the natural world to growing up in San Diego with a father who happened to be trained in marine biology! Travelling to visit family in Mexico, Florida, and Venezuela only fueled this wonder. At UC Davis, where she graduated in Evolution & Ecology with an emphasis in Zoology. Some day soon Vicky will be returning to South Africa to continue studying Sharks, and hopefully bring some of the good public educational tricks learned from her time at MSI. Building on all these great experiences, Vicky is hoping to pursue graduate research on thermo-regulation in Great White Sharks. |
Her favorite activities with MSI revolve
around correcting people's misconceptions about sharks. Our
Shark Inland Voyages and Discovery Voyages aboard the Robert
G. Brownlee offer just the platform needed for such critical
education. Look for our next SHARK
DAY event to take advantage of Vicky's passion & talent
at teaching about these great lions & tigers of the seas.
She'll be joined by Shark filmmaker David McGuire, executive
director of Sea Stewards! |
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Grabbing the tail of an enormous Bat Ray |
