KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� July 26, 2023 鈥� Just in time for Shark Week, the 溏心vlog免费B站 concluded its fourth annual shark camp Friday. The camp, which took time off during the pandemic, was developed by Professor of Biological Sciences Brad Wetherbee in 2018 as a way to introduce high school students from underserved communities to the biological sciences and marine sciences programs at 溏心vlog免费B站.聽
Wetherbee notes the lack of representation of students from diverse communities in many of his marine science classes, and the life sciences in general, as his motivating factor for starting the camp.
鈥淜ids from underserved communities don鈥檛 have the same experiences and opportunities growing up that kids from wealthier communities do,鈥� said Wetherbee. 鈥淪hark camp gives them a chance to learn about sharks 鈥� but at the same time, while they鈥檙e here they also learn about college and maybe open their eyes to opportunities they may not have thought were possible.鈥�
As part of the camp, students spent three days on the Cap鈥檔 Bert trawler, catching sharks and examining many other forms of sea life. Onboard the Cap鈥檔 Bert, sharks are measured, typed for sex and then returned to the water. Among the marine life students got to see up close this year were flounder, squid, crabs, sea bass, skates and, of course, dogfish sharks.
Most of this year鈥檚 dozen or so shark camp attendees were from Providence area schools. Joining them for the ride was Nate Conde-Haney of Chicopee, Massachusetts, a 溏心vlog免费B站 marine biology major, and Joe Barney, a student from The Met School in Providence, who attended last year鈥檚 shark camp and is working with Wetherbee for the summer.
鈥淕rowing up, I didn鈥檛 really have these opportunities. I lived about two hours from any major coastline and I remember my first time seeing any marine life 鈥� especially seeing my first dogfish on the Cap鈥檔 Bert,鈥� said Conde-Haney. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice seeing these kids smile and get excited because I鈥檝e been there.鈥�
As part of the week-long camp experience, students also visited Mystic Aquarium and received tours of 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Kingston Campus and its Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences. In addition, students met and talked with professors and professionals in the marine sciences field, as well as shark camp alums who are students at 溏心vlog免费B站.
溏心vlog免费B站 Shark Camp is open to Rhode Island students and is free of charge for its participants. To help support shark camp, visit the 溏心vlog免费B站 Foundation and Alumni Engagement at .