Marine biology was a natural fit for this self-described “endlessly curious” woman.
For Melissa, dispelling the myths of sharks and their relatives as mindless predators is her life’s work · Melissa Cristina Márquez
After being bitten and dragged by a crocodile, Melissa shared her experience to convey that the crocodile had done nothing wrong · Cristina Mittermeier
“Getting to see people change their perspectives on sharks right before my eyes—thanks to something I’ve said—is so rewarding,” Melissa says.
A breaching great white shark resembling the famous “Jaws” movie poster. Many people fear sharks, or even hate them, because of inaccurate portrayals in news, movies, and TV shows · Andy Mann
“I would love for people to be more aware of the family’s diversity, so maybe they will look past the ‘scary’ persona they give off, and that the media perpetuates.”
A whale shark swims near the surface of crystal waters to feed on plankton and little tunny eggs that float just below · Paul Nicklen
Related to sharks and skates, manta rays are the angels of the sea · Shawn Heinrichs
Hammerhead sharks have wide-set eyes that give them a better visual range than most other shark species · Cristina Mittermeier
Blacktip reef sharks circle in the shallows of Nikumaroro, a 4-mile long coral atoll in the western Pacific Ocean · Paul Nicklen
Melissa often spends her free time spotting wildlife off the coast of Rottnest Island · M. Fildza Fadzil
“I am passionate about the potential of young women, especially Latina women. There’s this stereotype both in and out of our culture that Latinas ‘get knocked up early’ and are better as ‘housewives’ than anything else,” she says. “I either put my head down and do the work or call out the comments.”
As a Latina woman, Melissa has faced racism, sexism, and ageism throughout her career—which makes her all the more determined to fight for diversity and inclusion in the STEM fields · Geoffrey Notkin
“Tackling our ocean problems is a collaborative effort, working around a common goal: a more sustainable relationship with our oceans,” she says. “I’m a big believer that collaborative projects can enhance the achievement of conservation goals.”
Melissa believes the time to act is now when it comes to creating a more sustainable relationship with our oceans, to protect biodiversity and the food security of people worldwide · Cristina Mittermeier
