GUY HARVEY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
ASK DEREK BY ANTONIO FINS
Have a question about sharks or the marine environment? Then Dr. Derek Burkholder is the guy to ask. A research associate at Nova Southeastern University, one of Derek’s roles is to speak
shark research work?
to classes all over the world. No, he doesn’t have a Donald Trump-like travel budget—
With the nature of shark research, there are too many great experiences to count.
the majority of these sessions are done via Skype.
I have been able to travel around the world to some incredible places, and I get
Guy Harvey Magazine recently sat down with Derek to talk about his work with
to work with these large, powerful, majestic animals every day! However, I was
students, what they want to know and what he hopes they draw from the sessions. If
fortunate to be able to take part in a couple of deep-sea shark research cruises.
you like what you read, you can contact him at dburkholder@nova.edu to schedule a
Amazing people, lots of animals and some crazy weather to throw into the mix.
Skype session in your own classroom.
But it is pretty hard to beat pulling a fve-meter bluntnose sixgill onto the boat!
You grew up in Michigan. How did you connect with the oceans? What inspired you?
Why is speaking to kids so important to you?
I grew up in the woods and on the lakes and rivers around Michigan. I have always
people in response to things like marine conservation, it all has to start with the
loved the outdoors and especially the water. My family traveled to Florida for
kids. These are the people who will be making these decisions in years to come. By
spring breaks, etc., for many years growing up, and that love for the oceans started
interacting with and teaching students early on about the importance of a healthy
to grow. As my folks tell it, the frst time I said I wanted to be a marine biologist
ocean, and the role of some of the large marine animals we study, hopefully, we
was when I was nine years old, and we had just taken part in a swamp eco tour
can light a spark in a few of these students to pursue marine science and marine
in Florida with a biologist on the boat telling everyone what we were seeing. I
conservation as a career. Also, one of the best ways into the hearts and minds of
decided at that point that is what I wanted to do!
the older generations is through their children, so I believe that exciting students
Looking back, is there a teacher who inspired you?
and kids can impact change in their parents as well!
I have been very fortunate to have a number of amazing teachers over the years. But Dr. Jef Carrier and Dr. Mike Heithaus have had the biggest infuences on me,
What do you want kids to take away from the Skype sessions?
especially later in my career development in marine and especially shark biology.
One of the great aspects of the Skype format is that I can speak with students in
Jef allowed me to get a foot in the door by taking me on a number of feld
Florida in the morning, and speak with people from Arizona, Australia or Pakistan
expeditions to help with his ongoing nurse shark mating behavior research in
in the afternoon. There are many people who may never see the ocean, and so
the Dry Tortugas. It was on one of these trips that I met my doctoral advisor, Mike
I feel that it is a privilege to bring a little piece of the ocean to these students
Heithaus, who has been extremely infuential in helping to shape and direct me in
around the world. The oceans (and ocean health) impact everyone on Earth,
my scientifc career.
whether we live on the coast or live in the middle of a desert. I want kids to begin
What’s the most amazing experience you’ve had in
to understand this global connection with the ocean, and to share some of my
I believe if we want to elicit changes in the ways of thinking and behavior of
