Marine Biological Hall Of Distinction: Melissa Cristina Marquez
This article is a part of our collection known as the Marine Hall Of Distinction. It is a different series from our main monthly series & has no connection to the main monthly series. In this special collection, we will discuss marine biologists who we feel have served marine biology & oceanography the most. We do this in order to commemorate these marine biologists & to show gratitude for everything they have contributed to our oceans. This collection has no relation to the main monthly series. This series is published on the 25th of every month, shortly after our article on the oceanic environment of a certain region on the 20th.
Today’s marine biologist is the astounding Melissa Cristina Marquez. Melissa Cristina Marquez is a Puerto Rican Marine Biologist, Children’s Book Author, Science Communicator, & Podcast Host. She is well known for her book series “Wild Survival!”, her podcast named ConCiencia Azul, & her impactful scientific work.
As of 2024, she has 5 published books, almost all of which are fiction & involve the ocean or wildlife. One of her most popular books, Mother of Sharks, follows her personal journey from a child who loved the ocean in Puerto Rico to a groundbreaking oceanic researcher in Australia. For this, she has earned the moniker “Mother of Sharks”.
As a Hispanic Marine Biologist, she wishes to promote intersectionality in science, & inspire people from all different backgrounds. One of her core principles is that quote “…All women of all backgrounds should have the freedom to live their lives as they choose.”
In this article, we are going to delve into the Formative Years & of Melissa Cristina Marquez, The Career of Melissa Cristina Marquez, & the Honorables, Awards, Accomplishments, & Achievements of Melissa Cristina Marquez. With that being said, let us delve into this magnificent shark biologist.
The Formative Years & Education Of Melissa Cristina Marquez
Melissa Cristina Marques was born in 1993, in Puerto Rico. Even as a child, she always has a fascination & enthusiasm for the ocean. Her passion for marine biology was sparked by watching documentaries about Sharks as a child, especially documentaries during Shark Week. Her childhood inspirations include Sylvia Earle, Eugenie Clark, & most strongly, David Attenborough.
She attended the New College of Florida for her Bachelor’s degree & the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand for her Master’s Degree. As of 2024, she is at Curtin University, pursuing her Ph.D., & conducting research on Elasmobranches.
The Career Of Melissa Cristina Marquez
In 2014, Marquez self-published her first book titled “Sharks, Skates, & Rays of Sarasota Bay, Florida”, which discussed the Chondrichthyans of Sarasota Bay.
While filming an episode for Shark Week, she was unfortunately attacked by a Shark. It seems that she has recovered, & didn’t sustain any critical injuries.
In 2021, she published the first 2 books in her Wild Survival Series, with the first book being titled “Crocodile Rescue”, & the second being titled “Swimming With Sharks”. The same year she visited Perth, Australia, to give a Ted Talk about Sharks & Female Scientists. This speech can be found on the official Ted Talk YouTube channel.
She added the third installment to the Wild Survival series in 2022, & has yet to add any more books.
Her most famous book, Mother of Sharks, was published in 2023, chronicling her journey from a child who loved the ocean to a marine biologist.
Her latest book, Sea Of Constellations, was published in 2024, & is a picture book that follows a young girl Maren & her whale Shark friend embarking on a quest to bring light back to the ocean.
As of 2024, she is working on research about Elasmobranches in Sydney, Australia. She is also co-hosting the podcast ConCiencia Azul, which is a podcast that interviews Spanish & Hispanic scientists about marine life, & the unique struggles of various Hispanic countries. Her contributions to marine biology are immense, & continue to be relevant as well as impactful. She frequently publishes short ocean-oriented videos or posts on her social media platforms, most of which can be found at “@melissacristinamarquez”.
The Honorables, Awards, Achievements, & Accomplishments Of Melissa Cristina Marquez
She has a fiction book series involving marine animals & terrestrial animals called “Wild Survival!”, with 3 books currently. These books are, in order of publication “Crocodile Rescue (Wild Survival #1)”, “Chasing Jaguars (Wild Survival #2)”, & “Swimming With Sharks (Wild Survival #3).
She has published 2 other stand-alone books, both being fiction & involving the ocean.
She is an active contributor to Forbes in the Science sector.
She gave the TED Talk “Sharks & Female Scientists: More Alike Then You Think”, at the Perth Ted x Youth conference in 2021.
She created a series of lessons known as the Fins United Initiative Lesson Plans, with the goal of increasing knowledge & interest in Chondrichthyans.
Directories / Credits
Citation No. 1: “Meet Melissa Marquez, a shark scientist passionate about the diverse representation of sharks, their relatives, and the scientists that study them!”, Written by Melissa Marquez, & Published on June 27th, 2017. Published by The Female Scientist Magazine. Retrieval Date: September 9th, 2024.
Citation No. 2: “Melissa Cristina Marquez: Marine Biologist & Shark Expert”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Ted & Kingspark. Retrieval Date: September 9th, 2024.
Citation No. 3: “Melissa Cristina Marquez”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Homeward Bound Projects. Retrieval Date: September 9th, 2024.
Citation No. 4: “Author Feature: Melissa Cristina Marquez”, Written by Isabel Rodriguez, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by FEMINIST. Retrieval Date: September 9th, 2024.
Citation No. 5: “Melissa Marquez”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Australian Academy of Science. Retrieval Date: September 9th, 2024.
Citation No. 6: “Melissa Cristina Marquez”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Forbes. Retrieval Date: September 9th, 2024.
Citation No. 7: “Meet the Shark-a-holic: Melissa Cristina Marquez”, Written by Poornima Peiris, & Published on July 12th, 2018. Published by the Scientista Foundation. Retrieval Date: September 9th, 2024.
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