A shark encounter inspired this researcher’s career in marine biology

anthropology: The study of humankind. A social scientist who studies different societies and cultures is called an anthropologist. 

biology: The study of living things. The scientists who study them are known as biologists. 

conservation: The act of preserving or protecting something. The focus of this work can range from art objects to endangered species and other aspects of the natural environment. 

coral: Marine animals that often produce a hard and stony exoskeleton and tend to live on reefs (the exoskeletons of dead ancestor corals). 

documentary: A type of movie or television program that takes its name from the fact that it attempts to document actual real-life events. 

grad school: Short for graduate school. A university program that offers advanced degrees, such as a Master’s or PhD degree. It’s called graduate school because it is started only after someone has already graduated from college (usually with a four-year degree). 

information: (as opposed to data) Facts provided or trends learned about something or someone, often as a result of studying data. 

marine: Having to do with the ocean world or environment. 

predator: (adjective: predatory) A creature that preys on other animals for most or all of its food. 

psychology: (adj. psychological ) The study of the human mind, especially in relation to actions and behavior. To do this, some perform research using animals. Scientists and mental-health professionals who work in this field are known as psychologists. 

recall: To remember. (in commerce) A procedure whereby companies remove particular products from the market (i.e. store shelves) because the products were defective, dangerous or might pose some newfound risk of harm. Or a product that had already been purchased (such as a car or lawn mower) might be recalled so that a manufacturer could fix a problem in it or give people their money back. 

sea: An ocean (or region that is part of an ocean). Unlike lakes and streams, seawater — or ocean water — is salty. 

shark: A type of predatory fish that has survived in one form or another for hundreds of millions of years. Cartilage, not bone, gives its body structure. Like skates and rays, sharks belong to a group known as elasmobranchs. They tend to grow and mature slowly and have few young. Some lay eggs, others give birth to live young. 

species: A group of similar organisms capable of producing offspring that can survive and reproduce. 

wave: A disturbance or variation that travels through space and matter in a regular, oscillating fashion. 

whale: A common, but fairly imprecise, term for a class of large mammals that lives in the ocean. This group includes dolphins and porpoises.