The Cheryl Beth Silverman Memorial Lecture
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
6:00 PM-7:30 PM
Join us for a talk by Jasmin Graham, shark scientist and environmental educator, as the Academy hosts the annual Cheryl Beth Silverman Memorial Lecture. The talk will be followed by a Q&A moderated by the Academy’s Manager of Animal Programs, Anwar Abdul-Qawi.
In her deeply personal talk, Graham speaks about the impossible pressures and systemic biases she faced in academia and her triumphant rise as leader of a thriving sisterhood of fellow BIPOC female shark scientists. As the founder of Minorities in Shark Sciences, she discusses the role grassroots organizations can play in shifting the scientific culture. Graham also dives into the unique biology and ecology of sharks and their relatives. Touching on their primary threats, she unpacks why we need to move from fear to fascination if we are to protect sharks. Her talk will inspire future generations of scientists from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in STEM fields and marine sciences.
About Jasmin Graham
Jasmin Grahamis a shark scientist and environmental educator who specializes in elasmobranch (shark and ray) ecology and evolution. Her research interests include smalltooth sawfish, movement ecology and hammerhead shark phylogeny. She serves on the Board of Directors as well as the Equity and Diversity Committee for the American Elasmobranch Society. Jasmin was named the 2021 WWF Conservation Leader. She has a passion for science education and making science more accessible to everyone. Jasmin is the President and CEO of Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS), an organization dedicated to supporting women of color in shark sciences. She is keen to help open doors for more underrepresented minority students to join the field of marine science.
Jasmin’s work encompasses the areas of science communication, social justice, outreach, education and conservation. Caring deeply about protecting endangered and vulnerable marine species, particularly elasmobranchs, she has been featured on "Dive In with Sylvia Earle" and "StarTalk with Neil DeGrasse Tyson" as well as several other podcasts and webinar series. She was also an organizer for the 2020 “Black in Marine Science Week” and is a member of Black Women in Ecology, Evolution and Marine Science (BWEEMS). Jasmin graduated from the College of Charleston in 2017 with a B.S. in Marine Biology and a B.A. in Spanish. She went on to receive her MSc. in Biological Science from Florida State University through the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Her book, Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist, was published in 2024.
Register for the Cheryl Beth Silverman Memorial Lecture
About the Cheryl Beth Silverman Memorial Lecture
The Cheryl Beth Silverman Memorial Lecture was established by Art and Carol Silverman, longtime friends of the Academy, in memory of their daughter, Cheryl Beth.
Cheryl was a charismatic lover of animals and was extraordinarily passionate about our environment. Although Cheryl Beth’s time was cut short, she left a notable mark on the world. Through the Cheryl Beth Silverman Memorial Lecture, we continue Cheryl Beth’s efforts to be a voice for the animals and environment she loved.