UNE shark expert advocates for research and education as new shark exhibit opens in Maine
A new exhibit at the Portland Science Center explores whether sharks are predators or prey. University of New England Professor James Sulikowski, a marine scientist with 25 years of experience studying sharks and other fish, says they are both. The museum asked Sulikowski to serve as its resident shark expert as it opened its doors to media for the first time on February 2, 2018.
Sulikowski was featured in stories on Maine Public and NEWS CENTER Maine’s “207.” He explained that sharks have long inspired fear and fascination in people, and that exhibits like this one are important because they educate the public and dispel myths about the dangers of sharks. “We’re a maritime community here and sharks are exciting, you know, they’re charismatic,” he told Maine Public. “For me and my research, it’s exciting to see all the great information that this exhibit has and how its dispelling a lot of myths.”
“One of the biggest misconceptions of sharks is that they’re human eaters and they’re out to get us, and that’s farthest from the truth,” he continued. “They really don’t want anything to do with us. We don’t look like what they eat. We don’t taste like what they eat. And in fact, when they do interact with us, it’s often accidental.”
To learn more about the University of New England’s Department of Marine Sciences visit www.une.edu/cas/marine
To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions