Carlee Jackson

Meet the shark scientist who wants to inspire others to love these predators.

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Carlee Jackson grew up in Michigan, US.

It's very far from the ocean, but despite that, a book about sharks put her on the path to becoming a shark scientist. As a young black girl, Jackson says she didn't see any ocean scientists who looked like her, so she decided she wanted to be that inspiration for others. She spoke to The Week Junior Science+Nature about why sharks are so amazing and the importance of representation.

Describe yourself in three words

Adventurous, authentic and kind.

How would you explain your job?

I help shark scientists with their field work. I love teaching people about sharks and I give talks. I'm also working on getting my master's thesis (a research project that is done to get a master's degree qualification) published in a journal, which is a big deal as a scientist.

What book inspired you the most?