Anyone who dips a toe in the waters along the West Coast could very likely be swimming with sharks. Our fascination with this Hollywood-famous animal is endless. (Can you name another animal that has its own televised week, an instantly recognizable soundtrack, and a notorious reputation? Neither can we.) Dr. Chris Lowe, director of California State University, Long Beach’s Shark Lab, joins us to detail his research into these sharp-toothed creatures, answer your questions, and reveal his shark-safety tips for California beachgoers.
About the guest:
Dr. Chris Lowe is a professor of marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach. Dr. Lowe has been studying sharks, rays, and bony fishes for more than 30 years, focusing on their behavior, physiology, and ecology. For the past 15 years, Dr. Lowe and his students have been studying juvenile white sharks off the coast of Southern California. Using a wide array of technology, they have found that white sharks use Southern California beaches seasonally as a nursery habitat for their young. This brings juvenile white sharks into close proximity to beachgoers. Dr. Lowe and his students help lifeguards and the public understand the mysterious lives of sharks and just how much of a threat they may actually pose.•
