Melissa is at the nexus of science, outreach, and communication, passionately advocating for BIPOC communities in regards to ocean justice and our climate crisis. She is available to speak on the following topics:
  • shark ecology, biology and conservation
  • marine biology 
  • human-wildlife conflict
  • human-nature relationships
  • sustainable wildlife management
  • ocean justice
  • environmental justice ​
  • inclusive science communication
  • intersectional environmentalism
  • feminism and science
  • being BIPOC in STEM
  • equality and equity in STEM
  • scientific literacy and why it matters
  • community engagement
Melissa has shared her passion for science globally with educators, professionals, and thought leaders! Speaking venues have included the TEDx stage, numerous worldwide STEM events, and dozens of K-12 schools and universities around the globe. 
​

"I HEARD HER SPEAK ON A STAGE, I WAS CAPTIVATED BY HER WORDS, BLOWN AWAY BY HER SPIRIT AND HAD GOOSEBUMPS WITH EVERY SENTENCE SHE SPOKE..."
​-TEDX FAN JAMIE NIELSON​

Best of...

global talks

academic talks
  • Océanos: El Futuro Del Planeta. Acciona. 2021.
  • Wrong Answers Only. LabxNAS (National Academy of Sciences). 2021.
  • Deep Sea Sharks. National Geographic Explorer Classroom. 2021.
  • VERSUS: Land vs. Sea. National Science Policy Symposium. 2020.
  • Sharks & Climate Change. Airtable. 2020.
  • Lo que me enseñaron los tiburones. CONGRESO BIOLOGÍA UAA (Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes). 2020.
  • Ocean in a Jar. Australian National Science Week. 2020.
  • What Sharks Have Taught Me About Life. Headwaters Science Institute's "Women in Science STEM Speaker Series." 2020. 
  • Sharks & Science. EarthEcho Youth Leadership Summit. 2020. 
  • Tiburones diversos, científicos diversos. Association of Zoos and Aquariums Shark & Ray Awareness Day. 2020.
  • Spreading Diversity and Inclusion in Science Through Sharks. 17 Minutes of Science. 2020.
  • Tiburones diversos, científicas diversas. Ciencia al Seco. 2020.
  • Tiburones diversos, científicas diversas. Vivos X El Oceano. 2020.
  • How Everyone Can Help Protect Our Oceans From Home. Youth-a-thon. 2020. 
  • Tiburones diversos, científicas diversas. Vivos X El Oceano. 2020.
  • STEM Career Opportunities. STEM Success Summit. 2019.
  • Las redes: nadando entre tiburones. Ciencias en Redes. 2019.
  • All You Need To Know About Sharks. University of Sydney. 2019.
  • Why We're Afraid of Sharks. Perth Bright Minds 2019.
  • Ocean and Plastic: How we're choking our life source. USF 2018.
  • Las conversaciones en la ciencia: science is more diverse than what we portray it to be.  American Fisheries Society Conference. 2018.​
  • Lessons from Sharks. WonderWomen in STEM Virtual Summit. Keynote Speaker. 2018.
  • Bioluminescence: lighting up the deep. IDEAS Festival. 2018.
  • The Fintastic World of Sharks: Australia. Sydney Science Festival. 2017.
  • The Fintastic World of Sharks: New Zealand. Lower Hutt STEM Week. 2017.
  • Sharks and Female Scientists: More Alike Than You Think. TEDx Wellington. 2017.​
  • Sarasota Fins: Inspiring the next generation of marine scientists. Florida Marine Educators Association Conference. 2015.​
  • Sharks: Education & Conservation. Oral presentation. Jim Abernethy's Scuba Adventures & Marine Life Art Gallery. 2014.
  • Bringing the Ocean into the Classroom. MOTE Marine Laboratory Youth Ocean Conservation Summit. 2014. ​​
  • Opening panel for the Florida Marine Educators Association Conference. 2015.
  • ​​Spatial and temporal distribution, diversity, and abundance of elasmobranchs at the remote Cocos (Keeling) Islands. International Marine Conservation Congress. 2020.
  • How to use Instagram for science communication. International Marine Conservation Congress. 2020.
  • How To Use Podcasting To Protect The Ocean. International Marine Conservation Congress. 2018.
  • Do it for the 'gram: How scientists can utilize the best of Instagram. International Marine Conservation Congress. 2018.
  • Who lives, who dies, who tells their story: sharks through various culture lenses and how policy reflects that perception. International Marine Conservation Congress. 2018.
  • Oceans. International Kids Marine Conservation Congress Plenary Speaker. 2018.
  • Who lives, who dies, who tells their story: sharks through various culture lenses and how policy reflects that perception. BioTweeps Conference 2018.
  • Defining Habitats and Habitat Use for Chondrichthyans. BioTweeps Conference 2017.
  • Come Find Me: Defining Habitats and Habitat Use for Chondrichthyans. Oral presentation. ASFB-OCS Joint Conference. 2016.
  • Habitat Use in Chondrichthyans. Oral presentation. New Zealand Marine Sciences Society and Australian Marine Sciences Association Joint Conference. 2016.
  • Biology, Ecology and Conservation of Elasmobranchs. Poster presentation. Annual Symposium of the Fisheries Society of the British Isles. 2015.​
  • Sex specific differences in habitat use and migratory behavior shown in great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in South Africa. Oral/poster presentation. New Scholars New College. 2014.​​

"Melissa is an incredible, vibrant and engaging speaker!! We were lucky enough to have her speak at a science festival a couple years ago and I can’t say enough good things about how gracious, inspiring and good she was to work with. The audience loved her." - LEANNE EPLEY-PRESSMAN
Presentations can be tailored to various audience demographics and preferences. 
​If you are interested in booking Melissa for a speaking engagement, please contact melissacristinamarquez@gmail.com