Samantha Richardson

Honours Student: Assessing shark attack spatial and temporal patterns with a focus on understanding public perception

My research interests fall within the fields of Ecology and Zoology, having graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 2015. I am particularly interested in the marine environment, and this has been the underlying focus of my research experience. I worked with Professor Andy Fischer from the Institute of Marine and Antarctic studies, University of Tasmania, during 2015 analysing wind data and the relationships with harmful algal blooms along the eastern coastline of Tasmania. I am now undertaking an Honours research project at The University of Queensland with Associate Professor Salit Kark. My research aims to generate knowledge about how to direct shark-attack mitigation approaches in an environmentally conscious manner by providing an analytical approach that can be used to advance conflict resolution approaches. The aim is for this to be more spatially informed than current intervention strategies, as well as to guide public education programs through an increased scientific knowledge of public perceptions. To effectively mitigate shark–human conflicts, an understanding of how humans view sharks and shark mitigation approaches is required, as human perception is known to act as a barrier or facilitator in achieving conservation goals.