EMES 89-01M: Shark Ecology and Conservation
Maymester 2025 (May 14-30 2025)
Location
UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS). Located on the central North Carolina coast in Morehead City; the mission of UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences is to conduct cutting-edge research, train young scientists, provide expertise to governmental agencies and industry, and to promote new knowledge to inform public policy.
About the Course
This course will provide a foundational introduction regarding the biology, ecology, and conservation science of sharks. Leveraging the local environment near UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS), the class will also focus heavily on field-based experiences demonstrating shark research methodologies and concepts related to the natural history of sharks, as well as the ‘ecosystem roles’ of sharks within coastal marine habitats such as salt marshes, oyster reefs, seagrass meadows, and beaches. Although focused on sharks, this seminar will highlight interdisciplinary links among marine life sciences, coastal ocean processes, and management.
About the Instructor
Joel Fodrie is an ecologist who studies the population dynamics of fishes and shellfishes, as well as the community ecology of estuarine systems. Since 2010, Dr. Fodrie has helped lead UNC’s long-term coastal shark survey (1972-present). Dr. Fodrie earned his PhD from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (2006), and his BA in Biology (Highest Honors) and History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1999). He has contributed 100+ peer-reviewed papers that explore mechanisms of population and community variability within coastal ecosystems. These articles appear in journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Ecology, and BioScience. Over the last decade, he has become increasingly engaged in coastal resource management in North Carolina.
Important Details for Prospective Students
- Enrollment: The program is no longer accepting applications to enroll in this class. The First-Year Seminar and Launch Program and Professor Fodrie have confirmed with students who applied and were accepted. These students will be enrolled into the EMES 89-01M class once Maymester enrollment begins in March 2025. Please note: students who are not registered for a First-Year Seminar or Launch may receive reminders to take a class to satisfy this requirement. If you are approved to enroll in this Maymester experience, you can ignore the reminder about Seminars/Launches and let your advisor know your plans.
- Costs: This course is 3 credit hours. Students must pay Maymester tuition for the cost, which is $292.46 + $75.00 student fee per credit hour for in-state students (=$1,102.38 total) and $1634.54 + $75.00 student fee per credit hour for out-of-state students (=$5,128.62 total). The First-Year Seminar and Launch program will cover several additional expenses, including housing, all required field excursions (including boat trips), travel to and from excursions, meals during excursions, and necessary gear for the course. In addition to tuition and fees, students are responsible for covering their meals outside of field excursions and travel to and from the campus at the beginning and end of the Maymester. Visit the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid for information on summer financial aid.
- Questions: For further questions about the content of the course, please email the instructor Dr. Joel Fodrie (jfodrie@unc.edu).