Ocean Expert Exchange:
Revealing the Hidden Lives of Large Coastal Sharks
Emily Spurgeon,
Ph.D. Student
Predator Ecology and Conservation Lab
at Florida International University
Follow bull sharks beneath the surface of South Florida as Emily and her colleagues use acoustic telemetry and animal-borne cameras to uncover where they go, how they behave and how they use Palm Beach’s coastal habitats.
December 9th, 2026 @ 1 PM ET
R/V ANGARI Expeditions:
Select Supplemental Content:
[READING] ANGARI Foundation – Meet The Scientist: Emily Spurgeon
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PRESENTER BIO
Emily Spurgeon earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, before completing her M.S. at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), where she studied the movement and behavior of juvenile white sharks in Southern California nursery habitats. After graduating, Emily continued at the CSULB Shark Lab as a full-time research technician, leading field research, mentoring students and participating in science outreach and communication. Currently a Ph.D. student in the Predator Ecology and Conservation Lab at Florida International University, Emily’s research explores how environmental conditions shape the movement, behavior and ecology of bull, sandbar and juvenile white sharks using acoustic telemetry, biologging camera tags and stable isotope analysis. She also works as a research technician with Saving the Blue, contributing to shark research and conservation initiatives in The Bahamas. Emily is passionate about using innovative technologies to better understand shark ecology and sharing that science to inspire conservation and connect people with the ocean, and is the 2026-27 Lead Scientist for ANGARI Foundation’s Coastal Ocean Explorers: Sharks hands-on education program.
Ocean Expert Exchange is a live educational webinar series featuring experts in marine science and technology, many of whom have participated in expeditions onboard R/V ANGARI. The 30-minute live events welcome audiences of all ages and include a presentation on the speaker’s area of expertise followed by Q&A with participants. The series is co-hosted by ANGARI Foundation and the University of Florida Thompson Earth Systems Institute’s Scientist in Every Florida School program.