Unique Experiences

Item Description

Meet Whale Shark Scientist Jennifer. Schmidt, Ph.D. for lunch or dinner in Galveston or Houston, Texas

Jennifer is Director of Science and Research at the Shark Research Institute and one of the world's experts in Whale Shark Population and Reproductive Genetics.

A molecular biologist, Jennifer has spent the past 16 years studying the population genetics of the whale shark. DNA sequences, called microsatellites, were isolated from the whale shark genome. Along with mitochondrial DNA sequencing, these markers are used to produce genetic “maps” of individual animals sampled at different sites around the world.

In one of her recent studies, Jennifer examined DNA from whale sharks from the Caribbean to the Indian and Pacific oceans. Results of her study showed little genetic variation between the different populations, indicating the big fish migrate across oceans and breed with other whale shark populations thousands of miles away. Her work sheds new light on the behavior of the polka-dotted, filter-feeding giant that can reach 50 feet in length and weigh more than 20 tons.

She also studied the only known litter of whale shark embryos, a sample of the more than 300 pups found inside a female whale shark caught in Taiwan in 1995. A genetic "paternity test" allowed her team to determine that all the embryos had the same father, a finding unexpected given the multiple paternity observed in many other shark species.  This study provided baseline information that helped to counter the almost complete lack of knowledge of whale shark reproduction.

Jennifer has dived with and studied whale sharks in Honduras, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and the Arabian Gulf, and works closely with shark researchers around the world.

In 2016, she chaired the Scientific Program Committee that organized the 4th International Whale Shark Conference in Doha, Qatar, which was attended by over 100 whale shark researchers, conservation scientists, government officials, and ecotourism providers, representing more than 20 countries.

Jennifer attends CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), the United Nations Treaty organization which protects threatened and endangered wildlife, including marine species.

In addition, she leads Shark Research Institute expeditions to study whale sharks in the Caribbean and Djibouti.

 www.sharks.org

Item Special Note

How this auction works

1. Bid on a celebrity you would like to get to know personally (shark scientist, educator, explorer filmmaker, shark photographer, television host, conservationist) who works or lives nearby, unless you are willing to drive or fly to meet them in their area.

2. We will introduce the winning bidder to the celebrity. The two of you then set a mutually agreeable date, time and place to meet within one year of the close of the auction.

3. The winning bidder pays for lunch or dinner and may bring guests.

Note: All winning bids are 100% deductible from US Federal 2018 income taxes as Charitable Donations. A tax receipt will be issued to the winning bidder.