Smart About Sharks
The Gills Club harnesses girls' passion for sharks, nature and the environment by giving them the opportunity to engage in projects focused on making a significant impact on the way sharks are perceived by the public.
Being a Gills Club Member
Anyone can be a Gills Club Member and begin learning about sharks and how they can be an ocean steward. Gills Club requires no registration, just a desire to learn and help improve the health of our oceans. Members have opportunities to learn through our website, app, social media, and events. Check out our host sites to see if there are in person meetings near you, or start your own!
Gills Club Events
With the motto “Smart About Sharks,” Gills Club members are provided with tools to educate their peers about sharks through hands-on learning opportunities at events. In addition to being a vehicle that will foster positive attitudes towards sharks, we want this group to jump-start girls’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects, boosting their chances of entering careers in science.
Meet some of our Gills on our Member Spotlight >>
Gills Club Online Community
Gills Club features scientists from our Science Team on our Facebook page, Instagram account, and Twitter. This gives our members unprecedented access to top female shark researchers in the field.
Whether you want to become a marine biologist or just love sharks, as a Gills Club member you will learn about different shark species, the most recent research, and institutions that have been integral in helping our scientists reach their career goals.
Meet our Co-founder
It wouldn’t have occurred to me that the lack of females featured in Shark Week was an issue until I started a non-profit to fund shark research. At events, I met young girls that were being told by other kids that, “only boys like sharks” and being discouraged from following their passion. I realized that if your only experience with shark research/conservation is Shark Week – like it is for most kids – you may believe that shark science is a career only for men. The reality is, shark science is comprised of many women who live every week like it’s Shark Week. I wanted to find a way to connect the two groups, and so the Gills Club was born!
Read more of Gills Club Co-founder Cynthia Wigren's blog for Southern Fried Science here >>
Gills Club Partners
Our partners play a key role in expanding our reach by hosting Gills Club events.
If you'd like to become a Gills Club partner, please email gillsclub@atlanticwhiteshark.org.
