Shark Week LIVE! Event Highlights Busy Shark Week at Island University

Caleb Garner and his mother, Megan, made the drive from northwest of Austin to Brewster Street Icehouse in downtown Corpus Christi because of sharks.

Over the last four years, 11-year-old Caleb has developed a fascination with sharks after an encounter with some tiger sharks on a charter boat. His growing interest in sharks led him to learn about Dr. Kesley Banks ’19, Associate Research Scientist with the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC). The Shark Week LIVE! watch party held on July 11 at Brewster Street Icehouse provided Caleb with the perfect opportunity to not only meet Banks, but also watch her in Discovery’s Shark Week episode “Caught! When Sharks Attack” on the various TV’s located in the venue.

“It’s a super great experience meeting her,” said Garner, who is from Liberty Hill. “She has a great personality and her love for sharks is super amazing. I think she’s making a good impact on the ocean.”

Garner and his mom were among approximately 1,000 people who attended the free event which highlighted the work being done by HRI and the Island University for the benefit of the Gulf of Mexico. 

“It’s always been a dream of mine to be on Shark Week and I didn’t think it would ever happen this quickly, much less repeatedly. So, it’s an honor,” Banks said. “You can’t tag a 13-foot Shortfin Mako shark by yourself… it takes a great team. Shark Week is a great avenue to get research out of the lab and into people’s day-to-day conversations.”

HRI researchers have been featured in the popular week-long Discovery series for the last eight years, but this was the first time since 2019 that HRI and the university have hosted a public event in honor of Shark Week.

“What a great event, seeing all the community, all the kids,” said HRI Executive Director Dr. Greg Stunz. “Sharks are such great ambassadors for the ocean, and having our scientists participate in Shark Week and attend our community events can inspire future generations to respect and admire these remarkable animals, fostering a sense of conservation and sustainability for our world’s oceans and the Gulf of Mexico.”

Shark Week LIVE! was one of multiple shark-themed events hosted by the university in mid-July. The festivities allowed those young and old to learn more about sharks and the people that study them, while showing the university’s commitment to research and conservation. Signature events included presentations at the Texas State Aquarium, a Shark Week display at La Palmera Mall, and a campus-wide shark-themed decorating contest. 

Those events were augmented by multiple episodes on sharks on the popular series “Beachcombing,” which features HRI’s Director of Community Engagement Jace Tunnell, and an episode of the Gulf Stream podcast focused on sharks with noted cinematographer Joe Romeiro. Plus, Katie Gheysen ’25, a marine biology master’s student and 2024 National Science Foundation Fellow, participated in a question-and-answer session on her work that focuses on juvenile shark and ray habitat in the southern coast of Texas.

“Since its inception, the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies has been a leader in finding science-based solutions for the sustainability of our waters,” said Dr. Kelly M. Miller, TAMU-CC President and CEO. “Showcasing this incredible research and its impact on a national stage during Shark Week is a point of pride for all Islanders as this work highlights the vision of Ed Harte and his legacy that continues to foster future generations of researchers, scientists, and conservationists.”