Fin-tastic!

Several Thayer students conducted marine research this past summer as they helped to test innovative shark monitoring technologies off the coast of Cape Cod. 

Reilly Fraga ‘25, Ellie Louvar ‘25, Ally Mignosa ‘25, and Abby Shannon ‘25 were all students in Thayer’s Independent Science Research (ISR) program; the elective course introduces juniors to primary research opportunities to prepare them for summer internships prior to their senior years. As ISR students, the four joined Beneath The Waves, a nonprofit marine research organization which partners with Thayer and has a lab on campus, in an initiative to harness and assess the capabilities of GoPro Hero 12 cameras as a non-invasive alternative method to monitor sharks — in this particular instance, mako sharks in the waters off Chatham in late August 2024. 

Olivia Dixon led the four-week venture — two weeks in the classroom and two weeks in the field — to build and then deploy pelagic-stereo baited remote underwater video systems, or BRUVS, to capture footage of the pelagic sharks. Each BRUVS had 4K resolution cameras in stereo at specific angles to more accurately verify the species of shark, determine body measurements, and observe behaviors. The research team also tagged sharks in order to compare the traditionally sourced data to that of the non-invasive BRUVS; the data confirmed that the BRUVS obtained accurate data similar to tagging. 

“This capability is a game changer,” said Dixon, a marine biologist who explained that the high-tech cameras allow researchers to make better observations about the daily lives of sharks and their behaviors. “We can now see markings or scars, which were challenging to observe with previous models, that might provide insights into the lives of these animals.”

The students praised both the Beneath The Waves research experience and the ISR program that gave them the opportunity. 

“From hands-on work to classroom learning and field experiences, I would absolutely recommend it for any student interested,” said Shannon. 

Fraga agreed. 

“This experience has meant everything to me,” she said. “It’s been my dream for so long to work with Beneath The Waves and study sharks.” 

Mignosa said she’s always loved marine biology and feels grateful to contribute. 

“It’s amazing to do fieldwork while I’m still in high school,” said Mignosa. 

And Louvar noted the opportunity to engage in real research.

“It’s so cool to see how we’re using science to study and help sharks,” she said. 

Upper School Science Department Head Don Donovan P ‘10, ‘13 runs the ISR program and called Thayer’s connection with Beneath The Waves, which was founded more than a decade ago by Dr. Austin Gallagher ‘04, a unique partnership. 

“Our students participate in and contribute to current conservation marine biology,” said Donovan. “It’s a great model for active, engaging, place-based education. Reilly, Ally, Ellie, and Abby were involved in every step. With the guidance of a professional marine researcher and a high school teacher, these high school students built the stereoscopic BRUVs, deployed them, and then helped to tag the sharks. It’s something that’s truly special here at Thayer.”