9A Testing the Hypothesis

This exercise was far more challenging, but definitely insightful. I actually had a hard time coming up with 5 people who I believe would have the need of a shark education center, but actually do not.

My list included

• Home school parent/educator ( fear of sharks) with no interest in their child learning about sharks, specifically.
• Parent ( no interest in sharks )
• Elementary school librarian ( no interest in sharks/can’t see how it fits into her programs)
• Elementary school teacher ( no interest/intense fear, also teaching to tests and difficult to add in extra curriculum)
• Grandmother ( terrified of sharks so no interest in bringing grandchildren on the weekend) 

 I believed that all of these people, for different reasons, would have a need for a shark education center and education programs for their students/family members. The common thread for not needing ( or believing they do not need) is a lack or interest or intense fear of sharks. These animals have a dangerous reputation and people around the world are afraid of them. There are also severe misrepresentations of these animals portrayed in the press and on social media. People do not  understand how critical shark conservation is for the oceans and for all of us.

This helped me identify a huge market to target and possible change their perspective. These are all people who have children or teach children, so I believed they would have the need for a specialized educational opportunity for their students/children.


I also believe that people are becoming more and more aware about the threats facing sharks and are beginning to see them in a different light. Education is making an impact and  hands on experiences are always of interest for educators and parents. It creates a connection, which creates empathy and action.

The need I identified is similar to other educational needs, but it is very specific. The center would be hyper-focused, but would also connect students to larger ecological and global conservation issues. Sharks are the flagship species for our movement to save the oceans. I think the main difference is simply the specificity of the program we intend to create.

I believe the underlying cause is fear of sharks and lack of interest. Fear of sharks is deep rooted in our society thanks to JAWS and over media. People fear what they do not understand and the ocean is vast. It’s mysterious and unknown. Sharks are portrayed as monsters and while bites happen, fatalities are extremely rare. We need to change the conversation surrounding these animals. If people have feared these animals their entire life, it’s difficult to expect them to push for their students or children to learn. I believe we can change this and learning about this why, will help me re shape my approach. It helps me understand a challenging market and the methods I will need to change this perception. This was supported through the interviews when most people reflected upon this as a major reason of having no need or interest in the programs.