FINS ON WHEELS
17TH FEBRUARY 2025
Engineering Innovation Centre, James Cook University, Townsville Campus
An afternoon all about Epaulette Sharks. This event was a fundraiser to enable the transportation of 40 epaulette sharks from Heron Island Research Station to The Australian Institute of Marine Science for the research project of PhD candidate Sophia Emmons.
Together we not only reached our goal of raising $1000 for the fins on wheels fundraiser. We exceeded it, raising an astronomical $1588.56!
Sophia Emmons
The fundraiser opened with PhD student Sophia Emmons introducing her research looking at the metabolic rates of epaulette sharks on Heron Island. Discussing the purpose of the fundraiser, transporting 40 sharks from Heron Island to the AIMS SeaSim.
Miriam Zanforlin
Miriam Zanforlin then talked about her research on how neonate epaulette sharks balance digestion with energetic needs in the face of climate change.
Egg Tagging Workshop
Miriam also ran a hands on egg tagging workshop, showcasing how delicate they are, and the care that goes towards looking after them in the lab.
We hosted a huge raffle - with prizes ranging from Reef Rebellion merch packs, and Rummer lab tours, to a Yongala dive voucher, and naming a baby epaulette shark!
Sold photos and stickers from local JCU photographers, as well as watercolour prints from Sophia Emmons herself!
Created our very own Epaulette Shark T-shirts and stickers in which all profits made we directed straight to the fundraiser.
How did we do it?
