
Charlotte Birkmanis
Researcher
University of Western Australia
Marine biologist | Shark researcher | Predator ecologist
Public speaker | Wildlife Science Communicator
Mandarin Chinese speaker
Radio host | Podcast host
CSIRO STEM Professionals in Schools Program
2021 BBC Naked Scientist Intern
2019 Fresh Scientist
Current Working with Children Check
Current National Police Check
Contact me for
- Mentoring
- Sitting on boards or committees
- Providing an expert opinion
- Outreach activities
- Conference presenting
- Opportunities to collaborate
Biography
Dr Charlotte is a marine ecologist who is actively engaged in researching and communicating predators and ecosystem conservation. She has a research interest in predator behaviour and ecology, the ecological impacts of predator removal, and how the media portrays sharks and other predators. Always looking for answers, Charlotte has extensive presenting and travel experience (40+ countries and counting), and lived on three continents. Having lived, studied and taught in China, Charlotte speaks Mandarin Chinese. As an avid science communicator, Charlotte uses these skills to regularly give talks both in person and online to interested groups worldwide.
Having been involved in shark research for over 10 years, Charlotte is experienced in shark and ray:
- monitoring
- tagging
- sampling (fin, blood, muscle etc)
- filming
as well as analysing the data and reporting on:
- where they are going and why
- what they are eating
- how many there are
- how they behave
Charlotte's PhD research focused on where sharks are, why they are there and whether we are protecting them. To do this she spent over four months in the field and then used statistical models to determine where sharks are, why they are there, if their numbers are changing over time and where they are likely to be in the future with climate change. Alongside this, Charlotte has a BAppSc majoring in Ecology (awarded with Distinction) and a BA in International and Global Studies, majoring in Mandarin Chinese and a BSc(Honours first class) in shark and ray vertebral biomechanics.