The decline of certain shark populations poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Despite their potential for maintaining ocean health, sharks continue to be misunderstood and face numerous threats, such as overfishing and habitat degradation. Communicating the importance of shark conservation to the broader public is a challenging task. My Capstone project leverages storytelling, rather than solely presenting scientific data, to connect people to the world of shark conservation and the dedicated individuals working tirelessly to protect these vital creatures. Storytelling has the ability to evoke emotions, increase knowledge, and inspire action, serving as an essential tool for passing down wisdom across generations. By embracing storytelling, we can challenge misconceptions and foster a deeper understanding of sharks' ecological and economic significance.

My film, "Beyond the Bite," highlights the importance of shark conservation. It addresses the negative portrayal of sharks in the media, particularly since the release of Jaws, which has fueled fear and misunderstanding. Through the film, I call on viewers to participate in shark conservation, emphasizing that anyone can contribute to these efforts, not just scientists. The film features personal stories and insights from a diverse group of individuals based in San Diego, including a marine biologist, a drone photographer, a tattoo artist, and the CEO of a non-profit organization focused on ocean conservation. By showcasing the various ways local San Diegans are involved in shark conservation, the film provides a comprehensive view of the multifaceted efforts in this field. "Beyond the Bite" aims to highlight the positive contributions of these changemakers and inspire viewers to engage in conservation efforts. Given that personal motivation and connections are crucial for engaging the public in environmental issues, this project aims to spark curiosity and empower the audience to take action in support of shark conservation.

Please see media created for this project here: https://youtu.be/rXsWIbf58Jk

This dissertation highlights unique aspects of the LGN for visual processing in the hopes to reframe the traditional view that the LGN is simply a relay center between the retina and primary visual cortex. It begins with a general introduction outlining the early visual system in the domestic cat and non-human primate, and sets up the rest of the dissertation to include an examination of unique LGN visual processing. Within the second chapter of this dissertation is an investigation of the unique biophysical membrane properties of the LGN to understand how the phenomena of bursting changes as a function of contrast in the anesthetized cat. In the third chapter of this dissertation, there is an investigation of corticogeniculate feedback’s effects on LGN processing as a function of stimulus size in the awake-behaving non-human primate. In the general discussion chapter, there is an exploration of how bursting and corticogeniculate feedback could interact with one another to facilitate (and modulate) LGN visual processing. Lastly, there is an appendix chapter, consisting of a review of the early visual processing system in rodents, felines, and non-human primates. As the LGN is a ubiquitous part of the thalamus and an extremely important brain region for the visual system, understanding the LGN’s interactions with other parts of the early visual system is integral to understanding how the LGN contributes to visual processing and the LGN’s contribution to higher-level aspects of vision.