UC Merced Professor Sora Kim Makes Waves Again on Shark Week
Talk about meta: A pop culture phenomenon is using a pop culture phenomenon to undo the results of a pop culture phenomenon.
And for the fourth consecutive year, paleoecology Professor Sora Kim is diving back into the spotlight of the Discovery Channel hit "Shark Week," this time with a K-pop twist intended to rebrand sharks as less frightening.
Kim appears in the new "Shark Week" premiere show, "K-Pop Shark Heroes," which uses the power of K-pop, or Korean popular music, to transform the perception of sharks across the globe.
"It's super cool to be invited to be part of the show," Kim said. "I think sharks are generally misunderstood."
Filmed in the Bahamas, the show pairs Kim with actor and comedian Ken Jeong and co-host Grammy-nominated singer and rapper Rei Ami while fellow shark expert Tristan Guttridge rounds out the on-screen team. The group splits into duos - Guttridge with Jeong, Kim with Rei Ami - setting up a mix of science and entertainment throughout the episode.
The concept tackles a serious issue with a playful hook: increased shark activity in places we don't expect.
"Scientists think that as water temperatures change and prey shift, sharks are now going to locations they traditionally didn't go," Kim said. That has fueled public concern. And there have always been plenty of misconceptions about sharks, especially since the blockbuster film "Jaws" came out.
That is where the show's mission comes in.
"The premise of the show is that we're trying to rebrand sharks and do some myth-busting," Kim said.
Among the myths she addressed: sharks hunting humans as prey and detecting single drops of blood from miles away. Without spoiling any of the answers, Kim said she explains how sharks rely on perception tools - from smell to electrosensory systems - and use their mouths as a primary way to explore their environment.
The science comes with plenty of adrenaline.
Kim swam cage-free along the sea floor while lemon, bull, reef and great hammerhead sharks swam around her. On her birthday, she found herself face-to-face with a great hammerhead, an experience she described as "pretty amazing."
"I was scuba diving with Rei Ami and I looked into the shark's mouth, which was pretty amazing," she said. "It was just that close to me."
While that might seem like a frightening experience, Kim emphasized the larger goal: understanding, not fear.
This year's production also marks a milestone in representation. Kim noted that three of the four principal on-screen figures are Korean American - something she said made her proud. She is always on the lookout for opportunities to represent people of color and women in science, hoping to inspire others.
She is also proud of the show's focus on science.
"It's a mix of science and fun, which I feel like is true of all 'Shark Week' shows," Kim said. "This year featured the most science, but it also injects the most humor because Ken Jeong is an awesome comedian and he's in the primary role."
Kim's ongoing presence on "Shark Week" reflects her expertise in modern and ancient sharks. In recent years, she has garnered attention because of her research using isotopes in fossilized megalodon teeth to reveal details about the giant shark's diet, habitat and extinction.
With "Shark Week" set to begin July 26, "K-pop Shark Heroes" is positioned as the premiere program, signaling both a high-profile platform and a continued role for Kim as a leading scientific voice in popular media.
Producers have already mentioned bringing her back for a future paleo shark show, but it depends on her schedule. For now, she's focusing on this year's "Shark Week."
"I'm super excited for the show. I think it's fun. I was excited to work with Tristan again; this is the fourth show we've done together, and we've really built up our rapport over time," she said. "It's great that we can talk about what sharks are doing and why. I like having those science conversations on and off camera."