Terms and conditions

Win a trip tagging sharks with marine biologists in Florida: Rules, terms and conditions

Summary: In exchange for a minimum $75 USD tax-deductible donation to Minorities in Shark Sciences and the Field School Foundation, you will win a signed copy of “Why Sharks Matter: A Deep Dive with the World’s Most Misunderstood Predator,” and will be entered in a drawing for a chance to join author Dr. David Shiffman and a team of marine biologists for a day of shark tagging research in Miami!

Eligibility: This opportunity is open to anyone who is 18 years old or older at the time of entry. It is subject to Federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Sponsor: This opportunity is run by Dr. David Shiffman, and administered through Minorities in Shark Sciences, a registered 501 c 3. See https://www.misselasmo.org/ for more information about Minorities in Shark Sciences. The shark tagging research trip is administered through Field School, please see https://www.getintothefield.com/ for more information about Field School.

Agreement to official rules: Participation in this opportunity constitutes full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of the official rules and decisions of the sponsor, which are final and binding. Winning the prize is contingent upon being compliant with these Official Rules and fulfilling all other requirements set forth.

Prizes: All entrants will receive a signed copy of the book (please make sure to provide your mailing address so we know where to send it). Winners of the drawing will win a spot on the R/V Garvin in Miami Florida for a day of shark tagging with Dr. David Shiffman and a team of marine biologists and special guests, where they will not only observe but participated in shark research. Donors at the $75 level will have a 1 in 10 chance of winning a spot on the boat, and donors at the $500 level will have a guaranteed spot on the boat. The two trip dates are June 22 and June 23, 2022, and preference will be accommodated to the extent possible. PLEASE BE AWARE that the prize does not include transportation or lodging, winners are responsible for getting to the R/V Garvin in Miami, Florida.

Contest period. This opportunity begins at Noon Eastern on Monday, April 18th and ends at midnight on Friday, May 20th . Entries will be accepted through the duration of the contest via the donation page linked HERE.

How to enter: To enter, you will be donating at one of two levels to Minorities in Shark Sciences (which will be split with the Field School foundation). Please make your donation through LINK, taking care to include your mailing address so we can send you the book. A $75 donation gets you a signed copy of the book Why Sharks Matter: A Deep Dive with the World’s Most Misunderstood predator, and gives you a 1 in 10 chance of winning a spot on the shark tagging trip. A $500 donation gets you a signed copy of the book, and guarantees you one spot on the shark tagging trip. Donations are to a registered 501 c 3 charity and are tax deductible.

Prize drawing and winner notification: On DATE/TIME, the Sponsor will select winners in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. The sponsor will notify potential winners via e-mail on DATE/TIME. If the potential winner cannot be reached within 5 days of the drawing, the Sponsor may select an alternate potential winner from the remaining non-winning eligible entries. Winners will be required to complete a personal liability waiver that will be administered via Field School before being permitted onto the shark research vessel, and other similar documents.

General conditions: In the event that the operation, security, or administration of this opportunity is impaired in any way for any reason including but not limited to fraud or technical problems, the sponsor may, in its sole discretion, either suspend and later resume the opportunity, or terminate the opportunity and award the prize to eligible and non-suspect entries. The sponsor may use its sole discretion to disqualify any individual. Any attempt by any individual to undermine the opportunity may be a violation of criminal and civil law. Information collected from entrants is subject to privacy law.

Release and limitations of liability: By participating in this opportunity, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the sponsor and each affiliate associated with the opportunity and all office, employees, and representatives from any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the opportunity. Liability shall not exceed the cost of entering and participating in this opportunity. Any and all disputes resulting from this opportunity shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the prize? Winners will receive a day on the R/V Garvin in Miami, Florida, in which you will get the opportunity to join Dr. David Shiffman and the Field School research team for a day of shark science! You will not just be observing but helping with every step of the research. The research is non-lethal catch-and-release based, and the data you help gather will be used to better understand, manage, and protect coastal shark species in South Florida. To learn more about what your day will be like, please see this website from Field School’s shark research skills course.

When is the shark research trip? These trips will take place on June 22 and June 23, 2022.  Winners will win a spot on one of these two trips (not both). Date preferences among winners will be accommodated to the extent possible.

Where is the research trip? The R/V Garvin’s home port is Miami, Florida, and that’s where we will be departing from. Your day of shark research will occur in one of Field School’s active research sites around South Florida, with actual site selection made on the day of the trip by the captain depending on weather conditions. The marina location and arrival logistics will be provided to contest winners.

How many people will be on the boat? We will limit participation to ten contest winners on each day of the trip, not counting crew and research team. This small number ensures there will be plenty for contest winners to do. This is in addition to the crew of the Garvin and some special guests.

How do you enter? There are two ways to enter this contest, both through the Classy.org donation link (LINK HERE) provided through our partner Minorities in Shark Sciences. For a donation of $75 USD, you will receive a signed copy of Dr. Shiffman’s new book and will get a one in ten chance or winning a spot on the boat. For a guaranteed spot on the boat, the donation is $500 USD, which also comes with a signed copy of Dr. Shiffman’s book.

Are donations tax deductible? Minorities in Shark Sciences is a registered 501 c 3, so donations are tax deductible.

What is the donation used for? The donation will be split evenly between Field School’s scholarship fund and Minorities in Shark Sciences workshops fund. This will help improve the diversity and inclusion of the field of marine biology by making necessary professional development training more affordable, providing opportunities to early career scientists from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Learn more about Minorities in Shark Sciences here: and learn more about Field School here.

What sharks will we see? While we can’t guarantee what we’ll catch, common sharks in South Florida include blacktip sharks, blacknose sharks, nurse sharks, lemon sharks, the occasional great and scalloped hammerhead sharks, and even Dr. Shiffman’s favorite species of shark, the sandbar shark.

If you win, you are responsible for: Winners are responsible for getting themselves to Miami and to the Garvin, we do not provide transportation or lodging. Please note that the trip is a full day (early departure, late return) and you will likely need to stay overnight before and after the trip if you are flying into town. Please be aware that Miami traffic is horrific, and give yourself plenty of time to get from wherever you’re staying to the Garvin!

We will provide directions, a marina parking pass and contact info for the crew, and a light lunch. We can recommend local hotels and restaurants if requested. You are responsible for filling out required safety waivers, bringing appropriate clothing (we’ll provide a list), and following all crew member safety instructions.