Victor Perez
PhD candidate,
University of florida and Florida museum of natural history
Hello! My name is Victor Perez, I’m a paleontologist, living the present through the past. I am currently completing my Ph.D. in geological sciences with minors in biology and science education at the University of Florida and Florida Museum of Natural History. Prior to my graduate studies, I earned an honors B.Sc. degree in Earth Sciences with a minor in mathematics from The Ohio State University. My decision to pursue an education in natural sciences was spurred by a fascination with the past, and popular culture spurred my imagination as to what it could have looked like.
In between my graduate and undergraduate studies, I worked as an environmental science summer camp instructor, an archaeology intern with the Lost Towns Project, and a vertebrate paleontology intern at the Calvert Marine Museum. Through these experiences, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career that allowed me to do research, work outdoors, and share my love of natural history with others.
As a paleontologist, I study the fossil record of sharks and rays to develop a narrative of how past marine communities changed through time. As an educator, I translate this narrative to broad audiences in different educational settings. Capturing the impact of education outside of the classroom is challenging and understudied. Cosplay offers an exciting new platform for education research.