Big ‘Fin’ish for Alumnus Chris Malinowski in New Netflix Series, ‘All the Sharks’

Alumnus Chris Malinowski, Ph.D., M.S. ’11, a leading marine biologist and affiliate scientist at Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, joined a thrilling new Netflix series, “All the Sharks,” as a fearless researcher and advocate for ocean conservation this summer. Together with his teammate Brendan Talwar, Ph.D., the self-named “Shark Docs” beat out three other expert teams during an intense, globe-trotting race to document some of the planet’s most misunderstood predators.  

Contestants traveled to six stunning locations—the Maldives, the Galápagos Islands, the Bahamas, South Africa, Japan and Australia—to identify and photograph as many shark species as possible. The rarer the species the teams discovered, the more points they earned. At stake was a $50,000 prize to be donated to the marine conservation charity of the winning team’s choice.  

“Winning the series in the Galápagos—surrounded by some of the world’s most incredible shark and ray populations—was absolutely mind-blowing,” shared Malinowski. “After pushing ourselves through eight weeks of non-stop travel across five continents and diving in the most jaw-dropping locations on Earth, that final victory felt like the ultimate reward for all the blood, sweat and salt water. Now watching it unfold on Netflix feels completely surreal—like reliving the adventure of a lifetime!”  

Malinowski was not the only Owl swimming in shark-infested waters during the filming. Alumna Rosie Moore, B.S. ’18, M.S. ’21, was a fierce competitor during the high-octane conservation competition. For the last three years, Moore has hosted shows on Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, but her main role is with The International SeaKeepers Society, where she manages a variety of international citizen science and research. 

In an effort to continue to push the boundaries of marine science and develop real solutions for ocean conservation challenges, Malinowski donated his half of the prize money to the Ocean First Institute, where he serves as the director of research and conservation. The institute focuses on cutting-edge marine research, especially related to sharks and other megafauna, while inspiring and educating a new wave of ocean champions.  

His teammate, Talwar, donated his winnings to the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF). The remarkable non-profit organization empowers everyday divers and snorkelers to become citizen scientists and help monitor marine ecosystems worldwide by doing what they love—diving and exploring. 

“These two organizations represent everything we're passionate about—combining serious scientific research with grassroots community action to protect the underwater world that has captured our hearts,” stated Malinowski. “After spending two months diving in some of the most spectacular marine environments on the planet, it felt absolutely perfect to channel our Netflix win into supporting organizations that are working tirelessly to ensure these magical underwater worlds will thrive for generations to come.” 

Throughout the series, the Shark Docs put in hours of homework well in advance of arriving at their next site. They meticulously studied each location's shark and ray hot spots using REEF data and scientific publications, and they committed to staying highly adaptive once they were on the water.  

“Our strategy was simple but relentless—we never stopped hunting for sharks and rays, dove non-stop and used every surface interval to snorkel and keep searching!” exclaimed Malinowski. “Basically, we combined serious preparation with an absolutely unstoppable work ethic and the flexibility to pivot our strategy, based on what the ocean was giving us each day.” 

While such a whirlwind tour of the world’s most incredible marine ecosystems was every marine biologist’s dream, Malinowski shared that what really blew him away was how all the cast members became genuine friends, despite being involved an intense competition.

“Even our production and medical teams turned into this tight-knit family after spending weeks traveling the world together and putting so much trust in each other,” noted Malinowski. “It was this perfect mix of incredible diving and wildlife interactions, breathtaking locations and human connections that made the whole experience so much more meaningful than just a competition!” 

Back on land, as an affiliate faculty member of the Schmidt College of Science, Malinowski will continue to advise graduate students and serve on graduate committees, alongside colleagues Stephen Kajiura, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences in the Schmidt College of Science, and Marianne Porter, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Schmidt College of Science, and co-director, Marine Science and Oceanography Master’s Degree Program. Malinowski plans to share his expertise through research talks and potentially teach courses in the future.

Currently, he is also working in the new Wahoo Bay Ocean Sciences & Conservation Lab within the Marcus Research & Innovation Center on Florida Atlantic Laboratory Schools’ Boca Raton campus with Tricia Meredith, Ph.D., the director of research for the University's on-site lab school, to provide A.D. Henderson University School and FAU High School students with hands-on experiences in cutting-edge research techniques and mentorship on their own research projects.

At the Ocean First Institute, Malinowski aims to expand his work along with its education and research programs for students throughout Florida, specifically with shark, goliath grouper and plastic pollution research programs.  

Malinowski and Talwar will launch a podcast series called "Beyond All The Sharks" on YouTube @SharkDocs and release episodes from each location they visited to spotlight the shark conservation work being done by local researchers and conservationists, combined with regular updates on Instagram @shark_docs.  

“I'm absolutely hooked on doing more shows like this because the response has been incredible,” expressed Malinowski. “People are falling in love with sharks they never knew existed, and the outpouring of excitement from kids and their parents has been pure magic. If reality TV and podcasts can help create more ocean champions and inspire the next generation of marine conservationists, then sign me up!”  

Miss out on the shark action? Catch up on “All the Sharks,” which premiered globally on Netflix, on July 4, 2025.