Across the World’s Darkest Waters: Deep-Sea Shark Research

Keynote Speaker: Andrej A. Gajić

At this year’s Futures Leaders Summit, we are honored to welcome Andrej A. Gajić, a researcher whose work dives into one of the least explored and most misunderstood ecosystems on Earth — the deep sea.

In his keynote lecture, “Across the World’s Darkest Waters: Deep-Sea Shark Research,” Gajić presents pioneering global research focused on post-capture survival and reproduction in deep-sea sharks, a group among the most threatened vertebrates on the planet. His work challenges long-standing assumptions that all deep-sea sharks exhibit uniform vulnerability to fisheries pressure, offering new, evidence-based insights that are reshaping conservation strategies and fisheries management worldwide.

Drawing on extensive fieldwork across multiple continents, fisheries-dependent and independent surveys, and advanced laboratory and clinical diagnostics, this keynote provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at how high-impact, globally relevant science is built. From demanding expeditions to rigorous analytical methods, Gajić illustrates what it truly takes to produce research that informs policy, conservation, and sustainable management.

Beyond the science itself, this session offers invaluable perspective on motivation, resilience, and career development. Gajić openly shares insights into navigating interdisciplinary career pathways in biology, environmental science, and veterinary research — making this keynote especially relevant for students and early-career professionals seeking purposeful, real-world impact through science.

This keynote is not only a journey into the world’s darkest waters, but also a powerful reminder that curiosity, persistence, and integrity are essential tools for protecting our planet’s most vulnerable species — and for building a meaningful scientific career.