Every Wave Starts Somewhere
About the Founder
Shivani Persaud Cowper is a marine biologist, science communicator, and founder of The Salty Lab. Her work began in the field-tagging sharks, studying coastal ecosystems, and protecting ocean life. Over time, she saw a gap between the research happening at sea and the people who cared about it on land.
That insight sparked The Salty Lab, a platform that connects science, community, and impact. Every product funds real conservation, from shark research to seagrass restoration, and brings supporters along through field updates and stories from the water.
Beyond research, Shivani develops K-12 lesson plans that make marine science accessible and inspiring for all ages. Through The Research Fleet, her growing global community, she’s proving that ocean conservation isn’t just for scientists-it’s for everyone.
Beyond The Salty Lab
Shivani’s passion for protecting life extends far beyond the shoreline. She collaborates with leading marine organizations to advance shark research, habitat surveys, and conservation projects, amplifying collective impact across ocean ecosystems.
Beyond the water, she channels her creativity into writing, music, and animal rescue-connecting people to nature through compassion and storytelling. From rehabilitating strays to teaching marine science, Shivani blends science and empathy to inspire action.
Her work bridges scientists, educators, and communities, turning complex research into stories that move people to care and act. At her core, she’s a connector-uniting creativity, conservation, and community to show that protecting the planet is everyone’s shared responsibility.