Over 15 years of ocean science and conservation online
Logan’s Run is a sci-fi movie from the 1970s, in which humans live in domes protected from a ravaged world outside. In these domes they live lives of pleasure and luxury. Until they reach the age of thirty, when they go to the Carousel and “renew” (in truth, they get vaporized). Anyone who tries to escape … Read More “Ageism in the conservation job market” »
Let’s be honest. Most of us got into conservation science because we wanted to save something. We envisioned our data serving as a shield, protecting a fragile ecosystem or an endangered species from the relentless march of human expansion. We write our papers, carefully craft our “Management Implications” sections, and wait for the policy world … Read More “Screaming into the void – Why your scientific paper doesn’t matter” »
For decades, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was defined by a single, highly polarized debate: the battle between pro-whaling and anti-whaling nations over commercial catch quotas. Today, however, the landscape of the IWC has radically evolved. For the current IWC Commissioners, conservation-related topics (such as sustainable whalewatching, marine pollution, and protected areas) hold an equal, … Read More “The evolution of the International Whaling Commission – from whaling quotas to whale conservation” »
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is pulling the plug on the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), systematically dismantling one of the world’s most advanced deep-sea monitoring networks. This aggressive “descoping” plan means hundreds of high-tech instruments are actively being hauled out of the water. The timing of this infrastructure rollback carries a painful, bitter irony. The … Read More “Isn’t ironic, don’t you think: dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative on World Oceans Day” »
Is deep-sea mining inevitable? Can deep-sea mining be sustainable? Will the deep-sea mining community ever agree on a payment regime under the common heritage principle? Can the United States issue deep-sea mining licenses in the high seas without ISA approval? Will deep-sea mining awaken eldritch horrors vast and unknowable, from their millennia of slumber? These … Read More “Tackling the least important debate in deep-sea mining: the desultory hyphen” »
I am thrilled to announce that “Why Sustainable Seafood Matters,” my second book, is now available for preorder through my publisher Johns Hopkins University Press! Use code HWSSM for 30% off your preorder! Preorders are important because they help signal to booksellers how much interest there is in a book, so please consider ordering a … Read More ““Why Sustainable Seafood Matters” is now available for preorder! Here’s what it’s about, and why I decided to write it.” »
The first six months of 2026 have been busy. Between writing for my OpEd fellowship, working on congressional testimony, drafting my upcoming book on the use and misuse of the deep sea, and, well, working an actual job because I still have to keep my family fed and my daughter has developed a taste for … Read More “Deep-sea Mining, Domestic Cats, Star Trek, and Ocean Exploration: Andrew’s mid-year podcast round-up.” »
This week is National Oceans week. One of the main events in Washington DC is Capitol Hill Ocean Week (or CHOW). This two-day event, sponsored by the U.S. Government, brought policymakers, scientists, and conservationists together for policy discussions, networking, and raising awareness about ocean issues. I went to the event two years ago, and at … Read More “Oceans week 2026 – a lost hope” »
For a planet that is 71% ocean, humanity spends a surprisingly small amount of time (and money) trying to understand it. Ocean science sits in a strange place in the research ecosystem. It underpins climate science, fisheries management, biodiversity conservation, and coastal economies. It’s essential for understanding everything from hurricanes to heatwaves to global carbon … Read More “Why ocean science is still one of the worst-funded scientific fields worldwide” »
“Someone open up a window!” Adams yells.“No!” a Congressman barks back.“It’s stifling!” Adams protests.“It’s hot as hell!”“It’s ninety degrees! Have mercy, John, please! It’s hot as hell in Philadelphia!” If you’ve ever seen the play or watched the movie musical 1776, you probably remember the Founding Fathers sweating through their wool waistcoats. The opening scene … Read More “250 years of climate change – it’s as hot as hell in Philadelphia!” »
