Over 15 years of ocean science and conservation online
This editorial originally appeared as my farewell letter when I ended my tenure at the Deep-sea Mining Observer. In light of recent news surrounding deep-sea mining, I am republishing it here for posterity. Four years ago, I took over the Deep-sea Mining Observer from my predecessor, Arlo Hemphill. Conceived by the Pew Charitable Trust in … Read More “Deep-sea Mining: It’s science fiction, until it isn’t.” »
It’s another podcast round-up! I was on how to Protect the Ocean talking about the most recent developments in deep-sea mining. Angelo and I caught up with Beth Pike of Marine Conservation Institute for Deep Day, to talk about marine protected areas, mining, and fishing. And over on my very silly ocean science Dungeons and … Read More “Deep-sea mining, marine protected areas, and the eternal struggle to open doors: This Week in Andrew (and Angelo) Doing Podcasts” »
Earlier this month, the good folks at the Schmidt Institute for Oceanography, unveiled the first video footage of a colossal squid. Colossal squid were first described 100 years ago, but have never been seen live. What little information we have comes from specimens that washed up on beaches or from hard parts found in the … Read More “First live video of a colossal squid highlights one of the most exciting knowledge gaps in deep ocean exploration” »
Last night, the President signed an Executive Order on Deep-sea Mining. The order directs primarily NOAA and DOI to develop an expedited permitting process for mining in both the US EEZ and, chaotically, the high seas beyond US jurisdiction. I provide a brief overview of the industry here: Understanding the Executive Order on Deep-sea Mining … Read More “Understanding the Executive Order on Deep-sea Mining and Critical Minerals: Part 2, what is in the Executive Order?” »
Late yesterday afternoon, the President signed and executive order on Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources. This order accelerates the US’s expansion into the nascent deep-sea mining industry, asserts its claims over minerals of the US outer continental shelf, and reasserts its claims over mineral deposits in the high seas, with some interesting caveats. … Read More “Understanding the Executive Order on Deep-sea Mining and Critical Minerals: Part 1, what are we talking about?” »
Between the ramp up in deep-sea mining and the publication of my Jabberwock adventure, I did a lot of podcasts this quarter. Listen to some of my favorite interviews, below. Deep-sea mining keeps heating up. I joined Hopkins Public Health on Call to talk about the current state of deep-sea mining and what the future … Read More “Deep-sea mining, forest ecology, and Dungeons & Dragons: all the podcasts I’ve been on this quarter” »
Blogging never dies! For over 17 years, Southern Fried Science has been writing about the oceans from the perspective of working scientists and policy experts. Along the way, we’ve seen hundreds of great ocean blogs come and go, coalesce and expand, move and change and evolve. Some of you are now podcasters. Others are going … Read More “Ocean Science Blogger Roll Call!” »
The deep-sea mining world was thrown a curveball last week when, as the spring session of the International Seabed Authority came to a close, the Metals Company, one of several commercial ventures seeking permission to mine polymetallic nodules in the Clipperton-Clarion Zone, announced that they would seek permission to mine directly from the United States, … Read More “The Metals Company has a Jones Act Problem” »
On March 3, 2025, hundreds of people gathered in front of NOAA headquarters to protest the illegal, wasteful, and capricious firing of career civil servants at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. I was invited to speak on the value of NOAA scientific research. Below is a transcript of my remarks. NOAA is the original … Read More “We are a maritime nation: my comments at the March 3 Defend NOAA rally.” »
This December, I published The Last Hunt for the Jabberwock: A Feywild Adventure in Ecologic Succession on the Dungeon Master’s Guild. Last Hunt for the Jabberwock is a 12 to 20 hour Dungeons & Dragons campaign with a twist: the adventure, set in a whimsical forest in the midst of tremendous environmental change is complemented … Read More “10 Tips for Running a Dungeons & Dragons Campaign for Education” »
