David Shiffman

It’s the last day to vote for me to win $10,000 for shark conservation research!

November 30, 2011December 9, 2011 David Shiffman 5 Comments

Uncategorized

Today is the last day to vote for the winner of the 2011 blogging scholarship, which provides $10,000 towards research and education expenses to the winner. The final decision comes down to votes, and I need your help for the last push! Please vote for me (my real name, as it’s entered on the voting … Read More “It’s the last day to vote for me to win $10,000 for shark conservation research!” »

There’s still time to vote for me to win $10,000 for shark conservation research!

November 28, 2011December 9, 2011 David Shiffman 1 Comment

Uncategorized

There are still a few days left to vote for me to win the 2011 blogging scholarship, which provides $10,000 towards research and education expenses to the winner! If I win, some of the money will be used to support shark conservation research at my lab. It will help support our citizen science program, which … Read More “There’s still time to vote for me to win $10,000 for shark conservation research!” »

Do richer nations pollute less? An evaluation of the Kuznets curve

November 27, 2011December 9, 2011 David Shiffman 2 Comments

Conservation

We’ve often heard that “the solution to pollution is dilution”, but according to one theory, the best way to reduce pollution in the first place may be to encourage economic growth. This is best modeled by a simple theoretical figure called a “Kuznets Curve”. According to the Kuznets curve, extremely poor nations pollute relatively little, partially because they lack the technology and resources for large-scale industry. Moderately wealthy nations have the technology for large-scale industry, but not the resources for pollution-reduction measures. The wealthiest nations are able to create large-scale industry and can also afford to purchase pollution reduction technology for their industries (or alternative industries entirely).

A simple Kuznets curve (credit: David Shiffman)

Giant manta rays protected by Convention on Migratory Species

November 25, 2011December 9, 2011 David Shiffman 6 Comments

Conservation, Science

A few weeks after they were listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, giant manta rays (Manta birostris) have received major international legal protection. The Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) just agreed to list giant mantas on Appendix 1 and II of CMS at their tri-annual meeting in … Read More “Giant manta rays protected by Convention on Migratory Species” »

Check out Shark Attack Experiment Live, Friday on National Geographic Wild

November 23, 2011December 9, 2011 David Shiffman

Popular Culture, Science

This Friday, tune in to National Geographic Wild for a day of sharks! Starting at noon, they will air a series of shark documentaries culminating at 9 p.m. with “Shark Attack Experiment: Live“. This show, aired live from the shark hotspot of South Africa, aims to test some common myths about shark attacks and to “to … Read More “Check out Shark Attack Experiment Live, Friday on National Geographic Wild” »

European Union officials propose stronger finning ban, sign UN migratory shark initiative

November 22, 2011December 9, 2011 David Shiffman

Science

Two pieces of good news for European sharks were announced yesterday. The European Union signed the UN Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Memorandum of Understanding for sharks. This MOU was established last year to support the conservation of seven shark species which regularly migrate between national boundaries, a list which includes great whites and whale sharks. … Read More “European Union officials propose stronger finning ban, sign UN migratory shark initiative” »

Important blogging scholarship update: All votes reset to zero and you can now vote every day!

November 18, 2011December 9, 2011 David Shiffman 2 Comments

Uncategorized

Earlier tonight, I received an e-mail from the Blogging Scholarship organizers indicating that there have been some irregularities with the voting. In response, they have reset all votes to zero and have changed the rules. Everyone may now vote once every day, and the voting period has been extended one full week until November 30th. … Read More “Important blogging scholarship update: All votes reset to zero and you can now vote every day!” »

Vote for me in the blogging scholarship and support our shark conservation research!

November 17, 2011December 9, 2011 David Shiffman 4 Comments

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Yesterday, I asked for your support and vote in the 2011 Blogging Scholarship. Since that time, over 7,000 of you have voted for me, and as of this writing, I am in the lead! Thanks for your help and encouragement. Andrew announced earlier today that for every day I’m in the lead, he’ll post an embarrassing picture of me. For many of you, that’s incentive enough to vote for me. However, I also want to tell you what I would use the $10,000 scholarship for if I won.

In addition to boring stuff like tuition, supplies, and travel support, for my own dissertation (assessing the ecological importance of sharks to coral reefs) , I will use the money to support our lab’s ongoing shark conservation research. My lab, the RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program at the University of Miami, has many shark research projects taking place. Yesterday, some of that research was used by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as background in their decision to make hammerheads (great, smooth, and scalloped) and tiger sharks protected species in Florida waters- a proud moment for us and for the Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy, which we are affiliated with.

2011 Blogging Scholarship: Please vote for me!

November 16, 2011December 9, 2011 David Shiffman 1 Comment

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The finalists for the 2011 blogging scholarship were announced last night, and I’m thrilled to announce that I made the list! The scholarship provides $10,000 towards education and research expenses to the winner. Voting opened last night, and continues until November 23rd. Please consider voting for me! You can see a list of all the … Read More “2011 Blogging Scholarship: Please vote for me!” »

Cull canceled: victory for the sharks of Western Australia!

November 15, 2011December 9, 2011 David Shiffman 1 Comment

Conservation, Science

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a proposed shark cull in Western Australia and asked for your help to oppose it. By the end of the Support Our Sharks anti-cull campaign, the petition had almost 19,000 signatures from dedicated shark conservationists from around the world, including many of our readers. After some initial anti-shark … Read More “Cull canceled: victory for the sharks of Western Australia!” »