Author: David Shiffman

The world’s leading sustainable seafood certification standard just made some big changes for sharks

Posted on By David Shiffman
Conservation, Science

Here are what the Marine Stewardship Council’s new requirements for sharks caught in certified sustainable fisheries mean. Sharks and their relatives are some of the most threatened vertebrates on Earth, and the number one threat by far is unsustainable overfishing practices. The Marine Stewardship Council, the non-profit that runs the world’s largest sustainable seafood certification … Read More “The world’s leading sustainable seafood certification standard just made some big changes for sharks” »

Canadian grad students won their first raise in 20 years. Here’s how Support Our Science made it happen.

Posted on By David Shiffman
Academic life, Featured

Canadian Masters students will now get up to $27,500 CAD a year, up from $17,500. Ph.D. students will get up to $40,000 CAD a year, up from as low as $20,000. Here’s how the leaders of Support Our Science did it. The following interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length. DS: Why was … Read More “Canadian grad students won their first raise in 20 years. Here’s how Support Our Science made it happen.” »

Here’s what I teach my students about finding jobs in marine biology and conservation

Posted on By David Shiffman 1 Comment on Here’s what I teach my students about finding jobs in marine biology and conservation
Academic life, Featured, Science

Our field is competitive, some job postings are confusing, and some career advice is contradictory or wrong. Here’s an exercise I have my students perform that I hope can help you. Graphic via Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Hardly a day goes by that I don’t see a heartbreaking post from a prospective marine biologist in … Read More “Here’s what I teach my students about finding jobs in marine biology and conservation” »

After 50 years of conservation, what’s next for the Endangered Species Act?

Posted on By David Shiffman
Conservation

2023 marked the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, one of the earliest, strongest, and most important conservation laws on Earth. The environmental non-profit Defenders of Wildlife wrote a report tracking successes (so far) and proposing improvements for the future. I interviewed Dr. Lindsay Rosa, the Vice President of Conservation Research and Innovation at … Read More “After 50 years of conservation, what’s next for the Endangered Species Act?” »

Here’s how thresher sharks whip their tails back and forth

Posted on By David Shiffman 1 Comment on Here’s how thresher sharks whip their tails back and forth
Science

A new study breaks down the biomechanics of one of the marine world’s most unusual hunting behaviors. Thresher sharks have one of the strangest body plans of any fish, with almost half their body comprised of a scythe-like tail. It had long been suspected that that they use this tail is a whip to stun … Read More “Here’s how thresher sharks whip their tails back and forth” »

No, a shark did not get a stingray pregnant. But what really happened is pretty cool!

Posted on By David Shiffman 1 Comment on No, a shark did not get a stingray pregnant. But what really happened is pretty cool!
Science

A North Carolina aquarium has reported that a round stingray named Charlotte, the only member of her species living in her tank, is pregnant. An animal becoming pregnant without a mate (and in this case, at an inland aquarium hundreds of miles from the ocean, and thousands of miles from any wild round stingrays) is … Read More “No, a shark did not get a stingray pregnant. But what really happened is pretty cool!” »

Bluesky is now open. Science Twitter, here’s how to use it!

Posted on By David Shiffman
Blogging, Featured

The once-great science twitter is, depending on who you talk to, either dying or dead. Once a vibrant place for many discussions related to my fields of marine biology, ocean conservation, and public science communication, it’s been described now as an abandoned shopping mall that’s been taken over by neo-Nazi gangs. Lots of people have … Read More “Bluesky is now open. Science Twitter, here’s how to use it!” »

“If that’s so important to shark conservation, why have I never heard of it?”

Posted on By David Shiffman
Blogging, Science

In which I attempt to answer an interesting question I received during a public talk. Much of the focus of my career in shark research, policy, and communications has been influenced by my time doing public science engagement on social media. I’ve attended dozens of scientific conferences and conservation policy meetings, I’ve spent thousands of … Read More ““If that’s so important to shark conservation, why have I never heard of it?”” »

15 things I’m proudest of in 15 years of science blogging

Posted on By David Shiffman
Blogging

Today marks 15 years of blogging for Southern Fried Science! In that time, I’ve written over 600 blog posts on a huge variety of topics, and spread the good word about shark science and conservation. I’d like to celebrate the occassion by looking back on 15 things that I’m proudest of during my time as … Read More “15 things I’m proudest of in 15 years of science blogging” »