Category: Science

I’m offering a free online crash course in scientific writing and publishing. Here’s how to join!

Posted on By David Shiffman
Academic life, Exploration, Science

The world of scientific writing and pubilshing is complex and confusing, and it can be hard for early career scientists to master. But don’t worry! I am an experienced and award-winning scientific writer, reviewer, editor, and writing instructor, and I’m here to help! I am offering a free online crash course in scientific writing and … Read More “I’m offering a free online crash course in scientific writing and publishing. Here’s how to join!” »

“Twitter sucks now and all the cool kids are moving to Bluesky:” Our new survey shows that scientists no longer find Twitter professionally useful or pleasant

Posted on By David Shiffman 3 Comments on “Twitter sucks now and all the cool kids are moving to Bluesky:” Our new survey shows that scientists no longer find Twitter professionally useful or pleasant
Blogging, Education, Featured, Science

My colleague Dr. Julia Wester and I have a new paper out in the journal Integrative and Comparative Biology reporting on the results of a survey distributed to over 800 scientists, science educators, and science communicators. I presented these results at the 2025 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Our study confirms a trend that’s … Read More ““Twitter sucks now and all the cool kids are moving to Bluesky:” Our new survey shows that scientists no longer find Twitter professionally useful or pleasant” »

Nodules, Lost Mines, and Dark Oxygen: A new documentary on deep-sea mining asks important questions about the future of the industry.

Posted on By Andrew Thaler
Conservation, Exploration, Featured, Policy, Science

Nodules, a new documentary by Clare Fieseler and Jason Jaacks takes a deep dive into polymetallic nodule mining and two recent discoveries that help reshape our understanding of the seafloor. Fieseler explores the discovery of dark oxygen production in nodule fields and the rediscovery of the world’s first deep-sea mining test site on the Blake … Read More “Nodules, Lost Mines, and Dark Oxygen: A new documentary on deep-sea mining asks important questions about the future of the industry.” »

Sustainable Seafood, Endangered Species, and Jaws: Some upcoming talks and panels

Posted on By David Shiffman
Blogging, Conservation, Education, Policy, Science

I have several upcoming public talks, panels, and workshops in May and June. Here they are all in one place! Public talk! Endangered Species in U.S. Waters: What threatens, them, and how can we save them? May 16th in Baltimore through the Natural History Society of Maryland. Get tickets here. Talk description: Over 100 marine … Read More “Sustainable Seafood, Endangered Species, and Jaws: Some upcoming talks and panels” »

Deep-sea mining, marine protected areas, and the eternal struggle to open doors: This Week in Andrew (and Angelo) Doing Podcasts

Posted on By Andrew Thaler
Blogging, Policy, Science

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” »

The Truth about Vaccines is Written in Stone

Posted on By Andrew Thaler
Education, Science

This piece originally appeared as a letter to the editor in our local paper, the Star Democrat. Walking through the Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery in the heart of St. Michaels, you might notice something that we don’t see very often: tiny tombstones. A daughter who lived two weeks before passing in 1901. A brother and … Read More “The Truth about Vaccines is Written in Stone” »

NOAA carries a two century legacy of America’s first government science agency

Posted on By David Shiffman
Featured, Policy, Science

NOAA, the US government science and management agency in charge of sustainable fisheries, the national weather service, and ocean exploration, is in the crosshairs of the Trump administration and Project 2025. Though criticisms from “small government” types imply that having a US government science agency at all represents some kind of expansion of government power … Read More “NOAA carries a two century legacy of America’s first government science agency” »

We’re making a new marine conservation science and policy textbook. What do you want to be in it?

Posted on By David Shiffman
Academic life, Conservation, Science

The leading textbook in Marine Conservation Biology (Norse and Crowder) is 20 years old. It’s great and it shaped the field for a generation, but a lot has happened since it came out. There are new conservation threats, new policy tools, and new research methods to study them. And in that time, we’ve radically changed … Read More “We’re making a new marine conservation science and policy textbook. What do you want to be in it?” »