About
DSN
Dr. M among the rocky subtidal of Monterey Bay. In the foreground, Urticina piscivora, the fish-eating anemone. Photo courtesy of Jason Bradley. © 2008 Jason Bradley • BradleyPhotographic.com
In 2005, Dr. M started DSN with little concept of what a blog was. Originally DSN was a mere website where abstracts of recent papers were posted. His intended audience was fellow scientists in the field. Over the next months Dr. M began to add more news of the latest expeditions and colleague’s papers that had made it to the big time in the popular press. However, Dr. M soon realized he could provide something more meaningful and was in a unique position to relay science directly to the public. There would be no middleman. Delivery of deep-sea science as it was occurring through the eyes of scientist. Perhaps, along the way he could educate and convey passion for this unique environment. Maybe we could get a few laughs along the way. But more importantly, Dr. M felt as the anthropogenic effect of humans on the deep sea continued to grow, he might provide a voice of protection and conservation. Dr. M met Peter Etnoyer a year into this journey and Kevin Z. a year or so after that. He wasn’t necessarily looking for co-travelers but upon meeting Peter and Kevin, believed their enthusiasm and knowledge would prove an asset. He haven’t been wrong. Peter and Kevin have been powerful allies in realizing my original goals for DSN and Dr. M cannot imagine being here without them. In 2006, DSN made the big time and joined Scienceblogs. In 2008, the band of three experimented with a home at Discovery Channel. They ultimately realized that being independent and returning to garage band roots was essential for the future. In 2009, Peter Etnoyer left with a newly minted Ph.D. and new position with NOA. Great things are expected from him in the future. In 2010, in a move that will like have ramifications throughout the science blogging community, Dr. M and KZ invited Miriam Goldstein, previously of the Oyster’s Garter, to join the ranks.
Dr. M, aka Craig McClain (homepage)
Craig McClain, aka Dr. M, is the Assistant Director of Science for the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, created to facilitate broadly synthetic research to address fundamental questions in evolutionary science. He has conducted deep-sea research for 11 years and published over 30 papers in the area. He has participated in dozens of expeditions taking him to the Antarctic and the most remote regions of the Pacific and Atlantic. Craig’s research focuses on the ecological and evolutionary drivers of marine invertebrate biodiversity and body size. He focuses primarily on deep-sea systems often looking at the consequences of food limitation on biological systems. He is the founder and editor of Deep-Sea News. Craig’s popular writing has been featured in Cosmos, Science Illustrated, American Scientist, and the Open Lab: The Best Science Writing on the Web.
When I was much, much younger, I joined Jacques Cousteau’s Calypso Club (named affectionately after his beloved ship). The rights and privileges of this elite club were endless. Entry was limited to any child with a few bucks to their name and a few cereal box tops. My membership packet came in with all kinds of information, patches, stickers, and certificates. Everything a young ocean explorer would need on their quest to unravel the secrets of the ocean floor. Well, except for a research vessel, support crew, scuba, and of course a film crew. In that packet was perhaps the most important thing I ever received in the mail, a Calypso Club membership card. That treasured wallet-sized laminated card stated I was an ocean explorer. At 12, I had come into my own as young mover and shaker ready to navigate the depths. But alas being caught up with the busy life of elementary school, a lack of scuba equipment and training, not living on the coast, no access to a research vessel to travel the oceans, and quite frankly knowing next to nil about the ocean, I explored through the pages of Cousteau’s monthly newsletter. I remember to this day how that card made me feel. The information and stories I ingested from Cousteau’s updates in the mailbox. I have always wanted DSN to do that for our readers, that sense of awe, passion, novelty, and most of all participation in exploration.On the rollercoaster that is being a burgeoning professional academic, DSN is my daily reminder of why I do this. I enjoy the part of the day I set down at my computers and share with the readers the wonderment that is the environment that I have dedicated my life to. The readers reaffirm how blessed we are to be in this field
KEVIN ZELNIO (Homepage, Twitter, Flickr, Friendfeed, YouTube, Nature Network, Amazon,Research Blogging and Facebook.)
Kevin is a researcher at the Marine Conservation Molecular Facility at Duke University’s Marine Lab, where he develops microsatellites to the study population structure of deep sea inverts. He is interested in the biodiversity, biogeography and community ecology of deep-sea chemosynthetic environments, such as hydrothermal vents and methane seeps. He is also a taxonomist who has described several new species of anemones and shrimp with colleagues and consults with organizations on taxonomic matters. He has a Master’s degree in biology from Penn State and received a Bachelor’s degree in Evolution and Ecology from University of California at Davis. When not doing research or writing at Deep Sea News, his Online Laboratory, or The Other 95% he spends most of his time enjoying the company of his wife and two kids, running, hiking, kayaking, supporting local breweries, raising awareness for open access or The Beagle Project, scheming, playing guitar and songwriting. You can read up more about Kevin and listen to his music at his homepage, where you can read his CV and follow him on Twitter, Flickr, Friendfeed, YouTube, Nature Network, Amazon, Research Blogging and Facebook.
MIRIAM GOLDSTEIN (homepage, Twitter)
Miriam with her beloved manta net aboard the R/V New Horizon. The manta net is used to sample plankton and plastic on the ocean's surface. Photo courtesy of Annie Crawley of DiveIntoYourImagination.com.
Miriam Goldstein is a doctoral student at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, where she studies the abundance, distribution, and ecological impact of plastic debris on marine invertebrates. In August 2009, she led the Scripps Environmental Accumulation of Plastic Expedition (SEAPLEX) to study plastic accumulation in the North Pacific Central Gyre.
Before joining Dr. M and Kevin Z at Deep Sea News, Miriam blogged at the Oyster’s Garter and at Double X Magazine. Her popular writing has been featured in Slate Magazine and in Open Lab: The Best Science Writing on the Web.
For more information on Miriam and her work, check out her homepage, her personal Twitter, the SEAPLEX blog and Twitter, and the SEAPLEX Youtube Playlist.
PAST CONTRIBUTORS
Dr. Peter Etnoyer – Peter contributed to Deep Sea News from 2005-2009. He was a doctoral fellow at Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies with a background in octocoral systematics, marine ecology, and geographic information systems. His PhD dissertation research at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi examined the diversity and distribution of deep-water octocorals (mostly sea fans, aka gorgonians) on Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. A full biography is here. Peter is currently working full time for NOAA, details of his new position can be found here.
