Direct from the bench and the trench: a DSN core value
Direct from the bench and the trench: a DSN core value avatar

By , on December 5th, 2011 8 comments   Education   , , , , , , , , , ,  

A month ago, I spoke of DSN’s new pathway for dialogue about the oceans and ocean science. We have committed to demystifying and humanizing science in an open conversation that instills passion, awe, and responsibility for the oceans. Part of this vision for DSN was establish a set of core values that transcended just this . . . → Read More: Direct from the bench and the trench: a DSN core value

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Scientists vs. Journalists: A Field Guide
Scientists vs. Journalists: A Field Guide avatar

By , on October 12th, 2011 16 comments   Uncategorized   , , ,  

The journalist and the scientist are two species that inhabit the same ecosystem, but have very different behaviors. I have spent many years carefully observing both of these species in their natural habitats, and have compiled this guide for the use of anyone interested in understanding their social structures. THE SCIENTIST The scientist is usually . . . → Read More: Scientists vs. Journalists: A Field Guide

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An Open Letter To Brian Switek
An Open Letter To Brian Switek avatar

By , on October 11th, 2011 12 comments   Cephalopods, New Research, Opinion & Editorial   , , , , , ,  

Dear Brian Switek, We’ve known each other for several years now and you know that I love and respect you and your terrific blog, Laelaps on Wired Science. But I am concerned about your scathing review of “dubious” research that hasn’t even been published yet. You see, Brian, our readers (and our writers) are fascinated . . . → Read More: An Open Letter To Brian Switek

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Getting on the same page with Science Journalists
Getting on the same page with Science Journalists avatar

By , on September 29th, 2011 56 comments   Uncategorized   , , ,  

Nature’s online editor Ananyo Bhattacharya wrote a piece for UK paper The Guardian’s science desk that has got me scratching my head today, and judging by the comments at the end of his story, I’m not alone. I started a discussion with him on Twitter that I want to share here too, because I think . . . → Read More: Getting on the same page with Science Journalists

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From the Editor’s Desk: Benefits of Bottom Trawling and Other Assorted Fairy Tales
From the Editor’s Desk: Benefits of Bottom Trawling and Other Assorted Fairy Tales avatar

By , on December 7th, 2010 9 comments   Conservation & Environment, Editor's Desk, Fishing   , , , , , ,  

Apparently there is a study underway that is setting out to empirically determine the ole adage that trawling is bad for the environment, as reported by New Scientist (link to pdf). This is a tale that has been handed down orally from generation to generation of conservationists. Sometimes when a story is repeated many times, . . . → Read More: From the Editor’s Desk: Benefits of Bottom Trawling and Other Assorted Fairy Tales

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Science Online ’09: From Blogging to Paying Bills
Science Online ’09: From Blogging to Paying Bills avatar

By , on January 24th, 2009 6 comments   Conferences   , , , , , , , ,  

The last session of Saturday I spent in a room with ~30 other eager individuals wishing to be imparted magical advice on how to make the leap from blogging (essentially for free for most of us) to getting paid to write articles. The session How to become a (paid) science journalist: advice for bloggers was . . . → Read More: Science Online ’09: From Blogging to Paying Bills

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