How To Protect The Ocean

Today's Ocean Talk Friday has me breaking down the everything that happened at OceanDotComm 2018. As many of you know, I spent a week at LUMCON (Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium) with over 40 other people who have experience in Science Communication (SciComm) to tell the stories of Coastal Optimism in Southern Louisiana as they face rapid coastal loss due to a number of different factors i...

Shea and I sit down to decompress and discuss the past four days at OceanDotComm 2018. We chat about we loved the challenge on taking on the Southern Louisiana Coastal Optimism project and incorporating it into the podcast. We also discuss how Shea was psyched to work on the podcast with me...I think she did a pretty great job don't you?! We also get into how impressed we were with all of the peop...

Patty Ferguson joins Shea on the podcast to discuss how the Pointe-Au-Chien Tribe is fighting to protect their land against coastal loss and for their tight to be federally recognized as a tribe. The federal recognition would help the tribe in their legal battles with oil and gas companies who cut up their land by creating canals and say that the tribe are trespassing. The battles add to the compl...

Beth Guidry joins Shea on the podcast to discuss how she is dealing with the rapid coastal loss as an educator in Southern Louisiana. Beth tells Shea how her student's lives have changed based on the changes to the landscape. She also gives her perspective on the changes she has seen as someone who grew up in the region and her hope that she sees in the children she teaches.

Dr. Solomon David joins me on the podcast to discuss his recent migration from Michigan to Southern Louisiana, where he is an Associate Professor at Nichols State University teaching and studying aquatic fisheries science. He is THE gar scientist!!! Solomon tells us why he is interested in studying fisheries science in the region as well as his experience living in Southern Louisiana for less than...

Murt Conover joins Shea on the podcast to discuss why Murt settled in Southern Louisiana for 20 years after she had lived in 32 states previously. There is something about this area that entices people to stay here for long periods of time and it's not just work. People, like Murt, fall in love with the area. Murt now works as an Educator at LUMCON to educate students on the wonders and science of...

Arlanda Williams joins me on the podcast to discuss how local politics plays a role in protecting the people of Southern Louisiana. Arlanda serves as Vice Chair of the Terrebonne Parrish Council and is also a PhD candidate. I am going to tell you that this woman in AMAZING!  Arlanda breaks down the process of how the Parrish residences voted to raise the sales tax by 1 cent to help pay for a Levee...

Dr. Melissa Baustian joins Shea on this episode of the season to tell us about the diverse coastal habitats within the Southern Louisiana Region to give us a sense of the changes that have occurred over the past century. You will notice that Climate Change and Sea Level Rise is not the only problem within this region, other problems such as the creation of canals and habitat degradation compound t...

I am very pleased to introduce Shea Steingass to you as we collaborate to create a overall narrative of Coastal Optimism through a series of interviews with various members of the community in Southern Louisiana. All of the people we interviewed live in Southern Louisiana for varying periods of time.  Shea and I discuss how we approached this season and what we wanted to present to you about the g...

Dr. Craig McClain is into Science Communication and when I say he is into SciComm, this is the man who created Deep Sea News, one of the first marine science blogs. Creating innovative science products is not new to Craig, so when he contacted me about OceanDotComm 2108 and asked me to apply to come to LUMCON, I couldn't say no because I knew this event would be huge even though I didn't know what...

OceanDotComm18 is a new event that brings together 50 science communicators all walks of life and professions to discuss one single topic. There are many forms of science communication products that will be published by the end of the 5 day event. Of course, I decided to use Speak Up For Blue's platform to collaborate with Shea Steingass, a PhD candidate for Oregon State University, to develop a s...

Alain Clavette, a CBC Radio host and avid birder, joins me on the podcast today to talk all about seabirds. We don't talk a lot about seabirds on this podcast because I don't know much about them; however, Alain does know about them and he passionately talks with me about his excursions with other birders on the Bay of Fundy to search for pelagic birds. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Subscribe to Marine Con...

On today's Ocean Update Episode I chat about why 1000s of starfish wash ashore dead along the UK coastline; why the Trump Administration is trying to silence scientists that want to alert the public about dramatic decreases in glacial coverage; and, I highlight two Emperor Penguins that have fun with a camera in the Antarctic.  Enjoy the Podcast!!! If you are interested in creating a podcast for y...

Dr. Lyne Morissette joins me on the podcast today for another episode of Ocean Talk Friday. We sit down to chat about Sea Level Rise in San Francisco Bay as well as how much of the land is sinking exacerbating the effect of salt water creeping onto land. We also get philosophical by answering two questions: 1) Should Seafood Corporations be responsible for funding conservation programs for fisheri...

No interview today (my apologies). Instead I cover some news items including a diver's video of underwater trash goes vital; an Indian natural wastewater treatment system treats 198 million gallons of water; and, Canada confirms commitment to Paris Climate Accord Agreement even though they are upping their greenhouse gas emissions. Enjoy the Podcast!!! If you are interested in creating a podcast f...

I dive into what I like to Call the Climate Change Effect, which I define as how the world is adapting, or not adapting to climate change. I look at two real world examples covered in the Atlantic and the Verge to help you understand that the world is changing now and we are all affected. This episode is not meant to depress you, but it is meant to inspire you to take action at home and in your co...

This is a motivational rant to inspire you to get moving on your science communication efforts. The world needs more people to inspire the public to do better. Publications are just a tiny portion of SciComm since most people don't read journal articles due to accessibility and...well, they just aren't interested. Online communication is the new platform to reach millions of people. So build your...

Doug Parsons, producer and host of the podcast America Adapts: A Climate Change Podcast, joins me on the podcast to discuss the importance of science communication and why he invited a climate change denier on his podcast. I have to admit, bringing on a climate denier as a guest for a climate adaptation podcast was a great move. It showed us all why it is important to listen to the other side and...

I cover a lot of information in this week's Ocean Update episode. First, I discuss how the Seychelles worked with The Nature Conservancy to refinance their nation debt in exchange for designating 30% of its EEZ as a Marine Protected Area. Second, I give my opinion on how to fight pseudoscience, such as the flat earther movement, with scicomm (Science Communication). Lastly, beluga whales have been...

On today's episode of Ocean Talk Friday, I talk about Science Communication in the Marine Science and Conservation field, focusing on how we need to dedicate more time on communicating our projects and people online via social media. I suggest going beyond just pushing information to the public and engage with followers and build a stronger, more engaging follower base by revealing the people with...

Dr. Andrew Wright joins on the podcast to discuss his experience working in the Antarctic collecting acoustic information on Type C Orcas within the newly implemented Ross Sea Marine Protected Area. He tells us how he got there, what he saw, what saw him, safety precautions he had to take and more!!! If you want to be a field biologist, you need to listen to Andrew's interview!!! Enjoy the Podcast...

On today's Ocean Update Podcast, I chat about a Mongabay article that reveals a decline in protected Queen Conches in the Bahamas due to fishing upstream; I give my opinion on the power of Celebrities in Ocean Conservation; and, I talk about an article revealing that your shampoo may be causing air pollution...and it could be a good thing!!! Enjoy the Podcast!!! If you are interested in creating a...

Nathan Johnson is back on Ocean Talk Friday to talk about some Marine Science and Conservation and some invertebrate species!!! Here are the topics for today: 1) How Conservationists Can Overcome the Awareness-Action Gap; 2) Female Mutant Crayfish Clones to reproduce and is an effective invasive species; 3) Maine Lobster fishers conserving for the future; and, 4) Melting of Antarctic Ice Sheets Al...

The Fisheries Act has been a crucial piece of legislation that has helped protect the Canadian aquatic environment for decades. The Act has been cumbersome to natural resource businesses as well. In 2012, the Canadian Government lead by then Prime Minister Stephen Harper changed the Fisheries Act to help the oil and gas industry build their pipelines faster to "help" the economy. The Act was left...

Today's Ocean Update Episode has two stories and book-ending my weekly opinion piece: 1) Patagonia releases project to match Environmental Organizations with wannabe Activists; 2) Content Should Always be King and we need to release ALL information; and, 3) Jellyfish are causing trouble for Norwegian Fish Farms and it may happen again. Enjoy the Podcast!!! If you are interested in creating a podca...