The Intersection

CO2 Ain't No Butterfly

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:14:00 -0500

As depicted on Shell's ad in today's Washington Post:

Thanks Joe.

The Science Unveiling

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:55:59 -0500

How and when will the Obama transition team announce the president's science adviser? And will the rollout be given the prominence it deserves?

These are questions I address in my latest Science Progress column. You can read the full piece here.

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How To Talk To Girls

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:12:25 -0500

'Try to be the smartest boy in class.'

..writes 9 yr old Alec Greven in How To Talk To Girls. Sure, he may not have much dating experience--and admittedly, I haven't read the book--but this charming little guy is onto something and may have better advice than John Gray. The author loves to read and write and has already won me over... He's also donating a portion of proceeds to Stand Up To Cancer.

Note to Alec, some of the coolest girls do like 'bugs and gross things'. You'll see ;)

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'Our planet is a mess because of you people!'

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:40:17 -0500

I looked back at the woman next to me in disbelief; a mid-forties Greenpeace Director. It was June 2006 and we had been chatting a few minutes as the plane taxied on the runway. She began by telling me about her journey to activism. A literature major in college, she felt a longing to do more to save the environment. In the early 90's she joined Greenpeace and rose to a Director over time. Finally she asked what I did. 'I work in the Senate on ocean, energy, and environment...' That's where she cut me off.

'Our planet is a mess because of you people!'

The thing is, up until then I imagined we were on the same team, but she stopped me before I could get to the part about being a marine biologist in conservation. I hadn't had a chance to tell her of projects with The Nature Conservancy or work toward establishing Marine Protected Areas in Bonaire. She didn't know about my time with the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at AMNH or the industry folks I worked with in Maine to protect fisheries. Further, she hadn't a notion why I came to DC; I was a John Knauss Sea Grant Fellow--a program that places ocean scientists in key offices to inform legislative decisions. The goal was to develop an understanding of the way policy is crafted and contribute where possible.

We sat beside each other, but I listened to The Police most of the trip. I was on my way to the 20th Annual Meeting for the Society for Conservation Biology in San Jose. She was too, but I hadn't had the chance to tell her. And in the end, I didn't care to. She may have been a compassionate individual with good intentions, but she never listened. Instead, she only judged.

The experience stays with me. Activism is important, but it must be informed and battles have to be chosen carefully. Otherwise, irrational idealism undermines progress. Small steps in conservation may not go as far as some would like, but by throwing sand in the gears, we go nowhere.

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Art From Shadows

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:27:22 -0500

Give this video at least a minute and you'll see some spectacular shadow art. I particularly like the last style (1:15) using sculptured mass to create recognizable form:

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Meet America's National Security Team

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:12:08 -0500

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates
National Security Adviser Gen. James L. Jones
Secretary of Homeland Security Gov. Janet Napolitano
Ambassador to the United Nations Susan E. Rice
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.

Welcome the 'new dawn of American leadership'.

So folks, what do you think?

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Twilight

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:02:06 -0500

Look up tonight at twilight... for the three brightest objects the sky--Jupiter, Venus and the moon (a crescent only 5-percent illuminated)--will align for a spectacular site. Regular readers know I love all things space and this evening offers a unique opportunity for enthusiasts everywhere. Gaze up at dusk (they'll set by mid-evening) and let's hope for minimal cloud cover...

We'll have to wait well over four decades before the trio appears this close again. Planetariums, weather offices and even police precincts expect a spike in UFO sitings as reports flood in of bright objects hovering in the vicinity of our natural satellite.

Here's an image from 2004:

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Attack of the Nerds from Outer Space

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0500

My latest Science Progress column, about a recent, cutting edge attempt to bring science and Hollywood together, is now up. It's entitled, "Attack of the Nerds from Outer Space," which should be more than enough of a teaser.

You can read it here.

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Who Stays? Who Goes?

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:50:30 -0500

Read my full article at DeSmogBlog...

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One Last Thing

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:30:08 -0500

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What's The Weirdest Thing You've Ever Received At A Meeting?

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:14:00 -0500

So I've spent the past many days moving across town. Not a terribly far jump, just enough to change my zip code by one digit. The transition has caused me to sift through a seemingly endless pile of loot collected at conferences and events... many of which, bestowed unto me in the name of conservation.

I'm not just talking calenders and totes either. There have been major expenditures under the umbrella of some organization or other wooing participants with free trinkets. Posters, stuffed animals, key chains, stickers, magnets, reading lights, magazines, buttons, tshirts, beer (American Fisheries Society 2003 in Quebec), photographs, air fresheners, paper weights, stress relieving squeeze toys, pencils, pens, notebooks, gum, calculators, card holders, hats, shorts, lunch bags, text books, picnic blankets, pillows, plants, candles, coasters, CDs, DVDs, videos, bookmarks, condoms (Society for Conservation Biology 2007 in South Africa), light bulbs, batteries, zip drives, guidebooks, computer sleeves, towels, mugs, shell casings, wind up toys, lollipops, ear plugs, purses, maps, plush microbes, bracelets, frisbees, blankets, picture frames, fish-shaped mardi gras bead necklaces, blow up floats, chap stick, biographies, back massagers, chocolate, fans, plaques, clocks, flags, postcards... and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

And yet this seemingly titanic island of logos was mainly constructed thanks to non-profit agencies out to protect the environment, save biodiversity, promote science... [insert NGO mission of choice]. Gazing upon my burgeoning discard pile is mildly disheartening as I realize how much funding was likely spent to provide so much clutter. And yet, these symbols of different orgs have stayed with me for years, which I guess is the point, right? Little reminders that these groups are hard at work and need public support.

And so folks, what do you think, wasteful spending or beneficial advertising? Or more interesting, what's the weirdest thing you've ever received at a meeting?

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More Than Meets The Eyes (All 24 Of Them)

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:00:28 -0500

Hawaii has seen another invasion of the dangerous box jellyfish and we've got the details at Talking Science. Most importantly, remember everything's connected: oceans, land, and atmosphere. We're a single component of the vast array of biodiversity on the planet and what alters one species impacts the rest of system.

In other words, there's a lot more to this story than a few more jellyfish...

Box jellies are unique because they can move at up to four knots through the water, whereas most other jellyfish species simply drift. Their 24 eyes (six on each side of the bell) are made up of a lens, retina, iris and cornea, but with no central nervous system, scientists still aren't sure how they process visual information. The jellies have as many as 15 tentacles, which reach up to 10 feet in length and harbor an estimated 5,000 stinging cells each. Needless to say, box jellyfish are beautiful to watch...from a distance.

Read on...

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What's Your Civic Literacy?

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:40:07 -0500

John Lynch over at Stranger Fruit recommended this quiz by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute featuring 33 questions designed to measure knowledge of America's founding principles, political history, international relations, and market economy. According to ISI, 71% of Americans fail and the average score is 49%.

I got 85% (28 out of 33). See how you do...

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Revving the Climate Policy Engine

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:59:11 -0500

Over at DeSmogBlog, I take a look at the events of this week and how they point to strong and dramatic action on global warming and energy early next year. In particular, it now appears that Barack Obama, Barbara Boxer, and Henry Waxman will be our triumvirate of policymakers who finally cap greenhouse gas emissions.

You can read the rest here.

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Bringing People Together to Celebrate Science, Obama Style

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:59:26 -0500

My latest Science Progress column attempts to imagine what Barack Obama would do if he had been elected "president of science." My answer: He would try to close the gaps between scientists and the public, and try to defuse the divisive culture war over science and religion.

You can read the full column here.

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