Invitation to Journalists
I am committed to communicating science to a broader audience. Please get in touch if you’d like to chat about my research or related topics.
General Audience Pieces
I co-wrote a series of articles for Pacific Standard magazine describing the process of developing the Ocean Health Index as we were doing it. The articles can be found here. I also wrote two stories for Scientific American, one short that presented and described the results from the initial launch in 2012, and one longer that delved into the philosophy and implications of the Ocean Health Index. I have written a couple of blogs on the Index, one at the time of launch and a second when we released the second annual scores.
I have written a few pieces on marine protected areas (MPAs) for the MPA newsletter, one describing the need for more productive discussion about MPA effects, and the other presenting the case for why bias exists against reserve effects.
Videos
I have been involved with several short videos and films, a few of which can be viewed for free online.
Ocean Health Index: a short overview of the project, a perspective on the science involved, and a deeper dive into the methodology developed.
Last Ocean: A full length documentary film that includes an interview with me about my work and how it identifies the Ross Sea in Antarctica as one of the most pristine places on the planet.
Death of the Oceans?: see Sir David Attenborough talk about our global cumulative impacts map project on the white cliffs of Dover.
TED talk: I gave a TED talk in 2015 as part of Mission Blue II.
Radio
NPR’s On Point: Marine species and climate change
Top of the Mind: Climate change impacts on marine species
NPR’s On Point: President Obama’s creation of very large MPAs
NPR’s On Point: Oceans in peril
In the News
Here are links to some of the stories written about some of the research I have done.
Polaczanska et al. 2013. Global imprint of climate change on marine life. Nature Climate Change
CBC News: Sea life relocating fast in response to climate change
Halpern et al. 2012. An index to assess the health and benefits of the global ocean. Nature
This paper was widely covered around the world. Some example stories include:
New York Time: An index for ocean health
National Geographic: New Ocean Health Index Measures the Global State of the Seas; Ocean Health gets D grade.
White et al. 2012. Ecosystem service tradeoff analysis reveals the value of marine spatial planning for multiple ocean uses. PNAS
Pacific Standard: How Marine Spatial Planning Calms Choppy Waters
Selkoe et al. 2009. A map of human impacts to a ‘pristine’ coral reef ecosystem, the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Coral Reefs
Christian Science Monitor: A new map for a breathtaking ocean preserve
Halpern et al. 2008. A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems. Science
This paper was widely covered around the world. Some example stories include:
New York Times: Human Shadows on the Seas; and Mapping the Other 70 Percent, which provides interactive graphics
NPR: Talk of the Nation panelist and All Things Considered interview
BBC News: Map shows toll on world’s oceans, plus BBC radio interview and included in 24 hour news cycle
NBC: Nightly News interview
Halpern et al. 2006. Strong top-down control in Southern California kelp forest ecosystems. Science
NSF “Discoveries” website, posted June 27, 2006
Oakland Tribune, May 26, 2006
Worm et al. 2006. Impacts of biodiversity loss on ocean ecosystem services. Science
This paper was widely covered around the world. A note that most media covered a result, about the projected collapse of fisheries, rather than the main result and intent of the paper. Some example stories include:
NY Times: Study Sees ‘Global Collapse’ of Fish Species
Washington post: World’s Fish Supply Running Out, Researchers Warn
Telegraph: All seafood will run out in 2050, say scientists
Halpern & Warner 2002. Marine reserves have rapid and lasting effects. Ecology Letters
LA Times: Big Fish Near Marine Reserves Called Weighty Evidence That Bans Work
Science: Rapid Rewards of Marine Reserves