David Shiffman

Beneath the Waves Film Festival: What’s Up With Our Oceans?

April 25, 2011April 28, 2011 David Shiffman

Conservation

This 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival entry comes from University of Southern California student Jennah Caster. It asks a simple but important question, what’s up with our oceans, and attempts to answer it. If you have a question for the filmmaker, please leave it as a comment and I’ll make sure she gets it. … Read More “Beneath the Waves Film Festival: What’s Up With Our Oceans?” »

Beneath the Waves Film Festival: Porbeagles in Peril

April 22, 2011April 2, 2011 David Shiffman

Science

This 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival entry comes from UK filmmaker Simon Spear of “View From the Blue”. Porbeagles in Peril explains the plight of the porbeagle shark, a relative of the great white, in UK waters.

Beneath the Waves Film Festival: Shifting Gears

April 18, 2011April 18, 2011 David Shiffman

Conservation, Science

This 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival entry comes from the Pew Charitable Trusts. Shifting Gears tells the story of longlining in the Gulf of Mexico. If you have a question for the filmmakers, please leave it as a comment below and I’ll make sure they get it.

Science and Sustainability Comment of the Week

April 17, 2011April 16, 2011 David Shiffman

Uncategorized

As the second week of Science and Sustainability Month comes to a close, I’d like to congratulate Rebecca Nesbit for writing the latest comment of the week. “It makes it so much harder for consumers when there aren’t simple solutions like ‘local is better’. What I would love to see is better labeling. Just as … Read More “Science and Sustainability Comment of the Week” »

Beneath the Waves Film Festival: Microworlds – What Do Marine Mammals Eat?

April 14, 2011April 2, 2011 David Shiffman

Science

This 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival entry comes from Paul Hillman at NOAA. What Do Marine Mammals Eat? is part of the Microworlds series, which focuses on NOAA scientists interacting with public school students.

How not to save the environment: sharks as biofuel

April 12, 2011April 2, 2011 David Shiffman 3 Comments

Conservation

Successfully switching the global economy from oil and coal based energy to clean energy is one of the major goals of the modern environmental movement. No single idea will accomplish this -to succeed, we’re going to need a combination of technologies.

Many proposed solutions involve a trade-off. Reasonable people can disagree over whether the environmental benefits of wind turbines or nuclear power plants outweigh the risks, for example. Every once in a while, however, a completely ridiculous idea comes along.

Beneath the Waves Film Festival: Mini-Season

April 11, 2011April 2, 2011 David Shiffman

Conservation, Science

The latest 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival entry, Mini-Season, comes from University of Miami graduate student Erica Staaterman. It explains the culture and biological effects of lobster mini-season in the Florida Keys.

Beneath the Waves Film Festival: Sink Your Shucks

April 7, 2011April 2, 2011 David Shiffman 1 Comment

Conservation

The winner of “Best Conservation Message” at the 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival came from Laura Hutchinson, a graduate student at Texas A and M’s Harte Research Institute. Sink Your Shucks explains the ecological importance of oysters and how people can help to restore oyster reefs.

Republican House leaders abandon Pelosi’s “green the capitol” initiative

April 7, 2011April 2, 2011 David Shiffman

Conservation

While I often disagreed with former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, her “green the capitol” initiative was admirable. Serving local foods in the cafeteria and providing diners with compostable utensils and cups helped make the House of Representatives a model eco-friendly workplace. Now that Republicans have retaken the house, they have decided to abandon these policies.

MSC considering granting sustainable status to a fishery with high shark bycatch

April 6, 2011April 6, 2011 David Shiffman 11 Comments

Conservation, Science

In a world where greenwashing, overfishing, bycatch and pirate fishing run rampant, it can be difficult for eco-conscious consumers to know what to buy. Many eco-certification agencies exist, but they often offer conflicting advice. Who should you listen to?