Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Steven J Cooke

@sjcfishy.bsky.social

3K followers 810 following 270 posts

Dad X 3, Professor at Carleton University, Editor-in-Chief of AFS #Fisheries + Environmental Evidence, Fellow of the Royal Soc Canada, aquatic biodiversity champion, #keepfishwet & #OTN & #GLFC-BOTE board chair. www.fecpl.ca .. more

Videos

Steven J. Cooke is a Canadian biologist specializing in ecology and conservation physiology of fish. He is best known for his integrative work on fish physiology, behaviour, ecology, and human-dimensions to understand and solve complex environmental problems. He currently is a Canada Research Professor in Environmental Science and Biology at Carleton University and the Editor-in-Chief of the American Fisheries Society magazine Fisheries, Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence journal Environmental Evidence, and Emeritus Editor and Strategic Advisor for the journal Conservation Physiology. .. more

Environmental science 66%

Geography 17%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · 3d

In BC for NSERC Alliance Grant kickoff meeting with BC Hydro. Developing decision support tools for fish and fish habitat in the face of climate change.

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · 7d

We often think of fisheries management as being the role of the government fisheries manager. They certainly play an essential role but there is a diverse supporting cast. We discuss what that looks like here: cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...

It takes all kinds: a composite approach to sustainable freshwater fisheries

Freshwater fisheries face diverse, interacting stressors that threaten freshwater fish populations and global freshwater biodiversity. In Canada, freshwater fisheries are managed and conserved by vari...

cdnsciencepub.com

2 12

Reposted by Steven J. Cooke

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 8d

Jane Goodall’s legacy: three ways she changed science

The primatologist challenged what it meant to be a scientist.

www.nature.com

1 24 63

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · 8d

Boathouse clean out and tidy day at @qubiostation.bsky.social

1 7

Reposted by Steven J. Cooke

Conservation Physiology @conphysjournal.bsky.social · 9d

We're excited to announce Community Conversations, a new #webinar series in partnership with @sebiology.bsky.social 🤝 This is geared towards #EarlyCareer researchers. Our first speaker is @sjcfishy.bsky.social

Sign up here: buff.ly/MTC7R6B

#ConPhys #SEBcareers #ECR #PhD #conservation

Community Conversations: Webinars for building a career in conservation physiology. Speaker Dr Steven Cooke presents his "Reflections on Co-production and Impact in Conservation Physiology". The webinar is online and takes place on 5 November 2025 14:00-15:00 GMT

1 7 13

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · 9d

Good call - I knew I missed a few! US Army Corps is yet another group doing such work.

1 2

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · 10d

calsport.org/how-fish-lad...

How fish ladders work – and why some do not

A fall-run Chinook salmon travels up the fish ladder near California Department of Water Resources infrastructure in Oroville. Image: Andrew Nixon and the California Department of Water Resources A…

calsport.org

Reposted by David W. Kerstetter

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · 10d

Thinking about all of my US colleagues today that work for USGS, USFWS, US Parks Service, NOAA and the EPA. From front line environmental practitioners to scientists and policy makers, these folks ensure that waters are swimmable, fish are edible, that natural areas are accessible, etc, etc, etc.

2 52 220

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · 11d

A good day... Online grad class w guest speaker from the Great Lakes Fishery Commission; Moderated a panel on evidence-informed decision-making in Canada w @cdnsciencepub.com; UBC PhD defence; fed/sort of managed 3 kiddos at home from school for PD day; Served as principal for our kitten daycare.

Reposted by Steven J. Cooke

Council of Canadian Academies/Conseil des académies canadiennes @cca-reports.ca · 13d

This Nature special examines all the pressures higher education is under — and, drawing on examples from across the world, asks how the sector can and must adapt to survive
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...

The future of universities: A Nature special report

The world's universities are under intense pressure. Nature examines the threats they face and asks how the sector can and must adapt to survive.

www.nature.com

1 2

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · 16d

www.buzzsprout.com/2315879/epis...

#43 || Dr. Steven Cooke: What New Bass Science Means for Anglers - Doc Talks Fishing Podcast

What happens when the world's leading bass scientists gather to share their latest discoveries? The 2025 Black Bass Symposium brought together researchers, managers and anglers from across the globe —...

www.buzzsprout.com

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · 17d

Webinar on rights of water: register here... us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

1 6

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · 17d

Upside - Pretty good internet on airplanes these days. Downside - Pretty good internet on airplanes these days.

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · 18d

Fog = flight delays.

1 3

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · 20d

Greetings Cooke Steven J: We have genuinely emailed you quite a lot of times re PSYCHIATRY JOURNAL but received no response, so we'd like to try once more as consideration... Take a hint - I'm a fish ecologist.

2 10

Reposted by Steven J. Cooke

Canadian Science Publishing @cdnsciencepub.com · 22d

Reimagine peer review! Biologist @sjcfishy.bsky.social shares how a collaborative approach can tackle misinformation and rebuild trust in science. Read more on the #CSPblog 💡▶️ buff.ly/f45wvLy

#PeerReviewWeek #PRW2025

Beyond criticism Creating a collective future for peer review

2 5

Reposted by Steven J. Cooke

Dave Tickner @davetickner.bsky.social · 25d

(10/n) If conservationists are to influence these drivers, they need to make the case for bending the curve in terms that chime with the priorities of policymakers & business leaders in these sectors.

Our paper describes those priorities, and potential implications for freshwater biodiversity.

1 1 1

Reposted by Steven J. Cooke

Dave Tickner @davetickner.bsky.social · 25d

(1/n)

🆕: Addressing the policy & business drivers of global freshwater biodiversity loss.
cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full/10....

Or (to provoke a debate), is restoration of #rivers, #lakes & #wetlands a sufficient response to the global collapse in freshwater biodiversity?

A 🧵...

Addressing the policy and business drivers of global freshwater biodiversity loss

While they are important, local or catchment-level conservation efforts are by themselves unlikely to bend the curve of dramatic global-scale biodiversity loss in rivers, lakes, and freshwater wetland...

cdnsciencepub.com

1 8 8

Reposted by Steven J. Cooke

Society for Conservation Biology - Europe @scbeurope.bsky.social · 25d

New on global conservation science:

Public engagement is vital for biodiversity but barriers e.g. lack of knowledge, misaligned values & low personal relevance persist. Tailored approaches are needed in different contexts.

Gregg et al. in Conservation Biology doi.org/10.1111/cobi...

4 11

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · 28d

Hanging at @utoronto.ca today with Irena Creed and Stu Livingstone who lead a grad class on conservation. The amazing Justina Ray from @wcscanada.org is covering terrestrial issues in Canada and I am covering aquatics.

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · Sep 10

Colleague leading a paper I am co-author on just requested a brief extension for returning revisions to a journal for a paper we are working on. The editors response was: Just for context, deadlines are not up for negotiation, I’m afraid. WTF. Apparently some editors are indeed not human.

1 9

Reposted by Steven J. Cooke

Conservation Physiology @conphysjournal.bsky.social · Sep 9

🚨Deadline extension for our #BioLogging Special Issue 💻🐆

You now have until the end of the year to submit your work!

Full info here ➡️ academic.oup.com/conphys/page...

2 1

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · Sep 9

Welcome to the fall semester lab backyard party.

2 12

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · Sep 8

Starting the week off tomorrow with a riverbank mudpuppy meeting! Cool animals that are often forgotten/ignored. We intend to help shine a light on their awesomeness.

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · Sep 6

Biology is cool with sooo many exceptions. It also means we lie every time we generalize when teaching.

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · Sep 5

Ended 1st wk back on campus w "work at home" day which included podcast w Fish'n Canada show, zoom calls (e.g., with grad student in BC, partners in NS and USA), freedom of info request, AFS journal duties, a run, student wellness issue, dealing w nail in tire + hammering on "to do" list. Wine time!

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · Sep 4

I recognize that some of those things mean privilege (e.g., having $ and a vehicle to enable getting a Drivers Licence). I have yet to figure out a way around that given we work in remote areas and need multiple drivers for safety.

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · Sep 4

Last thing... My rubric often includes things that are really pragmatic. Can they swim? Do they have a full drivers licence? Do they have boating experience? Although we are a place for training we also have to operate as a "workplace" when it comes to safety and we need to be insurable!

1 1

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · Sep 4

I also create a "pool" where I have a small group of folks I am interested in and then as funding (ideally) comes in I try to match them with the most logical position given their interests and expertise and goals.

Steven J Cooke @sjcfishy.bsky.social · Sep 4

I rarely look for one person for one position. Sometimes I see a CV and get excited that their interests/expertise could merge with mine to do something I have thought about (or not!). So... I do use a simple rubric but always think about what is POSSIBLE beyond what I advertised for.

1 1