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Dr Craig R McClain

@drcraigmc.bsky.social

9.3K followers 2.3K following 1.5K posts

Marine Ecologist, Deep-Sea Explorer, Climate Change Researcher, Science Communicator, Ed @deepseanews

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · Jun 24

I've wanted to write this article for years. About my and other's struggles to even survive sometime in #academia. Thank you to the amazing editors at @plosbiology.org that gave me the forum to write this piece. #science

Too poor to science: How wealth determines who succeeds in STEM

From student to researcher, a career in science can come with a high price tag. This Perspective explores how persistent financial barriers limit who can succeed in science, revealing how wealth shape...

journals.plos.org

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 6d

My "favorite" excuse for anything is "But we've always done it this way" 🙄

Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 7d

A great write up here if you want to learn more divingmuseum.org/artofabyss/b...

Bathysphere - History Of Diving Museum

e 5,000-pound cast iron Bathysphere would carry two explorers Otis Barton and William Beebe–to observe ocean life down to a record 3,028 feet below the surface in 1934.

divingmuseum.org

Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 7d

I remember seeing it for the first time and thinking there was no way I, or anybody my size, could fit through the tiny hatch to get inside of it.

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 7d

The bathysphere, invented in the 1930s, allowed humans to explore depths of over half mile deep underwater for the first time. At only 4 feet in diameter, the sphere was designed to hold TWO people! #deepsea #ocean #science

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Reposted by Dr Craig R McClain

The Public Domain Review @publicdomainrev.bsky.social · 7d

Nudibranchs as pictured by a Japanese illustrator named Kumataro Ito, artist for the USS Albatross’ Philippine Expedition, 1907–10. More of his stunning images here: publicdomainreview.org/collection/k...

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 11d

If @aslo.org

@agu.org

@tosoceanography.bsky.social

want to support researchers, especially ECR, for #OSM2026 perhaps they could put into place policies that allow for late submissions for maternity, bereavement, etc.?

Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 13d

I'm ok.

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 14d

🌊🔬 Grad Student Opportunity!
I’m recruiting PhD students to explore marine biodiversity, body size, and bioenergetics with flexibility to design your own project! PDF of ad link below.
#PhDPosition #MarineBiology #Macroecology #Biodiversity #GradSchool #Ecology #OceanScience tinyurl.com/5n9434wk

Dropbox

tinyurl.com

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 19d

While I don't necessarily disagree with this, do you really think we have enough evidence for this? Especially considering the biodiversity of insects?

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 19d

Even if we roll back to the time before human effects on the natural world, the deep-sea would still be more biodiverse.

Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 19d

While this is true, in many cases if you look at standardized amount of area say one meter squared, the deep sea will contain more species. My favorite statement about this is an area the size of coffee table can contain 300 species of multicellular life.

Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 20d

I'm sorry. That is horrible.

Reposted by Dr Craig R McClain

Dr. Win @paleowin.bsky.social · 20d

So sorry to hear this. I wish I couldn’t sympathize… my mom died shortly before a journal article revision was due and I was not granted an extension… still rather salty about that. Scientists are people, not emotionless robots.

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 20d

Scientific societies shouldn’t just celebrate publications and prizes. They should also support the realities of being human. Birth, loss, caregiving, childcare… these are not disruptions to science. They are life, and science is better when we make space for them.

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 20d

Was expecting more out of @also.org @agu.org and Oceanography Society

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 20d

The first time was the one that hit me hardest. I wanted to deliver a talk at #oceanscience #osm2025 #osm25 but missed the abstract deadline by a week or so. I was told in response to my email inquiry that there was nothing that could be done.

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 20d

This is now the second time I’ve not been allowed a professional allowance because I needed to focus on my family during the death close family member. #academia

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 26d

Today’s mood

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 29d

This bumpy snailfish video is everything I needed on this Monday.

MBARI @mbarinews.bsky.social · Sep 8

Snailfishes live in a variety of ocean habitats—from shallow tide pools to deep-sea trenches. The newly described bumpy snailfish (Careproctus colliculi), observed in the depths of Monterey Canyon nearly 3,300 meters (10,800 feet) underwater, has a distinctive pink color and a bumpy texture.

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · Sep 4

Thank you. I am really bummed about it. I really want to attend because of the program and location. But it's hard to justify international travel on my grants if I'm not presenting. I just feel bad that my graduate students will miss out too.

Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · Sep 4

We talk endlessly about “retention in science.” Here’s a hint: retention starts by recognizing scientists as whole humans with lives outside the lab.

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · Sep 4

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · Sep 4

I recently lost a close loved one making the last several weeks turmoil. My professional life went the wayside. I emailed a very large society in my field about accommodations me past the abstract deadline for the upcoming meeting. "Unfortunately, there are no extensions for abstract submission."

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Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · Sep 2

Congrats to my favorite science power couple!

Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · Aug 20

TLDR is that it a GIANT deep-sea limpet at a whopping 4.5 cm. Which is actually is a giant amongst the miniaturization of most deep-sea mollusks.

Deep-sea submersible discovers 'giant' animal 5,922m down in Pacific abyss | Discover Wildlife

The creature was found during a deep-sea expedition 500km south-east of Japan.

www.discoverwildlife.com

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