Scholar

John J. Cullen

H-index: 55
Environmental science 44%
Geology 22%
johncullenocean.bsky.social
The question about additionality stands, but more importantly, what about the foundational assumptions: 1) All of the carbon in oyster biomass is sequestered from the atmosphere for decades (false - it is respired), and 2) All of the sedimented organic carbon is permanently buried (evidence?).
johncullenocean.bsky.social
🌊 Post from Jay Cullen took me to the PNAS article on oyster farming as mCDR. Seems that farmed oyster biomass is counted as sequestered carbon for climate change mitigation. No mention of what happens to oyster carbon after we eat it. Maybe I read it wrong.

www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Reposted by: John J. Cullen

aslo.org
Save the date! The Ocean Sciences Meeting is coming to Glasgow, Scotland, 22-27 Feb 2026—the first OSM outside the US! 🌍 Join scientists, students, journalists, & more to grow our global ocean community, foster partnerships & build a sustainable future. #OSM26 @agu.org @tosoceanography.bsky.social
johncullenocean.bsky.social
The arguments about uncertain global effects and limited efficacy have been supported by others for years.

One more thing: if harmful blooms or hypoxic fish kills happen anywhere that is influenced by OIF, legal fingers will point, deservedly or not.

Who will underwrite liability insurance?
🌊
Slide illustrating a fish kill off Oregon in 2002. It had nothing to do with OIF. Sinking carbon from ocean fertilization  decomposes at depth, reducing concentrations of oxygen.

(Picture of fish kill)

If a hypoxic event like this happens again, who or what is to blame?

Can it be proved?
esqueer.net
Trump just revoked the ability for foreign students to enroll at Harvard. Every foreign student, which is in the thousands, enrolled for next year at Harvard will not be able to continue studying if this isn't challenged in court.

www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/u...
Trump Administration Halts Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students
www.nytimes.com
johncullenocean.bsky.social
Congratulations to Philip Boyd FRS!

FYI, he is a leading expert on marine CDR. His publications have revealed what we know, what we don’t, and what we must learn and do before proceeding with ocean manipulations.

Essential science that can cut through hype.

🌊🧪

www.utas.edu.au/about/news-a...
Carbon, climate, and a Royal honour: Professor Boyd recognised for ocean science leadership
www.utas.edu.au

Reposted by: John J. Cullen

davidimiller.bsky.social
🚨 Breaking: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions

1️⃣ Removes/demotes division director leaders

2️⃣ Forced layoff notices to NSF staff going out tonight

3️⃣ More grant terminations expected tomorrow

One glimmer of hope: the 8 directorates appear to be staying
Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions
Changes seen as a response to presidential directives on what research to fund
www.science.org

Reposted by: John J. Cullen

davidho.bsky.social
I was in the process of hiring a postdoc, so this severely affects her career because now she has to look for something else. It also means I can't pay my existing people, can't buy supplies for the lab, and can't travel. Every NSF-funded researcher will be in the same boat soon.
johncullenocean.bsky.social
Delighted to see that Scott Doney has been honored with election to the NAS. His research represents truly interdisciplinary oceanography at its best, he has been a standout in public service, and (dare we say this about scientists?) he is a model of generosity and kindness.

Congrats, Scott! 🌊🧪
virosphere.bsky.social
Many data sets held by NOAA are being "retired" in may, including datasets relevant to ocean sciences and climate. If you have need for these data, or are an archivist, it would be good to download this now. PLEASE SHARE WIDELY. www.nesdis.noaa.gov/about/docume...
Notice of Changes
Notices of changes are formal public announcements of planned services changes to applications and other products.
www.nesdis.noaa.gov

Reposted by: John J. Cullen

altnps.bsky.social
The Act prohibits actions that “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect” endangered species. Right now, “harm” includes damage to a species’ habitat—but the Trump administration is attempting to strip habitat destruction from that definition.
caroloff.bsky.social
As we watch Trump's attack on universities, remember that Poilievre promises to appoint a "Free Speech Guardian" for universities.
A university could lose its federal funding if this politically appointed "guardian" recommends it.
johncullenocean.bsky.social
Thanks for the heads-up, Clark. A keen student could learn a lot by modelling the interactions between ambient irradiance spectra and LDR sensor spectral response in different water types through the open ocean. Could be a good publication!

aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Reposted by: John J. Cullen

dezene.me
This is bananas.

'Canadian researchers are asked to confirm that their research:

- does not include a climate or “environmental justice” component

- does not contain diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) elements

- does not ascribe to “gender ideology'

🧪 🌎

www.globenewswire.com/news-release...
Trump administration threatening Canadian researchers
OTTAWA, Ontario, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) is warning that the Trump administration is...
www.globenewswire.com

Reposted by: John J. Cullen

eroston.bsky.social
If this looks old it's because it's been up there a while.
Old printed-out paragraph taped to a white wall. Coffee stain, crumpled, showing the signs of age. 
"We've arranged a global civilization in which most crucial elements
— transportation, communications, and all other industries; agriculture, medicine, education, entertainment, protecting the environment; and even the key democratic institution of voting — profoundly depend on science and technology. We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while, but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up in our faces.
—Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World, 1996
cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social
In 1890, the Tariff Act came into place in the United States. It placed tariffs on imports of up to 50%.
While touted as a way to build American industry, there was also the hope it would force an annexation of Canada. It backfired.
Let's learn more.

🧵1/10
The image is a black-and-white political cartoon depicting a man in a suit standing behind a counter labeled "Republican Platform." He is holding a bottle labeled "Untaxed Whiskey, 20¢ Gal." in one hand and a piece of cloth labeled "War-Taxed Common Cloth, Tariff 84%" in the other. Above the counter, a sign reads, "If you don’t see what you want, ask for it." The cartoon, signed by W.A. Rogers, appears to satirize the Republican Party's economic policies, highlighting the disparity in taxation between luxury items like whiskey and essential goods like cloth.
johncullenocean.bsky.social
Tommy Dickey (1945-2025). When he started out, oceanography was pursued in disciplinary silos, bio-optical oceanography did not exist, and robotic observation of global ocean biogeochemistry was not yet a dream. Tommy was central in getting us where we are today.🌊

www.geog.ucsb.edu/people/facul...
Tommy Dickey | Department of Geography | UC Santa Barbara
Interdisciplinary ocean research topics have included: bio-optics, biogeochemistry, hurricanes, ocean eddies, and monsoons plus medical research concerning the use of scent detection dogs for COVID-19...
www.geog.ucsb.edu
johncullenocean.bsky.social
First Ocean Sciences Meeting outside the US is a big deal.

As a bonus, no state-sponsored suppression of climate science.

Neaps and tatties, too!

May the force be with you, @aslo.org, @tosoceanography.bsky.social, @agu.org. 🌊🧪
aslo.org
Save the date! The Ocean Sciences Meeting is coming to Glasgow, Scotland, 22-27 Feb 2026—the first OSM outside the US! 🌍 Join scientists, students, journalists, & more to grow our global ocean community, foster partnerships & build a sustainable future. #OSM26 @agu.org @tosoceanography.bsky.social

References

Fields & subjects

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