News & Media
Invitation to Journalists
I am passionate about communicating science to a broader audience. Please get in touch if you’d like to chat about my research or related topics.
Recent Stories
NY Times coverage of our recent paper
in Science
UCSB Magazine, cover story
Wild Blue Harvest
Ologies podcast on
Aquaculture ecology
Podcasts
A few recent podcast interviews:
Ologies: Aquaculture ecology. June 18, 2025
Waste(d)water: The global footprint of wastewater pollution. July 21, 2025
Rising Tide: Balancing wonder and warning. Oct. 6, 2025
And some older ones:
People Behind the Science: Conserving our Seas. July 12, 2014
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
KCLU morning edition: Measuring the health of our oceans
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 (from 2008; no longer archived)
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 a longer that delved into the philosophy and implications of the Ocean Health Index.
I wrote several pieces on marine protected areas (MPAs) for the MPA newsletter, which is no longer available online: one describing the need for more productive discussion about MPA effects, and the other presenting the case for why bias exists against reserve effects.
In the news
Here are links to some of the stories written about some of the research I have done.
Halpern et al. 2025. Cumulative impacts to global marine ecosystems projected to more than double by midcentury. Science
NY Times: Humans are altering the seas. Here’s what the future ocean might look like
WIRED: The world’s oceans are hurtling towards a breaking point
Chapman et al. 2024. Biodiversity monitoring for a just planetary future. Science
Anthropocene: Biodiversity data is distorted by past inequities.
Halpern et al. 2022. The environmental footprint of global food production. Nature Sustainability
Washington Post: Here’s exactly how your diet affects the planet
Washington Post: See the impact of your food on climate, emissions, water, and wildlife
Gephart et al. 2021. Environmental performance of blue foods. Nature
O’Hara et al. 2021. At-risk marine biodiversity faces extensive, expanding and intensifying human impacts. Science
World Economic Forum: This is how human activity has affected marine species over time
Sala et al. 2021. Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, food, and climate. Nature
This study was widely reported around the world. As just one example:
NY Times: Trawling for fish may unleash as much carbon as air travel.
Duarte et al. 2021. The ocean soundscape of the Anthropocene. Science
This study was widely reported around the world. As just one example:
WIRED: Oceans aren’t just warming - their soundscapes are transforming
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 Times: 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. 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