The Colonial Depths of Seasteading
Ivey Wexler draws parallels between libertarian’s interest in seasteading to oceanic colonialism in the nineteenth century, especially as Robert Stevenson illustrated in The Ebb-Tide.
Tagged: Oceans
Kelp Can Help Build More Just Futures
Lydia Lapporte traces how the project of kelp recovery in the Pacific Ocean connects to the mission of decarceration. Relational companionship and abolition ecologies can be useful for both kelp and incarcerated people.
Finding Harmony with Japan’s Waves
Erica Cherepko illustrates ways in which Japan’s longstanding, community-based marine conservation utilizes “satoumi” to blend tradition and innovation, protecting coastal ecosystems.
Unruly Sediments
Jac Common & Katy Lewis Hood trace marine aggregates dredging in UK coastal waters across multiple scales, arguing that this extractive industry needs to be situated in colonial and capitalist ocean histories and presents.
Penguins, Puffins, and the Science of Seabird Scat
Erin Hassett speaks with Dr. Gemma Clucas, a researcher at Cornell University who analyzes the poop of penguins and other seabirds to reveal deteriorating ocean health and changing fish population ecology. Dr. Clucas and fellow researchers travel to remote locations to collect the poop from common terns, penguins, puffins, and other seabirds.
Centering Islands in a Rising Ocean: A Conversation with Christina Gerhardt
Samm Newton interviews Dr. Christina Gerhardt about her 2023 book Sea Change, which is a collection of essays, a history of connection, and a window into island nations facing an uncertain future.
Ten Hidden Gems From the Edge Effects Archives
The editorial board recommends environmental readings from the archives—on topics ranging from the Anthropocene to environmental art to blue humanities.
Faculty Favorites: What to Read (and Watch) on Race & Place
Edge Effects invited scholars from a range of fields to share with us environmental books and texts on the topic of “Race and Place” that they are most excited to teach in the new academic year.
A Call For Humanities at the Seabed
Inspired by recent debates about deep sea mining, Killian Quigley, Charne Lavery, Laurence Publicover discuss the urgency of what they call a “critical seabed studies.”
The Ocean’s Beating Hearts
Hilary Clark reflects on how whale watching in Monterey helps reveal important marine multispecies connections—some more unexpected than others.
