iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Dr. Kent E. Carpenter not only made significant contributions to our knowledge of understanding of marine shorefishes in the 🇵🇭 Philippines, he also helped solidify our claim on and sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea. www.rappler.com/philippines/...

rappler.com

American biologist who testified for PH in South China Sea arbitration killed

(1st UPDATE) Dr. Kent Carpenter provided expert written records on the environmental harms of China’s reclamation and destructive fishing practices in the West Philippine Sea

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

The news hit me hard as I was preparing for my Ichthyology class, reviewing my students' fish IDs using some of the FAO guides co-authored by Dr. Carpenter.

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Oh...The Ocean Clean Up which 100s of global ocean scientists have criticised just signed a 5-year Memorandum of Agreement with the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources to clean up Manila Bay.

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Similarly, don't say "I thought of this to help national government because in country X their government doesn't know how to do this thing" when in fact said government has been doing that thing for over a decade.

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Reposted by Jean Utzurrum

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Jabado @iucnshark.bsky.social at #SI2026 - we have enough science to start conserving lots of species of threatened shark and ray, and lack of data can’t be an excuse not to act. We need political will.

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

If you lost a bracelet at Hall A during #SI2026, come claim it at Lost and Found!

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Pilaut is setting sail at #SI2026 ⛵️ Come to Poster Session B in Hall A today and tomorrow (May 6-7)! Follow @wildlifecoexistencequest on Instagram for more updates on our board game for shark and ray conservation 🦈🦈🦈

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Whoopsie 🤭 I meant Poster Session A on May *4th and 5th*

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

If you're at #SI2026 and want to learn a bit about some of the work I do with @mwwphilippines.bsky.social ⬇️

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

I don't want to be the bad guy but I also can't help it if people keep messaging me to fact check a post about someone claiming to be the first to do something in my field 🦈 and/or country 🇵🇭 [FYI they're usually not]. My fellow researchers, pls fact check these before promoting your work. #scicomm

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Would I cite "a jerk" in my work? Maybe, but after much consideration ⬇️

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

It comes down to - Is there another published paper that could be cited intead of their work? - If no to above question...Will deleting the statement I'm citing them for significantly change my work?

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Need advice on #AcademicPublishing — if you were a journal reviewer and came across an article that cited a reference w/c you confirmed to be made up (non-existent/fake) would you... ? A. still finish reviewing the manuscript; B. consider for acceptance with revision; or C. reject the article

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

This is your annual reminder to always back up your files.

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

I managed to get an old laptop working again while my laptop is in the repair shop. I also found a draft of my revised thesis proposal in my email. Today I wrote 3 new paragraphs. I have less than a week to finish the proposal. Kaya? Kayahon! 💪🏽🤞🏽

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

I ended 2026 with a series of unexpected twists to my masters thesis saga. I chose not too dwell too much on the "if onlys". After some reflection, I finally sat down to tackle this new development on the first day of the new year but... my laptop died.

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Just a reminder that 1) science can co-exist with indigenous beliefs, 2) indigenous beliefs sometimes (if not often) are rooted in science. PS. Maybe things got lost in translation but Sierra Madre does indeed protect the east coast of Luzon in its own way, by lessening the impacts of typhoons.

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Life updates: - marked safe from typhoons Ragasa and Bualoi - marked safe from last night's deadly 6.9M earthquake in Northern Cebu - not marked safe from thesis Diving into the last quarter of the year, and into typhoon season...

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

This past week and a half, I subbed for a teacher. Today's sked: 💪🏽 9AM-12PM lab learning applied physics through a game of tug-o-war and Giant Jenga 🧠 1-3PM lab playing Pilaut, a behavioural research game I co-created with Wildlife Coexistence Quest last year. Tired, but in a good way.

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

People who don't have airconditioning, how do you stay focused and working in this °C heat? 🥵

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

Cool new paper about terrestrial vertebrates endemic to the 🇵🇭 Philippines ⬇️

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

There are many Filipino experts in various fields of science and conservation. They already existed before I started, and some of them are still very active in their respective fields. The Philippines 🇵🇭 deserves to be more than a backdrop for foreign-led conservation activities. #ColonialScience 2/2

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

I've been working in conservation for 22 years. It's disheartening to see there are still foreigners conducting one-off trainings in the Philippines 🇵🇭 with little to no Filipino participants and *zero* Filipino experts as resource persons or facilitators. Seems very 🚩 #ColonialScience 1/2

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

Yesterday, I learned cake icing decoration. I probably failed at techniques, but I managed to make a whale shark. #SharksNearMe

A small cake decorated with a whale shark on top.

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

To celebrate #SharkAwarenessDay here is a snippet from my talk last Saturday at #PAMS18. As of 2023, the 🇵🇭 Philippines has 166 species of sharks and rays and 95 of these are IUCN Threatened Species. However, only 45 species are protected nationwide. Still lots of work to do to #ConservePHSharks

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Lopez: Neotrygon kuhlii prey items included vermiforms, arthropods, and molluscs. Arthropods were the dominant prey in both males and females. #PAMS18 #TeamFish #FishAndFisheries

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Jules Lopez presents his UG thesis findings on diet of bluespotted maskray Neotrygon kuhlii from Hinigaran, Negros Occidental. This research is funded by @mwwphilippines.bsky.social #AtingPating grants

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Zalsos: sea cucumber post-harvest wastes are mostly gonads and internal organs, which can be processed for use in agriculture and aquaculture. #PAMS18

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Josuah Zalsos of MSU-Naawan talks about innovative sea cucumber fisheries management. Sea cucumber us a top fishery commodity in the Philippines. #PAMS18

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Noblezada-Payne: redtail scad ate mostly crustacians, while slender red scad fed mostly on fishes, probably larval fishes. #PAMS18 #TeamFish #FishAndFisheries

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Mary Mar Noblezada-Payne presents findings on diet of sympatric scads – redtail scad and slender red scad. #PAMS18 #TeamFish #FishAndFisheries

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Sue Ong: a common question local stakeholders ask is "why do we follow global conservation status, and not Philippine status?". This further highlights the urgent need to fill in data gaps so local assessments can be done. #PAMS18 #ConserveSharksPH #MarineMegafauna

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Sue Ong: there are numerous studies of whale sharks and mobulid rays in the Bohol Sea, but what about other species. We looked at historical data and sightings from social media posts. #PAMS18 #ConserveSharksPH #MarineMegafauna

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Sue Ong: There is an urgent need to fill in the knowledge gaps needed to support implementation of existing shark conservation policies. #PAMS18 #ConserveSharksPH #MarineMegafauna

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Sue Ong of WCS Philippines presents collaborative work on Advancing Shark Conservation Efforts in the Bohol Sea. #PAMS18 #ConserveSharksPH #MarineMegafauna

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Dr Gonzalez: sea snake studies are biased toward venom research, but there's so many more research topics to explore #PAMS18 #MarineVertebrates

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Dr Gonzalez: >30 species of sea snakes and sea kraits in the Philippines. Most species are "Least Concern" in IUCN Red List. #PAMS18 #MarineVertebrates

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Dr Gonzalez: #seabirds are bioindicators — fishermen use seabirds to locate fish. #PAMS18 #MarineVertebrates

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Dr Gonzalez: there are potentials for further integrative research beyond #seabirds counts and studying breeding colonies. #PAMS18 #MarineVertebrates

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Dr Gonzalez: 20 sentinel sites for #seabirds were identified during the 1st Philippine Seabird Summit in 2023. #PAMS18 #MarineVertebrates

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Dr Gonzalez: despite the Philippines being an archipelago, there are limited number of nesting and rookery sites of #seabirds in the country #PAMS18 #MarineVertebrates

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Dr. Gonzalez: there are >35 seabird species. Historical records of #seabirds go back to when Philippines was under US colonisation. #PAMS18 #MarineVertebrates

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Dr Gonzalez: there is growing interest in #seabirds and sea snakes in the Philippines. For avian species, there are already identified areas where seabirds are monitored annually. #PAMS18 #MarineVertebrates

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

#PAMS18 Day 3 Plenary talk by ornithologist and Philippine wildlife expert Dr. JC Gonzalez talks about lesser known marine taxa — #seabirds and sea snakes!

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Dr. Leander: 36% of #megamouth shark reports in the Philippines are from accidental capture in Fisheries; 64% are from stranding events which are still poorly understood. #PAMS18 #MarineMegafauna

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Dr Leander: the second stranding occurrence of #megamouth #sharks was the highly publicized pregnant female with 6 pups in 2023. #PAMS18 #MarineMegafauna

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Jean Utzurrum @jean8rum.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Dr Leander: first stranding occurrence was in 2022. Locals did not know what the animal was, and first thought it was a whale. This suggests megamouth sharks were uncommon and previously unknown. #PAMS18 #MarineMegafauna

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