Bonkers. They’ve been talking about this since I was an undergrad at IL in the 90s. I want to say I can’t believe they haven’t adopted the kingfisher already, but also….not surprised.

Fun facts and FAQs about Megalodon, Maryland’s new (and definitely extinct) official state shark This week, Maryland became the first U.S. State to have an official state shark! Otodus megalodon was a really cool shark that is rightfully beloved by many, and Maryland’s Calvert Cliffs are…

This week, my state of Maryland became the first U.S. State to get an official state shark!

I wrote about why Megalodon is awesome, how we know that it's extinct, and what having a state shark means for modern-day shark science and conservation

I'm fine, everything is fine. 🧪🌍🦑🦈

Winifred goldring award: apply by April 30th! Coral decorative image in background

Opportunity for women students in paleontology! The Winifred Goldring Award will be presented to three women graduate students and the AWG Undergraduate Paleontology Award will be presented to a student pursuing a career in paleontology. Due April 30th. More information here: tinyurl.com/msdc3m68

@paleosoc.bsky.social invites applications for its new Collections Grants program, which provides funding for members working in natural history collections to support paleontological/paleobiological curatorial and digitization projects, proposals due June 1st!
paleo.memberclicks.net/the-paleonto...

Fantastic name for a sea turtle

New paper out with @cichlidnick.bsky.social and Peter C. Wainwright. We show that different habitats impact fish diversification. Habitats with a complex benthos show increased diversification rates across ray-finned fishes.

www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....

Hurrah for velvet worms!!

The only thing we do for Easter is an egg hunt with prank eggs. This year:
candy, 2 cents, dry beans, cat treats, 40 cents, a cut out of a random kid left over from a school project, a dollar, more empty eggs, a piece of paper that says “butts”, two triscuits, a dead battery, and a cat toy.

Exactly what runs through my head every time there's a launch.

Neat! I sumbitted all 3 of my bird paintings to the art show, and they all got in! I haven't participated in a show since high school. I did more detail work on them since I posted the photos, and I'm super pleased with them :)

I'm lucky to have wonderful trans friends, colleagues, students, and more. Our lives are richer because they are here, and I hope they feel the love every day - not just today.

Trans lives are human lives. 🩵🤍💗
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️‍⚧️

This video came up at the perfect time, as I happened to be listening to a bop that was in time with its booty-shaking

Yes, if there are other things I can cite instead.

My criteria are simple: Do I know that this person has done harm? If yes, then I'll see if there's another source that could support my argument. If there is, I'll use it.

My PhD student is researching the experiences of neurodivergent geoscience faculty and understanding how their neurodivergence shaped their academic experiences. Please see the following and consider taking her survey (full consent/description in the link).

Let's goooooo! I'm gonna have to say 3 b/c its head looks so tiny and it made me smile. But also #4 is a mood.

🎶 I hate every ape I see, from chimpan-a to chimpanzee 🎵

Graphic with photo of Jim O'Neill reading: "No to O'Neill for NSF, Email your senators at tr.ee/NoToONeill, STAND UP FOR SCIENCE"

Email your senators to urge them not to confirm Jim O’Neill as Director of the National Science Foundation.

He's not a scientist, has no relevant expertise, promoted vaccine misinformation, and he helped gut the CDC. Email your senators here! : tr.ee/NoToONeill
(1/2🧵)

Time sensitive: this is the last day to submit comments opposing the Bureau of Land Management's clearcutting of Oregon's ancient forests. This is a tool that educates you on just how diabolical it is, and it helps you submit your comment. morethanjustparks.com/oregon-old-g...

AMNH looking for a curatorial associate in the Invertebrate Zoology Division 🪰🐞🪲🪳🐝🐜🦋🦟🐌🕷️🐚🦂🌍🌐 🧪👩‍🔬

Painting of a calico crab

Managed to make some progress on the calico crab painting. Not done yet, as the carapace is still kind of drab looking.

Paleontology has an Epstein problem. Women in the field say it's a symptom of a deeper misogyny | CBC Radio The names of hundreds of scientists have appeared in the Epstein files, including prominent dinosaur researchers. As the paleontology community reckons with the fallout of these revelations, women in ...

A few weeks ago CBC reporter Sheena Goodyear reached out to me for comment on the new Spinosaurus paper. I said I couldn’t, because of Epstein connection Nathan Myhrvold’s involvement with it. We got to talking about how paleontology - especially dinosaur research- remains hostile to women. 🧪

A block of text that says "Scientists at the University of Miami are carrying out a research study on trends in the field of science communication. For this survey we are defining science communication as work that is done: • by a technical subject area expert in some field related to science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, • outside of classroom settings • aimed at the public If you are 18 years of age or older and work or recently worked in this field (full-time, part-time, or as a side project), please click the link below to complete a short survey. If you are interested in learning more about this research study, please e-mail us at Julia.wester@miami.edu. In the body of your email please provide your full name, and if you would prefer to be contacted by phone, your phone number and the best time to reach you. Contacting us for more information does not commit you to participating, and should you decide to participate you may terminate your participation at any time."

Attention Science Communicators!

We are conducting a survey on the landscape of science communication & need your help gathering experiences.

Please send this to #SciComm ppl you know. We want to get as thorough a sense of the state of the field as we can.

umiami.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

It is, indeed, quite angular.

Tell Your Senators: Protect our Democracy, Vote NO on the SAVE Act Contact Congress today!

Tell your Senators: Oppose the SAVE Act. The stakes are too high to sit this one out!

Trans in Natural History Survey 2026

Do you (or have you ever) worked with natural history collections? Are you trans or non-binary? If you said "yes" to both of those, @rin-krichilsky.bsky.social and I want to hear from you! Please consider filling out our survey and please share with others! 🏳️‍⚧️ 🐛🦕🦴🌿 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

I love the intersection of art and science!!

We'll be reaching out to some of our shark friends for interviews for the book in the near future, and we'll keep you updated on progress.

This book was inspired by my first-year seminar course and the Shark Week paper that we wrote. We'll examine how sharks have been portrayed in popular culture, including art, music, film, television, books, and branding.

Exciting news! We have a book contract!!

"Sharks and Recreation*: Sharks in Popular Culture", by Lisa Whitenack and David Shiffman @whysharksmatter.bsky.social , is under contract at Johns Hopkins University Press!

*working title that might have to change