Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dr Victoria J Burton @soilscholar.bsky.social · 10h

Yeah! Again an invertebrate wins!

Reposted by Dr Victoria J Burton

Arachtober @arachtober.bsky.social · 14d

Join us in celebrating Arachtober by sharing your #spider and other #arachnid photos all month. #Arachtober has spread around the web. We’ve created a basic site at Arachtober.com to explain what this is all about. Banner by @ashleymbradford.bsky.social, inspired by my recent linocut artwork.

Black and white line art of a jumping spider surrounded by morning glory flowers with text Arachtober 2025.

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Reposted by Dr Victoria J Burton

Erica McAlister @flygirlnhm.bsky.social · 18d

It’s the @amentsoc.bsky.social annual fair & I’m here with the @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

Lots of great fly talk & some great exhibits including these from some of the younger members of the AmEntSoc - aren’t they great?

#entomology

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Reposted by Dr Victoria J Burton

Andy Gonzalez @bio-diverse.bsky.social · 26d

Are you tracking developments in #biodiversity monitoring and its applications?

We wrote a paper on addressing the challenges:
Data to Decisions: the Biodiversity Monitoring Standards Framework (BMSF). Creating a cycle of trust from field data to policy reports 🧵
ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...

The Biodiversity Monitoring Standards Framework is a linked sequence of steps defined by the standards that each step adopts within a set of well-defined needs, principles and ethical guidelines (center). Every monitoring workflow would achieve an overall standard rating (potentially tiered) based on the standards adopted in each step. The monitoring workflow is implemented (right) once the necessary resources, human capacity, technologies, and data architectures have been adopted. A tiered approach allows countries to start with simpler methods and progressively adopt more sophisticated ones as capacity grows. These standards need not be costly or infeasible to adopt, but they do need to be defined a priori to create trust and confidence in the trends reported.

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Reposted by Dr Victoria J Burton

Amateur Entomologists' Society @amentsoc.bsky.social · Aug 30

🦋 Our AGM & Members' Day was buzzing! We teamed up with @zoologymuseum.bsky.social & @camzoology.bsky.social for Zoology Live: Insectopia - talks, tours & insects galore 🐛🦗
🎥 Missed it? Watch the talks: bit.ly/AGM2025Talks
📸 Highlights: bit.ly/InsectopiaRecap
🔍 What’s next: www.amentsoc.org/events🕷️

AES AGM and Members' Day 2025 - YouTube

The 2025 AGM and Members' Day was held as part of Cambridge University Zoology Live Insectopia! This included talks, behind the scenes tours, live insects to...

youtube.com

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Reposted by Dr Victoria J Burton

John Jackson @johnjacksonnathist.bsky.social · Aug 29

Apply now! Sillitoe Distinguished Research Leader in economic geology, Natural History Museum - working with the Resourcing the Green Economy Research Theme. Deadline 17 October 2025

jobs.nhm.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

Sillitoe Distinguished Research Leader, Economic Geology:South Kensington

jobs.nhm.ac.uk

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Dr Victoria J Burton @soilscholar.bsky.social · Aug 18

Wow now there's an identification course I never thought I would see! The Tanyptera Project is a gem.

Tanyptera Project @tanyptera.bsky.social · Aug 18

Join us for an Introduction to Water Mites workshop next month!

The workshop will include an introduction to their complex life cycle, identification and collection techniques.

Book your place here: www.northwestinvertebrates.org.uk/event/waterm...

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Reposted by Dr Victoria J Burton

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) @ukceh.bsky.social · Jul 30

Save the date: 15 Dec | 📍EICC, Edinburgh

The National Environment Monitoring Conference 2025 from @britishecologicalsociety.org, UKCEH and @ukeof.bsky.social

From Insight to Impact: Building the UK Environmental Monitoring Community

Learn more:
🔗 www.britishecologicalsociety.org/content/nati...

National Environmental Monitoring Conference - British Ecological Society

The NEMC returns for its second year focusing on: From insight to impact: building the UK environmental monitoring community

www.britishecologicalsociety.org

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Dr Victoria J Burton @soilscholar.bsky.social · Jul 24

Join my colleagues & I on Mon 28 July from 11am for a #bioblitz to celebrate the first year of the reopening of the @nhm-london.bsky.social Gardens! I'll be rummaging in the leaves for minibeasts! www.nhm.ac.uk/press-office...

Join a Family-Friendly Nature Hunt at the Natural History Museum this July | Natural History Museum

www.nhm.ac.uk

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Reposted by Dr Victoria J Burton

Amateur Entomologists' Society @amentsoc.bsky.social · Jul 13

🪲 Love #insects? Got art, photos, science projects or specimens to share? Book a space at the #aesfair Annual Exhibition – 27 Sep 2025 Kempton Park Racecourse, Surrey! Exhibitors get free entry! 🐜Details + booking form: www.amentsoc.org/events/listings/01112 #amentsoc

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Reposted by Dr Victoria J Burton

The Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative @thegsbi.bsky.social · Jul 15

📢The Global Soil Biodiversity Conference 2026 abstract submission deadline has been EXTENDED 🐛🐜🕷️🦠🪱

Abstracts are NOW due AUGUST 15th 23:59 PDT‼️

Submit an abstract 👇

globalsoilbiodiversity2026.org/abstract/

Call for Abstracts - Global Soil Biodiversity Conference 2026

Abstract Submissions NOW OPEN The Program Committee is proud to announce that the submission of abstracts for the 4th Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB2026) is now open! Submission deadline is…

globalsoilbiodiversity2026.org

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Dr Victoria J Burton @soilscholar.bsky.social · Jul 10

Oh wow, yeah! Adults both fluffy though.

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Dr Victoria J Burton @soilscholar.bsky.social · Jul 10

My sister found a Puss Moth caterpillar in our willows today and I'm really jealous as I thought they must be in there. Such amazing beasties!

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Dr Victoria J Burton @soilscholar.bsky.social · Jul 10

The National #EducationNaturePark programme is supporting global biodiversity research. Join our webinar on Wed 23 July 15.30-16.00 BST to find out how! Featuring me & other researchers @nhm-london.bsky.social www.educationnaturepark.org.uk/webinar-studying-biodiversity-gains-across-education-estate

Webinar: studying biodiversity gains across the education estate | Education Nature Park

The National Education Nature Park programme is supporting global biodiversity research. Join our webinar to find out how!Wednesday 23 July, 15.30-16.00Aimed at organisations in science research, biod...

www.educationnaturepark.org.uk

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Reposted by Dr Victoria J Burton

wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social · Jul 9

Some are stellate, glandular, forked, simple or branched. What are? I hear you ask! Hairs! This week’s challenge is to find a hairy plant, the hirsuter the better and examine its trichomes! Post your bristly pics using the hashtag #hairyplants for #Wildflowerhour this Sunday 8-9pm

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Dr Victoria J Burton @soilscholar.bsky.social · Jul 8

This is also why I love working @nhm-london.bsky.social

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · Jul 8

Hey David why do you like conferences so much?

Comic by Sarah Anderson/Sarah’s Scribbles

#JMIH25 #AES25

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Dr Victoria J Burton @soilscholar.bsky.social · Jul 7

A few spots left for our #EducationNaturePark co-development day this Friday 11th July in Exeter! 🌿💻Explore how computing & climate/nature education can connect. Free to join + lunch!📍Info & sign-up: www.educationnaturepark.org.uk/take-part-ou...

Take part in our computing resources co-development day | Education Nature Park

Calling all computing specialists!We're developing a suite of national curriculum-linked resources to support schools and colleges to implement climate and nature education more widely within the curr...

www.educationnaturepark.org.uk

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Dr Victoria J Burton @soilscholar.bsky.social · Jul 2

@flygirlnhm.bsky.social saw this thread and thought of you

franz @franzanth.bsky.social · Jul 2

why is it that human-headed mythical creatures always have the bodies of vertebrate animals (i.e. harpy, siren, manticore), why can't we have human-headed oysters or human-headed blowflies

Reposted by Dr Victoria J Burton

Dr. Aaron Thierry @thierryaaron.bsky.social · Jul 2

'In an open letter coordinated by Purpose Disruptors, @cleancreatives.bsky.social & @creatives4climate.bsky.social, more than 60 advertising agencies, each with over 1,000 employees, urged the Government to treat fossil fuel ads like tobacco marketing, citing parallels in tactics used &public harm'

Agencies call for tobacco-style ban on fossil fuel adverts - edie

More than 60 advertising and media agencies have called on the UK Government to introduce ‘tobacco-style’ restrictions on fossil fuel advertisements and sponsorships ahead of a Parliamentary debate on...

www.edie.net

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Dr Victoria J Burton @soilscholar.bsky.social · Jun 24

Come and talk to me and others about #insects this Saturday!

Royal Entomological Society @royentsoc.bsky.social · Jun 24

Join us this Saturday for our #RESGarden event at Stratford Cross.

Take part in interactive activities around the garden, explore different insect habitats, and meet #InsectScientist members of the Royal Entomological Society this #InsectWeek 🔽

buff.ly/yMe1Dvx

#RESGarden #Entomology

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Dr Victoria J Burton @soilscholar.bsky.social · Jun 24

Cute new slug drops!

Colliery Spoil Biodiversity Initiative @collieryspoil.bsky.social · Jun 24

🌟 Exciting Discovery Alert! 🌟

Back in January we teased some big news…and here it is!

🐌 Semilimax pyrenaicus (Pyrenean Semi-slug) has been recorded in Britain for the first time, found at a colliery spoil site in Cwmaman, S. Wales.

Read more: doi.org/10.61733/jco...

#SemiSlug #WildlifeDiscovery

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Dr Victoria J Burton @soilscholar.bsky.social · Jun 19

On Saturday I will be helping run minibeast hunts in a heatwave 🫠

Amateur Entomologists' Society @amentsoc.bsky.social · Jun 19

This Sat 21 June 10am - 5pm is our 90th 😱 Anniversary AGM & members day held at the University of Cambridge as part of Zoology Live Insectopia! We have talks, minibeast hunts 🪲🐜🪰🐌 & behind the scenes tours. All welcome, details here: www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk/events/zoolo...

ZOOLOGY LIVE! INSECTOPIA: THE FAMILY DAY | Museum of Zoology

Join us for our biggest annual Family Day of the year - Zoology Live! INSECTOPIA - and this year it's all about (you guessed it) insects!

www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk

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Dr Victoria J Burton @soilscholar.bsky.social · Jun 18

So excited for this!

Grant Museum of Zoology @uclgrantmuseum.bsky.social · Jun 18

See the life of wasps as master architects, pest controllers and pollinators. Discover the delightfully relatable social goings-on inside our virtual nest at our upcoming exhibition from 25 June. www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-coll... #GMZWasps

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Dr Victoria J Burton @soilscholar.bsky.social · Jun 16

Are you interested in teaching computing in schools? Join me and other #EducationNaturePark colleagues in Exeter on the 11th July for a computing resources co-development day. Lunch provided! www.educationnaturepark.org.uk/take-part-ou...

Take part in our computing resources co-development day | Education Nature Park

Calling all computing specialists!We're developing a suite of national curriculum-linked resources to support schools and colleges to implement climate and nature education more widely within the curr...

www.educationnaturepark.org.uk

Reposted by Dr Victoria J Burton

Conor Waldock @conorwaldock.bsky.social · May 16

Our new pre-print exposes how the global link between poverty and biodiversity is rooted in colonial exploitation of biological resources.

🌎🌐 #decolonisingconservation #conservation

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Systemic bio-inequity links poverty to biodiversity and induces a conservation paradox

Biodiversity is declining globally, and poverty rates are not improving, so sustainable development initiatives aim to jointly reduce biodiversity loss and alleviate poverty. These initiatives expect ...

www.biorxiv.org

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