Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 11h

Here’s my response to the NZ government shakeup of science funding today, on top of their reductions in bluesky funding and lack of accountability for climate issues. 🧪
We need urgent action on what the SSAG report describes as a fragile and chronically underfunded research system.

2 8

Reposted by Cilla Wehi

Evan Frost @wildwoods.bsky.social · 18h

“We already know what works to stop forest loss, but countries, companies, and investors are only scratching the surface. And even those initial efforts are facing strong pushback from the standard bearers of an economic system built on forest destruction.” 🌍 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘Dismal’ health of world’s forests is threat to humanity, report warns

Financial institutions pouring money into land clearance and undermining efforts to stop destruction, says Climate Focus

www.theguardian.com

1 19 29

Reposted by Cilla Wehi

Science Media Centre NZ @smcnz.bsky.social · 16h

Big shakeup for NZ’s research funding – Expert Reaction

Big shakeup for NZ's research funding - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre

The Government will consolidate decision-making for New Zealand's science research funding as part of its new science system strategy. Research Funding New Zealand will be a new independent board that...

www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz

18 15

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 14h

Honestly, I despair for our grandchildren.

James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 15h

My recent comments on NZ methane targets summarised here.
theconversation.com/a-lack-of-am...

A ‘lack of ambition’ over livestock emissions targets now threatens NZ’s reputation and trade

The government’s weakened methane reduction target mirrors the approach promoted by industry lobby groups but rejected by the Climate Change Commission.

theconversation.com

3

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 15h

One of the issues is that the overheads from Marsden are used to support the other activities of the Royal Society if I understand this correctly in the SSAG report. So lots of downstream effects.

1 1 5

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 2d

Yep.

Reposted by Cilla Wehi

International Biodiversity @ibioconsultants.com · 3d

“Remote-control science” keeps power in the #GlobalNorth while local experts do the work without credit. Time to #decolonize research with fair authorship, funding & respect for local knowledge 🌍

#DecolonizeScience #ResearchEquity #GlobalSouth #FairScience

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Remote‐Control Science in Ecology: A Hidden Face of Scientific Neocolonialism

We introduce the concept of “remote-control science” as a modern form of scientific neocolonialism in ecology, where researchers, preferably from the Global North, control projects in the Global Sout....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

1 8 14

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 3d

It was awesome 😄

4

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 5d

With the launch of the Antarctic Declaration coming on 1 December, this lays out some important background. See antarcticrights.org

2

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 6d

Thanks! We will find out from Marcus V (he says hi) and our PhD student Te Rerekohu at some point!

1

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 6d

We expect a few thousand years probably, so we should see pre- human, after Māori arrival, and after European arrival.

2

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 6d

Some great layers of what we think could be volcanic ash from an early eruption.

1 1

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 6d

Sampling sediments on Lake Owhareiti on a still hot day today in the north of #NZ, and some rich conversations with Ngāti Hine. What a crew! This community are hugely interested in the work. 🧪

Bringing a sediment core back to land. The boat crew and elders standing by a trailer

A sediment core split in half showing layers of organic matter, sediment and ash

2 1 16

Reposted by Cilla Wehi

Tammy Steeves @testeeves.bsky.social · 6d

What are the ‘social dimensions’ of moving species for conservation and why does engaging with them matter?

This is the focus of our new paper doi.org/10.1016/j.tr... published in @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social olevo.bsky.social led by ever talented @aisrayne.bsky.social

📷 Kevin Parker

Whimsical photo of a karure | kakaruia | Chatham Island black robin courtesy of Kevin Parker. Features as a wee black bird with four leg bands: white over orange on the left leg and red over white on the right leg. Sneaky tufts of feathers peak out from otherwise borb-like body, encouraged by the unseen wind.

15 29

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 7d

This looks wonderful Unai. I can’t wait to read it slowly and carefully.

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 8d

A wonderful day in the north meeting Ngāti Hine whānau and prepping for fieldwork. Te mana o te wai. I just wish it was a little warmer 😂

Two men blowing up an inflatable boat to get it ready for use.

2

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 10d

Love living in #Dunedin. People fiercely love wildlife #albatross #toroa

KarinWarnaar @muguetdebois.bsky.social · 10d

There with bells on: why Dunedin welcomes the albatrosses back every spring thespinoff.co.nz/society/04-1...

There with bells on: why Dunedin welcomes the albatrosses back every spring

The albatrosses are back, and Dunedin is welcoming them home.

thespinoff.co.nz

3

Reposted by Cilla Wehi

Manu Caddie @manucaddie.bsky.social · 10d

I love the 70s design, but love Sir Geoffrey’s recipe for saving democracy even more…

www.transparency.org.nz/blog/how-to-...

How to avoid decay in democracy

Sir Geoffrey Palmer KC has just published his latest book ‘How to Save Democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand’. He agreed to the publishing of a recent speech where he talked about current threats to democ...

www.transparency.org.nz

2 5

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 10d

Contemplating how we could do this here in #NZ

Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery @naturerecovery.bsky.social · 12d

🧵
🔥 What must we let go of in today’s financial system?
🌍 Where can we push harder from within?
🌳 What might it mean to step outside altogether?

These were the guiding questions of a recent gathering in Wytham Woods, where 40 leaders came together to explore how finance could truly serve life.

1 2

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 12d

A good reason why not to join the @royalsociety.org

Reposted by Cilla Wehi

Kate Marvel @drkatemarvel.bsky.social · 16d

my takeaway from climate week nyc is that "climate storytelling" is a little too much "we must reimagine our deepest souls in relationship to mother nature and the moral abyss of the polycrisis into which we must now stare" and not enough "ok but get a heat pump"

76 410 2.3K

Reposted by Cilla Wehi

Tim @timward2014.bsky.social · 16d

The charming and interesting story of a guy who could have been an early techbro billionaire, but lacked one critical personality trait - he's not an absolute cunt.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Why I gave the world wide web away for free | Tim Berners-Lee

My vision was based on sharing, not exploitation – and here’s why it’s still worth fighting for

www.theguardian.com

2 20 45

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 17d

We should be using this map in our data viz courses 😆

3

Reposted by Cilla Wehi

Camilla Mazzucato @camillamazzucato.bsky.social · 18d

AviArch is hiring! archaeobiomics.com/aviarch-avif... 🦆🦢🪺🐦🏺

6 7

Cilla Wehi @cillaw.bsky.social · 17d

#NZ terrestrial frogs have some interesting features. Check out those lovely unwebbed fingers. 🧪 Also, other night creatures 😆

Not a frog. Actually a giant carnivorous snail, Powelliphanta.

10