Timothée Poisot
@ctrlalttim.com
Almost certainly one of the ecologists of all time.
AI/ML, biodiversity monitoring, viral emergence, open science, methodological anarchism
he/they
🧪 https://epic-biodiversity.org/
AI/ML, biodiversity monitoring, viral emergence, open science, methodological anarchism
he/they
🧪 https://epic-biodiversity.org/
Pinned
Timothée Poisot
@ctrlalttim.com
· Nov 5
👋 Bonjour hi!
We've built a whole new website, and @ctrlalttim.com has thoughts about the long-term dynamics of research groups to share.
epic-biodiversity.org/blog/2025/11...
We've built a whole new website, and @ctrlalttim.com has thoughts about the long-term dynamics of research groups to share.
epic-biodiversity.org/blog/2025/11...
Bonjour hi! | ÉPICBiodiversity
epic-biodiversity.org
As one of the greatest writers of our age said, “venom with a new twang, same swagger, new thang” - the lab has changed a lot over ten years, and after thinking about who we became, we decided to re-do the website. And write about our theory of change.
Follow us - @epic-biodiversity.org !
Follow us - @epic-biodiversity.org !
@colincarlson.bsky.social @jbyoder.org hear me out
Hello, I'm passing on some stuff we found in the closet of doom! I feel almost certain that multiple people who follow me want Star Trek Catan. If someone will pay shipping it can be yours!
The catch: the back uh... appears to be in German? I suppose the inside is too maybe? LOL
The catch: the back uh... appears to be in German? I suppose the inside is too maybe? LOL
January 10, 2026 at 12:59 AM
@colincarlson.bsky.social @jbyoder.org hear me out
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
One of the reasons I am in the lab pretty much every day, and a assistant on all my student’s assays: if you aren’t practicing those skills, you are losing them (and one of the best parts of this whole profession imo)
January 8, 2026 at 6:40 PM
One of the reasons I am in the lab pretty much every day, and a assistant on all my student’s assays: if you aren’t practicing those skills, you are losing them (and one of the best parts of this whole profession imo)
This is a genuine issue for two very important (and inter-related) concerns.
First, pandemic preparedness; second, the hopefully last remnants of a colonialist perspective on open science that demands the right to exploit, and dares call it "access".
A short thread.
First, pandemic preparedness; second, the hopefully last remnants of a colonialist perspective on open science that demands the right to exploit, and dares call it "access".
A short thread.
“[P]utting data into GISAID is like dropping it in a mail slot in an unmarked building,” says @colincarlson.bsky.social. “It’s wonderful that there’s so much cool stuff in that building. It would be great if we knew who owned it, or who paid for it, or what they plan to do with it.”
#IDsky 🧪
#IDsky 🧪
Fresh conflicts erupt around giant database for flu and COVID-19 sequences
Critics say “autocratic” behavior by GISAID could hamper response to a future pandemic
www.science.org
January 8, 2026 at 4:28 PM
This is a genuine issue for two very important (and inter-related) concerns.
First, pandemic preparedness; second, the hopefully last remnants of a colonialist perspective on open science that demands the right to exploit, and dares call it "access".
A short thread.
First, pandemic preparedness; second, the hopefully last remnants of a colonialist perspective on open science that demands the right to exploit, and dares call it "access".
A short thread.
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
It was great to meet so many other Early Career Researchers at our #TIBS2026 mixer last night - both catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.
To celebrate all the ECR Biogeographers, we have created a starter pack so you can follow all the exciting work being done:
go.bsky.app/KvnmdnK
To celebrate all the ECR Biogeographers, we have created a starter pack so you can follow all the exciting work being done:
go.bsky.app/KvnmdnK
January 8, 2026 at 1:02 PM
It was great to meet so many other Early Career Researchers at our #TIBS2026 mixer last night - both catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.
To celebrate all the ECR Biogeographers, we have created a starter pack so you can follow all the exciting work being done:
go.bsky.app/KvnmdnK
To celebrate all the ECR Biogeographers, we have created a starter pack so you can follow all the exciting work being done:
go.bsky.app/KvnmdnK
I suspect that one of the reasons behind the widespread adoption of generative AI by faculty is that it gives people the illusion that they can still do the things they knew how to do as a postdoc. Gen AI is used as a poor substitute to maintaining core skills.
January 8, 2026 at 1:10 PM
I suspect that one of the reasons behind the widespread adoption of generative AI by faculty is that it gives people the illusion that they can still do the things they knew how to do as a postdoc. Gen AI is used as a poor substitute to maintaining core skills.
Today I found out that a criteria for B2 level in French fluency requires one to be able to "navigate a complex awkward social situation".
Needless to say it was quite a surprise to learn, after all these years, that I'm actually speaking French at an intermediate (B1) level.
Needless to say it was quite a surprise to learn, after all these years, that I'm actually speaking French at an intermediate (B1) level.
January 6, 2026 at 11:23 PM
Today I found out that a criteria for B2 level in French fluency requires one to be able to "navigate a complex awkward social situation".
Needless to say it was quite a surprise to learn, after all these years, that I'm actually speaking French at an intermediate (B1) level.
Needless to say it was quite a surprise to learn, after all these years, that I'm actually speaking French at an intermediate (B1) level.
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
The moment I decided to cancel Grammarly.
January 6, 2026 at 4:49 PM
The moment I decided to cancel Grammarly.
It's time for a little book retrospective for 2025. So here's a top 5+. Based on no particular criteria, just... a bit more than 5 really, really cool books I enjoyed a lot.
January 4, 2026 at 4:22 PM
It's time for a little book retrospective for 2025. So here's a top 5+. Based on no particular criteria, just... a bit more than 5 really, really cool books I enjoyed a lot.
Writing reviews of books is incredibly difficult.
My reasons to decide what is a 5⭐ book have included
- words make pretty music in my brain
- forever changed the way I see myself as a person in relation to the world
but also
- time travelling maculinists cut in half with a claymore
My reasons to decide what is a 5⭐ book have included
- words make pretty music in my brain
- forever changed the way I see myself as a person in relation to the world
but also
- time travelling maculinists cut in half with a claymore
December 28, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Writing reviews of books is incredibly difficult.
My reasons to decide what is a 5⭐ book have included
- words make pretty music in my brain
- forever changed the way I see myself as a person in relation to the world
but also
- time travelling maculinists cut in half with a claymore
My reasons to decide what is a 5⭐ book have included
- words make pretty music in my brain
- forever changed the way I see myself as a person in relation to the world
but also
- time travelling maculinists cut in half with a claymore
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
I've been writing a lecture which is going to feature a wide range of different invertebrate taxa.
At some point, I realised that instead of trying to source photos/images for all those taxa, it'd be easier (+ more stylistically consistent) for me to just draw them all myself.
#Invertebrate #SciArt
At some point, I realised that instead of trying to source photos/images for all those taxa, it'd be easier (+ more stylistically consistent) for me to just draw them all myself.
#Invertebrate #SciArt
December 9, 2025 at 2:38 AM
I've been writing a lecture which is going to feature a wide range of different invertebrate taxa.
At some point, I realised that instead of trying to source photos/images for all those taxa, it'd be easier (+ more stylistically consistent) for me to just draw them all myself.
#Invertebrate #SciArt
At some point, I realised that instead of trying to source photos/images for all those taxa, it'd be easier (+ more stylistically consistent) for me to just draw them all myself.
#Invertebrate #SciArt
After 10 years in storage my xbox360 finally croaked. My last 300 google searches are variations of "fallout new vegas linux please help please i need this so much"
December 21, 2025 at 8:36 PM
After 10 years in storage my xbox360 finally croaked. My last 300 google searches are variations of "fallout new vegas linux please help please i need this so much"
It's amazing how little Bloodborne has aged in 10 years. It's still at least as good as Elden Ring in my book.
December 19, 2025 at 2:00 AM
It's amazing how little Bloodborne has aged in 10 years. It's still at least as good as Elden Ring in my book.
Over a month ago, Ecological Indicators returned us either the wrong editorial decision, or the wrong reviews. In a month of emails with Elsevier, we have been unable to get any help.
The last time I published there, they also returned the wrong review to us. What is going on there?
The last time I published there, they also returned the wrong review to us. What is going on there?
December 18, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Over a month ago, Ecological Indicators returned us either the wrong editorial decision, or the wrong reviews. In a month of emails with Elsevier, we have been unable to get any help.
The last time I published there, they also returned the wrong review to us. What is going on there?
The last time I published there, they also returned the wrong review to us. What is going on there?
The simulations didn't work and I didn't get as far as I thought on this draft, bug the baking?
The baking got done.
The baking got done.
December 17, 2025 at 10:13 PM
The simulations didn't work and I didn't get as far as I thought on this draft, bug the baking?
The baking got done.
The baking got done.
The long downwards spiral of mozilla makes me sad everyday. At least they had the decency to get rid of thunderbird and let the community save it.
December 16, 2025 at 11:27 PM
The long downwards spiral of mozilla makes me sad everyday. At least they had the decency to get rid of thunderbird and let the community save it.
This is, not a joke, one of my favourite papers in a long time. Absolutely stellar co-authors, but also a straight line from "nitpicky little nerds obsessing over sampling" to "translational research with clear implications for management". Go read all about it here: ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...
December 15, 2025 at 3:07 PM
This is, not a joke, one of my favourite papers in a long time. Absolutely stellar co-authors, but also a straight line from "nitpicky little nerds obsessing over sampling" to "translational research with clear implications for management". Go read all about it here: ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...
11y.o. decided on tyrannids. We're SO back.
December 13, 2025 at 8:22 PM
11y.o. decided on tyrannids. We're SO back.
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
found an etsy shop that's doing a tremendous bit
December 12, 2025 at 10:20 PM
found an etsy shop that's doing a tremendous bit
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
i made a few edits to my sad little poem & drew something to accompany it
![[pothos plant vine drawing]
message to my former friend who uses AI
images to accompany social media posts
about his job at the addict kids to gambling factory
re: your prompt
"anime style guy in work clothes," a boyish
face that desperately clings to bygone youth;
unspecified "potted plants" -- mimicry
of perhaps lilacs, plum blossoms
on vague greenery blobs
They all have leaves like rose bushes, though
I see over here the machine tried to
approximate: spider plant, monstera, anthurium
But I can tell: you didn't bother
to learn botanical names.
(I hesitate to call them) pothos drape,
weightless, on a pergola ("sunny day")
-- there's no real source of light.
Lines: wrong without handsweight
or intent, "make"
"cityscape in the background."
I would have taught you to place
a horizon line,
a vanishing point](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ymipjgi2ebiptelhrw6zezas/bafkreibvj3ui3r3h3ln2wr4747lttxga6z2vsnvsb7hem7jeio3lq7gaei@jpeg)
December 10, 2025 at 10:40 PM
i made a few edits to my sad little poem & drew something to accompany it
Noteworthy because it was my first time adding a polygon provider using the interface @mdcatchen.bsky.social built for one of our component packages 🎉
We have added support for ESRI administrative areas to our species distribution #JuliaLang package — a lot more stable than GADM (although limited to level 1 divisions).
📗 Read more: poisotlab.github.io/SpeciesDistr...
📗 Read more: poisotlab.github.io/SpeciesDistr...
![using SpeciesDistributionToolkit
const SDT = SpeciesDistributionToolkit
using CairoMakie
# Get the data
const DATA_DOI = "10.15468/dl.7ddsb7"
presences = GBIF.download(DATA_DOI)
# Get the country-level data
borders = getpolygon(PolygonData(ESRI, Places))["Country" => "Tanzania"]
# Make a plot
poly(borders, color=:grey95)
lines!(borders, color=:grey40, linewidth=0.5)
scatter!(presences, color=:white, strokecolor=:forestgreen, strokewidth=1)
current_figure()](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:55yjeft22dumoonnjlzb6ia3/bafkreicyw7zr3uiwfgwg2eceu7ut5cfokahruambkx6p4n3gjrnrp2bwxi@jpeg)
December 11, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Noteworthy because it was my first time adding a polygon provider using the interface @mdcatchen.bsky.social built for one of our component packages 🎉
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
@typst.app really is as good as the hype.
December 10, 2025 at 6:17 PM
@typst.app really is as good as the hype.
"reviewers finish reading a paragraph before commenting" challenge (impossible)
Very seriously, my adventures as an author recently suggest that none of you should be complaining about the low reading skills of students. Fix your attention span.
Very seriously, my adventures as an author recently suggest that none of you should be complaining about the low reading skills of students. Fix your attention span.
December 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
"reviewers finish reading a paragraph before commenting" challenge (impossible)
Very seriously, my adventures as an author recently suggest that none of you should be complaining about the low reading skills of students. Fix your attention span.
Very seriously, my adventures as an author recently suggest that none of you should be complaining about the low reading skills of students. Fix your attention span.
Responding to reviewer 2 is made measurably better by listening to King Tubby's version of Take Five
Take Five
open.spotify.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Responding to reviewer 2 is made measurably better by listening to King Tubby's version of Take Five
Checklists for quantitative analyses do not work. For beginners, they are overwhelming, and usually not sufficient enough that you can't make severe mistakes while thinking you're following best practices. For experts, they are obviously a hindrance, as you are supposed to be pushing boundaries.
December 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Checklists for quantitative analyses do not work. For beginners, they are overwhelming, and usually not sufficient enough that you can't make severe mistakes while thinking you're following best practices. For experts, they are obviously a hindrance, as you are supposed to be pushing boundaries.