Dr. Davey F. Wright ⛏️🦕🧬
@daveyfwright.bsky.social
Paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, & punk rock enthusiast. Assistant Professor & Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology. U Oklahoma/Sam Noble Museum of Natural History. Macroevolution, phylogenetic methods, echinoderms https://daveyfwright.wordpress.com
Pinned
Assessing the impact of character evolution models on phylogenetic and macroevolutionary inferences from fossil data
Understanding the evolution and phylogenetic distribution of morphologic traits is fundamental to macroevolutionary research. Despite decades of major advances and key insights from molecular systema...
dx.doi.org
🚨New paper out in Palaeontology! Check it out if you're interested morphological evolution, fossil phylogenetics, and macroevolution 🧪
"Assessing the impact of character evolution models on phylogenetic and macroevolutionary inferences from fossil data"
"Assessing the impact of character evolution models on phylogenetic and macroevolutionary inferences from fossil data"
In an era marked by rapid climate change and biodiversity loss, it is imperative that we continue to invest in the unique value of natural history collections data
"Global sampling decline erodes science potential of natural history collections" 🧪
"Global sampling decline erodes science potential of natural history collections" 🧪
Global sampling decline erodes science potential of natural history collections - Nature Communications
Natural history collections hold over two billion specimens representing Earth’s biodiversity, but their scientific value depends on continued specimen collection and digitisation. This study demonstr...
www.nature.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:10 AM
In an era marked by rapid climate change and biodiversity loss, it is imperative that we continue to invest in the unique value of natural history collections data
"Global sampling decline erodes science potential of natural history collections" 🧪
"Global sampling decline erodes science potential of natural history collections" 🧪
I had forgotten about some of these. Incredible how much this still holds up after so many years. Could probably add a few more to the list
For those who don't know what I'm talking about, see Rant #7 here
(Felsenstein Lab) Some rants and diatribes
felsenst.github.io
November 24, 2025 at 3:50 PM
I had forgotten about some of these. Incredible how much this still holds up after so many years. Could probably add a few more to the list
Reposted by Dr. Davey F. Wright ⛏️🦕🧬
I like to joke that cladistics is the all-time "well actually" discipline of science. Cladists spent decades "well actually"-ing one another in their own journal (and some of them still do). In fact, Felsenstein may need to add this definition to his list for what the word "cladistics" means
November 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I like to joke that cladistics is the all-time "well actually" discipline of science. Cladists spent decades "well actually"-ing one another in their own journal (and some of them still do). In fact, Felsenstein may need to add this definition to his list for what the word "cladistics" means
Woke up this morning and tried to put cream in my coffee but instead I poured coffee into a nearby glass of water
November 24, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Woke up this morning and tried to put cream in my coffee but instead I poured coffee into a nearby glass of water
Both punk rock and academic science are channels for creativity. Feeling blessed I somehow figured out a way for paleontology to pay the bills. What an absurd but lovely and extremely rewarding profession
Punk rock didn't pay the bills so I pivoted to the ludicrous path of academic paleontology
What’s the lore behind choosing your career path ?
November 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Both punk rock and academic science are channels for creativity. Feeling blessed I somehow figured out a way for paleontology to pay the bills. What an absurd but lovely and extremely rewarding profession
The Price equation unifies ecologic and evolutionary change 🧪
We got published in Ecology&Evolution! We propose an equation from which we derive the fundamental equations of population ecology and evolutionary biology (the Price equation). #evobio #philbio onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
November 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The Price equation unifies ecologic and evolutionary change 🧪
Zen Arcade by Hüsker Dü is an all-time masterpiece of "progressive" hardcore/punk rock. A truly beautiful and historically significant work of art
November 23, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Zen Arcade by Hüsker Dü is an all-time masterpiece of "progressive" hardcore/punk rock. A truly beautiful and historically significant work of art
When I was a young boy
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band
He said, "Son, when you grow up
Would you be the savior of the broken
The beaten and the damned?"
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band
He said, "Son, when you grow up
Would you be the savior of the broken
The beaten and the damned?"
Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train going anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train going anywhere
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train going anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train going anywhere
November 23, 2025 at 4:50 AM
When I was a young boy
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band
He said, "Son, when you grow up
Would you be the savior of the broken
The beaten and the damned?"
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band
He said, "Son, when you grow up
Would you be the savior of the broken
The beaten and the damned?"
Punk rock didn't pay the bills so I pivoted to the ludicrous path of academic paleontology
November 22, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Punk rock didn't pay the bills so I pivoted to the ludicrous path of academic paleontology
In a world that where the establishment celebrates anti-intellectualism and hyper-individualism, the most anti-establishment thing you can do is become an intellectual and work to improve material conditions for everyone
November 21, 2025 at 3:26 PM
In a world that where the establishment celebrates anti-intellectualism and hyper-individualism, the most anti-establishment thing you can do is become an intellectual and work to improve material conditions for everyone
Reposted by Dr. Davey F. Wright ⛏️🦕🧬
College is such a precious opportunity to do real thinking in a variety of fields. Always thrilled to see when students make an effort to take advantage of it.
Thinking a lot lately about the simple fact that college allows people to spend about 15 weeks immersed in a disciplinary conversation with an expert in that field. And what a special thing that is.
November 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM
College is such a precious opportunity to do real thinking in a variety of fields. Always thrilled to see when students make an effort to take advantage of it.
Reposted by Dr. Davey F. Wright ⛏️🦕🧬
Social media is wild because you'll just be scrolling for cool nature videos or something but then inadvertently see woke vs unwoke Raytheon discourse
November 21, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Social media is wild because you'll just be scrolling for cool nature videos or something but then inadvertently see woke vs unwoke Raytheon discourse
"Existential threats like... an over-reliance on Earth."
I asked grok who was the better role model for humanity, Jesus Christ or Elon Musk. GUESS WHAT.
November 21, 2025 at 1:54 AM
"Existential threats like... an over-reliance on Earth."
what doesn't kill me makes me drink a stronger cup of coffee ☕
November 20, 2025 at 11:39 PM
what doesn't kill me makes me drink a stronger cup of coffee ☕
Absolutely agree 💯. The same argument applies to folks interested in geophysical sciences & paleobiology. It's very good for students to be broadly trained in fundamental science
so yeah, your students should learn basic physics, not just what's immediately required for their specialty
November 20, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Absolutely agree 💯. The same argument applies to folks interested in geophysical sciences & paleobiology. It's very good for students to be broadly trained in fundamental science
Reposted by Dr. Davey F. Wright ⛏️🦕🧬
i don't agree with the attitude of some faculty that their job is to train people who can run the code, even if they don't understand the underlying physics
i want a society of people who are trained to be curious about the code they're being asked to run and capable of understanding it, actually
i want a society of people who are trained to be curious about the code they're being asked to run and capable of understanding it, actually
November 20, 2025 at 6:00 PM
i don't agree with the attitude of some faculty that their job is to train people who can run the code, even if they don't understand the underlying physics
i want a society of people who are trained to be curious about the code they're being asked to run and capable of understanding it, actually
i want a society of people who are trained to be curious about the code they're being asked to run and capable of understanding it, actually
Reposted by Dr. Davey F. Wright ⛏️🦕🧬
Link to website for info regarding the opportunity, requirements, and how to apply
News
PhD and MSc positions in Phylogenetic, Computational, and/or Evolutionary Paleobiology [Posted September 2025. Deadline is January 15, 2026. See below for information about the lab, student opportu…
daveyfwright.wordpress.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Link to website for info regarding the opportunity, requirements, and how to apply
Reposted by Dr. Davey F. Wright ⛏️🦕🧬
Reminder that my lab is seeking graduate students for fall 2026. As part of @oupaleobiology.bsky.social, my lab uses a combination of fossils, statistical phylogenetics, fieldwork, & computational approaches to investigate macroevolutionary dynamics in the marine biosphere. Link w/ more info below:
November 12, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Reminder that my lab is seeking graduate students for fall 2026. As part of @oupaleobiology.bsky.social, my lab uses a combination of fossils, statistical phylogenetics, fieldwork, & computational approaches to investigate macroevolutionary dynamics in the marine biosphere. Link w/ more info below:
"The beauty of nature lies in detail; the message in generality." - Stephen Jay Gould (Wonderful Life)
November 20, 2025 at 12:51 PM
"The beauty of nature lies in detail; the message in generality." - Stephen Jay Gould (Wonderful Life)
Still thinking about the fantastic MXPX show last weekend in OKC. They were the band that got me into punk rock >25 years ago & really know how to put on a spectacular and energetic live performance. They're one of the greats up there with The Descendents, Social Distortion, & Bad Religion
November 19, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Still thinking about the fantastic MXPX show last weekend in OKC. They were the band that got me into punk rock >25 years ago & really know how to put on a spectacular and energetic live performance. They're one of the greats up there with The Descendents, Social Distortion, & Bad Religion
Re-sharing my masterpiece on W. S. Gilbert's birthday
To the tune of a Gilbert & Sullivan patter song:
I am the very model of a modern paleontologist
I’m a geo-evo-bio trained historical zoologist
I know the fossil record & the Earth’s tale historical
And the phylogeny & classification of life categorical
I'll show myself out 🎵🦕🧪
I am the very model of a modern paleontologist
I’m a geo-evo-bio trained historical zoologist
I know the fossil record & the Earth’s tale historical
And the phylogeny & classification of life categorical
I'll show myself out 🎵🦕🧪
November 18, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Re-sharing my masterpiece on W. S. Gilbert's birthday
keep ai slop out of scientific journals
November 18, 2025 at 3:38 PM
keep ai slop out of scientific journals
It's important to appreciate common species, too. American Robins sure do look pretty in the fall foliage
November 16, 2025 at 4:33 PM
It's important to appreciate common species, too. American Robins sure do look pretty in the fall foliage
Reposted by Dr. Davey F. Wright ⛏️🦕🧬
I can‘t believe that we‘re willingly handing over crucial parts of our workforce, data management and even education to a criminal version of Clippy
November 15, 2025 at 9:56 PM
I can‘t believe that we‘re willingly handing over crucial parts of our workforce, data management and even education to a criminal version of Clippy
Lol this reminds me so much of living in DC and the NoVa area
"Sure, I chose to be here, and yes, I could almost certainly find a job elsewhere, but redoing my résumé would take time. Also, I don’t feel like it. Besides, once a year, my company mandates all employees to help clean up a local beach, and I almost always go."
I Work For an Evil Company, but Outside Work, I’m Actually a Really Good Person
I love my job. I make a great salary, there’s a clear path to promotion, and a never-ending supply of cold brew in the office. And even though my j...
buff.ly
November 15, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Lol this reminds me so much of living in DC and the NoVa area