Joanna Bagniewska
@joannabagniewska.com
Lecturer in Environmental Science at Oxford Uni, Oxford Lifelong Learning @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social
Fellow at @kelloggoxford.bsky.social
Zoologist, science communicator, π΅π± in π¬π§.
#AcademicSky π§ͺ
I write books, buy them!
https://linktr.ee/jbagniewska
Fellow at @kelloggoxford.bsky.social
Zoologist, science communicator, π΅π± in π¬π§.
#AcademicSky π§ͺ
I write books, buy them!
https://linktr.ee/jbagniewska
Happy 25th birthday, @wikipedia.org! π
The first edit in Wikipedia's database, to HomePage, was made on January 15, 2001, at 19:27 (UTC), and stated in its entirety "This is the new WikiPedia!"
Over 65 million articles across 300+ languages. Here's to many more π
#Wikipedia25 π§ͺ
The first edit in Wikipedia's database, to HomePage, was made on January 15, 2001, at 19:27 (UTC), and stated in its entirety "This is the new WikiPedia!"
Over 65 million articles across 300+ languages. Here's to many more π
#Wikipedia25 π§ͺ
January 15, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Happy 25th birthday, @wikipedia.org! π
The first edit in Wikipedia's database, to HomePage, was made on January 15, 2001, at 19:27 (UTC), and stated in its entirety "This is the new WikiPedia!"
Over 65 million articles across 300+ languages. Here's to many more π
#Wikipedia25 π§ͺ
The first edit in Wikipedia's database, to HomePage, was made on January 15, 2001, at 19:27 (UTC), and stated in its entirety "This is the new WikiPedia!"
Over 65 million articles across 300+ languages. Here's to many more π
#Wikipedia25 π§ͺ
Paid summer research internships in Oxford! Work with me on biodiversity in school grounds (or with someone else on another project).
π§ͺ #UNIQplus is open to UK undergraduates from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds.
π Applications due 18 Feb:
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/g...
π #AcademicSky
π§ͺ #UNIQplus is open to UK undergraduates from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds.
π Applications due 18 Feb:
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/g...
π #AcademicSky
January 14, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Paid summer research internships in Oxford! Work with me on biodiversity in school grounds (or with someone else on another project).
π§ͺ #UNIQplus is open to UK undergraduates from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds.
π Applications due 18 Feb:
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/g...
π #AcademicSky
π§ͺ #UNIQplus is open to UK undergraduates from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds.
π Applications due 18 Feb:
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/g...
π #AcademicSky
More on this in the @newscientist.com article: institutions.newscientist.com/article/2496...
institutions.newscientist.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:45 PM
More on this in the @newscientist.com article: institutions.newscientist.com/article/2496...
π»ππ»ββοΈ
Polar bear βοΈ+ grizzly βοΈ= PIZZLY
Grizzly βοΈ+ polar bear βοΈ= GROLAR
Number of hybrid bears is likely to increase as climate change and ice decline push polar bears south, while grizzlies move north. These hybrids aren't sterile, but also lack the specific adaptations of their parents.
π§ͺπ
Polar bear βοΈ+ grizzly βοΈ= PIZZLY
Grizzly βοΈ+ polar bear βοΈ= GROLAR
Number of hybrid bears is likely to increase as climate change and ice decline push polar bears south, while grizzlies move north. These hybrids aren't sterile, but also lack the specific adaptations of their parents.
π§ͺπ
January 13, 2026 at 2:45 PM
π»ππ»ββοΈ
Polar bear βοΈ+ grizzly βοΈ= PIZZLY
Grizzly βοΈ+ polar bear βοΈ= GROLAR
Number of hybrid bears is likely to increase as climate change and ice decline push polar bears south, while grizzlies move north. These hybrids aren't sterile, but also lack the specific adaptations of their parents.
π§ͺπ
Polar bear βοΈ+ grizzly βοΈ= PIZZLY
Grizzly βοΈ+ polar bear βοΈ= GROLAR
Number of hybrid bears is likely to increase as climate change and ice decline push polar bears south, while grizzlies move north. These hybrids aren't sterile, but also lack the specific adaptations of their parents.
π§ͺπ
MoΕΌe czas zmieniΔ konferencje? :)
December 30, 2025 at 12:23 PM
MoΕΌe czas zmieniΔ konferencje? :)
π§ͺπ
#academicsky
#academicsky
π¨Roll up, roll up, fully-funded #PhD deadlines approaching...
6th Jan: tinyurl.com/aja54nr6
8th Jan: tinyurl.com/4jfy47pp
Social monitoring & manipulation
#meerkats #mongooses #macaques #fieldwork #long-termdata
@patrick-kennedy.bsky.social @ljnbrent.bsky.social
@bristolbiosci.bsky.social
6th Jan: tinyurl.com/aja54nr6
8th Jan: tinyurl.com/4jfy47pp
Social monitoring & manipulation
#meerkats #mongooses #macaques #fieldwork #long-termdata
@patrick-kennedy.bsky.social @ljnbrent.bsky.social
@bristolbiosci.bsky.social
December 30, 2025 at 11:15 AM
π§ͺπ
#academicsky
#academicsky
Excellent advice collated by @billsutherland.bsky.social at #BES2025 - how to approach scientific conferences (especially ones as big as those from @britishecologicalsociety.org).
Don't be afraid to chat people up, attend talks you fancy, and enjoy yourself!
What would you add?
#academicsky π§ͺ
Don't be afraid to chat people up, attend talks you fancy, and enjoy yourself!
What would you add?
#academicsky π§ͺ
I asked participants for tips attending scientific conferences #BES2025 youtu.be/ow_ickvkvbA?...
Tips for attending scientific conferences
YouTube video by Bill Sutherland's Conservation Concepts
youtu.be
December 18, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Excellent advice collated by @billsutherland.bsky.social at #BES2025 - how to approach scientific conferences (especially ones as big as those from @britishecologicalsociety.org).
Don't be afraid to chat people up, attend talks you fancy, and enjoy yourself!
What would you add?
#academicsky π§ͺ
Don't be afraid to chat people up, attend talks you fancy, and enjoy yourself!
What would you add?
#academicsky π§ͺ
Great talk from @clairebranston.bsky.social at #BES2025, with a Glasgow urban gradient setup similar to that of @mszulkin.bsky.social in Warsaw.
Earlier egg laying with greater oak availability.
π§ͺ
Earlier egg laying with greater oak availability.
π§ͺ
December 17, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Great talk from @clairebranston.bsky.social at #BES2025, with a Glasgow urban gradient setup similar to that of @mszulkin.bsky.social in Warsaw.
Earlier egg laying with greater oak availability.
π§ͺ
Earlier egg laying with greater oak availability.
π§ͺ
Are you at #BES2025 @britishecologicalsociety.org Annual Meeting?
Come and say hi to the ecology team from @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social!
#biodiversity #academicSky π§ͺππ¦
Come and say hi to the ecology team from @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social!
#biodiversity #academicSky π§ͺππ¦
December 16, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Are you at #BES2025 @britishecologicalsociety.org Annual Meeting?
Come and say hi to the ecology team from @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social!
#biodiversity #academicSky π§ͺππ¦
Come and say hi to the ecology team from @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social!
#biodiversity #academicSky π§ͺππ¦
Come to our workshop at @britishecologicalsociety.org Annual Meeting #bes2025 tomorrow lunchtime. We will discuss fieldwork teaching for AI-proofing assessments and improving AI skills - bring your case studies!
π§ͺ #academicsky π
@drnickworsfold.bsky.social
π§ͺ #academicsky π
@drnickworsfold.bsky.social
December 15, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Come to our workshop at @britishecologicalsociety.org Annual Meeting #bes2025 tomorrow lunchtime. We will discuss fieldwork teaching for AI-proofing assessments and improving AI skills - bring your case studies!
π§ͺ #academicsky π
@drnickworsfold.bsky.social
π§ͺ #academicsky π
@drnickworsfold.bsky.social
"Owls, by far the most common species, were often tethered to perches, unable to fly. Owls are nocturnal species and therefore their natural behaviour is to hide away during daylight hours." writes Sam Ward, prof of zoo animal welfare, of animal cafes.
π§ͺπ
theconversation.com/exotic-anima...
π§ͺπ
theconversation.com/exotic-anima...
Exotic animal cafes: cute trend or welfare crisis?
Exotic animal cafes are marketed as harmless fun, but research findings suggest a more complex truth.
theconversation.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:31 PM
"Owls, by far the most common species, were often tethered to perches, unable to fly. Owls are nocturnal species and therefore their natural behaviour is to hide away during daylight hours." writes Sam Ward, prof of zoo animal welfare, of animal cafes.
π§ͺπ
theconversation.com/exotic-anima...
π§ͺπ
theconversation.com/exotic-anima...
Animal cafes - hot or not?
Exotic animal cafes provide
-limited space
-poor animal interaction oversight and controls
-inadequate feeding
-restricted behavioral opportunities
resulting in poor welfare. Even cat cafes have low welfare scores.
Don't go there.
π§ͺπβπΎ
Research: doi.org/10.1292/jvms...
Exotic animal cafes provide
-limited space
-poor animal interaction oversight and controls
-inadequate feeding
-restricted behavioral opportunities
resulting in poor welfare. Even cat cafes have low welfare scores.
Don't go there.
π§ͺπβπΎ
Research: doi.org/10.1292/jvms...
December 12, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Animal cafes - hot or not?
Exotic animal cafes provide
-limited space
-poor animal interaction oversight and controls
-inadequate feeding
-restricted behavioral opportunities
resulting in poor welfare. Even cat cafes have low welfare scores.
Don't go there.
π§ͺπβπΎ
Research: doi.org/10.1292/jvms...
Exotic animal cafes provide
-limited space
-poor animal interaction oversight and controls
-inadequate feeding
-restricted behavioral opportunities
resulting in poor welfare. Even cat cafes have low welfare scores.
Don't go there.
π§ͺπβπΎ
Research: doi.org/10.1292/jvms...
Avoid those horrific humblebragging posts ("I am humbled to have been awarded...") π€’. Be genuine. Think about who your audience is.
My high-flying MBA mate once said: it's so refreshing to see your LinkedIn - everyone writes about their conferences and promotions, and you post pictures of ants.
My high-flying MBA mate once said: it's so refreshing to see your LinkedIn - everyone writes about their conferences and promotions, and you post pictures of ants.
December 8, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Avoid those horrific humblebragging posts ("I am humbled to have been awarded...") π€’. Be genuine. Think about who your audience is.
My high-flying MBA mate once said: it's so refreshing to see your LinkedIn - everyone writes about their conferences and promotions, and you post pictures of ants.
My high-flying MBA mate once said: it's so refreshing to see your LinkedIn - everyone writes about their conferences and promotions, and you post pictures of ants.
Can fungi build better homes for cavity-nesting birds?
We combine expertise in architecture (@unimelb.bsky.social) and ecology (@ox.ac.uk) to see if nests made out of mycelium (insulating, carbon-neutral and biodegradable fungi roots) attract birds.
π§ͺπͺΆπ
www.birdsonthebrink.co.uk/blog/botb-gr...
We combine expertise in architecture (@unimelb.bsky.social) and ecology (@ox.ac.uk) to see if nests made out of mycelium (insulating, carbon-neutral and biodegradable fungi roots) attract birds.
π§ͺπͺΆπ
www.birdsonthebrink.co.uk/blog/botb-gr...
December 5, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Can fungi build better homes for cavity-nesting birds?
We combine expertise in architecture (@unimelb.bsky.social) and ecology (@ox.ac.uk) to see if nests made out of mycelium (insulating, carbon-neutral and biodegradable fungi roots) attract birds.
π§ͺπͺΆπ
www.birdsonthebrink.co.uk/blog/botb-gr...
We combine expertise in architecture (@unimelb.bsky.social) and ecology (@ox.ac.uk) to see if nests made out of mycelium (insulating, carbon-neutral and biodegradable fungi roots) attract birds.
π§ͺπͺΆπ
www.birdsonthebrink.co.uk/blog/botb-gr...
Do striped hyenas have a sweet tooth?
Yes, yes they do.
Here's the first record of honey consumption by a hyena, caught on a camera trap in Kenya:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
π§ͺππΎπ―
Yes, yes they do.
Here's the first record of honey consumption by a hyena, caught on a camera trap in Kenya:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
π§ͺππΎπ―
December 4, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Do striped hyenas have a sweet tooth?
Yes, yes they do.
Here's the first record of honey consumption by a hyena, caught on a camera trap in Kenya:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
π§ͺππΎπ―
Yes, yes they do.
Here's the first record of honey consumption by a hyena, caught on a camera trap in Kenya:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
π§ͺππΎπ―
Some fantastic pedagogical points made here - eloquent and compact. And yes, there needs to be more talk about how explanations are not the same as learning.
#AcademicSky
#AcademicSky
Can LLMs be personal tutors?
In theory yes; in practice there are some big challenges to overcome. I list four here.
In particular we have to get away from the idea that explanations = learning.
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/llm-tutors...
In theory yes; in practice there are some big challenges to overcome. I list four here.
In particular we have to get away from the idea that explanations = learning.
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/llm-tutors...
Can LLMs be personal tutors?
Four big challenges
substack.nomoremarking.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Some fantastic pedagogical points made here - eloquent and compact. And yes, there needs to be more talk about how explanations are not the same as learning.
#AcademicSky
#AcademicSky
No, but not having to learn the intricacies of coding means that they are able to focus on the statistical analysis rather than being worried about how to program. They still need to understand which analytical methods to use and check that the output is correct.
December 3, 2025 at 2:36 PM
No, but not having to learn the intricacies of coding means that they are able to focus on the statistical analysis rather than being worried about how to program. They still need to understand which analytical methods to use and check that the output is correct.
Ecology students are more keen to use R for stats when they are able to vibecode instead of being bogged down with the programming (they usually don't have much of a background in coding and want to just focus on producing a useful graph).
December 3, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Ecology students are more keen to use R for stats when they are able to vibecode instead of being bogged down with the programming (they usually don't have much of a background in coding and want to just focus on producing a useful graph).
πWhat does the herp say?
The first ever record of vocalisation in viviparous lizards is described in The Herpetological Bulletin: www.thebhs.org/publications... - and by my student Johnnie Johnson, no less!
FYI, the sound is a "brief chirp".
π§ͺππ¦
The first ever record of vocalisation in viviparous lizards is described in The Herpetological Bulletin: www.thebhs.org/publications... - and by my student Johnnie Johnson, no less!
FYI, the sound is a "brief chirp".
π§ͺππ¦
December 3, 2025 at 2:24 PM
πWhat does the herp say?
The first ever record of vocalisation in viviparous lizards is described in The Herpetological Bulletin: www.thebhs.org/publications... - and by my student Johnnie Johnson, no less!
FYI, the sound is a "brief chirp".
π§ͺππ¦
The first ever record of vocalisation in viviparous lizards is described in The Herpetological Bulletin: www.thebhs.org/publications... - and by my student Johnnie Johnson, no less!
FYI, the sound is a "brief chirp".
π§ͺππ¦
Whole podcast ("The Subtle Art of Connecting with an Audience") can be found here:
YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Rx...
Podcast platforms
mentormeet.com/podcast/
#AcademicSky #Scicomm π§ͺ
YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Rx...
Podcast platforms
mentormeet.com/podcast/
#AcademicSky #Scicomm π§ͺ
The Subtle Art of Connecting with an Audience | MentorMeet Stories with Joanna & Nadia
YouTube video by MentorMeet
www.youtube.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Whole podcast ("The Subtle Art of Connecting with an Audience") can be found here:
YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Rx...
Podcast platforms
mentormeet.com/podcast/
#AcademicSky #Scicomm π§ͺ
YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Rx...
Podcast platforms
mentormeet.com/podcast/
#AcademicSky #Scicomm π§ͺ
The Communicating Scientist strikes again!
Before engaging in any sort of communication - speaking, writing, visuals - ask yourself:
π―What is your purpose?
π€Who is your audience?
β οΈWhat are your constraints?
This is the foundation for tailoring your messages and approaches.
#AcademicSky #Scicomm π§ͺ
Before engaging in any sort of communication - speaking, writing, visuals - ask yourself:
π―What is your purpose?
π€Who is your audience?
β οΈWhat are your constraints?
This is the foundation for tailoring your messages and approaches.
#AcademicSky #Scicomm π§ͺ
December 1, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The Communicating Scientist strikes again!
Before engaging in any sort of communication - speaking, writing, visuals - ask yourself:
π―What is your purpose?
π€Who is your audience?
β οΈWhat are your constraints?
This is the foundation for tailoring your messages and approaches.
#AcademicSky #Scicomm π§ͺ
Before engaging in any sort of communication - speaking, writing, visuals - ask yourself:
π―What is your purpose?
π€Who is your audience?
β οΈWhat are your constraints?
This is the foundation for tailoring your messages and approaches.
#AcademicSky #Scicomm π§ͺ
Early career ornithologists, this one's for you.
π§ͺππͺΆ
π§ͺππͺΆ
π Abstract submission is open for the EOU Fledglings Meeting 2026 in GdaΕsk, Poland (27β29 March 2026)!
π Submit your oral/poster abstract:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
π Deadline: 16 Jan 2026
More info: eounion.org/fledglings
#EOU26 #Ornithology
π Submit your oral/poster abstract:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
π Deadline: 16 Jan 2026
More info: eounion.org/fledglings
#EOU26 #Ornithology
November 28, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Early career ornithologists, this one's for you.
π§ͺππͺΆ
π§ͺππͺΆ
About time!
The EU court has ruled that Poland must recognise the marriage of a Polish same-sex couple who married in Germany, even though Polish law does not allow such marriages.
The ruling requires Poland to change its system for recognising such marriages so as not to discriminate against same-sex couples.
The ruling requires Poland to change its system for recognising such marriages so as not to discriminate against same-sex couples.
EU court orders Poland to recognise same-sex marriages conducted in other member states
notesfrompoland.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:31 PM
About time!
And a composite image from the paper, showing kitties hunting invertebrates.
π§ͺπππͺ²
π§ͺπππͺ²
November 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
And a composite image from the paper, showing kitties hunting invertebrates.
π§ͺπππͺ²
π§ͺπππͺ²
π What's TikTok good for? Examining which arthropods are hunted by cats.
π Social media have become an increasingly useful resource in ecological research.
πͺ² We now know that cats kill arthropods from 14 different orders.
π§ͺ Study:
resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
π Social media have become an increasingly useful resource in ecological research.
πͺ² We now know that cats kill arthropods from 14 different orders.
π§ͺ Study:
resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Social media highlights the overlooked impact of cats on arthropods
The impact of domestic cats on vertebrate biodiversity is unequivocal; however, we still know little about their effects on arthropods. By analysing over 17,000 photos and videos from social media p...
resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
π What's TikTok good for? Examining which arthropods are hunted by cats.
π Social media have become an increasingly useful resource in ecological research.
πͺ² We now know that cats kill arthropods from 14 different orders.
π§ͺ Study:
resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
π Social media have become an increasingly useful resource in ecological research.
πͺ² We now know that cats kill arthropods from 14 different orders.
π§ͺ Study:
resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...