Michael Jennions
@mikejennions.bsky.social
Because there are never enough social media sites to sign up to and then ignore.
Evolutionary ecology | Behavioural Ecology |
http://thejennionslab.weebly.com
Evolutionary ecology | Behavioural Ecology |
http://thejennionslab.weebly.com
Pinned
Letter of Support for nomination of @ARC_Tracker for a Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science
In signing this form you endorse the proposal to nominate @ARC_Tracker for a Eureka Prize in the category 'Leadership in Science'. The list of signatories will be appended to the nomination form. I wi...
forms.gle
Australian Researchers,
If you want to support @arc-tracker.bsky.social being awarded a Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science, sign this letter of support.
forms.gle/WxfVjk9JaGpn...
Q: "Are they eligible?",
A: "Let's find out"
Sign, repost & send the link to colleagues. Word of mouth. Do it!
If you want to support @arc-tracker.bsky.social being awarded a Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science, sign this letter of support.
forms.gle/WxfVjk9JaGpn...
Q: "Are they eligible?",
A: "Let's find out"
Sign, repost & send the link to colleagues. Word of mouth. Do it!
Reposted by Michael Jennions
The ClubEvMed on Dec 2 at Noon ET on this new book will be interesting! Laurence Hurst will kick it off, David Haig will comment, and I will MC a lively discussion. @evmed.bsky.social @umehap.bsky.social @tricem.bsky.social @evmedasu.bsky.social
Register now!
duke.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Register now!
duke.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
November 21, 2025 at 12:27 AM
The ClubEvMed on Dec 2 at Noon ET on this new book will be interesting! Laurence Hurst will kick it off, David Haig will comment, and I will MC a lively discussion. @evmed.bsky.social @umehap.bsky.social @tricem.bsky.social @evmedasu.bsky.social
Register now!
duke.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Register now!
duke.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Michael Jennions
Oh wow! An excellent engaged review of I Dream of Theresa May. I couldn't be happier!
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ “A whip-smart piece of queer political satire.“
www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/i-dr...
On until the 29th @taratheatre.com:
taratheatre.com/whats-on/i-d...
(Spoilers in the review- you have been warned)
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ “A whip-smart piece of queer political satire.“
www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/i-dr...
On until the 29th @taratheatre.com:
taratheatre.com/whats-on/i-d...
(Spoilers in the review- you have been warned)
I Dream of Theresa May at Tara Theatre, London: dark, absorbing comedy
Read our review of I Dream of Theresa May at Tara Theatre, London: astute new political satire exploring British culture under a hostile-environment policy
www.thestage.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Oh wow! An excellent engaged review of I Dream of Theresa May. I couldn't be happier!
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ “A whip-smart piece of queer political satire.“
www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/i-dr...
On until the 29th @taratheatre.com:
taratheatre.com/whats-on/i-d...
(Spoilers in the review- you have been warned)
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ “A whip-smart piece of queer political satire.“
www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/i-dr...
On until the 29th @taratheatre.com:
taratheatre.com/whats-on/i-d...
(Spoilers in the review- you have been warned)
Reposted by Michael Jennions
The final chapter of my thesis has just been published in Ecology and Evolution! @ecol-evol.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Here we find that the social environment, notably vocal and aggressive interactions, are linked to cognitive development in magpie fledglings.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Here we find that the social environment, notably vocal and aggressive interactions, are linked to cognitive development in magpie fledglings.
November 14, 2025 at 11:22 AM
The final chapter of my thesis has just been published in Ecology and Evolution! @ecol-evol.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Here we find that the social environment, notably vocal and aggressive interactions, are linked to cognitive development in magpie fledglings.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Here we find that the social environment, notably vocal and aggressive interactions, are linked to cognitive development in magpie fledglings.
Reposted by Michael Jennions
What is sexual selection all about... definitionally and mathematically? A super talented PI, Jussi Lehtonen, is looking for a postdoc to work it all out! Deadline end of this month.
ats.talentadore.com/apply/postdo...
ats.talentadore.com/apply/postdo...
October 16, 2025 at 1:59 PM
What is sexual selection all about... definitionally and mathematically? A super talented PI, Jussi Lehtonen, is looking for a postdoc to work it all out! Deadline end of this month.
ats.talentadore.com/apply/postdo...
ats.talentadore.com/apply/postdo...
Reposted by Michael Jennions
Dorsilla Anono Katimbwa, an expert in Metabolism, Biochemistry, and Genetics of Microorganisms, encourages other Kenyan women in science to believe in themselves—and to apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship as well.
Learn more about the programme here 👉 bit.ly/3Jhi7kU
Learn more about the programme here 👉 bit.ly/3Jhi7kU
November 5, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Dorsilla Anono Katimbwa, an expert in Metabolism, Biochemistry, and Genetics of Microorganisms, encourages other Kenyan women in science to believe in themselves—and to apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship as well.
Learn more about the programme here 👉 bit.ly/3Jhi7kU
Learn more about the programme here 👉 bit.ly/3Jhi7kU
Reposted by Michael Jennions
ARC says Discovery Projects outcomes will be tomorrow (Tuesday). Linkage Projects (2025, round 1) on Wed. Over past ~year, it's often been at about 11am (Canberra).
My bot will pick up the change to RMS & post immediately.
ARC should email outcomes to lead CIs, but might take an 1hr or so for DPs
My bot will pick up the change to RMS & post immediately.
ARC should email outcomes to lead CIs, but might take an 1hr or so for DPs
October 26, 2025 at 11:17 PM
ARC says Discovery Projects outcomes will be tomorrow (Tuesday). Linkage Projects (2025, round 1) on Wed. Over past ~year, it's often been at about 11am (Canberra).
My bot will pick up the change to RMS & post immediately.
ARC should email outcomes to lead CIs, but might take an 1hr or so for DPs
My bot will pick up the change to RMS & post immediately.
ARC should email outcomes to lead CIs, but might take an 1hr or so for DPs
Reposted by Michael Jennions
Developmental temp., not inbreeding, shapes life-history & behaviors in juvenile guppies. Warmer conditions accelerate maturity & reduce boldness with distinct male-female differences -key insights amid climate change:
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
@mikejennions.bsky.social
@mahmudalhasan.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
@mikejennions.bsky.social
@mahmudalhasan.bsky.social
Developmental temperature, not inbreeding, shapes life history and locomotor behaviours in juvenile guppies (Poecilia reticulata)
Abstract. Inbreeding plays a strong role in shaping life-history traits and behaviours. Supporting evidence for this role often comes from observational st
doi.org
October 2, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Developmental temp., not inbreeding, shapes life-history & behaviors in juvenile guppies. Warmer conditions accelerate maturity & reduce boldness with distinct male-female differences -key insights amid climate change:
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
@mikejennions.bsky.social
@mahmudalhasan.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
@mikejennions.bsky.social
@mahmudalhasan.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Jennions
Professor Evans … said he hoped the university’s leadership “will recognise the gravity of my concerns, which I know are shared by many others in the University community and am equally sure will be by the Minister for Education ...”
www.canberratimes.com.au/story/902083...
www.canberratimes.com.au/story/902083...
'Gobsmacking': Former ANU chancellor's searing letter blasts university's leadership
Professor Gareth Evans shares some advice for Julie Bishop and Genevieve Bell.
www.canberratimes.com.au
July 21, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Professor Evans … said he hoped the university’s leadership “will recognise the gravity of my concerns, which I know are shared by many others in the University community and am equally sure will be by the Minister for Education ...”
www.canberratimes.com.au/story/902083...
www.canberratimes.com.au/story/902083...
Reposted by Michael Jennions
Why did bees become haplodiploid & birds didn't? And why are stick insects perfect just the way they are? This is probably the coolest paper from @koraklein.bsky.social 's PhD thesis (though there's Colias butterfly work in the pipeline which I shouldn't diss...)
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
Sex ratio theory for facultative parthenogens: from fortuitously optimal stick insects to the origin of haplodiploidy in Hymenoptera
Abstract. Sex ratio theory usually assumes obligate sex; rare exceptions with facultative sex typically consider idiosyncratic cases of cyclic parthenogens
academic.oup.com
June 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Why did bees become haplodiploid & birds didn't? And why are stick insects perfect just the way they are? This is probably the coolest paper from @koraklein.bsky.social 's PhD thesis (though there's Colias butterfly work in the pipeline which I shouldn't diss...)
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
Reposted by Michael Jennions
Interested in Postdoc Research here in Oxford? Many projects possible using long-term population studies of birds, field & lab experiments with insect consumers, phenology of trees all in Wytham woods & based in new Biology building
marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/calls/msca-p...
marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/calls/msca-p...
June 16, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Interested in Postdoc Research here in Oxford? Many projects possible using long-term population studies of birds, field & lab experiments with insect consumers, phenology of trees all in Wytham woods & based in new Biology building
marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/calls/msca-p...
marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/calls/msca-p...
Reposted by Michael Jennions
It's publication day of my first book: The Tree of Life. The tree of life is a time machine that can take us back 4 billion years to meet our most distant ancestor. It is the magic that lets us tell the origin stories, beginning with this ancient relative, of everything from mushrooms to man.
April 24, 2025 at 11:31 AM
It's publication day of my first book: The Tree of Life. The tree of life is a time machine that can take us back 4 billion years to meet our most distant ancestor. It is the magic that lets us tell the origin stories, beginning with this ancient relative, of everything from mushrooms to man.
Reposted by Michael Jennions
Nature reports that the National Science Foundation has stopped awarding new grants and allotting funds to existing ones. All of them. @colincarlson.bsky.social says that unless the freeze is lifted, it “is going to destroy people's labs.” 2/10
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Exclusive: NSF stops awarding new grants and funding existing ones
US science funder also plans to screen grant applications for compliance with ‘agency priorities’.
www.nature.com
May 1, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Nature reports that the National Science Foundation has stopped awarding new grants and allotting funds to existing ones. All of them. @colincarlson.bsky.social says that unless the freeze is lifted, it “is going to destroy people's labs.” 2/10
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Great news! I will definitely do this course out when I have time. I’ve already watched one video* and found it useful.
* a discussion of the dangers of using LLMs to create lecture content.
* a discussion of the dangers of using LLMs to create lecture content.
Modern-Day Oracles or Bullshit Machines?
Jevin West (@jevinwest.bsky.social) and I have spent the last eight months developing the course on large language models (LLMs) that we think every college freshman needs to take.
thebullshitmachines.com
Jevin West (@jevinwest.bsky.social) and I have spent the last eight months developing the course on large language models (LLMs) that we think every college freshman needs to take.
thebullshitmachines.com
INTRODUCTION
thebullshitmachines.com
April 18, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Great news! I will definitely do this course out when I have time. I’ve already watched one video* and found it useful.
* a discussion of the dangers of using LLMs to create lecture content.
* a discussion of the dangers of using LLMs to create lecture content.
Reposted by Michael Jennions
Very happy and humbled to have received this award. A huge thanks to all my wonderful colleagues @scienceanu.bsky.social and abroad who made this possible!
April 8, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Very happy and humbled to have received this award. A huge thanks to all my wonderful colleagues @scienceanu.bsky.social and abroad who made this possible!
Reposted by Michael Jennions
And that’s a wrap! My last PhD research is now published 💪💪
Over 9 weeks we made males consistently experience winning or losing fights, with some winners/losers also able to mate, to test the impacts of contest outcome and reproductive investment on reproduction, growth and telomere length.
Over 9 weeks we made males consistently experience winning or losing fights, with some winners/losers also able to mate, to test the impacts of contest outcome and reproductive investment on reproduction, growth and telomere length.
New Research: Winner-loser effects on life history traits
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
@laurenmharrison.bsky.social, Oliver Stuart and @mikejennions.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
@laurenmharrison.bsky.social, Oliver Stuart and @mikejennions.bsky.social
Winner–loser effects on life history traits
Abstract. Ageing of adult males could be accelerated by both high mating/reproductive effort and fighting for mates. Testing the relative importance of the
doi.org
April 9, 2025 at 11:44 AM
And that’s a wrap! My last PhD research is now published 💪💪
Over 9 weeks we made males consistently experience winning or losing fights, with some winners/losers also able to mate, to test the impacts of contest outcome and reproductive investment on reproduction, growth and telomere length.
Over 9 weeks we made males consistently experience winning or losing fights, with some winners/losers also able to mate, to test the impacts of contest outcome and reproductive investment on reproduction, growth and telomere length.
Hi. Thank you to everyone - all 161 people - who signed the letter in support of nominating @arc-tracker.bsky.social for a Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science. The nomination was lodged last night. Keep your fingers crossed for a good outcome for our masked hero.
April 14, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Hi. Thank you to everyone - all 161 people - who signed the letter in support of nominating @arc-tracker.bsky.social for a Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science. The nomination was lodged last night. Keep your fingers crossed for a good outcome for our masked hero.
Reposted by Michael Jennions
In case you’re trying to submit your response to the review of ARC grants, the Education Department’s portal is/was borked. Email instead👇
April 11, 2025 at 6:51 AM
In case you’re trying to submit your response to the review of ARC grants, the Education Department’s portal is/was borked. Email instead👇
Reposted by Michael Jennions
Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com reporting on the proposed changes to the ARC grants system.
There’s concern that getting rid of standalone fellowships will have lots of unintended consequences, especially for Early-Career Researchers.
By @donnadlu.bsky.social
There’s concern that getting rid of standalone fellowships will have lots of unintended consequences, especially for Early-Career Researchers.
By @donnadlu.bsky.social
Changes to ARC grants will make it harder for Australia to combat Trump chaos, researchers warn
Plan to cut most standalone positions in favour of shorter fellowships will hurt international recruitment, critics say
www.theguardian.com
April 1, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com reporting on the proposed changes to the ARC grants system.
There’s concern that getting rid of standalone fellowships will have lots of unintended consequences, especially for Early-Career Researchers.
By @donnadlu.bsky.social
There’s concern that getting rid of standalone fellowships will have lots of unintended consequences, especially for Early-Career Researchers.
By @donnadlu.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Jennions
Great to see @nteuact.bsky.social coming right at this to make it crystal clear that academic freedom is not up for grabs in Australia and at ANU. Happy to talk with anyone about the issue who wants to know more.
It appears that ANU just send an email to staff that violates their freedom of speech policy policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/document....
Academic freedom: the freedom of academic staff and students to express their opinions in relation to the higher education provider in which they work or are enrolled;
Academic freedom: the freedom of academic staff and students to express their opinions in relation to the higher education provider in which they work or are enrolled;
ANU Policy Library - Policy - Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech (Under review)
policies.anu.edu.au
March 31, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Great to see @nteuact.bsky.social coming right at this to make it crystal clear that academic freedom is not up for grabs in Australia and at ANU. Happy to talk with anyone about the issue who wants to know more.
Reposted by Michael Jennions
CONVERGENT EVOLUTION is the independent development of similar traits or features in distantly related or unrelated organisms, often occurring when they occupy similar ecological niches or face similar environmental pressures 🦉 🍏
March 29, 2025 at 1:23 PM
CONVERGENT EVOLUTION is the independent development of similar traits or features in distantly related or unrelated organisms, often occurring when they occupy similar ecological niches or face similar environmental pressures 🦉 🍏
This year I’m teaching a science writing course. When the course started, I had this exact conversation with the students - Your thoughts are fuzzy phantoms that ping around in your brain. If you want to catch and share those thoughts you need to pin them to the page.
Writing is thinking. We get students to write so that they learn how to think and use their brains. Using LLMs to do your work is like trying to be an athlete by getting someone else to do your training for you.
What is the point of what we do if the interactions are not authentic? It is evident that students are increasingly turning to LLMs to "help" them do their work, with such dreary results - from handwaving generalizations that are rhetorically fluent but vacuous to outright hallucinations.
March 29, 2025 at 5:08 AM
This year I’m teaching a science writing course. When the course started, I had this exact conversation with the students - Your thoughts are fuzzy phantoms that ping around in your brain. If you want to catch and share those thoughts you need to pin them to the page.
Reposted by Michael Jennions
Meanwhile, in Europe👇
March 25, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Meanwhile, in Europe👇
Reposted by Michael Jennions
No budget increase for the Australian Research Council 😡
March 25, 2025 at 8:50 AM
No budget increase for the Australian Research Council 😡
Reposted by Michael Jennions
The loss of a legend- Kanzi, the language-competent bonobo, has died age 44.
Kanzi was exceptional in so many ways and offered us profound insights into the linguistic & cognitive capacities of great apes. He has taught us so much and will be hugely missed.
www.apeinitiative.org/remembering-...
Kanzi was exceptional in so many ways and offered us profound insights into the linguistic & cognitive capacities of great apes. He has taught us so much and will be hugely missed.
www.apeinitiative.org/remembering-...
March 20, 2025 at 10:02 AM
The loss of a legend- Kanzi, the language-competent bonobo, has died age 44.
Kanzi was exceptional in so many ways and offered us profound insights into the linguistic & cognitive capacities of great apes. He has taught us so much and will be hugely missed.
www.apeinitiative.org/remembering-...
Kanzi was exceptional in so many ways and offered us profound insights into the linguistic & cognitive capacities of great apes. He has taught us so much and will be hugely missed.
www.apeinitiative.org/remembering-...
Reposted by Michael Jennions
I’ve long used FiveThirtyEight’s interactive “Hack Your Way To Scientific Glory” to illustrate the idea of p-hacking when I teach statistics. But ABC/Disney killed the site earlier this month :(
So I made my own with #rstats and Observable and #QuartoPub ! stats.andrewheiss.com/hack-your-way/
So I made my own with #rstats and Observable and #QuartoPub ! stats.andrewheiss.com/hack-your-way/
March 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I’ve long used FiveThirtyEight’s interactive “Hack Your Way To Scientific Glory” to illustrate the idea of p-hacking when I teach statistics. But ABC/Disney killed the site earlier this month :(
So I made my own with #rstats and Observable and #QuartoPub ! stats.andrewheiss.com/hack-your-way/
So I made my own with #rstats and Observable and #QuartoPub ! stats.andrewheiss.com/hack-your-way/