Dr Stephan Lautenschlager
@palaeostephan.bsky.social
Associate Professor in Palaeobiology @ University of Birmingham,
Research Lead @ Lapworth Museum of Geology,
vertebrate palaeontologist, dinosaurs, digital visualisation, biomechanics & functional morphology
🦕🐶🌱🇪🇺
Research Lead @ Lapworth Museum of Geology,
vertebrate palaeontologist, dinosaurs, digital visualisation, biomechanics & functional morphology
🦕🐶🌱🇪🇺
Reposted by Dr Stephan Lautenschlager
(1) Long 🧵 Time.
Today we learned that paleontologist Jack Horner (the same guy who helped give us "Jurassic Park") is in the Epstein Files. As a paleontologist, I feel compelled to say something because this touches my field and I want to make my stance clear on this...
Today we learned that paleontologist Jack Horner (the same guy who helped give us "Jurassic Park") is in the Epstein Files. As a paleontologist, I feel compelled to say something because this touches my field and I want to make my stance clear on this...
February 1, 2026 at 9:13 PM
(1) Long 🧵 Time.
Today we learned that paleontologist Jack Horner (the same guy who helped give us "Jurassic Park") is in the Epstein Files. As a paleontologist, I feel compelled to say something because this touches my field and I want to make my stance clear on this...
Today we learned that paleontologist Jack Horner (the same guy who helped give us "Jurassic Park") is in the Epstein Files. As a paleontologist, I feel compelled to say something because this touches my field and I want to make my stance clear on this...
“But I think it is naive, frankly, to say that we should get rid of him because he’s a bad person. I’m afraid there’s many bad people around, but they have made scientific advances.” - the carte blanche for every bully in academia…
Musk should remain member of UK Royal Society, says president ft.trib.al/tC0vaAa
Musk should remain member of UK Royal Society, says president
Paul Nurse tells FT that national science academy should avoid ‘making judgments’ about ‘character’ of fellows
ft.trib.al
January 9, 2026 at 6:24 PM
“But I think it is naive, frankly, to say that we should get rid of him because he’s a bad person. I’m afraid there’s many bad people around, but they have made scientific advances.” - the carte blanche for every bully in academia…
Reposted by Dr Stephan Lautenschlager
DFG erlaubt Einsatz von KI in der Begutachtung.
Wenn wir jetzt noch die AI dazu kriegen, die komplette Forschung zu machen, haben wir den Menschen komplett von der Last des Forschungsprozzeses befreit und er kann sich komplett auf wichtige Dinge wie Reisekostenerstattungsanträge konzentrieren.
Wenn wir jetzt noch die AI dazu kriegen, die komplette Forschung zu machen, haben wir den Menschen komplett von der Last des Forschungsprozzeses befreit und er kann sich komplett auf wichtige Dinge wie Reisekostenerstattungsanträge konzentrieren.
Künstliche Intelligenz in der Begutachtung
www.dfg.de
January 8, 2026 at 10:16 AM
DFG erlaubt Einsatz von KI in der Begutachtung.
Wenn wir jetzt noch die AI dazu kriegen, die komplette Forschung zu machen, haben wir den Menschen komplett von der Last des Forschungsprozzeses befreit und er kann sich komplett auf wichtige Dinge wie Reisekostenerstattungsanträge konzentrieren.
Wenn wir jetzt noch die AI dazu kriegen, die komplette Forschung zu machen, haben wir den Menschen komplett von der Last des Forschungsprozzeses befreit und er kann sich komplett auf wichtige Dinge wie Reisekostenerstattungsanträge konzentrieren.
Reposted by Dr Stephan Lautenschlager
Cutting lines or even whole departments is the frontal assault on higher ed, but another low key war of attrition is the slow accumulation of grinding, meaningless additional tasks concerning syllabus templates, learning outcomes, institutional pablum, and ever more intricate evaluation hoops.
June 11, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Cutting lines or even whole departments is the frontal assault on higher ed, but another low key war of attrition is the slow accumulation of grinding, meaningless additional tasks concerning syllabus templates, learning outcomes, institutional pablum, and ever more intricate evaluation hoops.
Importantly, this study was done with the contribution of several undergraduate students who helped my collect the data as part of a year 1 course I am teaching (if you are interested in more detail see here: link.springer.com/article/10.1...)
5/5
5/5
Participatory science and course-based undergraduate research experience to improve research-informed teaching of evolution and palaeontology - Evolution: Education and Outreach
This study introduces a participatory science-inspired approach to teaching and curriculum design, involving undergraduate students directly in active research. Using a case study on dinosaur eye size...
link.springer.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Importantly, this study was done with the contribution of several undergraduate students who helped my collect the data as part of a year 1 course I am teaching (if you are interested in more detail see here: link.springer.com/article/10.1...)
5/5
5/5
Turns out, dinosaur skulls are neither optimised for minimising stress nor maximising bite efficiency. However, this makes snout shape and length highly adaptable, enabling them to occupy a variety of dietary niches!
4/5
4/5
December 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Turns out, dinosaur skulls are neither optimised for minimising stress nor maximising bite efficiency. However, this makes snout shape and length highly adaptable, enabling them to occupy a variety of dietary niches!
4/5
4/5
To investigate the effect of skull proportions we tested different hypothetical models with varying proportions using biomechanical simulations.
3/5
3/5
December 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
To investigate the effect of skull proportions we tested different hypothetical models with varying proportions using biomechanical simulations.
3/5
3/5
Our results show that the main variability in dinosaur skulls is found in the length of the snout (or rostrum). In contrast, the orbital and braincase regions maintained their relative size fairly consistently.
2/5
2/5
December 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Our results show that the main variability in dinosaur skulls is found in the length of the snout (or rostrum). In contrast, the orbital and braincase regions maintained their relative size fairly consistently.
2/5
2/5
Why such a long face? In our new paper, we quantified dinosaur skull geometry and proportions and tested their functional impact. www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
(Artwork by Andy Frazer @dragonsofwales.bsky.social)
1/5
(Artwork by Andy Frazer @dragonsofwales.bsky.social)
1/5
December 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Why such a long face? In our new paper, we quantified dinosaur skull geometry and proportions and tested their functional impact. www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
(Artwork by Andy Frazer @dragonsofwales.bsky.social)
1/5
(Artwork by Andy Frazer @dragonsofwales.bsky.social)
1/5
Check out Andy’s excellent reconstructions of jawless fish for our latest exhibition @lapworthmuseum.bsky.social!
No. I don’t just draw dinosaurs! These illustrations were commissioned for the Feeding Without Jaws Exhibition at @lapworthmuseum.bsky.social Check out their website - www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/feedi... - for more details of the exhibition, which runs until the end of February. (1/4)
November 29, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Check out Andy’s excellent reconstructions of jawless fish for our latest exhibition @lapworthmuseum.bsky.social!
Honoured to have contributed to a new paper in @currentbiology.bsky.social led by Mario Bronzati and lots of excellent and brainy (yes, pun intended) colleagues, showing that pterosaurs and birds evolved flight-capable brains but in different ways. www.cell.com/current-biol...
November 27, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Honoured to have contributed to a new paper in @currentbiology.bsky.social led by Mario Bronzati and lots of excellent and brainy (yes, pun intended) colleagues, showing that pterosaurs and birds evolved flight-capable brains but in different ways. www.cell.com/current-biol...
Reposted by Dr Stephan Lautenschlager
Thinking about #dinosaurs? Didn't get a chance to celebrate their 200th birthday last year? Well, our Temporary #Exhibition curated by @palaeostephan.bsky.social has now gone virtual!
Find 'Bringing dinosaurs back to life: 200 years of research' on our Virtual #Museum: ow.ly/Ryt550XvLCA
Find 'Bringing dinosaurs back to life: 200 years of research' on our Virtual #Museum: ow.ly/Ryt550XvLCA
November 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Thinking about #dinosaurs? Didn't get a chance to celebrate their 200th birthday last year? Well, our Temporary #Exhibition curated by @palaeostephan.bsky.social has now gone virtual!
Find 'Bringing dinosaurs back to life: 200 years of research' on our Virtual #Museum: ow.ly/Ryt550XvLCA
Find 'Bringing dinosaurs back to life: 200 years of research' on our Virtual #Museum: ow.ly/Ryt550XvLCA
#SVP2025 was finally an opportunity to show the excellent reconstructions of Dysalotosaurus created by @dragonsofwales.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 7:56 PM
#SVP2025 was finally an opportunity to show the excellent reconstructions of Dysalotosaurus created by @dragonsofwales.bsky.social
If you are attending #SVP2025 #2025SVP make sure to visit the stall of the @lapworthmuseum.bsky.social for some exclusive merchandise featuring some jawless fish designs!
November 12, 2025 at 11:19 AM
If you are attending #SVP2025 #2025SVP make sure to visit the stall of the @lapworthmuseum.bsky.social for some exclusive merchandise featuring some jawless fish designs!
Reposted by Dr Stephan Lautenschlager
Feeding Without Jaws opens this Wednesday!
Our temporary #exhibition tells the immersive story of our ancestors, jawless fish. Find out about why these ancient fish have fascinated palaeontologists, & what new discoveries have been made about them.
www.birmingham.ac.uk...
#LapworthRocks
Our temporary #exhibition tells the immersive story of our ancestors, jawless fish. Find out about why these ancient fish have fascinated palaeontologists, & what new discoveries have been made about them.
www.birmingham.ac.uk...
#LapworthRocks
November 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Feeding Without Jaws opens this Wednesday!
Our temporary #exhibition tells the immersive story of our ancestors, jawless fish. Find out about why these ancient fish have fascinated palaeontologists, & what new discoveries have been made about them.
www.birmingham.ac.uk...
#LapworthRocks
Our temporary #exhibition tells the immersive story of our ancestors, jawless fish. Find out about why these ancient fish have fascinated palaeontologists, & what new discoveries have been made about them.
www.birmingham.ac.uk...
#LapworthRocks
Attending #2025SVP #SVP2025? Interested in Palaeozoic fish and temnospondyls, dinosaurs old and new, sabre-tooth cats, biomechanics, biogeography, museum ethics, etc? Don't look any further, the Lautenschlager Lab got you covered - thanks to a lot of hard work by students, post-docs and colleagues!
November 10, 2025 at 12:32 PM
This study demonstrates that sabre-tooth canine shape is exceptionally diverse. A functional analysis of theoretical and actual tooth shapes shows that these canines represent a compromise between sharpness, curvature, and length vs. robustness and material investment.
October 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
This study demonstrates that sabre-tooth canine shape is exceptionally diverse. A functional analysis of theoretical and actual tooth shapes shows that these canines represent a compromise between sharpness, curvature, and length vs. robustness and material investment.
The second paper (based on the 3rd-year project of former student Caitlin Shelbourne) explores the shape diversity of the eponymous canine teeth across different sabre-tooth groups.
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
October 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
The second paper (based on the 3rd-year project of former student Caitlin Shelbourne) explores the shape diversity of the eponymous canine teeth across different sabre-tooth groups.
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Our results show that Barbourofelis was a force to be reckoned with and that its skull could withstand higher stresses than that of Smilodon hinting at a more generalist behaviour to subdue prey.
October 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Our results show that Barbourofelis was a force to be reckoned with and that its skull could withstand higher stresses than that of Smilodon hinting at a more generalist behaviour to subdue prey.
The first paper (with co-authors @bortxaf.bsky.social and Shane West) investigates the feeding biomechanics of the “false sabre-tooth cat” Barbourofelis and how it compares to the iconic Smilodon:
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
October 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
The first paper (with co-authors @bortxaf.bsky.social and Shane West) investigates the feeding biomechanics of the “false sabre-tooth cat” Barbourofelis and how it compares to the iconic Smilodon:
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Very happy to have contributed two papers to this Special Issue on Sabertooths:
October 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Very happy to have contributed two papers to this Special Issue on Sabertooths:
Reposted by Dr Stephan Lautenschlager
As we see so often in research, bullies and abusers do terrible things while everyone who could stop them wrings their hands and gives free speech platitudes just so they don't have to act with unity and strength.
This is just another example of academic inequalities and harms writ large. Appalling
This is just another example of academic inequalities and harms writ large. Appalling
October 1, 2025 at 5:12 PM
As we see so often in research, bullies and abusers do terrible things while everyone who could stop them wrings their hands and gives free speech platitudes just so they don't have to act with unity and strength.
This is just another example of academic inequalities and harms writ large. Appalling
This is just another example of academic inequalities and harms writ large. Appalling
Reposted by Dr Stephan Lautenschlager
He should have been expelled. This is way more than policing opinions.
- Inciting violence at far right rallies
- Interfering in government affairs
- Destroying health and science infrastructures
- Ensuring thousands will die
Abusers, excused and enabled by craven others, always grow in power.
- Inciting violence at far right rallies
- Interfering in government affairs
- Destroying health and science infrastructures
- Ensuring thousands will die
Abusers, excused and enabled by craven others, always grow in power.
"I am increasingly concerned over threats to the values that allow science to flourish." Read the full statement from the President of the Royal Society Sir Adrian Smith: royalsociety.org/news/2025/10...
A statement from the President of the Royal Society | Royal Society
A statement from the President of the Royal Society regarding threats to the values that allow science to flourish.
royalsociety.org
October 1, 2025 at 5:10 PM
He should have been expelled. This is way more than policing opinions.
- Inciting violence at far right rallies
- Interfering in government affairs
- Destroying health and science infrastructures
- Ensuring thousands will die
Abusers, excused and enabled by craven others, always grow in power.
- Inciting violence at far right rallies
- Interfering in government affairs
- Destroying health and science infrastructures
- Ensuring thousands will die
Abusers, excused and enabled by craven others, always grow in power.
Reposted by Dr Stephan Lautenschlager
Until a few weeks ago I knew next to nothing about early Devonian jawless fish. To be honest, I still know shamefully little about them. But I’m currently illustrating a bunch of them, and have become utterly fascinated by these extraordinary little freaks.
Anyway, just saying 🤷♂️
Anyway, just saying 🤷♂️
September 23, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Until a few weeks ago I knew next to nothing about early Devonian jawless fish. To be honest, I still know shamefully little about them. But I’m currently illustrating a bunch of them, and have become utterly fascinated by these extraordinary little freaks.
Anyway, just saying 🤷♂️
Anyway, just saying 🤷♂️