Dr Susannah Lydon
@susieoftraken.bsky.social
Palaeobotany | Scicomm | Associate Prof in Plant Science, Nottingham, UK | Vogon poet | Views my own | She/her
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Lovecraft & M. R. James could only dream of writing a sentence like this.
November 26, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Lovecraft & M. R. James could only dream of writing a sentence like this.
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Job opportunity: Horticultural Technician
We are seeking a dedicated and skilled Horticultural Technician to join the Plant Growth Facility based at the Crop Science Centre.
- Crop Science Centre, Cambridge
- Fixed term
- Closes on Friday 05 December 2025
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/horticu...
We are seeking a dedicated and skilled Horticultural Technician to join the Plant Growth Facility based at the Crop Science Centre.
- Crop Science Centre, Cambridge
- Fixed term
- Closes on Friday 05 December 2025
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/horticu...
November 26, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Job opportunity: Horticultural Technician
We are seeking a dedicated and skilled Horticultural Technician to join the Plant Growth Facility based at the Crop Science Centre.
- Crop Science Centre, Cambridge
- Fixed term
- Closes on Friday 05 December 2025
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/horticu...
We are seeking a dedicated and skilled Horticultural Technician to join the Plant Growth Facility based at the Crop Science Centre.
- Crop Science Centre, Cambridge
- Fixed term
- Closes on Friday 05 December 2025
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/horticu...
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
✨ Paper spotlight ✨
(🧵 1/6) Structural and physiological constraints on arborescent lycopsid establishment and growth
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
(🧵 1/6) Structural and physiological constraints on arborescent lycopsid establishment and growth
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
November 26, 2025 at 1:02 PM
✨ Paper spotlight ✨
(🧵 1/6) Structural and physiological constraints on arborescent lycopsid establishment and growth
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
(🧵 1/6) Structural and physiological constraints on arborescent lycopsid establishment and growth
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
So this happened in Oslo yesterday. Four articulated buses got stuck in a roundabout.
November 25, 2025 at 8:23 AM
So this happened in Oslo yesterday. Four articulated buses got stuck in a roundabout.
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
It’s Trilobite Tuesday! Growing up to 6 in (15.2 cm) long, the sword-nosed Psychopyge is perhaps the most recognizable trilobite to have emerged from Morocco’s bountiful Devonian outcrops over the last four decades. Few species can rival this trilobite's renown or bizarre Paleozoic appearance.
November 25, 2025 at 6:43 PM
It’s Trilobite Tuesday! Growing up to 6 in (15.2 cm) long, the sword-nosed Psychopyge is perhaps the most recognizable trilobite to have emerged from Morocco’s bountiful Devonian outcrops over the last four decades. Few species can rival this trilobite's renown or bizarre Paleozoic appearance.
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
How do Xylem-Pole-Pericycle cells decide between forming a new Lateral Root or contributing to cambium formation & secondary growth?
Cytokinins facilitate cambium development & reduce LR potency, shaping the entire root architecture!
@apmahonen.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.mo...
#PlantScience
Cytokinins facilitate cambium development & reduce LR potency, shaping the entire root architecture!
@apmahonen.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.mo...
#PlantScience
November 25, 2025 at 2:29 PM
How do Xylem-Pole-Pericycle cells decide between forming a new Lateral Root or contributing to cambium formation & secondary growth?
Cytokinins facilitate cambium development & reduce LR potency, shaping the entire root architecture!
@apmahonen.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.mo...
#PlantScience
Cytokinins facilitate cambium development & reduce LR potency, shaping the entire root architecture!
@apmahonen.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.mo...
#PlantScience
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Inverness Field Club is celebrating 150 years!! 🥳 It has a fascinating history, and a long history if female members (I'm currently researching them...). They provided funding twice for our team's work on Skye 🙏🏼 Societies like this do amazing work, plz support them!! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Highland science club celebrates 150th anniversary
Inverness Field Club promotes interest in history and science in the Highlands.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Inverness Field Club is celebrating 150 years!! 🥳 It has a fascinating history, and a long history if female members (I'm currently researching them...). They provided funding twice for our team's work on Skye 🙏🏼 Societies like this do amazing work, plz support them!! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Vinn et al. - Parasitic infestation in a Middle Ordovician Illaenus (Trilobita)
doi.org/10.1017/jpa....
doi.org/10.1017/jpa....
November 26, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Vinn et al. - Parasitic infestation in a Middle Ordovician Illaenus (Trilobita)
doi.org/10.1017/jpa....
doi.org/10.1017/jpa....
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
The number of natural history specimens collected has fallen off a cliff in the 21st century.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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 10:13 AM
The number of natural history specimens collected has fallen off a cliff in the 21st century.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Universities are in crisis, and I don’t think it’s helpful to phrase that as “exiting the market”. They’re not mid-range shoe shops, these are educational pillars in society
Chief exec of OfS 'said the OfS believes there are 24 institutions at risk of exiting the market in the next 12 months, seven of which are large providers with more than 3,000 students. There are another 25 or so institutions of various sizes at risk over a two- to three-year period, she added.'
Seven ‘large providers’ at risk of going under in the next year
Skills minister says no higher education institutions are at imminent risk of collapse this year but OfS confirms more than 20 providers are being closely monitored
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Universities are in crisis, and I don’t think it’s helpful to phrase that as “exiting the market”. They’re not mid-range shoe shops, these are educational pillars in society
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
If you ever wonder why people say "slippery as an eel" I can confirm that one time we had to hold an eel for a vet to do a blood draw and that eel ended up on the floor 47 times out of 48 attempts
November 25, 2025 at 4:44 PM
If you ever wonder why people say "slippery as an eel" I can confirm that one time we had to hold an eel for a vet to do a blood draw and that eel ended up on the floor 47 times out of 48 attempts
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
New blog on discovering objects of grief in the archives and to remember Emily who would have be 11 in 8 hours:
www.debbiechallis.com/post/a-knot-...
www.debbiechallis.com/post/a-knot-...
A knot of hair
It is one thing to understand that hair was kept and even made into Jewellery in the nineteenth century or to know that post-mortem sketches of loved ones were made or photographs taken. It is another...
www.debbiechallis.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:27 PM
New blog on discovering objects of grief in the archives and to remember Emily who would have be 11 in 8 hours:
www.debbiechallis.com/post/a-knot-...
www.debbiechallis.com/post/a-knot-...
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Reacting to the presence of chatbots with assignment that ask students to look for mistakes in something they got a chatbot to spit out is not a sound approach to teaching your course material.
"GenAI allows seemingly limitless possibilities for assignments that
cultivate crucial literacies. For example, here’s the same old assignment caper that everyone and their AI dog has been suggesting for the past three years.”
#genai+writing
cultivate crucial literacies. For example, here’s the same old assignment caper that everyone and their AI dog has been suggesting for the past three years.”
#genai+writing
November 24, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Reacting to the presence of chatbots with assignment that ask students to look for mistakes in something they got a chatbot to spit out is not a sound approach to teaching your course material.
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
![Comic: Typical Geologic core sample. [Cylindrical core sample with labels for difference sections from top to bottom] Topsoil, till, granite bedrock, bottomsoil, roof of subway car, floor of subway car, more granite, municipal water main [gouge in core sample], slightly different granite, piece of screaming spelunker’s forearm, cool crystals with no resale value, mangled fragments of drillbit from previous attempt, some boring intrusive rock that’s basically granite but has a name like “diorite” or “Andalite” that you always have to look up, netherrack, Balrog wing. [break between next chunk of core sample] Granite, topsoil, cement, floorboards, carpet, possessions of a confused and angry homeowner in the other hemisphere.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreicffnydtpbb2x24cfbblv2qtcwbr37zyw44vtqx47ocj2a26b2j2u@jpeg)
November 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
A huge turnout in Nottingham today, around 300 staff and students standing together against cuts.
Powerful speeches, real solidarity, and a clear message: we won’t let our universities be dismantled.
We are the university. ✊if you’ve not voted there is still time! Get it in!
@uonucu.bsky.social
Powerful speeches, real solidarity, and a clear message: we won’t let our universities be dismantled.
We are the university. ✊if you’ve not voted there is still time! Get it in!
@uonucu.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 3:51 PM
A huge turnout in Nottingham today, around 300 staff and students standing together against cuts.
Powerful speeches, real solidarity, and a clear message: we won’t let our universities be dismantled.
We are the university. ✊if you’ve not voted there is still time! Get it in!
@uonucu.bsky.social
Powerful speeches, real solidarity, and a clear message: we won’t let our universities be dismantled.
We are the university. ✊if you’ve not voted there is still time! Get it in!
@uonucu.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
#TrilobiteTuesday
Here is part of the body of quite a large trilobite known as Paradoxides spinosus. This specimen comes from the Middle Cambrian (Drumian) Jince Formation from the Czech Republic. Paradoxides is one of the largest trilobites known from the Cambrian period.
Here is part of the body of quite a large trilobite known as Paradoxides spinosus. This specimen comes from the Middle Cambrian (Drumian) Jince Formation from the Czech Republic. Paradoxides is one of the largest trilobites known from the Cambrian period.
November 25, 2025 at 3:07 PM
#TrilobiteTuesday
Here is part of the body of quite a large trilobite known as Paradoxides spinosus. This specimen comes from the Middle Cambrian (Drumian) Jince Formation from the Czech Republic. Paradoxides is one of the largest trilobites known from the Cambrian period.
Here is part of the body of quite a large trilobite known as Paradoxides spinosus. This specimen comes from the Middle Cambrian (Drumian) Jince Formation from the Czech Republic. Paradoxides is one of the largest trilobites known from the Cambrian period.
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
This beautiful stone is from China and I’m trying to find out more about it. It might be from the M Triassic Baifeng or Guohua Fms of S China. Is there anyone out there with local knowledge? I’ve not been able to locate sufficient detail in the literature. It’s not a carbonate. #chinesepicturestone
November 25, 2025 at 10:46 AM
This beautiful stone is from China and I’m trying to find out more about it. It might be from the M Triassic Baifeng or Guohua Fms of S China. Is there anyone out there with local knowledge? I’ve not been able to locate sufficient detail in the literature. It’s not a carbonate. #chinesepicturestone
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
This paper raises the possibility that lichens had evolved by the late Ordovician, contemporary with earliest vascular plants 🧪⚒️
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The rise of lichens during the colonization of terrestrial environments
Evidence reveals Spongiophyton as one of the earliest and most widespread lichens in Earth’s history.
www.science.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This paper raises the possibility that lichens had evolved by the late Ordovician, contemporary with earliest vascular plants 🧪⚒️
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
🌿Excited to share our new study in New Phytologist! 🌿
Polyploidy is a major force in plant evolution, but is understudied in the tropics. We find that polyploidy evolved multiple times in Inga, a characteristic Neotropical tree radiation (1/n) 🧵.
Full paper🔗: tinyurl.com/msnffhs8
Polyploidy is a major force in plant evolution, but is understudied in the tropics. We find that polyploidy evolved multiple times in Inga, a characteristic Neotropical tree radiation (1/n) 🧵.
Full paper🔗: tinyurl.com/msnffhs8
November 25, 2025 at 1:11 PM
🌿Excited to share our new study in New Phytologist! 🌿
Polyploidy is a major force in plant evolution, but is understudied in the tropics. We find that polyploidy evolved multiple times in Inga, a characteristic Neotropical tree radiation (1/n) 🧵.
Full paper🔗: tinyurl.com/msnffhs8
Polyploidy is a major force in plant evolution, but is understudied in the tropics. We find that polyploidy evolved multiple times in Inga, a characteristic Neotropical tree radiation (1/n) 🧵.
Full paper🔗: tinyurl.com/msnffhs8
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
🎓✨ Calling all early-career researchers!
Thinking about applying for a Leverhulme Research Grant? Don’t miss this chance to get insider guidance from researchers with successful grant experience.
🧠💡 Join our upcoming webinar to learn:
✔️ What makes a strong application [1/2]
Thinking about applying for a Leverhulme Research Grant? Don’t miss this chance to get insider guidance from researchers with successful grant experience.
🧠💡 Join our upcoming webinar to learn:
✔️ What makes a strong application [1/2]
November 25, 2025 at 12:31 PM
🎓✨ Calling all early-career researchers!
Thinking about applying for a Leverhulme Research Grant? Don’t miss this chance to get insider guidance from researchers with successful grant experience.
🧠💡 Join our upcoming webinar to learn:
✔️ What makes a strong application [1/2]
Thinking about applying for a Leverhulme Research Grant? Don’t miss this chance to get insider guidance from researchers with successful grant experience.
🧠💡 Join our upcoming webinar to learn:
✔️ What makes a strong application [1/2]
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Here's the second of the #botanicalillustration courses I'm teaching at #Cambridgeuniversity #botanicalgardens in the UK next year. This one is in May:
www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/education-le...
It's all about #illustrating #blue #flowers. Think #iris, #campanula, #bluebells....
www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/education-le...
It's all about #illustrating #blue #flowers. Think #iris, #campanula, #bluebells....
November 25, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Here's the second of the #botanicalillustration courses I'm teaching at #Cambridgeuniversity #botanicalgardens in the UK next year. This one is in May:
www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/education-le...
It's all about #illustrating #blue #flowers. Think #iris, #campanula, #bluebells....
www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/education-le...
It's all about #illustrating #blue #flowers. Think #iris, #campanula, #bluebells....
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
#JobAlert 🚨: Press Assistant
Are you a science communicator with experience in science writing? We are looking for your support during the press conference at #EGU26.
📨 Send your application by 26 November to [email protected].
👉 More information: egu.eu/1H0J7I
Are you a science communicator with experience in science writing? We are looking for your support during the press conference at #EGU26.
📨 Send your application by 26 November to [email protected].
👉 More information: egu.eu/1H0J7I
November 25, 2025 at 10:47 AM
#JobAlert 🚨: Press Assistant
Are you a science communicator with experience in science writing? We are looking for your support during the press conference at #EGU26.
📨 Send your application by 26 November to [email protected].
👉 More information: egu.eu/1H0J7I
Are you a science communicator with experience in science writing? We are looking for your support during the press conference at #EGU26.
📨 Send your application by 26 November to [email protected].
👉 More information: egu.eu/1H0J7I
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Protesting cuts to modern languages (at an international university) - we have campuses in China & Malaysia, but we’re not going to teach languages in future - someone make sense of management decisions..?!?
November 25, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Protesting cuts to modern languages (at an international university) - we have campuses in China & Malaysia, but we’re not going to teach languages in future - someone make sense of management decisions..?!?
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
We’re just normal men
November 25, 2025 at 11:13 AM
We’re just normal men