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Dr Helen Scales

@helenscales.bsky.social

5.1K followers 820 following 260 posts

Aptly named marine biologist, writer, broadcaster. Latest book: What the Wild Sea Can Be, shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction and Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing UK + France she/her www.helenscales.com

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Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Mar 26

I am stunned to be 1 of 6
Thank you to the @womensprize.bsky.social and the judges for making this a dream come true that I never really dared to dream. It's a joy and an honour to be short listed with these 5 incredible women and their books
#womensprize
womensprize.com/prizes/women...

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Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · 5d

So proud to stand alongside my amazing sister @krhendry.bsky.social at the Week Junior book awards

Our book Scientists in the Wild, Antarctica, illustrated by fabulous Rômolo D’Hipólito, was shortlisted for STEM book of the year

Huge thanks to @flyingeyebooks.bsky.social for cheering us on!
🐟🐧🦈🦭🐋

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Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · 12d

The North Cornwall Coast has frankly been showing off this week. I’ve been visiting favourite spots, surfing, hiking and star gazing.

Tomorrow (Saturday 27th) I’ll be at North Cornwall Book Festival talking about the ocean and my book What the Wild Sea Can Be
🌊
endelienta.org.uk/whats-on/ncb...

Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · 19d

Thanks so much for reading!

Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · 19d

Rene, massive thanks for your review 💙🌊 I don’t have a login so haven’t actually read it! 🤣

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Reposted by Dr Helen Scales

Nature Ecology & Evolution @natecoevo.nature.com · 23d

New Books & Arts 👇

Marine muses: Rene Martin @lampichthys.bsky.social reviews "Ocean Art: From the Shore to the Deep" by @helenscales.bsky.social

"This book is a must-read for art enthusiasts and ocean lovers"

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Free to read: rdcu.be/eGpor

Cover image of the book "Ocean art" by Helen Scales featuring artwork depicting various marine organisms

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Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · 24d

Thank you 💙🌊

Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · 27d

It was a joy to be on stage last night with the other shortlisters for the @wainwrightprize.bsky.social for Conservation Writing and have a chance to bring the sea all the way to the Cotswolds
🌊
Congrats to @guyshrubsole.bsky.social for winning again!

@atlanticbooks.bsky.social #whatthewildseacanbe

Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 29

💜💜💜 so cool!

Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 29

💜💜💜

Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 29

@bengoldfarb.bsky.social When I first heard about sea otter bones turning purple from eating sea urchins I though maybe they might be a hint of lilac but noooope - they can be REALLY purple!

Elakha Alliance @elakhaalliance.bsky.social · Apr 29

Is that really a purple #seaotter skull 🦦💀?! Why, yes it is.

This phenomenon is known as echinochrome staining. It occurs when sea otters consume copious amounts of echinochrome-containing prey items like #seaurchins.

📸: Peter Monteforte & Morro Bay State Parks #funfact #seaotters #ocean

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Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 29

I love that fact! 💜 And thanks for reading Wild Sea! 🌊

Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 27

Thanks Ruth. I ran the course once already and I think it went really well!

Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 27

I've launched a new science writing course at Cambridge University exploring creative ways to generate ideas for short form writing +podcasts +videos
📚🧪🎤📹
Spaces available for next class:
Online
6 weeks
Starts 8 Sept
For writers of all levels anywhere in the world
www.pace.cam.ac.uk/courses/crea...

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Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 25

I only meant there to be one octopus there 🐙 🤣

Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 25

I absolutely agree octopus 🐙

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Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 24

Today was an octopus day in Brittany. Not 1 but 2 in a secret spot nearby (as featured in What the Wild Sea Can Be), including a female carefully guarding her eggs, tucked deep under a rock.
It’s heartbreaking knowing she doesn’t have long to live, but joyous knowing this is an octopus nursery
🐙 🐙

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Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 15

“It has a presence about it. My heart carries this heart with it. It is important to protect it and be kind to the mangroves inside.”

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The heart-shaped mangrove formation fading due to rising seas

The Heart of Voh is a symbol of New Caledonia’s pristine environment but its outline is changing due to the climate crisis

www.theguardian.com

Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 11

Fabulous! Enjoy your nature reading 💙

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Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 11

🌊Good ocean news🌊
A federal court has rejected the US administration's rollback of fishing protections in the culturally rich and biologically vital waters of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument

Fishing there is illegal and must now be blocked
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Court overrides Trump officials’ rollback and blocks fishing in Pacific Islands monument

Judge in Hawaii rules that commercial fishing is illegal in federally protected area in the central Pacific Ocean

www.theguardian.com

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Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 7

Happy National Marine Week!
🌊🦑🐬🐙🦭🦈🦀🐟🐋
To celebrate, I've written a blog for @reaktionbooks.bsky.social about my new book Ocean Art, about my love of the sea and how artists have long been helping people to care about this hidden realm

reaktionbooks.co.uk/the-hidden-r...

The Hidden Realm of the Sea | Reaktion Books

To celebrate National Marine Week, marine biologist and author of Ocean Art, Helen Scales, explores her love of sea life and how artists have long been helping people to care about this hidden realm. ...

reaktionbooks.co.uk

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Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 6

Oh wow! Look at that! 🤩 So glad WS did the right thing. Hope you like it! Thanks for being awesome 📚

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Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 6

Thanks so much Michael. That means a lot 🌊

Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 6

💙

Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 5

Thank you thank you! 💙 Can’t wait to meet everyone next month

Dr Helen Scales @helenscales.bsky.social · Aug 5

🌊 I hope so too x