🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
@alexsmithants.bsky.social
Assoc. Prof of #Biology at UofG, Guelph, ON, Canada. Inspired by the #Biodiversity in ACG, Costa Rica. #Ecology, #Evolution, #Entomology
Opinions my own & oh so rarely overlap with my employer.
he/him
www.malexsmith.com
www.youtube.com/@Alex_Smith_Ants
Opinions my own & oh so rarely overlap with my employer.
he/him
www.malexsmith.com
www.youtube.com/@Alex_Smith_Ants
Pinned
🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
@alexsmithants.bsky.social
· Nov 25
U of G announces new 1,500-bed student housing project
Two-tower building with up to 10 storeys expected to be ready in four or five years
www.guelphtoday.com
The @uofguelph.bsky.social is planning a massive housing project to be built on natural land rather than more appropriate spaces for needed expansion
Where are environmental impact statements?
Where is the community engagement?
@richrdreporting.bsky.social
www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/u...
Where are environmental impact statements?
Where is the community engagement?
@richrdreporting.bsky.social
www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/u...
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
Ever visit an art gallery using #GigaPan technology?
Missed the #ManufacturedEcosystem Exhibition?
Learn about ecosystem services in the context of a failing climate: gigapan.com/galleries/13...
Guide: www.manufacturedecosystems.com/virtual-exhi...
Funded by
@sshrc-crsh.canada.ca
#NewFrontiers
Missed the #ManufacturedEcosystem Exhibition?
Learn about ecosystem services in the context of a failing climate: gigapan.com/galleries/13...
Guide: www.manufacturedecosystems.com/virtual-exhi...
Funded by
@sshrc-crsh.canada.ca
#NewFrontiers
January 28, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Ever visit an art gallery using #GigaPan technology?
Missed the #ManufacturedEcosystem Exhibition?
Learn about ecosystem services in the context of a failing climate: gigapan.com/galleries/13...
Guide: www.manufacturedecosystems.com/virtual-exhi...
Funded by
@sshrc-crsh.canada.ca
#NewFrontiers
Missed the #ManufacturedEcosystem Exhibition?
Learn about ecosystem services in the context of a failing climate: gigapan.com/galleries/13...
Guide: www.manufacturedecosystems.com/virtual-exhi...
Funded by
@sshrc-crsh.canada.ca
#NewFrontiers
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
For almost two decades, scientists have debated whether sponges or comb jellies are the first animal lineage. Now some are calling for a more harmonious approach
Read the full story: go.nature.com/4q5giqz
Read the full story: go.nature.com/4q5giqz
January 27, 2026 at 12:16 PM
For almost two decades, scientists have debated whether sponges or comb jellies are the first animal lineage. Now some are calling for a more harmonious approach
Read the full story: go.nature.com/4q5giqz
Read the full story: go.nature.com/4q5giqz
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
Also, the fact that the original Science paper is being retracted really drives home the idea that Science's editorial decisions on what Letters to consider is problematic.
January 28, 2026 at 2:58 AM
Also, the fact that the original Science paper is being retracted really drives home the idea that Science's editorial decisions on what Letters to consider is problematic.
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
Glad to see this article. Nothing against anyone, but given my Letter to Science bringing up pretty much the same thing as others (albeit in less words because I think it should've been published as a regular letter) I'm surprised there was no mention of my work
For almost two decades, scientists have debated whether sponges or comb jellies are the first animal lineage. Now some are calling for a more harmonious approach
Read the full story: go.nature.com/4q5giqz
Read the full story: go.nature.com/4q5giqz
January 28, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Glad to see this article. Nothing against anyone, but given my Letter to Science bringing up pretty much the same thing as others (albeit in less words because I think it should've been published as a regular letter) I'm surprised there was no mention of my work
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
I'm also of the opinion that when robust phylogenetic theory is applied to the question, there is no question that the ctenophore sister hypothesis is overwhelmingly supported by available data.
January 28, 2026 at 3:01 AM
I'm also of the opinion that when robust phylogenetic theory is applied to the question, there is no question that the ctenophore sister hypothesis is overwhelmingly supported by available data.
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
Personally, I don't think any amount of additional data is going to change anything.
If a person cannot accept ctenophores sister as the most likely evolutionary history of animals at this point, I doubt they ever will.
Maybe I'm not diplomatic enough about this issue lol.
If a person cannot accept ctenophores sister as the most likely evolutionary history of animals at this point, I doubt they ever will.
Maybe I'm not diplomatic enough about this issue lol.
January 28, 2026 at 3:03 AM
Personally, I don't think any amount of additional data is going to change anything.
If a person cannot accept ctenophores sister as the most likely evolutionary history of animals at this point, I doubt they ever will.
Maybe I'm not diplomatic enough about this issue lol.
If a person cannot accept ctenophores sister as the most likely evolutionary history of animals at this point, I doubt they ever will.
Maybe I'm not diplomatic enough about this issue lol.
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
"We will continue. These fucking assholes will not get away with this" is a bar
Minneapolis, MN -
US Rep. Ilhan Omar was just sprayed by an unknown substance during a town hall meeting in North Minneapolis. Despite some telling her she needed to change, she continued to speak to the crowd.
(From a Reuters feed)
US Rep. Ilhan Omar was just sprayed by an unknown substance during a town hall meeting in North Minneapolis. Despite some telling her she needed to change, she continued to speak to the crowd.
(From a Reuters feed)
January 28, 2026 at 1:40 AM
"We will continue. These fucking assholes will not get away with this" is a bar
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
You can ignore science, but science will never ignore you.
Measles incidence in the United States.
Measles incidence in the United States.
January 28, 2026 at 1:48 AM
You can ignore science, but science will never ignore you.
Measles incidence in the United States.
Measles incidence in the United States.
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
Man who wouldn’t wear mask to protect people fine wearing mask to shoot them
Man who wouldn't wear mask to protect people fine wearing mask to shoot them
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – A man who refused to wear a mask to protect other people in 2020 has declared he has no problem wearing one while shooting them.
www.thebeaverton.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Man who wouldn’t wear mask to protect people fine wearing mask to shoot them
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
Deeply saddened by news that my friend Kirsty Duncan passed away today. I worked closely with her while she was the Minister of Science and the Chair of the Standing Committee on Science and Technology. I texted her on Saturday when I was at a Robbie Burns dinner—her favourite event of the year.
January 27, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Deeply saddened by news that my friend Kirsty Duncan passed away today. I worked closely with her while she was the Minister of Science and the Chair of the Standing Committee on Science and Technology. I texted her on Saturday when I was at a Robbie Burns dinner—her favourite event of the year.
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
Minister Duncan was an inspiration for so many of us, and often a lone voice in Parliament advocating for the need for supporting science in Canada! May her memory be a blessing!
January 26, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Minister Duncan was an inspiration for so many of us, and often a lone voice in Parliament advocating for the need for supporting science in Canada! May her memory be a blessing!
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
Former Liberal cabinet minister Kirsty Duncan dies at 59
Former Liberal cabinet minister Kirsty Duncan dies at 59
Kirsty Duncan served as the MP for the Toronto riding of Etobicoke North from 2008 to 2025, and sat in cabinet in the portfolios of sport and science between 2015
www.thestar.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Former Liberal cabinet minister Kirsty Duncan dies at 59
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
When visiting Polytechnique for a funding announcement, Kirsty Duncan immediately recognized my disappointment when they said they didn’t have time to visit my lab. She grabbed my arm and we sauntered down to my lab together. Her enthusiam for science and research was contagious.
Gutted to learn of the passing of Dr Kirsty Duncan.
She was a tireless fighter for the people she served, not only her local community in Toronto but others, especially the science & research &
athletics communities too.
She championed equity, diversity, inclusion and made change happen.
🤍🙏🏻
She was a tireless fighter for the people she served, not only her local community in Toronto but others, especially the science & research &
athletics communities too.
She championed equity, diversity, inclusion and made change happen.
🤍🙏🏻
Former Liberal cabinet minister Kirsty Duncan dies at 59
OTTAWA — Former Liberal cabinet minister Kirsty Duncan has died at the age of 59 following a years-long battle with cancer. Born on Oct.
www.richmond-news.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:42 PM
When visiting Polytechnique for a funding announcement, Kirsty Duncan immediately recognized my disappointment when they said they didn’t have time to visit my lab. She grabbed my arm and we sauntered down to my lab together. Her enthusiam for science and research was contagious.
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
Gutted to learn of the passing of Dr Kirsty Duncan.
She was a tireless fighter for the people she served, not only her local community in Toronto but others, especially the science & research &
athletics communities too.
She championed equity, diversity, inclusion and made change happen.
🤍🙏🏻
She was a tireless fighter for the people she served, not only her local community in Toronto but others, especially the science & research &
athletics communities too.
She championed equity, diversity, inclusion and made change happen.
🤍🙏🏻
Former Liberal cabinet minister Kirsty Duncan dies at 59
OTTAWA — Former Liberal cabinet minister Kirsty Duncan has died at the age of 59 following a years-long battle with cancer. Born on Oct.
www.richmond-news.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Gutted to learn of the passing of Dr Kirsty Duncan.
She was a tireless fighter for the people she served, not only her local community in Toronto but others, especially the science & research &
athletics communities too.
She championed equity, diversity, inclusion and made change happen.
🤍🙏🏻
She was a tireless fighter for the people she served, not only her local community in Toronto but others, especially the science & research &
athletics communities too.
She championed equity, diversity, inclusion and made change happen.
🤍🙏🏻
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
She cared deeply about science and scientists, especially ECIs and under-represented groups. Her impact on EDI in Canadian funding was transformative and will last. Science is not interesting to the Cdn government, and the energy and commitment Duncan brought as our advocate is missed. /3
January 26, 2026 at 10:51 PM
She cared deeply about science and scientists, especially ECIs and under-represented groups. Her impact on EDI in Canadian funding was transformative and will last. Science is not interesting to the Cdn government, and the energy and commitment Duncan brought as our advocate is missed. /3
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
She was given a tough brief: to revitalize a struggling and increasingly dysfunctional research funding ecosystem without any control or influence over budgets. In the end, she didn't get the govt support she deserved, but she got us the Naylor Report, so we all know how it could be. /2
January 26, 2026 at 10:51 PM
She was given a tough brief: to revitalize a struggling and increasingly dysfunctional research funding ecosystem without any control or influence over budgets. In the end, she didn't get the govt support she deserved, but she got us the Naylor Report, so we all know how it could be. /2
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
I was maybe 2.5 years into my position as an Assistant Professor when my phone rang, and it was Kirsty Duncan, the new federal science minister, calling out of the blue. I had never met her. She asked me what she could do for early career investigators. /1
Gutted to learn of the passing of Dr Kirsty Duncan.
She was a tireless fighter for the people she served, not only her local community in Toronto but others, especially the science & research &
athletics communities too.
She championed equity, diversity, inclusion and made change happen.
🤍🙏🏻
She was a tireless fighter for the people she served, not only her local community in Toronto but others, especially the science & research &
athletics communities too.
She championed equity, diversity, inclusion and made change happen.
🤍🙏🏻
Former Liberal cabinet minister Kirsty Duncan dies at 59
OTTAWA — Former Liberal cabinet minister Kirsty Duncan has died at the age of 59 following a years-long battle with cancer. Born on Oct.
www.richmond-news.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:51 PM
I was maybe 2.5 years into my position as an Assistant Professor when my phone rang, and it was Kirsty Duncan, the new federal science minister, calling out of the blue. I had never met her. She asked me what she could do for early career investigators. /1
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
This amazing woman worked so hard for science and sport in Canada. She set up the Standing Committee on Science and Research, was a powerful voice for science in parliament and after being diagnosed with two cancers continued to advocate for good. Proud to have known the Rt Hon Kirsty Duncan. RIP 💔
January 26, 2026 at 10:45 PM
This amazing woman worked so hard for science and sport in Canada. She set up the Standing Committee on Science and Research, was a powerful voice for science in parliament and after being diagnosed with two cancers continued to advocate for good. Proud to have known the Rt Hon Kirsty Duncan. RIP 💔
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
This is sad news. Kirsty Duncan was always generous and engaging, and was always interested to hear what I was working on as a journalist. I miss seeing her around the halls of Parliament.
Former Toronto MP Kirsty Duncan has died
Duncan as a cabinet member under prime minister Justin Trudeau.
www.thestar.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:47 PM
This is sad news. Kirsty Duncan was always generous and engaging, and was always interested to hear what I was working on as a journalist. I miss seeing her around the halls of Parliament.
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
I still wear a mask, A plea to lapsed maskers, Covid collapsing public health, causing neurological complications & a dementia timebomb, and more
open.substack.com/pub/johndupu...
open.substack.com/pub/johndupu...
I still wear a mask, A plea to lapsed maskers, Collapsing public health, neurological complications, dementia timebombs, and more
Bonus Experts prefer respirators!
open.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:26 PM
I still wear a mask, A plea to lapsed maskers, Covid collapsing public health, causing neurological complications & a dementia timebomb, and more
open.substack.com/pub/johndupu...
open.substack.com/pub/johndupu...
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
Here is what you need for your Monday.
Timeline cleans with snowflake-sized baby lagoon jellyfish.
.
🎥 jelliesfarm www.instagram.com/jelliesfarm?...
.
🎥 jelliesfarm www.instagram.com/jelliesfarm?...
January 26, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Here is what you need for your Monday.
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
A healthy ecosystem requires a wide range of species interactions
Focussing only on, eg, pollination or predation, will not hep ecosystem-level conservation
Focussing only on, eg, pollination or predation, will not hep ecosystem-level conservation
January 23, 2026 at 9:40 AM
A healthy ecosystem requires a wide range of species interactions
Focussing only on, eg, pollination or predation, will not hep ecosystem-level conservation
Focussing only on, eg, pollination or predation, will not hep ecosystem-level conservation
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
There's an otherwise unreleased Mountain Goats song in a John Hodgman audiobook. An otherwise unreleased Mountain Goats song in one episode of a newsradio show. An otherwise unreleased Mountain Goats song in a Joyful Noise session.
"all God's creatures freeze up / when you flip the high beams on"
"all God's creatures freeze up / when you flip the high beams on"
the Mountain Goats - Almost Live from Joyful Noise
YouTube video by Joyful Noise Recordings
www.youtube.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:47 AM
There's an otherwise unreleased Mountain Goats song in a John Hodgman audiobook. An otherwise unreleased Mountain Goats song in one episode of a newsradio show. An otherwise unreleased Mountain Goats song in a Joyful Noise session.
"all God's creatures freeze up / when you flip the high beams on"
"all God's creatures freeze up / when you flip the high beams on"
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
remind ourselves each day / what we crawled up from & who we are
There's an otherwise unreleased Mountain Goats song in a John Hodgman audiobook. An otherwise unreleased Mountain Goats song in one episode of a newsradio show. An otherwise unreleased Mountain Goats song in a Joyful Noise session.
"all God's creatures freeze up / when you flip the high beams on"
"all God's creatures freeze up / when you flip the high beams on"
the Mountain Goats - Almost Live from Joyful Noise
YouTube video by Joyful Noise Recordings
www.youtube.com
January 22, 2026 at 3:30 AM
remind ourselves each day / what we crawled up from & who we are
Reposted by 🍁 Alex Smith 🍁
Laurentian hopes talks with striking faculty will restart by week's end
www.sudbury.com/local-news/l...
www.sudbury.com/local-news/l...
Laurentian hopes talks with striking faculty will restart by week's end
No talks currently planned, but university hopes to return to table with faculty soon
www.sudbury.com
January 21, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Laurentian hopes talks with striking faculty will restart by week's end
www.sudbury.com/local-news/l...
www.sudbury.com/local-news/l...