Timothée Poisot
@ctrlalttim.com
Almost certainly one of the ecologists of all time.
AI/ML, biodiversity monitoring, viral emergence, open science, methodological anarchism
he/they
🧪 https://epic-biodiversity.org/
📰 https://buttondown.email/ctrl-alt-tim
AI/ML, biodiversity monitoring, viral emergence, open science, methodological anarchism
he/they
🧪 https://epic-biodiversity.org/
📰 https://buttondown.email/ctrl-alt-tim
Pinned
Timothée Poisot
@ctrlalttim.com
· Nov 5
👋 Bonjour hi!
We've built a whole new website, and @ctrlalttim.com has thoughts about the long-term dynamics of research groups to share.
epic-biodiversity.org/blog/2025/11...
We've built a whole new website, and @ctrlalttim.com has thoughts about the long-term dynamics of research groups to share.
epic-biodiversity.org/blog/2025/11...
Bonjour hi! | ÉPICBiodiversity
epic-biodiversity.org
As one of the greatest writers of our age said, “venom with a new twang, same swagger, new thang” - the lab has changed a lot over ten years, and after thinking about who we became, we decided to re-do the website. And write about our theory of change.
Follow us - @epic-biodiversity.org !
Follow us - @epic-biodiversity.org !
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
I've been writing a lecture which is going to feature a wide range of different invertebrate taxa.
At some point, I realised that instead of trying to source photos/images for all those taxa, it'd be easier (+ more stylistically consistent) for me to just draw them all myself.
#Invertebrate #SciArt
At some point, I realised that instead of trying to source photos/images for all those taxa, it'd be easier (+ more stylistically consistent) for me to just draw them all myself.
#Invertebrate #SciArt
December 9, 2025 at 2:38 AM
I've been writing a lecture which is going to feature a wide range of different invertebrate taxa.
At some point, I realised that instead of trying to source photos/images for all those taxa, it'd be easier (+ more stylistically consistent) for me to just draw them all myself.
#Invertebrate #SciArt
At some point, I realised that instead of trying to source photos/images for all those taxa, it'd be easier (+ more stylistically consistent) for me to just draw them all myself.
#Invertebrate #SciArt
After 10 years in storage my xbox360 finally croaked. My last 300 google searches are variations of "fallout new vegas linux please help please i need this so much"
December 21, 2025 at 8:36 PM
After 10 years in storage my xbox360 finally croaked. My last 300 google searches are variations of "fallout new vegas linux please help please i need this so much"
It's amazing how little Bloodborne has aged in 10 years. It's still at least as good as Elden Ring in my book.
December 19, 2025 at 2:00 AM
It's amazing how little Bloodborne has aged in 10 years. It's still at least as good as Elden Ring in my book.
Over a month ago, Ecological Indicators returned us either the wrong editorial decision, or the wrong reviews. In a month of emails with Elsevier, we have been unable to get any help.
The last time I published there, they also returned the wrong review to us. What is going on there?
The last time I published there, they also returned the wrong review to us. What is going on there?
December 18, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Over a month ago, Ecological Indicators returned us either the wrong editorial decision, or the wrong reviews. In a month of emails with Elsevier, we have been unable to get any help.
The last time I published there, they also returned the wrong review to us. What is going on there?
The last time I published there, they also returned the wrong review to us. What is going on there?
The simulations didn't work and I didn't get as far as I thought on this draft, bug the baking?
The baking got done.
The baking got done.
December 17, 2025 at 10:13 PM
The simulations didn't work and I didn't get as far as I thought on this draft, bug the baking?
The baking got done.
The baking got done.
The long downwards spiral of mozilla makes me sad everyday. At least they had the decency to get rid of thunderbird and let the community save it.
December 16, 2025 at 11:27 PM
The long downwards spiral of mozilla makes me sad everyday. At least they had the decency to get rid of thunderbird and let the community save it.
This is, not a joke, one of my favourite papers in a long time. Absolutely stellar co-authors, but also a straight line from "nitpicky little nerds obsessing over sampling" to "translational research with clear implications for management". Go read all about it here: ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...
December 15, 2025 at 3:07 PM
This is, not a joke, one of my favourite papers in a long time. Absolutely stellar co-authors, but also a straight line from "nitpicky little nerds obsessing over sampling" to "translational research with clear implications for management". Go read all about it here: ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...
11y.o. decided on tyrannids. We're SO back.
December 13, 2025 at 8:22 PM
11y.o. decided on tyrannids. We're SO back.
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
found an etsy shop that's doing a tremendous bit
December 12, 2025 at 10:20 PM
found an etsy shop that's doing a tremendous bit
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
i made a few edits to my sad little poem & drew something to accompany it
![[pothos plant vine drawing]
message to my former friend who uses AI
images to accompany social media posts
about his job at the addict kids to gambling factory
re: your prompt
"anime style guy in work clothes," a boyish
face that desperately clings to bygone youth;
unspecified "potted plants" -- mimicry
of perhaps lilacs, plum blossoms
on vague greenery blobs
They all have leaves like rose bushes, though
I see over here the machine tried to
approximate: spider plant, monstera, anthurium
But I can tell: you didn't bother
to learn botanical names.
(I hesitate to call them) pothos drape,
weightless, on a pergola ("sunny day")
-- there's no real source of light.
Lines: wrong without handsweight
or intent, "make"
"cityscape in the background."
I would have taught you to place
a horizon line,
a vanishing point](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ymipjgi2ebiptelhrw6zezas/bafkreibvj3ui3r3h3ln2wr4747lttxga6z2vsnvsb7hem7jeio3lq7gaei@jpeg)
December 10, 2025 at 10:40 PM
i made a few edits to my sad little poem & drew something to accompany it
Noteworthy because it was my first time adding a polygon provider using the interface @mdcatchen.bsky.social built for one of our component packages 🎉
We have added support for ESRI administrative areas to our species distribution #JuliaLang package — a lot more stable than GADM (although limited to level 1 divisions).
📗 Read more: poisotlab.github.io/SpeciesDistr...
📗 Read more: poisotlab.github.io/SpeciesDistr...
![using SpeciesDistributionToolkit
const SDT = SpeciesDistributionToolkit
using CairoMakie
# Get the data
const DATA_DOI = "10.15468/dl.7ddsb7"
presences = GBIF.download(DATA_DOI)
# Get the country-level data
borders = getpolygon(PolygonData(ESRI, Places))["Country" => "Tanzania"]
# Make a plot
poly(borders, color=:grey95)
lines!(borders, color=:grey40, linewidth=0.5)
scatter!(presences, color=:white, strokecolor=:forestgreen, strokewidth=1)
current_figure()](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:55yjeft22dumoonnjlzb6ia3/bafkreicyw7zr3uiwfgwg2eceu7ut5cfokahruambkx6p4n3gjrnrp2bwxi@jpeg)
December 11, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Noteworthy because it was my first time adding a polygon provider using the interface @mdcatchen.bsky.social built for one of our component packages 🎉
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
@typst.app really is as good as the hype.
December 10, 2025 at 6:17 PM
@typst.app really is as good as the hype.
"reviewers finish reading a paragraph before commenting" challenge (impossible)
Very seriously, my adventures as an author recently suggest that none of you should be complaining about the low reading skills of students. Fix your attention span.
Very seriously, my adventures as an author recently suggest that none of you should be complaining about the low reading skills of students. Fix your attention span.
December 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
"reviewers finish reading a paragraph before commenting" challenge (impossible)
Very seriously, my adventures as an author recently suggest that none of you should be complaining about the low reading skills of students. Fix your attention span.
Very seriously, my adventures as an author recently suggest that none of you should be complaining about the low reading skills of students. Fix your attention span.
Responding to reviewer 2 is made measurably better by listening to King Tubby's version of Take Five
Take Five
open.spotify.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Responding to reviewer 2 is made measurably better by listening to King Tubby's version of Take Five
Checklists for quantitative analyses do not work. For beginners, they are overwhelming, and usually not sufficient enough that you can't make severe mistakes while thinking you're following best practices. For experts, they are obviously a hindrance, as you are supposed to be pushing boundaries.
December 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Checklists for quantitative analyses do not work. For beginners, they are overwhelming, and usually not sufficient enough that you can't make severe mistakes while thinking you're following best practices. For experts, they are obviously a hindrance, as you are supposed to be pushing boundaries.
Increase tri-council funding next you cowards
It's happening! Canada launched two programs to recruit international researchers.
Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (1 million/yr for 8 yrs +)
Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders.
I will do my best to facilitate the process for those interested. Hit me up.
www.canada.ca/en/impact-pl...
Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (1 million/yr for 8 yrs +)
Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders.
I will do my best to facilitate the process for those interested. Hit me up.
www.canada.ca/en/impact-pl...
The Government of Canada introduces new programs for international researchers - Canada.ca
www.canada.ca
December 9, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Increase tri-council funding next you cowards
Today was the last day of my data science for biodiversity class, which we concluded with students presentations. They did really well!
If you want to see/run a workshop version of this class (half day, full day, 2 days version!), reach out. 🧪
If you want to see/run a workshop version of this class (half day, full day, 2 days version!), reach out. 🧪
December 9, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Today was the last day of my data science for biodiversity class, which we concluded with students presentations. They did really well!
If you want to see/run a workshop version of this class (half day, full day, 2 days version!), reach out. 🧪
If you want to see/run a workshop version of this class (half day, full day, 2 days version!), reach out. 🧪
Limited experience here, but I always try to figure out why I was asked to write the letter. This usually means looking for things I have in common with the candidate; the more niche, the more important.
I also confirm with the department whether I'm expected to make a recommendation at all!
I also confirm with the department whether I'm expected to make a recommendation at all!
Dear senior profs who have written tenure letters.
Can you help demystify the process for some junior profs up for tenure soon?
What do you look for? How do you make your evaluation?
We are told that the letters are the most important part of the file, but not what letter writers look for.
1/
Can you help demystify the process for some junior profs up for tenure soon?
What do you look for? How do you make your evaluation?
We are told that the letters are the most important part of the file, but not what letter writers look for.
1/
December 5, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Limited experience here, but I always try to figure out why I was asked to write the letter. This usually means looking for things I have in common with the candidate; the more niche, the more important.
I also confirm with the department whether I'm expected to make a recommendation at all!
I also confirm with the department whether I'm expected to make a recommendation at all!
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last
Slouches towards its office to catch up on late grading?
Slouches towards its office to catch up on late grading?
December 4, 2025 at 1:01 PM
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last
Slouches towards its office to catch up on late grading?
Slouches towards its office to catch up on late grading?
I was reading about rotation forests, as one does, and then I started thinking; if rotation forests are better than random forest, surely rotation boosted trees would be very good, right?
I wasn't ready for how effective they are.
I wasn't ready for how effective they are.
December 3, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I was reading about rotation forests, as one does, and then I started thinking; if rotation forests are better than random forest, surely rotation boosted trees would be very good, right?
I wasn't ready for how effective they are.
I wasn't ready for how effective they are.
This is true!
And to anyone who is actively willing to hurt disabled learners just to catch cheaters that likely only exist within their imagination: please find a new job!
xoxo
And to anyone who is actively willing to hurt disabled learners just to catch cheaters that likely only exist within their imagination: please find a new job!
xoxo
If we're talking about the alleged rampant scourge of non-disabled "cheaters," it's worth noting that extended time has a huge impact on test scores for disabled students, but only nominal impact on test scores for non-disabled students.
So if someone "doesn't need it?" Let them have it anyway
So if someone "doesn't need it?" Let them have it anyway
December 3, 2025 at 3:40 PM
This is true!
And to anyone who is actively willing to hurt disabled learners just to catch cheaters that likely only exist within their imagination: please find a new job!
xoxo
And to anyone who is actively willing to hurt disabled learners just to catch cheaters that likely only exist within their imagination: please find a new job!
xoxo
Over the last week, in three very different professional situations, I've felt the need to say "we can't assume that what currently exists is limiting what may eventually be". As researchers, our job is to not being misled by the is/ought dichotomy.
December 2, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Over the last week, in three very different professional situations, I've felt the need to say "we can't assume that what currently exists is limiting what may eventually be". As researchers, our job is to not being misled by the is/ought dichotomy.
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
who decided to call it Secret Santa when Nondisclosure Claus was right there
December 1, 2025 at 10:55 PM
who decided to call it Secret Santa when Nondisclosure Claus was right there
This morning, I was enjoying a cup of coffee before leaving for the airport, and thinking that I could do with more quiet introspection time. After a 8 hour flight with no books, no podcasts (forgot to download them), and no in-flight movies because the screen was broken: I was wrong.
December 1, 2025 at 11:50 PM
This morning, I was enjoying a cup of coffee before leaving for the airport, and thinking that I could do with more quiet introspection time. After a 8 hour flight with no books, no podcasts (forgot to download them), and no in-flight movies because the screen was broken: I was wrong.
Damn Google scholar you're a freak
November 29, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Damn Google scholar you're a freak