JD Roberts
@jdroberts.bsky.social
Musican, historian and biologist. Melodic ambient soundscapes and parasitic worms. He/him
Researching hookworm, guinea worm, environmental history, parasitology, ecology, and Caribbean & Cornish history.
Researching hookworm, guinea worm, environmental history, parasitology, ecology, and Caribbean & Cornish history.
Reposted by JD Roberts
Next episode is up of our podcast ‘Edges of Extinction’! Aptly titled ‘Killer Language’… @katatrepsis.bsky.social and @sicilyfiennes.bsky.social speak to Diane Nelson about language extinction, what it means for a language to die, and how this happens.
bit.ly/4roa1XL
bit.ly/4roa1XL
Edges of Extinction Episode 2: The Killer Language | Extinction Studies at Leeds
Sicily Fiennes and Chris Hassall talk to Diane Nelson about language extinction, what it means for a language to die, and how this happens. The discussion follows on from Episode 1.
Podcast logo by ...
bit.ly
February 3, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Next episode is up of our podcast ‘Edges of Extinction’! Aptly titled ‘Killer Language’… @katatrepsis.bsky.social and @sicilyfiennes.bsky.social speak to Diane Nelson about language extinction, what it means for a language to die, and how this happens.
bit.ly/4roa1XL
bit.ly/4roa1XL
Alderley Edge. Moss and lichen glow green against red rocks and brown bark; goldcrests dart between bare branches, while ravens and buzzards wheel high above. Fallen leaves languish underfoot: a carpet of copper, bright as the burnished metal once raised and wrought from the scarlet sandstone below
January 28, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Alderley Edge. Moss and lichen glow green against red rocks and brown bark; goldcrests dart between bare branches, while ravens and buzzards wheel high above. Fallen leaves languish underfoot: a carpet of copper, bright as the burnished metal once raised and wrought from the scarlet sandstone below
I hate those 'reason for leaving job' bits on application forms. Telling them that I am not currently employed as a Bat Surveyor because bats hibernate in the winter feels so sarcastic, but it's the truth and also I don't think HR people know anything about bats?
January 26, 2026 at 11:47 AM
I hate those 'reason for leaving job' bits on application forms. Telling them that I am not currently employed as a Bat Surveyor because bats hibernate in the winter feels so sarcastic, but it's the truth and also I don't think HR people know anything about bats?
Reposted by JD Roberts
Still time to sign up for our first seminar of the year tomorrow!
We also have a new seminar series starting next week. The first speaker will be Alfie Howard (@alfiehoward66.bsky.social) on "Snake Words in Estonia: Nature and Nationalism in Andrus Kivirähk's 'The Man Who Spoke Snakish'". 27/01/26, 1400 GMT, signup here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/snake-word... 4/4
Snake Words in Estonia: Nature and Nationalism in Andrus Kivirähk
The Northern Environmental History Network is thrilled to welcome Dr Alfie Howard to present on Snake Words in Estonia!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Still time to sign up for our first seminar of the year tomorrow!
Reposted by JD Roberts
Myself and @jdroberts.bsky.social made a podcast!!!! Introducing a short series ‘Edges of Extinction’. Recorded at the Helix Suite at the University of Leeds!
January 23, 2026 at 11:27 AM
Myself and @jdroberts.bsky.social made a podcast!!!! Introducing a short series ‘Edges of Extinction’. Recorded at the Helix Suite at the University of Leeds!
Reposted by JD Roberts
We are thrilled to present our new podcast, 'Edges of Extinction'! In our first episode Diane Nelson and @sicilyfiennes.bsky.social talk to @katatrepsis.bsky.social about insect extinctions, what these mean for the world, and how they can be averted extinctionstudiesleeds.podbean.com/e/edges-of-e...
Edges of Extinction Episode 1: A Wonkier World | Extinction Studies at Leeds
Sicily Fiennes and Diane Nelson talk to Chris Hassall about insect extinctions, what these might mean for the world, and how they can be averted.
The first episode of our new 8-episode podcast series ...
extinctionstudiesleeds.podbean.com
January 23, 2026 at 10:04 AM
We are thrilled to present our new podcast, 'Edges of Extinction'! In our first episode Diane Nelson and @sicilyfiennes.bsky.social talk to @katatrepsis.bsky.social about insect extinctions, what these mean for the world, and how they can be averted extinctionstudiesleeds.podbean.com/e/edges-of-e...
Looking forward to hearing about snakes, language and Estonian nationalism in 'The Man Who Spoke Snakish' next week! It's an online event, come and join us! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/snake-word...
Snake Words in Estonia: Nature and Nationalism in Andrus Kivirähk
The Northern Environmental History Network is thrilled to welcome Dr Alfie Howard to present on Snake Words in Estonia!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 22, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Looking forward to hearing about snakes, language and Estonian nationalism in 'The Man Who Spoke Snakish' next week! It's an online event, come and join us! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/snake-word...
Lots of people have intestinal parasitic worm infections. But if you're someone reasonably well-off living in a rich country and following online health trends, you are almost certainly not one of them www.theguardian.com/wellness/202...
Does it even need to be said? No, you don’t need to do a ‘parasite cleanse’
Pricey deworming remedies are being touted as cure-alls. Supermodel Heidi Klum gave it a go – experts roll their eyes
www.theguardian.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Lots of people have intestinal parasitic worm infections. But if you're someone reasonably well-off living in a rich country and following online health trends, you are almost certainly not one of them www.theguardian.com/wellness/202...
Reposted by JD Roberts
We also have a new seminar series starting next week. The first speaker will be Alfie Howard (@alfiehoward66.bsky.social) on "Snake Words in Estonia: Nature and Nationalism in Andrus Kivirähk's 'The Man Who Spoke Snakish'". 27/01/26, 1400 GMT, signup here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/snake-word... 4/4
Snake Words in Estonia: Nature and Nationalism in Andrus Kivirähk
The Northern Environmental History Network is thrilled to welcome Dr Alfie Howard to present on Snake Words in Estonia!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 20, 2026 at 1:35 PM
We also have a new seminar series starting next week. The first speaker will be Alfie Howard (@alfiehoward66.bsky.social) on "Snake Words in Estonia: Nature and Nationalism in Andrus Kivirähk's 'The Man Who Spoke Snakish'". 27/01/26, 1400 GMT, signup here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/snake-word... 4/4
Reposted by JD Roberts
Firstly, we have a really exciting workshop comming up in April in York, with a deadline for the #CfP on the 31/01! The theme is 'Yuck: Historical Approaches to Unwanted Non-Human Life', considering unwanted life as historically produced, its sources, and the future of more-than-human-histories 2/4
![Call for papers, Northern Environmental History Network in-person workshop. 'Yuck: Historical Approaches to Unwanted Non-Human Life'. Humanities Research Centre, Uni of York 09-10/04/2026
This two day workshop will bring together researchers of all career stages and various disciplines to discuss the historical production and perception of categories of unwanted non-human life, such as weeds, vermin, and germs. Our aim is to facilitate wide ranging, critical discussions through a series of themes and research questions; beginning with an overarching inquiry into how unwanted life is historically produced, followed by considerations of the conceptual problems this research faces, and ending with reflections on the future of this nascent field. Each theme (outlined in more detail below) will be
discussed in break-out groups over the course of the 2 days, and participants would be expected to prepare a reflection (up to five minutes) on each theme in advance. The workshop will also feature two keynote papers. This is an in-person only event. To facilitate
attendance for unfunded PGRs, we hope to provide a limited amount of financial support.
Workshop Themes and Questions:
1 - Producing the Unwanted
What material and discursive practices are involved in the production of unwanted natures? How do they, and their production, differ across historical contexts?
2 - Agency
How can the agency of non-humans be historicised, and related to the production of unwanted life? What issues does an emphasis on agency raise, especially as regards the operation of power in the categorisation of non-human life as unwanted?
3 - Source Material and Archives
What demands do these different sources make on historians? How do archival practices contribute to the construction of unwanted life? How does non-human life relate to the archive?
4 - Future of the Field
[continues next post in thread]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rbgimbqlninak3my6not2vj3/bafkreicdfevjm3apvzncmhjhhowoqe3g7tds6lpdbfznydwc23wi2ivwc4@jpeg)
January 20, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Firstly, we have a really exciting workshop comming up in April in York, with a deadline for the #CfP on the 31/01! The theme is 'Yuck: Historical Approaches to Unwanted Non-Human Life', considering unwanted life as historically produced, its sources, and the future of more-than-human-histories 2/4
Looking forward to this online seminar next week, please join us! Snake Words in Estonia: Nature and Nationalism in Andrus Kivirähk's 'The Man Who Spoke Snakish' www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/snake-word...
Snake Words in Estonia: Nature and Nationalism in Andrus Kivirähk
The Northern Environmental History Network is thrilled to welcome Dr Alfie Howard to present on Snake Words in Estonia!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 19, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Looking forward to this online seminar next week, please join us! Snake Words in Estonia: Nature and Nationalism in Andrus Kivirähk's 'The Man Who Spoke Snakish' www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/snake-word...
Martin Mere. The reedbeds are quiet, golden reeds rustling in the wind but locked still in winter's embrace. The meres are noisy with waterfowl, wigeon whistling and teal piping in counterpoint to the brash voices of the geese and swans
January 18, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Martin Mere. The reedbeds are quiet, golden reeds rustling in the wind but locked still in winter's embrace. The meres are noisy with waterfowl, wigeon whistling and teal piping in counterpoint to the brash voices of the geese and swans
Jamming with the Korg Monotron Duo at Woodhouse Hill, a bronze- or iron-age hillfort in Cheshire. A spot which offers the two things I find most inspiring: nature, and the forgotten traces of the past...
January 16, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Jamming with the Korg Monotron Duo at Woodhouse Hill, a bronze- or iron-age hillfort in Cheshire. A spot which offers the two things I find most inspiring: nature, and the forgotten traces of the past...
What worries me is that there are now so few ways for small musicians to earn a little money to support themselves while they hone their craft. No dole, no meaningful royalties, maybe a tenner off Bandcamp every now and again. And we wonder why everything is dominated by older artists!
In April 2024, Spotify implemented a new scheme: songs with less than 1k streams per year would no longer receive royalties.
The data for 2025 was just released via Luminate, and 88% of songs have been demonetized.
Read it again: 88% of songs on Spotify have been demonetized.
The data for 2025 was just released via Luminate, and 88% of songs have been demonetized.
Read it again: 88% of songs on Spotify have been demonetized.
January 16, 2026 at 9:24 AM
What worries me is that there are now so few ways for small musicians to earn a little money to support themselves while they hone their craft. No dole, no meaningful royalties, maybe a tenner off Bandcamp every now and again. And we wonder why everything is dominated by older artists!
Taking a moment at the end of the day to get lost in the soundscape
January 14, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Taking a moment at the end of the day to get lost in the soundscape
Reposted by JD Roberts
CFP 📢 Join us for a panel on conservation histories for the European Congress of Conservation Biology in Leiden @eccb26leiden.bsky.social If you're interested, email @georgeholmes.bsky.social or me with an abstract by Feb 9.
#envhist #histsci #animalhist
#conservationhumanities
#envhist #histsci #animalhist
#conservationhumanities
January 10, 2026 at 8:32 AM
CFP 📢 Join us for a panel on conservation histories for the European Congress of Conservation Biology in Leiden @eccb26leiden.bsky.social If you're interested, email @georgeholmes.bsky.social or me with an abstract by Feb 9.
#envhist #histsci #animalhist
#conservationhumanities
#envhist #histsci #animalhist
#conservationhumanities
Felt like a day for a gentle, major-key wandering. I tend to think of this style as 'ambient pastoral', because it sounds to me like a sunny afternoon in a small wood surrounded by green hills...
January 11, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Felt like a day for a gentle, major-key wandering. I tend to think of this style as 'ambient pastoral', because it sounds to me like a sunny afternoon in a small wood surrounded by green hills...
Formby: stormblown waves crash onto the beach while gulls wheel on the wind. It is quieter behind the sheltering dunes, but January still bites cold, sharp wind cutting through your coat. Over the whale-road, the winter sun shines bright in a cloud-collage sky
January 7, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Formby: stormblown waves crash onto the beach while gulls wheel on the wind. It is quieter behind the sheltering dunes, but January still bites cold, sharp wind cutting through your coat. Over the whale-road, the winter sun shines bright in a cloud-collage sky
Kicking off the new year with a new AEMC album! This was a very fun group project where each of us sent in two improvisations and were randomly assigned two others in turn to make a track out of - give it a listen!
aemc2.bandcamp.com/album/a-perf...
aemc2.bandcamp.com/album/a-perf...
A Perfect Pair, by AEMC
15 track album
aemc2.bandcamp.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Kicking off the new year with a new AEMC album! This was a very fun group project where each of us sent in two improvisations and were randomly assigned two others in turn to make a track out of - give it a listen!
aemc2.bandcamp.com/album/a-perf...
aemc2.bandcamp.com/album/a-perf...
It's quite striking how many of the most aggressive, lawless states in today's world are oligarchic petrostates. If we want to advance the cause of peace, we should be dismantling the fossil fuel industry. Which is exactly what we already needed to be doing anyway
January 5, 2026 at 9:39 AM
It's quite striking how many of the most aggressive, lawless states in today's world are oligarchic petrostates. If we want to advance the cause of peace, we should be dismantling the fossil fuel industry. Which is exactly what we already needed to be doing anyway
Amazed and honoured to see Clarinets of the Moon in this list of best Ukrainian albums of 2025! "A unique work of two cultures, Ukrainian and British, it absorbs the essential and sublime from both artists and manages to showcase their harmonious coexistence" www.neformat.com.ua/articles/nay...
Найкращі українські релізи 2025 року
Уже традиційно завершуємо рік підбіркою найкращих українських альбомів і мініальбомів за версією редакції Neformat.
Як і попередній, 2025 рік був багатим на різноманітні релізи вітчизняних виконавців
www.neformat.com.ua
January 2, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Amazed and honoured to see Clarinets of the Moon in this list of best Ukrainian albums of 2025! "A unique work of two cultures, Ukrainian and British, it absorbs the essential and sublime from both artists and manages to showcase their harmonious coexistence" www.neformat.com.ua/articles/nay...
Alderley Edge is one of those places where you can feel the edges of the past in the old mines, and hear the shimmer of life in the rustle of the trees and the calls of the birds. That sense of timelessness, or perhaps timefulness, is something I always want to capture in my music
December 31, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Alderley Edge is one of those places where you can feel the edges of the past in the old mines, and hear the shimmer of life in the rustle of the trees and the calls of the birds. That sense of timelessness, or perhaps timefulness, is something I always want to capture in my music
My 2025 roundup: there was a lot of 2025
December 30, 2025 at 11:41 AM
My 2025 roundup: there was a lot of 2025
"The mission was practically impossible: to immerse high-brow experimentalists in the most commercial, most hackneyed of all musical genres!" A lovely reflection on our Christmas album from one of its architects substack.com/inbox/post/1...
From the Worlds of Radiant Light
AEMC's Christmas album as heard five years later
substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:50 AM
"The mission was practically impossible: to immerse high-brow experimentalists in the most commercial, most hackneyed of all musical genres!" A lovely reflection on our Christmas album from one of its architects substack.com/inbox/post/1...
The trees are bare, save for gentle holly and stubborn ivy, but the robins, thrushes and King Wren are singing, giving voice to the new spring they can feel stirring beneath the leaf litter. As the light fades and the fog gathers, you can feel a tingle in the air as the year comes to a close
December 23, 2025 at 10:12 AM
The trees are bare, save for gentle holly and stubborn ivy, but the robins, thrushes and King Wren are singing, giving voice to the new spring they can feel stirring beneath the leaf litter. As the light fades and the fog gathers, you can feel a tingle in the air as the year comes to a close