Melanie Newfield
@melanienewfield.bsky.social
Science and environment writer and communicator. Loves to talk about risk. Obsessed with plants and hopes to one day see every species of eucalypt.
I make the science behind important issues accessible here: https://theturnstone.substack.com
I make the science behind important issues accessible here: https://theturnstone.substack.com
Green Humour nails it
greenhumour.substack.com/p/defining-a...
greenhumour.substack.com/p/defining-a...
Defining a UN Climate Conference
Four years of drawing cartoons for COPs, and I think I finally have a definition for it.
greenhumour.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Green Humour nails it
greenhumour.substack.com/p/defining-a...
greenhumour.substack.com/p/defining-a...
I did an art class this weekend and had a go using a dip pen and plant inks. Drawing was fun and I loved the look the pen and inks made, apart from the nibs being almost impossible for a left hander to write with (although drawing was fine). Here's my drawing of prairie grass. #sciart
November 9, 2025 at 6:17 AM
I did an art class this weekend and had a go using a dip pen and plant inks. Drawing was fun and I loved the look the pen and inks made, apart from the nibs being almost impossible for a left hander to write with (although drawing was fine). Here's my drawing of prairie grass. #sciart
So it turns out that the story of austral snipe is an emotional rollercoaster. The story of tutukiwi is one of the saddest in #conservation, but the story of the Campbell Island snipe is one of the happiest. So here it is...
#Sciart
#Sciart
November 7, 2025 at 7:07 AM
So it turns out that the story of austral snipe is an emotional rollercoaster. The story of tutukiwi is one of the saddest in #conservation, but the story of the Campbell Island snipe is one of the happiest. So here it is...
#Sciart
#Sciart
Feeling sad today, so thought I'd share something from one of my art projects, which is to bring life to Aotearoa's #extinct species. Here's a little treasure called tutukiwi, a shorebird which lived in the forest, extinct in 1964.
November 5, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Feeling sad today, so thought I'd share something from one of my art projects, which is to bring life to Aotearoa's #extinct species. Here's a little treasure called tutukiwi, a shorebird which lived in the forest, extinct in 1964.
There's so much wrong in the world that it's overwhelming. But, if you can, spare a thought for the thousands of species which are silently slipping into extinction. This adorable weevil's just hanging in there, but how many more of our smaller creatures have we lost without noticing?
October 25, 2025 at 7:37 AM
There's so much wrong in the world that it's overwhelming. But, if you can, spare a thought for the thousands of species which are silently slipping into extinction. This adorable weevil's just hanging in there, but how many more of our smaller creatures have we lost without noticing?
It’s a while since I’ve shared any #sciart, so here’s a recent piece to accompany my article on the North Island kōkako. I’ve also included a piece from a year ago when I first started drawing to illustrate my articles.
October 15, 2025 at 3:48 AM
It’s a while since I’ve shared any #sciart, so here’s a recent piece to accompany my article on the North Island kōkako. I’ve also included a piece from a year ago when I first started drawing to illustrate my articles.
If you're into science communication #Scicomm and are in Auckland, Hamilton, Napier-Hastings, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch or Dunedin, check out the networking night for the Science Communicators Association of NZ. I'm co-hosting in Wellington.
October 12, 2025 at 9:48 PM
If you're into science communication #Scicomm and are in Auckland, Hamilton, Napier-Hastings, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch or Dunedin, check out the networking night for the Science Communicators Association of NZ. I'm co-hosting in Wellington.
Most accurate journalism I've seen on Aotearoa/ New Zealand in a long time.
The Government of New Zealand has made a new tourism ad and it's surprsingly honest and informative!
Honest Government Ad | Visit New Zealand!
YouTube video by thejuicemedia
www.youtube.com
October 10, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Most accurate journalism I've seen on Aotearoa/ New Zealand in a long time.
On my recent visit to #TiritiriMatangi island I took this video in the forest. The birdsong here is extraordinary. I’ve never heard anything like it.
October 6, 2025 at 4:14 AM
On my recent visit to #TiritiriMatangi island I took this video in the forest. The birdsong here is extraordinary. I’ve never heard anything like it.
If you need something uplifting, it’s hard to go past the story of the hihi, and how a group of high school students and their inspirational teacher helped bring it back from the brink of extinction.
open.substack.com/pub/theturns...
open.substack.com/pub/theturns...
A new sunrise
Tiritiri Matangi has given us hope for the survival of the hihi, but these birds are still in serious trouble (11 minute read)
open.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 3:41 AM
If you need something uplifting, it’s hard to go past the story of the hihi, and how a group of high school students and their inspirational teacher helped bring it back from the brink of extinction.
open.substack.com/pub/theturns...
open.substack.com/pub/theturns...
Such a frustrating and misleading headline. Do better @theguardian.com
Soybeans are overwhelming used for feed. 80% of protein produced on Brazil's croplands is used to feed animals iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1....
The recent tariff issue is a prime example of how the world's taste for meat (not soy) is shaping distant landscapes. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
The recent tariff issue is a prime example of how the world's taste for meat (not soy) is shaping distant landscapes. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
How the world’s taste for soya is eating Brazil’s Amazon
Cultivation of the crop has made a few wealthy but at a huge cost to untouched forest as it spreads across vast areas of former wilderness
www.theguardian.com
September 30, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Such a frustrating and misleading headline. Do better @theguardian.com
Just a quick reminder that polls close tomorrow in the year's most anticipated election: #Birdoftheyear2025 #BOTY2025
Make sure you get your votes in, and if you aren't sure who to vote for, here are nine worthy but sometimes overlooked candidates. theturnstone.substack.com/p/time-to-vote
Make sure you get your votes in, and if you aren't sure who to vote for, here are nine worthy but sometimes overlooked candidates. theturnstone.substack.com/p/time-to-vote
Time to vote!
The year's most contentious election - that's right, it's Bird of the Year 2025 (5 minute read)
theturnstone.substack.com
September 27, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Just a quick reminder that polls close tomorrow in the year's most anticipated election: #Birdoftheyear2025 #BOTY2025
Make sure you get your votes in, and if you aren't sure who to vote for, here are nine worthy but sometimes overlooked candidates. theturnstone.substack.com/p/time-to-vote
Make sure you get your votes in, and if you aren't sure who to vote for, here are nine worthy but sometimes overlooked candidates. theturnstone.substack.com/p/time-to-vote
Another under appreciated candidate for #birdoftheyear2025, the teeny-tiniest tītīpounamu. #sciart Weighs less than a large garden snail.
September 20, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Another under appreciated candidate for #birdoftheyear2025, the teeny-tiniest tītīpounamu. #sciart Weighs less than a large garden snail.
Here it is, my guide to why you should vote for some of Aotearoa’s under-appreciated birds. open.substack.com/pub/theturns...
Time to vote!
The year's most contentious election - that's right, it's Bird of the Year 2025 (5 minute read)
open.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Here it is, my guide to why you should vote for some of Aotearoa’s under-appreciated birds. open.substack.com/pub/theturns...
Fearless reporting from America's finest news source.
I am biased but I don’t think there is a better website on the internet today than TheOnion.com.
September 19, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Fearless reporting from America's finest news source.
I decided to get behind #Birdoftheyear2025 so I've written a guide and done some drawings for 9 underappreciated birds. Here's one for hākoakoa #skua since I was inspired by @hakoakoa-boty.bsky.social
The guide comes out tomorrow. Can you guess which other birds are on my list?
The guide comes out tomorrow. Can you guess which other birds are on my list?
September 18, 2025 at 6:22 AM
I decided to get behind #Birdoftheyear2025 so I've written a guide and done some drawings for 9 underappreciated birds. Here's one for hākoakoa #skua since I was inspired by @hakoakoa-boty.bsky.social
The guide comes out tomorrow. Can you guess which other birds are on my list?
The guide comes out tomorrow. Can you guess which other birds are on my list?
Hihi putting in a strong showing a day before voting opens in #BirdoftheYear2025
September 14, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Hihi putting in a strong showing a day before voting opens in #BirdoftheYear2025
Something to help you through one of the most momentous decisions you'll make all year - which bird to vote for in #BirdoftheYear2025
Need some help choosing which birds to vote for in the 20th Bird of the Year? Download our handy flowchart. Voting opens Monday!
👉https://f.mtr.cool/euvawqrgje
#BOTY2025 #BirdoftheYear2025 #BirdoftheYear
👉https://f.mtr.cool/euvawqrgje
#BOTY2025 #BirdoftheYear2025 #BirdoftheYear
September 14, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Something to help you through one of the most momentous decisions you'll make all year - which bird to vote for in #BirdoftheYear2025
I'm still finishing my work after 9pm because I decided to take a 3 hour walk this afternoon in the most perfect Wellington weather. Totally worth it. I made someone very happy.
September 12, 2025 at 9:14 AM
I'm still finishing my work after 9pm because I decided to take a 3 hour walk this afternoon in the most perfect Wellington weather. Totally worth it. I made someone very happy.
#mRNA vaccines are an incredible develop, with huge potential to alleviate suffering, so it's heartbreaking to see the USA cutting mRNA research. To fight back against the current regime's regression to Victorian era health policy, the public needs good information to help see through the lies.
September 6, 2025 at 7:27 AM
#mRNA vaccines are an incredible develop, with huge potential to alleviate suffering, so it's heartbreaking to see the USA cutting mRNA research. To fight back against the current regime's regression to Victorian era health policy, the public needs good information to help see through the lies.
These guys are so brilliant!
The Norwegian Government has made a new tourism ad, and it's surprsingly honest and informative! 🇳🇴
Honest Government Ad | Visit Norway!
YouTube video by thejuicemedia
www.youtube.com
September 1, 2025 at 8:19 AM
These guys are so brilliant!
Drawing moths has given me a new appreciation of a group which I previously studied as pests. Here are a couple whose arrival in New Zealand led to major eradication programmes. #sciart
August 31, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Drawing moths has given me a new appreciation of a group which I previously studied as pests. Here are a couple whose arrival in New Zealand led to major eradication programmes. #sciart
#MothMay got extended - I'm still drawing moths! Here's a couple of highlights from my article about the latest in lepidopteran fashion, as some of nature's most striking moths strut down the runway with flying colours. @loadofolbobbins.bsky.social #SciArt
August 24, 2025 at 6:39 AM
#MothMay got extended - I'm still drawing moths! Here's a couple of highlights from my article about the latest in lepidopteran fashion, as some of nature's most striking moths strut down the runway with flying colours. @loadofolbobbins.bsky.social #SciArt