Stu West
@stuwest.bsky.social
Evolution. He/him/his. Views not my own. 🐵🦄🏳️🌈👨🔬🍜
Reposted by Stu West
Delighted to have been a part of this. It's a very exciting area in the field of social evolution and beyond!
Huge thanks to @asn-amnat.bsky.social for inviting our review on the evolutionary and ecological consequences of cooperation. @annadewar.bsky.social @asgriffin.bsky.social @lauriebelch.bsky.social www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
February 13, 2026 at 8:31 AM
Delighted to have been a part of this. It's a very exciting area in the field of social evolution and beyond!
Reposted by Stu West
Does haplodiploidy - a method of sex determination seen in bees and ants among other animals - promote eusociality?
New research from @rbonifacii.bsky.social and @stuwest.bsky.social enters evidence into this long debate that - despite popular belief - this is not the case 👇
bit.ly/4qEoEWm
New research from @rbonifacii.bsky.social and @stuwest.bsky.social enters evidence into this long debate that - despite popular belief - this is not the case 👇
bit.ly/4qEoEWm
How insects’ sex is determined is unlikely to be what makes them so social
bit.ly
February 13, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Does haplodiploidy - a method of sex determination seen in bees and ants among other animals - promote eusociality?
New research from @rbonifacii.bsky.social and @stuwest.bsky.social enters evidence into this long debate that - despite popular belief - this is not the case 👇
bit.ly/4qEoEWm
New research from @rbonifacii.bsky.social and @stuwest.bsky.social enters evidence into this long debate that - despite popular belief - this is not the case 👇
bit.ly/4qEoEWm
Reposted by Stu West
We understand a great deal about how and why cooperation evolves, but what about its long-term consequences?
Great to see our new review on this out now in @asn-amnat.bsky.social!
Great to see our new review on this out now in @asn-amnat.bsky.social!
Huge thanks to @asn-amnat.bsky.social for inviting our review on the evolutionary and ecological consequences of cooperation. @annadewar.bsky.social @asgriffin.bsky.social @lauriebelch.bsky.social www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
February 13, 2026 at 9:47 AM
We understand a great deal about how and why cooperation evolves, but what about its long-term consequences?
Great to see our new review on this out now in @asn-amnat.bsky.social!
Great to see our new review on this out now in @asn-amnat.bsky.social!
Reposted by Stu West
Oh I’m excited to dig into this! I especially love that figure with the environment & behavioral variables mapped onto the phylogeny! In my grad work, I found that nutrient stress intensifies selection against a selfish mtDNA… can’t help but wonder if it was a molecular case of a similar phenomenon.
February 12, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Oh I’m excited to dig into this! I especially love that figure with the environment & behavioral variables mapped onto the phylogeny! In my grad work, I found that nutrient stress intensifies selection against a selfish mtDNA… can’t help but wonder if it was a molecular case of a similar phenomenon.
Huge thanks to @asn-amnat.bsky.social for inviting our review on the evolutionary and ecological consequences of cooperation. @annadewar.bsky.social @asgriffin.bsky.social @lauriebelch.bsky.social www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
February 12, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Huge thanks to @asn-amnat.bsky.social for inviting our review on the evolutionary and ecological consequences of cooperation. @annadewar.bsky.social @asgriffin.bsky.social @lauriebelch.bsky.social www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Comparative analysis across 5,678 insect species shows that, when you control for phylogenetic bias, eusociality has not evolved at a faster rate in haplodiploid species. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
February 12, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Comparative analysis across 5,678 insect species shows that, when you control for phylogenetic bias, eusociality has not evolved at a faster rate in haplodiploid species. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Stu West
Applications for our Fellowship Mentorship Programme are open!
The programme supports promising early career researchers to submit fellowship applications and move towards research independence. Find out more ⬇️
https://bit.ly/BioIRF
The programme supports promising early career researchers to submit fellowship applications and move towards research independence. Find out more ⬇️
https://bit.ly/BioIRF
February 9, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Applications for our Fellowship Mentorship Programme are open!
The programme supports promising early career researchers to submit fellowship applications and move towards research independence. Find out more ⬇️
https://bit.ly/BioIRF
The programme supports promising early career researchers to submit fellowship applications and move towards research independence. Find out more ⬇️
https://bit.ly/BioIRF
A super handy database to help support academic society journals and other ethical publishing. academic.oup.com/jeb/article/...
Time to publish responsibly: DAFNEE, a database of academia-friendly journals in ecology and evolutionary biology
Abstract. The current economics of scientific publishing reveal a profound imbalance: academia pays prices far exceeding the actual costs of publication. R
academic.oup.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:53 AM
A super handy database to help support academic society journals and other ethical publishing. academic.oup.com/jeb/article/...
HBES newsletter on what experimental replication does and doesn't do www.hbes.com/what-the-rep...
What the replication of experiments does and doesn’t achieve - HBES
– by Stuart West & Max Burton-Chellew Replication or repeating of experiments is a key part of the scientific methodology. It increases your trust in that result. It shows that the result was not just...
www.hbes.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:03 AM
HBES newsletter on what experimental replication does and doesn't do www.hbes.com/what-the-rep...
Robots, fungal growth strategies, and proportional resource exchange between mycorrhizal fungi and plants www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10.... @spun.earth @tobykiers.bsky.social
Carbon–phosphorus exchange rate constrains density–speed trade-off in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal growth
www.pnas.org
February 6, 2026 at 11:06 PM
Robots, fungal growth strategies, and proportional resource exchange between mycorrhizal fungi and plants www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10.... @spun.earth @tobykiers.bsky.social
Want to join us in Biology at Oxford? The next round of our fellowship mentoring scheme has just opened www.biology.ox.ac.uk/fellowships
Fellowships
www.biology.ox.ac.uk
February 3, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Want to join us in Biology at Oxford? The next round of our fellowship mentoring scheme has just opened www.biology.ox.ac.uk/fellowships
The Nowak-Epstein emails reminded us about the genius summary of that strange paper, which has better stood the test of time 😂 youtube.com/watch?v=oE6I...
Important Harvard Scientists Attack Kin Selection
YouTube video by jonfwilkins
youtube.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:19 AM
The Nowak-Epstein emails reminded us about the genius summary of that strange paper, which has better stood the test of time 😂 youtube.com/watch?v=oE6I...
Reposted by Stu West
Gonna borrow this for my next response to rejection letter..
“127. einstein only got 100.
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spear - oh clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire”
“127. einstein only got 100.
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spear - oh clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire”
Good to know that Martin Nowak was keeping Jeffrey Epstein abreast of developments in our field www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov
February 2, 2026 at 10:49 AM
Gonna borrow this for my next response to rejection letter..
“127. einstein only got 100.
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spear - oh clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire”
“127. einstein only got 100.
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spear - oh clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire”
Reposted by Stu West
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards!
www.evolutionsociety.org/news/display...
www.evolutionsociety.org/news/display...
February 2, 2026 at 2:29 AM
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards!
www.evolutionsociety.org/news/display...
www.evolutionsociety.org/news/display...
Strange discovery that an email about inclusive fitness was forwarded to Jeffrey Epstein, with the emailer quoting Jerusalem and comparing themself to Einstein. Are you one of the >100 evolutionary biologists now in the Epstein files? www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
February 2, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Strange discovery that an email about inclusive fitness was forwarded to Jeffrey Epstein, with the emailer quoting Jerusalem and comparing themself to Einstein. Are you one of the >100 evolutionary biologists now in the Epstein files? www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
Reposted by Stu West
Good to know that Martin Nowak was keeping Jeffrey Epstein abreast of developments in our field www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov
February 2, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Good to know that Martin Nowak was keeping Jeffrey Epstein abreast of developments in our field www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
Reposted by Stu West
Very happy to share that I just published a new paper from my thesis! 🎉
We analysed 546 species of ant to understand how extreme specialisation into reproductive and non-reproductive roles evolved.
Key discoveries in thread🧵 👇
Full paper here: academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
We analysed 546 species of ant to understand how extreme specialisation into reproductive and non-reproductive roles evolved.
Key discoveries in thread🧵 👇
Full paper here: academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
December 18, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Very happy to share that I just published a new paper from my thesis! 🎉
We analysed 546 species of ant to understand how extreme specialisation into reproductive and non-reproductive roles evolved.
Key discoveries in thread🧵 👇
Full paper here: academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
We analysed 546 species of ant to understand how extreme specialisation into reproductive and non-reproductive roles evolved.
Key discoveries in thread🧵 👇
Full paper here: academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
Reposted by Stu West
In our new study we were the first to experimentally simulate the origin of sociality! By controlling how many wasp 🐝daughters could help their mom, we found that early helpers don't just add to colony success—they multiply it!
October 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM
In our new study we were the first to experimentally simulate the origin of sociality! By controlling how many wasp 🐝daughters could help their mom, we found that early helpers don't just add to colony success—they multiply it!
Elegant experiment-theory mix, showing increasing returns from helping in a cooperative wasp
Early-season helping in Polistes wasps shows increasing returns - more helpers lead to convex gains in sexual productivity, resolving a key paradox in the origins of eusociality.
academic.oup.com/evlett/artic...
@ricaliari.bsky.social @twenseleers.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/evlett/artic...
@ricaliari.bsky.social @twenseleers.bsky.social
December 17, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Elegant experiment-theory mix, showing increasing returns from helping in a cooperative wasp
Great video, covering a lot of non-trivial stuff very nicely!
And here it is, my interview with @juliet-turner.bsky.social youtu.be/v_46GqZDZCk?...
We saved the twitter slop for the end so trolls might learn something as they desperately wait to see if she mentions them.
Also, shoutout to @alexwild.bsky.social for letting her use his photos in this!
We saved the twitter slop for the end so trolls might learn something as they desperately wait to see if she mentions them.
Also, shoutout to @alexwild.bsky.social for letting her use his photos in this!
Dr. Juliet Turner - The Evolution of Cooperation and Division of Labour in Insects
YouTube video by Stated Casually
youtu.be
December 17, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Great video, covering a lot of non-trivial stuff very nicely!
Reposted by Stu West
Putting on my hat as @asn-amnat.bsky.social ASN President for announcements, please share widely!!!
3. The ASN Conceptual Unification of Biological Sciences award is for a late career investigator www.amnat.org/announcement...
3. The ASN Conceptual Unification of Biological Sciences award is for a late career investigator www.amnat.org/announcement...
Nominations for the ASN Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Conceptual Unification of the Biological Sciences
<p>The Conceptual Unification award is given annually and honors a senior but active investigator who is making fundamental contributions to the Society's goals in promoting the conceptual unifica...
www.amnat.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Putting on my hat as @asn-amnat.bsky.social ASN President for announcements, please share widely!!!
3. The ASN Conceptual Unification of Biological Sciences award is for a late career investigator www.amnat.org/announcement...
3. The ASN Conceptual Unification of Biological Sciences award is for a late career investigator www.amnat.org/announcement...
Reposted by Stu West
Putting on my hat as @asn-amnat.bsky.social
ASN President for announcements, please share widely!!!
3. The ASN Distinguished Naturalist award is for a mid career investigator (<= 20 years from PhD). Go here to nominate someone: nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
ASN President for announcements, please share widely!!!
3. The ASN Distinguished Naturalist award is for a mid career investigator (<= 20 years from PhD). Go here to nominate someone: nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
Nominations for the Distinguished Naturalist Award
<p>The ASN Distinguished Naturalist Award is given to an active investigator in mid-career who has made significant contributions to the knowledge of a particular ecosystem or group of organisms. Nom...
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Putting on my hat as @asn-amnat.bsky.social
ASN President for announcements, please share widely!!!
3. The ASN Distinguished Naturalist award is for a mid career investigator (<= 20 years from PhD). Go here to nominate someone: nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
ASN President for announcements, please share widely!!!
3. The ASN Distinguished Naturalist award is for a mid career investigator (<= 20 years from PhD). Go here to nominate someone: nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
Reposted by Stu West
Putting on my hat as @asn-amnat.bsky.social
ASN President for announcements, please share widely!!!
2. ASN Early Career Investigator awards are now open for application. Self-nominations okay! Due Jan 5
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
ASN President for announcements, please share widely!!!
2. ASN Early Career Investigator awards are now open for application. Self-nominations okay! Due Jan 5
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
Applications for the 2026 ASN Early Career Investigator Award
<p>Nominations/Applications for the 2026 Early Career Investigator Award are <strong>due January 5, 2026</strong></p><br/>
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Putting on my hat as @asn-amnat.bsky.social
ASN President for announcements, please share widely!!!
2. ASN Early Career Investigator awards are now open for application. Self-nominations okay! Due Jan 5
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
ASN President for announcements, please share widely!!!
2. ASN Early Career Investigator awards are now open for application. Self-nominations okay! Due Jan 5
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
Reposted by Stu West
Putting on my hat as @asn-amnat.bsky.social ASN President for a minute for a string of announcements, please share widely!!!
1. Student research awards are open for applications, to fund research expenses for 10 graduate students ($2000 each)
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
1. Student research awards are open for applications, to fund research expenses for 10 graduate students ($2000 each)
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
Student Research Award
<p>The ASN Student Research Awards support research by student members that advances the goals of the society: the conceptual unification of ecology, evolution, and behavior. Each award consists of a ...
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Putting on my hat as @asn-amnat.bsky.social ASN President for a minute for a string of announcements, please share widely!!!
1. Student research awards are open for applications, to fund research expenses for 10 graduate students ($2000 each)
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
1. Student research awards are open for applications, to fund research expenses for 10 graduate students ($2000 each)
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
Want to join us at Oxford? This is a great Royal Society fellowship scheme to bring early career researchers from abroad. royalsociety.org/grants/newto...
Newton International Fellowships | Royal Society
This fellowship is for non-UK scientists who are at an early stage of their research career and wish to conduct research in the UK.
royalsociety.org
December 16, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Want to join us at Oxford? This is a great Royal Society fellowship scheme to bring early career researchers from abroad. royalsociety.org/grants/newto...