Dr Thomas Clements
@taphonomist.bsky.social
Doctor of Decay. Palaeontologist studying the dark art of taphonomy: how squishy animals become fossils. Loves 🐙♥️ (he/him).
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
Wishing a warm welcome to everyone at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 85th Annual Meeting. While in Brum, snap a selfie with our #Museum icons and share with #LapworthRocks!
Images by Greg Milner.
#geologyrocks #geology #palaeontology #paleontology #fossils #minerals #SVP2025 #2025SVP
Images by Greg Milner.
#geologyrocks #geology #palaeontology #paleontology #fossils #minerals #SVP2025 #2025SVP
November 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Wishing a warm welcome to everyone at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 85th Annual Meeting. While in Brum, snap a selfie with our #Museum icons and share with #LapworthRocks!
Images by Greg Milner.
#geologyrocks #geology #palaeontology #paleontology #fossils #minerals #SVP2025 #2025SVP
Images by Greg Milner.
#geologyrocks #geology #palaeontology #paleontology #fossils #minerals #SVP2025 #2025SVP
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
PhD position available in evolutionary genomics/bioinformatics (hoehnalab.github.io/job_adverts/...). Topic: analyzing gene expression evolution across several firefly species and linking expression changes to genomic architecture. The position is jointly supervised with @anaevolcatalan.bsky.social
hoehnalab.github.io
November 11, 2025 at 9:00 AM
PhD position available in evolutionary genomics/bioinformatics (hoehnalab.github.io/job_adverts/...). Topic: analyzing gene expression evolution across several firefly species and linking expression changes to genomic architecture. The position is jointly supervised with @anaevolcatalan.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
Attending #2025SVP #SVP2025? Interested in Palaeozoic fish and temnospondyls, dinosaurs old and new, sabre-tooth cats, biomechanics, biogeography, museum ethics, etc? Don't look any further, the Lautenschlager Lab got you covered - thanks to a lot of hard work by students, post-docs and colleagues!
November 10, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
My students have set up a petition to persuade the University of Nottingham not to close our Plant Biology BSc course
c.org/VPhzVVrHPS
Please consider signing
c.org/VPhzVVrHPS
Please consider signing
Sign the Petition
Reconsider the potential suspension of Plant Biology Courses at UoN
c.org
November 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
My students have set up a petition to persuade the University of Nottingham not to close our Plant Biology BSc course
c.org/VPhzVVrHPS
Please consider signing
c.org/VPhzVVrHPS
Please consider signing
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
November 3, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I mean we technically did say this in 2016...
BREAKING: new discovery reveals the Tully Monster is a (very) distant evolutionary relative of Nanotyrannus
October 30, 2025 at 10:06 PM
I mean we technically did say this in 2016...
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
BREAKING: new discovery reveals the Tully Monster is a (very) distant evolutionary relative of Nanotyrannus
October 30, 2025 at 8:41 PM
BREAKING: new discovery reveals the Tully Monster is a (very) distant evolutionary relative of Nanotyrannus
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
Fossils are cultural objects - and this is not some woke b*llshit that people come up nowadays to spoil the fun in #palaeontology; this classification actually has a long history.
If you're curious how fossils became #culturalproperty under int'l law, check my new paper: doi.org/10.1093/lril...
If you're curious how fossils became #culturalproperty under int'l law, check my new paper: doi.org/10.1093/lril...
A classification unearthed: the history of palaeontological objects as cultural property in international law
Abstract. Fossils are an overlooked yet threatened category of cultural property. This article traces how they became protected by international law under
doi.org
October 28, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Fossils are cultural objects - and this is not some woke b*llshit that people come up nowadays to spoil the fun in #palaeontology; this classification actually has a long history.
If you're curious how fossils became #culturalproperty under int'l law, check my new paper: doi.org/10.1093/lril...
If you're curious how fossils became #culturalproperty under int'l law, check my new paper: doi.org/10.1093/lril...
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results:
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
October 22, 2025 at 7:55 AM
After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results:
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
🚨We have exciting new webinar series starting next Wednesday @1730 BST!
Join me as we discuss the #ERCStartingGrant with our panel speakers who have recently obtained this funding.
Anyone is welcome to join this webinar - register here 👇
us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Join me as we discuss the #ERCStartingGrant with our panel speakers who have recently obtained this funding.
Anyone is welcome to join this webinar - register here 👇
us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 22, 2025 at 4:13 PM
🚨We have exciting new webinar series starting next Wednesday @1730 BST!
Join me as we discuss the #ERCStartingGrant with our panel speakers who have recently obtained this funding.
Anyone is welcome to join this webinar - register here 👇
us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Join me as we discuss the #ERCStartingGrant with our panel speakers who have recently obtained this funding.
Anyone is welcome to join this webinar - register here 👇
us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Bacteria 🦠 🧫 play a crucial role in how animals become fossils!
Read about how decay experiments demonstrate that bacteria from the gut dominate the thanatomicrobiome (the internal microbiome of decay) and probably control fossilisation in our new paper!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Read about how decay experiments demonstrate that bacteria from the gut dominate the thanatomicrobiome (the internal microbiome of decay) and probably control fossilisation in our new paper!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
The relationship between microbial community succession, decay, and anatomical character loss in non‐biomineralized animals
A fundamental assumption of hypothesis-driven decay experiments is that, during decay, the loss of anatomy follows a sequence broadly controlled by the intrinsic compositional properties of tissues. ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Bacteria 🦠 🧫 play a crucial role in how animals become fossils!
Read about how decay experiments demonstrate that bacteria from the gut dominate the thanatomicrobiome (the internal microbiome of decay) and probably control fossilisation in our new paper!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Read about how decay experiments demonstrate that bacteria from the gut dominate the thanatomicrobiome (the internal microbiome of decay) and probably control fossilisation in our new paper!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Had the amazing privilege earlier in the year to watch a lithographic limestone plate be made by one last plate makers in Germany. Each plate is cut and then hammered by hand into shape - and after having a go it's very skilled work. Currently they have no apprentices, so a truly dying art.
October 9, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Had the amazing privilege earlier in the year to watch a lithographic limestone plate be made by one last plate makers in Germany. Each plate is cut and then hammered by hand into shape - and after having a go it's very skilled work. Currently they have no apprentices, so a truly dying art.
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
From our rare books collection we have this illustration of Vampyroteuthis infernalis, also known as the vampire squid from hell. In an order of its own, we don't really think the vampiric moniker is fair either as they actually feed on detritus and not blood #EYAMonsters
October 7, 2025 at 1:41 PM
From our rare books collection we have this illustration of Vampyroteuthis infernalis, also known as the vampire squid from hell. In an order of its own, we don't really think the vampiric moniker is fair either as they actually feed on detritus and not blood #EYAMonsters
It's Kürbiszeit (pumpkin time) here in Bavaria! Bumper crops this year from the local farms, so every type of pumpkin dish is on the menu 🎃
October 7, 2025 at 12:39 PM
It's Kürbiszeit (pumpkin time) here in Bavaria! Bumper crops this year from the local farms, so every type of pumpkin dish is on the menu 🎃
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
Happy #Croctober to all who celebrate.
October 2, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Happy #Croctober to all who celebrate.
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
#Marine #origins and #freshwater #radiations of the otophysan fishes: dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adr4494
October 2, 2025 at 7:35 PM
#Marine #origins and #freshwater #radiations of the otophysan fishes: dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adr4494
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
I’m googly eyed for the googly-eyed squid (Teuthowenia pellucida) 😍🧵🧪
October 2, 2025 at 10:09 PM
I’m googly eyed for the googly-eyed squid (Teuthowenia pellucida) 😍🧵🧪
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
AMAZING JOB ALERT!!! Dorset Council are recruiting a World Heritage Officer to support the management of the Jurassic Coast! Would suit an Earth Science graduate with an interest in digital comms and content: deets here: www.jobs.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/vacancies/32...
World Heritage Officer in Dorchester | Dorset Council
View details and apply for this World Heritage Officer vacancy in Dorchester.
Join a passionate and collaborative team at the heart of Dorset's environmental and heritage work. As part of the Dor...
www.jobs.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
September 30, 2025 at 10:54 AM
AMAZING JOB ALERT!!! Dorset Council are recruiting a World Heritage Officer to support the management of the Jurassic Coast! Would suit an Earth Science graduate with an interest in digital comms and content: deets here: www.jobs.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/vacancies/32...
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
This one was my arch nemesis for a hot minute. But theyre finally done. Teuthowenia pellucida, the googly-eyed squid. A deep sea cranchiid aka glass squid 🦑 🧪🐙🐡
September 27, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This one was my arch nemesis for a hot minute. But theyre finally done. Teuthowenia pellucida, the googly-eyed squid. A deep sea cranchiid aka glass squid 🦑 🧪🐙🐡
Quick scan for you:
No definition of 'woke'
Key finding: "There was no wider correlation between how woke a university was and how it fared on the rankings."
Utter drivel designed to drive culture wars.
No definition of 'woke'
Key finding: "There was no wider correlation between how woke a university was and how it fared on the rankings."
Utter drivel designed to drive culture wars.
"Britain's 'wokest' universities named and shamed - and how some of the biggest offenders have plunged in the prestigious rankings..."
Britain's 'wokest' universities named and shamed
Oxford and Cambridge, once crowned the top two in terms of pushing contentiously progressive ideologies on students, came joint-fourth in The Times Good University Guide 2026.
www.dailymail.co.uk
September 27, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Quick scan for you:
No definition of 'woke'
Key finding: "There was no wider correlation between how woke a university was and how it fared on the rankings."
Utter drivel designed to drive culture wars.
No definition of 'woke'
Key finding: "There was no wider correlation between how woke a university was and how it fared on the rankings."
Utter drivel designed to drive culture wars.
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
Happy #fossilfriday !
Staffordshire is probably best known for its extensive carboniferous coal measures
This gorgeous specimen in a borehole was found at a depth of 452m.
Lepidodendron aff. ophiurus
Middle Carboniferous, Beech, Staffordshire
Photo taken @potteriesmuseum
#paleobotany #plants
Staffordshire is probably best known for its extensive carboniferous coal measures
This gorgeous specimen in a borehole was found at a depth of 452m.
Lepidodendron aff. ophiurus
Middle Carboniferous, Beech, Staffordshire
Photo taken @potteriesmuseum
#paleobotany #plants
September 26, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Happy #fossilfriday !
Staffordshire is probably best known for its extensive carboniferous coal measures
This gorgeous specimen in a borehole was found at a depth of 452m.
Lepidodendron aff. ophiurus
Middle Carboniferous, Beech, Staffordshire
Photo taken @potteriesmuseum
#paleobotany #plants
Staffordshire is probably best known for its extensive carboniferous coal measures
This gorgeous specimen in a borehole was found at a depth of 452m.
Lepidodendron aff. ophiurus
Middle Carboniferous, Beech, Staffordshire
Photo taken @potteriesmuseum
#paleobotany #plants
New out of office:
"Contrary to any reports currently circulating I have actually been Raptured and will not be responding to emails.
Thank you for your understanding during this exciting time".
"Contrary to any reports currently circulating I have actually been Raptured and will not be responding to emails.
Thank you for your understanding during this exciting time".
September 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
New out of office:
"Contrary to any reports currently circulating I have actually been Raptured and will not be responding to emails.
Thank you for your understanding during this exciting time".
"Contrary to any reports currently circulating I have actually been Raptured and will not be responding to emails.
Thank you for your understanding during this exciting time".
Reposted by Dr Thomas Clements
Like Angela Bassett, I did the thing. I am knackered but yesterday morning I heard a group of 10 children screaming with excitement and suddenly everything was worth it.
September 20, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Like Angela Bassett, I did the thing. I am knackered but yesterday morning I heard a group of 10 children screaming with excitement and suddenly everything was worth it.
