Liz, The Guernsey Scientist
@thegsyscientist.bsky.social
SciComm enthusiast • Feral oceanographer at large • Huge proponent of weird science 🧪fun facts & deep dives into our weird, wonderful wildlife • ICE - Include, Communicate, Educate • Views my own • #ScienceOnTheRock
I am thoroughly enjoying #AlienEarth
However, as a scientist well versed in Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) protocols, I have literally spent the last hour of my life screaming at the TV during episode 6. Not even gonna talk about episode 5 🤦🏻♀️
However, as a scientist well versed in Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) protocols, I have literally spent the last hour of my life screaming at the TV during episode 6. Not even gonna talk about episode 5 🤦🏻♀️
September 16, 2025 at 9:53 PM
I am thoroughly enjoying #AlienEarth
However, as a scientist well versed in Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) protocols, I have literally spent the last hour of my life screaming at the TV during episode 6. Not even gonna talk about episode 5 🤦🏻♀️
However, as a scientist well versed in Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) protocols, I have literally spent the last hour of my life screaming at the TV during episode 6. Not even gonna talk about episode 5 🤦🏻♀️
Happy World Dolphin Day everyone.
Here's your fun dolphin fact: All dolphins are odontoceti, they're toothed whales
So all dolphins are whales, but not all whales are dolphins 🐬🐳
#WorldDolphinDay
Here's your fun dolphin fact: All dolphins are odontoceti, they're toothed whales
So all dolphins are whales, but not all whales are dolphins 🐬🐳
#WorldDolphinDay
September 12, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Happy World Dolphin Day everyone.
Here's your fun dolphin fact: All dolphins are odontoceti, they're toothed whales
So all dolphins are whales, but not all whales are dolphins 🐬🐳
#WorldDolphinDay
Here's your fun dolphin fact: All dolphins are odontoceti, they're toothed whales
So all dolphins are whales, but not all whales are dolphins 🐬🐳
#WorldDolphinDay
Reposted by Liz, The Guernsey Scientist
🎉 New #Scicomm opportunity! 🎉
📅 Places now open for 4-week online course on science communication through poetry with @edinburghnapier.bsky.social.
🎁 Full bursaries available.
🔗 Register here: napier.ac.uk/study-with-u...
#SciArt #CPD #PoetryInScience 🧪 #HigherEd #Poetry
📅 Places now open for 4-week online course on science communication through poetry with @edinburghnapier.bsky.social.
🎁 Full bursaries available.
🔗 Register here: napier.ac.uk/study-with-u...
#SciArt #CPD #PoetryInScience 🧪 #HigherEd #Poetry
Science Communication through Poetry
At Edinburgh Napier University, we nurture talent and create knowledge that shapes communities all around the world.
napier.ac.uk
August 18, 2025 at 8:31 AM
🎉 New #Scicomm opportunity! 🎉
📅 Places now open for 4-week online course on science communication through poetry with @edinburghnapier.bsky.social.
🎁 Full bursaries available.
🔗 Register here: napier.ac.uk/study-with-u...
#SciArt #CPD #PoetryInScience 🧪 #HigherEd #Poetry
📅 Places now open for 4-week online course on science communication through poetry with @edinburghnapier.bsky.social.
🎁 Full bursaries available.
🔗 Register here: napier.ac.uk/study-with-u...
#SciArt #CPD #PoetryInScience 🧪 #HigherEd #Poetry
I have been eaten alive, literally, by horseflies. The bite reaction on my knee hinge is bigger than my hand and I can't bend my leg properly.
Genuinely would like to cut off my leg 😖
Why do horsefly bites produce such a horrific reaction?
Genuinely would like to cut off my leg 😖
Why do horsefly bites produce such a horrific reaction?
July 24, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I have been eaten alive, literally, by horseflies. The bite reaction on my knee hinge is bigger than my hand and I can't bend my leg properly.
Genuinely would like to cut off my leg 😖
Why do horsefly bites produce such a horrific reaction?
Genuinely would like to cut off my leg 😖
Why do horsefly bites produce such a horrific reaction?
Can a dipterist explain to me why at high latitudes, there is an increase in abundance of flies, both in terms of individuals and, to my untrained eye, species too?
I'm currently in Orkney and I am seeing fly species I don't even vaguely recognise?
#flies #highLatitude 🧪
I'm currently in Orkney and I am seeing fly species I don't even vaguely recognise?
#flies #highLatitude 🧪
July 17, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Can a dipterist explain to me why at high latitudes, there is an increase in abundance of flies, both in terms of individuals and, to my untrained eye, species too?
I'm currently in Orkney and I am seeing fly species I don't even vaguely recognise?
#flies #highLatitude 🧪
I'm currently in Orkney and I am seeing fly species I don't even vaguely recognise?
#flies #highLatitude 🧪
Thanks so much for chatting with me @askjordon.bsky.social I thoroughly enjoyed it. Our conversation was also a great opportunity for me to review where I am and what I want to do in the future. #SittingDownWithScholars #SciComm
Introducing @thegsyscientist.bsky.social and their work in science communication and an interesting academic journey.
July 17, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Thanks so much for chatting with me @askjordon.bsky.social I thoroughly enjoyed it. Our conversation was also a great opportunity for me to review where I am and what I want to do in the future. #SittingDownWithScholars #SciComm
Reposted by Liz, The Guernsey Scientist
Didn’t think we’d have to say this in 2025, but please don’t kick seals. 🫠
A couple of troubling incidents involving harbour seal pups in the Victoria area has prompted a warning from a wildlife education group about how to safely and legally respond when encountering young marine mammals on local beaches.
Seal pup kicked into water prompts warnings from B.C. wildlife group
A couple of troubling incidents involving harbour seal pups in the Victoria area has prompted a warning from a wildlife education group about how to safely and legally respond when encountering young marine mammals on local beaches.
cheknews.ca
July 15, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Didn’t think we’d have to say this in 2025, but please don’t kick seals. 🫠
Just been for a much needed snorkel at Finstown in #Orkney. Gorgeous bay. The seagrass is stunning and the Green Shore Crabs were huge! Especially compared to Guernsey's.
July 15, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Just been for a much needed snorkel at Finstown in #Orkney. Gorgeous bay. The seagrass is stunning and the Green Shore Crabs were huge! Especially compared to Guernsey's.
Today is World Orca Day and I had the best start to this week b/c I spent yesterday following Hulk & Nott - 2 visiting bulls from Iceland. They swam right in at the bottom of the cliffs 🤩
#Orkney #WorldOrcaDay
#Orkney #WorldOrcaDay
July 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Today is World Orca Day and I had the best start to this week b/c I spent yesterday following Hulk & Nott - 2 visiting bulls from Iceland. They swam right in at the bottom of the cliffs 🤩
#Orkney #WorldOrcaDay
#Orkney #WorldOrcaDay
Why does writing lectures take me so loooonnnnng 😭
Any science people got any tips to speed up the process?
I find I write as I create slides but if I try and sketch my lectures out in advance before creating slides it takes much, much longer 🦑
Any science people got any tips to speed up the process?
I find I write as I create slides but if I try and sketch my lectures out in advance before creating slides it takes much, much longer 🦑
July 7, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Why does writing lectures take me so loooonnnnng 😭
Any science people got any tips to speed up the process?
I find I write as I create slides but if I try and sketch my lectures out in advance before creating slides it takes much, much longer 🦑
Any science people got any tips to speed up the process?
I find I write as I create slides but if I try and sketch my lectures out in advance before creating slides it takes much, much longer 🦑
No dolphins but I was treated to a Great Skua soaring round.
Skuas engage in a behaviour called "kleptoparasitism"
They'll harass Gannets, interfering with their flight by grabbing their tail or wing until the Gannet regurgitates its food providing the Skua with a low-effort meal 🦑 #skua
Skuas engage in a behaviour called "kleptoparasitism"
They'll harass Gannets, interfering with their flight by grabbing their tail or wing until the Gannet regurgitates its food providing the Skua with a low-effort meal 🦑 #skua
Excitedly waiting for the ferry to Orkney. It's beautifully wild Scottish weather this morning and I am hopeful we might see some dolphins on the crossing 🐬
July 6, 2025 at 12:23 PM
No dolphins but I was treated to a Great Skua soaring round.
Skuas engage in a behaviour called "kleptoparasitism"
They'll harass Gannets, interfering with their flight by grabbing their tail or wing until the Gannet regurgitates its food providing the Skua with a low-effort meal 🦑 #skua
Skuas engage in a behaviour called "kleptoparasitism"
They'll harass Gannets, interfering with their flight by grabbing their tail or wing until the Gannet regurgitates its food providing the Skua with a low-effort meal 🦑 #skua
Excitedly waiting for the ferry to Orkney. It's beautifully wild Scottish weather this morning and I am hopeful we might see some dolphins on the crossing 🐬
July 5, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Excitedly waiting for the ferry to Orkney. It's beautifully wild Scottish weather this morning and I am hopeful we might see some dolphins on the crossing 🐬
Reposted by Liz, The Guernsey Scientist
Amazing footage of a bowhead whale cracking open thick ice to breath
www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts...
www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts...
Drone captures Greenland ice tearing open to reveal humungous animal beneath | Discover Wildlife
The colossal marine creature can be seen breaking through the ice to take several breaths of air before returning to the deep.
www.discoverwildlife.com
July 4, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Amazing footage of a bowhead whale cracking open thick ice to breath
www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts...
www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts...
Just a reminder that "The Shark Whisperer" isn't science 🙄 or a documentary and we should not harass marine, or indeed, any other wildlife.
Enough of you asked me about this that I wrote some brief thoughts on Ocean Ramsey's particular brand of pseudoscientific nonsense. I believe this addresses almost all of the frequently asked questions I receive, but as always I am happy to answer serious questions asked in good faith.
🧪🦑🌎🦈
🧪🦑🌎🦈
What Ocean Ramsey does is not shark science or conservation: some brief thoughts on “the Shark Whisperer” documentary
Netflix has a new (sarcastic air quotes) “documentary” out about Ocean Ramsey, who longtime readers and followers know is a serial wildlife harasser who also coordinates massive online …
www.southernfriedscience.com
July 4, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Just a reminder that "The Shark Whisperer" isn't science 🙄 or a documentary and we should not harass marine, or indeed, any other wildlife.
Agreed.
We have these beautiful, fragile cold water corals in #Guernsey waters and no protection for them here either
We have these beautiful, fragile cold water corals in #Guernsey waters and no protection for them here either
🪸 A “little sanctuary” of pink sea fans was accidentally discovered off Cornwall while filming for Sir David Attenborough's OCEAN. These delicate corals are threatened by destructive bottom trawling.
It's time for a ban. Help protect our ocean havens: only.one/act/uk-mpa-c...
It's time for a ban. Help protect our ocean havens: only.one/act/uk-mpa-c...
June 26, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Agreed.
We have these beautiful, fragile cold water corals in #Guernsey waters and no protection for them here either
We have these beautiful, fragile cold water corals in #Guernsey waters and no protection for them here either
I am beyond excited about this research.
Not only is this the first evidence of tool-making by marine mammals, they're using the tool for social bonding rather than foraging 🦑
Not only is this the first evidence of tool-making by marine mammals, they're using the tool for social bonding rather than foraging 🦑
Killer whales have been seen detaching lengths of seaweed and using them to massage each other – the first evidence of tool-making by marine mammals
Here researchers Rachel John and Dr Michael Weiss discuss this incredible discovery
Here researchers Rachel John and Dr Michael Weiss discuss this incredible discovery
Rachel John and Michael Weiss discuss the discovery of allokelping
YouTube video by University of Exeter
www.youtube.com
June 24, 2025 at 9:47 AM
I am beyond excited about this research.
Not only is this the first evidence of tool-making by marine mammals, they're using the tool for social bonding rather than foraging 🦑
Not only is this the first evidence of tool-making by marine mammals, they're using the tool for social bonding rather than foraging 🦑
Reposted by Liz, The Guernsey Scientist
Daniel Pauly ( @seaaroundus.org ) called this “shifting baseline syndrome,” where everyone thinks of the “normal” baseline as whatever they grew up with www.kildare-nationalist.ie/life/living-...
Living Greener: Too many view the environment in the abstract - Life - Kildare Nationalist
The environment is the trees and weeds and insects around where we live, and how many of those could most people notice or name?
www.kildare-nationalist.ie
June 23, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Daniel Pauly ( @seaaroundus.org ) called this “shifting baseline syndrome,” where everyone thinks of the “normal” baseline as whatever they grew up with www.kildare-nationalist.ie/life/living-...
Really looking forward to this morning. I'm heading off to Beaucamps Highschool School to show our Pollinator film.
I can't wait for the questions #scicomm #nature #education
I can't wait for the questions #scicomm #nature #education
June 24, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Really looking forward to this morning. I'm heading off to Beaucamps Highschool School to show our Pollinator film.
I can't wait for the questions #scicomm #nature #education
I can't wait for the questions #scicomm #nature #education
How's everyone else doing in the heatwave?
For all my Guernsey followers, this is for Jersey b/c there's no option to generate the climate stripes for #Guernsey
#showyourstripes
showyourstripes.info/s/europe/uni...
For all my Guernsey followers, this is for Jersey b/c there's no option to generate the climate stripes for #Guernsey
#showyourstripes
showyourstripes.info/s/europe/uni...
Show Your Stripes
Visualising how the climate has changed for every country across the globe
showyourstripes.info
June 21, 2025 at 11:20 AM
How's everyone else doing in the heatwave?
For all my Guernsey followers, this is for Jersey b/c there's no option to generate the climate stripes for #Guernsey
#showyourstripes
showyourstripes.info/s/europe/uni...
For all my Guernsey followers, this is for Jersey b/c there's no option to generate the climate stripes for #Guernsey
#showyourstripes
showyourstripes.info/s/europe/uni...
Reposted by Liz, The Guernsey Scientist
Excited to share our study on sailing siphonophores, AKA bluebottles or man-o'-war! 🌊 we received hundreds of samples from scientists around the world, part of a huge effort to sequence genomes and test for multiple species 🧬 out today in @currentbiology.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.cu... 🦑🧪📌
June 19, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Excited to share our study on sailing siphonophores, AKA bluebottles or man-o'-war! 🌊 we received hundreds of samples from scientists around the world, part of a huge effort to sequence genomes and test for multiple species 🧬 out today in @currentbiology.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.cu... 🦑🧪📌
Busy writing lectures, just made a figure of Sperm Whales using the Rosette/Marguerite Formation defensive strategy to protect vulnerable herd members.
As a last resort they do something called "defense defecation"
Can I get away with calling this a Poopnado? 🤔 🦑
www.researchgate.net/figure/Defen...
As a last resort they do something called "defense defecation"
Can I get away with calling this a Poopnado? 🤔 🦑
www.researchgate.net/figure/Defen...
Figure 2. Defences strategies in sperm whale. A. " Marguerite formation...
Download scientific diagram | Defences strategies in sperm whale. A. " Marguerite formation " . B. Parallel formation. from publication: First record of live stranded sperm whales Physeter macroceph...
www.researchgate.net
June 19, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Busy writing lectures, just made a figure of Sperm Whales using the Rosette/Marguerite Formation defensive strategy to protect vulnerable herd members.
As a last resort they do something called "defense defecation"
Can I get away with calling this a Poopnado? 🤔 🦑
www.researchgate.net/figure/Defen...
As a last resort they do something called "defense defecation"
Can I get away with calling this a Poopnado? 🤔 🦑
www.researchgate.net/figure/Defen...
Well next week should be good for marine life spotting in #Guernsey
With any luck we'll get dolphin sightings, definitely jellyfish and hopefully some sunfish too
With any luck we'll get dolphin sightings, definitely jellyfish and hopefully some sunfish too
Image of the week: Marine algal bloom near Guernsey www.eumetsat.int/image-week-m...
They play a key role in sustaining life on Earth as they are responsible for producing over half of the world’s oxygen and they help regulate the climate as they absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2)
They play a key role in sustaining life on Earth as they are responsible for producing over half of the world’s oxygen and they help regulate the climate as they absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2)
June 19, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Well next week should be good for marine life spotting in #Guernsey
With any luck we'll get dolphin sightings, definitely jellyfish and hopefully some sunfish too
With any luck we'll get dolphin sightings, definitely jellyfish and hopefully some sunfish too
Reposted by Liz, The Guernsey Scientist
Spotted: Tiny translucent treasure 😍💎
Amphipods are crustaceans often mistaken for tiny shrimp. They resemble shrimp in some ways, but they are laterally compressed and have no carapace. From icy polar zones to the deep ocean, they can thrive in habitats where few other animals can survive.
Amphipods are crustaceans often mistaken for tiny shrimp. They resemble shrimp in some ways, but they are laterally compressed and have no carapace. From icy polar zones to the deep ocean, they can thrive in habitats where few other animals can survive.
June 18, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Spotted: Tiny translucent treasure 😍💎
Amphipods are crustaceans often mistaken for tiny shrimp. They resemble shrimp in some ways, but they are laterally compressed and have no carapace. From icy polar zones to the deep ocean, they can thrive in habitats where few other animals can survive.
Amphipods are crustaceans often mistaken for tiny shrimp. They resemble shrimp in some ways, but they are laterally compressed and have no carapace. From icy polar zones to the deep ocean, they can thrive in habitats where few other animals can survive.
I'm done! I've voted! It's been a lot of work reading manifestos, hustings, listening to all the @guernseypress.com podcasts - super helpful so thank you GP.
25 votes in the end #election2025 #guernsey 🇬🇬 #voting
25 votes in the end #election2025 #guernsey 🇬🇬 #voting
June 18, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I'm done! I've voted! It's been a lot of work reading manifestos, hustings, listening to all the @guernseypress.com podcasts - super helpful so thank you GP.
25 votes in the end #election2025 #guernsey 🇬🇬 #voting
25 votes in the end #election2025 #guernsey 🇬🇬 #voting
Today is going to be a great day. A chapter of strife and uncertainty is over and I'm ready to embrace a new start
June 17, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Today is going to be a great day. A chapter of strife and uncertainty is over and I'm ready to embrace a new start