Alice Risely
@alice-risely.bsky.social
Ecologist with broad interests studying gulls, pathogens, and microbiomes. Love and teach R. Dangerously close to becoming microbiologist. Gulls Eating Stuff citizen science project. https://alicerisely.weebly.com/
Pinned
Alice Risely
@alice-risely.bsky.social
· Jun 11
🦠 SAVE THE DATE! 🦜
I'm excited to announce that the theme of the 2027 BOU conference is Avian Disease Ecology!
📍 Nottingham, UK
📅 6–8 April 2027
🔗 Full details: lnkd.in/gPvFFDJe
Please share widely!
#BOU2027 #Ornithology #WildlifeDisease #AvianDisease #EcoHealth
I'm excited to announce that the theme of the 2027 BOU conference is Avian Disease Ecology!
📍 Nottingham, UK
📅 6–8 April 2027
🔗 Full details: lnkd.in/gPvFFDJe
Please share widely!
#BOU2027 #Ornithology #WildlifeDisease #AvianDisease #EcoHealth
Reposted by Alice Risely
@zackpolanski.bsky.social on the importance of spending multipliers & borrowing to invest
Zack is, without doubt, a great communicator. And on him talking about democracy & the bond markets I'm reminded of Eddie Dempsey at the Durham Miners Gala when he asked "who elected the bond market?"
Zack is, without doubt, a great communicator. And on him talking about democracy & the bond markets I'm reminded of Eddie Dempsey at the Durham Miners Gala when he asked "who elected the bond market?"
November 23, 2025 at 9:49 AM
@zackpolanski.bsky.social on the importance of spending multipliers & borrowing to invest
Zack is, without doubt, a great communicator. And on him talking about democracy & the bond markets I'm reminded of Eddie Dempsey at the Durham Miners Gala when he asked "who elected the bond market?"
Zack is, without doubt, a great communicator. And on him talking about democracy & the bond markets I'm reminded of Eddie Dempsey at the Durham Miners Gala when he asked "who elected the bond market?"
Reposted by Alice Risely
@zackpolanski.bsky.social : "When are we going to see tough choices for multimillionaires and billionaires? It's time to tax the rich" #bbclaurak
November 23, 2025 at 9:32 AM
@zackpolanski.bsky.social : "When are we going to see tough choices for multimillionaires and billionaires? It's time to tax the rich" #bbclaurak
Reposted by Alice Risely
Things move quickly in politics. The idea of a Sunday broadsheet dedicating it's entire front page to @greenparty.org.uk is huge, and let's be honest, a sign of changing times.
People are sitting up and noticing @zackpolanski.bsky.social
join.greenparty.org.uk
People are sitting up and noticing @zackpolanski.bsky.social
join.greenparty.org.uk
November 23, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Things move quickly in politics. The idea of a Sunday broadsheet dedicating it's entire front page to @greenparty.org.uk is huge, and let's be honest, a sign of changing times.
People are sitting up and noticing @zackpolanski.bsky.social
join.greenparty.org.uk
People are sitting up and noticing @zackpolanski.bsky.social
join.greenparty.org.uk
Reposted by Alice Risely
Not this again
'however, standard culture methods did not yield readily cultivable microbiota.'
'however, standard culture methods did not yield readily cultivable microbiota.'
The findings of a study in Nature Medicine introduce microbial elements as a component of the brain tumor microenvironment and lay the foundation for future mechanistic and translational studies. go.nature.com/44bO314 #medsky #microbiome 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Not this again
'however, standard culture methods did not yield readily cultivable microbiota.'
'however, standard culture methods did not yield readily cultivable microbiota.'
Reposted by Alice Risely
Want a FREE resource pack with an ID guide to 30 species you’re likely to see in your local greenspace? 🐦🌳 Sign up to our Birds in #Greenspaces newsletter to receive one! ➡️ www.bto.org/greenspaces #Ornithology 🪶
Illustrations by @willrose.bsky.social
Illustrations by @willrose.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Want a FREE resource pack with an ID guide to 30 species you’re likely to see in your local greenspace? 🐦🌳 Sign up to our Birds in #Greenspaces newsletter to receive one! ➡️ www.bto.org/greenspaces #Ornithology 🪶
Illustrations by @willrose.bsky.social
Illustrations by @willrose.bsky.social
Reposted by Alice Risely
Did you know there’s been an octopus bloom off the Cornish coast? 🐙 Read our latest blog to learn more: www.falmouthmarineconservation.co.uk/post/bloomin...
#octopus #cornishcoast #blog
#octopus #cornishcoast #blog
November 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Did you know there’s been an octopus bloom off the Cornish coast? 🐙 Read our latest blog to learn more: www.falmouthmarineconservation.co.uk/post/bloomin...
#octopus #cornishcoast #blog
#octopus #cornishcoast #blog
Reposted by Alice Risely
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
Reposted by Alice Risely
ARTISTS!
I need your help!
In collab. w/the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, I'm organizing a group of artists to come to our Jan. meeting! We're looking for artists to create based on what they learn at the conference. $1000 stipend.
Application is V short! forms.gle/ah1i8KwNJinZ...
I need your help!
In collab. w/the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, I'm organizing a group of artists to come to our Jan. meeting! We're looking for artists to create based on what they learn at the conference. $1000 stipend.
Application is V short! forms.gle/ah1i8KwNJinZ...
November 22, 2025 at 3:51 PM
ARTISTS!
I need your help!
In collab. w/the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, I'm organizing a group of artists to come to our Jan. meeting! We're looking for artists to create based on what they learn at the conference. $1000 stipend.
Application is V short! forms.gle/ah1i8KwNJinZ...
I need your help!
In collab. w/the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, I'm organizing a group of artists to come to our Jan. meeting! We're looking for artists to create based on what they learn at the conference. $1000 stipend.
Application is V short! forms.gle/ah1i8KwNJinZ...
Reposted by Alice Risely
Has anyone written a good popsci book on zoonotic diseases post-covid?
November 22, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Has anyone written a good popsci book on zoonotic diseases post-covid?
Reposted by Alice Risely
Are you an MSc student based at a UK university? Or do you know one?
RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026:
www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
#ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026:
www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
#ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
Postgraduate opportunities
The RSPB is offering a variety of exciting research projects for postgraduate students in 2026.
www.rspb.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Are you an MSc student based at a UK university? Or do you know one?
RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026:
www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
#ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026:
www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
#ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
Reposted by Alice Risely
Happy to share our new AMR resource which has phenotypic AMR (usually MIC data) collected from publications and databases. This is paired with assemblies and annotations
We're excited for users who might train new models, find phenotype/genotype mismatches, or any other use
We're excited for users who might train new models, find phenotype/genotype mismatches, or any other use
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing health threat, making infections harder to treat and complicating routine medical care.
EMBL-EBI’s new AMR portal brings together laboratory resistance data and bacterial genomes in one open platform.
#WAAW2025 #ActOnAMR
www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/t...
🧬💻
EMBL-EBI’s new AMR portal brings together laboratory resistance data and bacterial genomes in one open platform.
#WAAW2025 #ActOnAMR
www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/t...
🧬💻
A new gateway to global antimicrobial resistance data
New online portal connects bacterial genomes with experimental resistance data to support antimicrobial resistance research.
www.ebi.ac.uk
November 19, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Happy to share our new AMR resource which has phenotypic AMR (usually MIC data) collected from publications and databases. This is paired with assemblies and annotations
We're excited for users who might train new models, find phenotype/genotype mismatches, or any other use
We're excited for users who might train new models, find phenotype/genotype mismatches, or any other use
Reposted by Alice Risely
1/6 Today I will be presenting my masters research on the #phylogeny of the waterfowl family Anatidae via the #BOUasm25 conference on BlueSky. What came first, the duck, the goose or the swan? #ornithology #systematics #waterfowl #ducks #geese #swans
1/6
1/6
November 18, 2025 at 1:19 PM
1/6 Today I will be presenting my masters research on the #phylogeny of the waterfowl family Anatidae via the #BOUasm25 conference on BlueSky. What came first, the duck, the goose or the swan? #ornithology #systematics #waterfowl #ducks #geese #swans
1/6
1/6
Reposted by Alice Risely
Glen Hancocks’ Bluesky presentation “Total evidence phylogeny of ducks, geese and swans (family Anatidae): implications for macroevolution and biogeography” can be found here. 🦢
@gleneth93.bsky.social #BOUasm25 #ornithology #biogeography
@gleneth93.bsky.social #BOUasm25 #ornithology #biogeography
1/6 Today I will be presenting my masters research on the #phylogeny of the waterfowl family Anatidae via the #BOUasm25 conference on BlueSky. What came first, the duck, the goose or the swan? #ornithology #systematics #waterfowl #ducks #geese #swans
1/6
1/6
November 18, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Glen Hancocks’ Bluesky presentation “Total evidence phylogeny of ducks, geese and swans (family Anatidae): implications for macroevolution and biogeography” can be found here. 🦢
@gleneth93.bsky.social #BOUasm25 #ornithology #biogeography
@gleneth93.bsky.social #BOUasm25 #ornithology #biogeography
Reposted by Alice Risely
This is what many of us have been saying. Part 3 of the Planning & Infrastructure Bill is based on a myth: that we don't have enough homes because wildlife and green spaces are protected. It will solve nothing, and inflict terrible harm on our remaining ecosystems
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Nature not a blocker to housing growth, inquiry finds
Commons committee report challenges ‘lazy narrative’ used by ministers that scapegoats wildlife and the environment
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:12 PM
This is what many of us have been saying. Part 3 of the Planning & Infrastructure Bill is based on a myth: that we don't have enough homes because wildlife and green spaces are protected. It will solve nothing, and inflict terrible harm on our remaining ecosystems
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Alice Risely
This should have been the end of Larry Summers.
Why women are poor at science, by Harvard president
The president of Harvard University has provoked a furore by arguing that men outperform women in maths and sciences because of biological difference, and discrimination is no longer a career barrier ...
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:03 AM
This should have been the end of Larry Summers.
Reposted by Alice Risely
The emails have Summers reporting to Epstein about his attempts to date a Harvard economics student & to hit on her during a seminar she was giving.
November 15, 2025 at 9:48 PM
The emails have Summers reporting to Epstein about his attempts to date a Harvard economics student & to hit on her during a seminar she was giving.
Reposted by Alice Risely
**PhD opportunity @uniexecec.bsky.social** How is immunogenetic variation maintained in the wild?
Why are alleles that increase disease susceptibility maintained in populations, when natural selection should eliminate them?
Why are alleles that increase disease susceptibility maintained in populations, when natural selection should eliminate them?
November 15, 2025 at 6:48 PM
**PhD opportunity @uniexecec.bsky.social** How is immunogenetic variation maintained in the wild?
Why are alleles that increase disease susceptibility maintained in populations, when natural selection should eliminate them?
Why are alleles that increase disease susceptibility maintained in populations, when natural selection should eliminate them?
Reposted by Alice Risely
In Central America, scientists found a spike in malaria cases after the fungus arrived. As frogs died, there were fewer tadpoles to eat mosquito larvae; more mosquitoes resulted in a fivefold increase in malaria cases: wapo.st/3LHtdAj (gift). We allow extinctions at our peril. 🌎
First, the frogs died. Then people got sick.
An emerging area of research is uncovering hidden links between nature and human health.
wapo.st
November 16, 2025 at 2:36 AM
In Central America, scientists found a spike in malaria cases after the fungus arrived. As frogs died, there were fewer tadpoles to eat mosquito larvae; more mosquitoes resulted in a fivefold increase in malaria cases: wapo.st/3LHtdAj (gift). We allow extinctions at our peril. 🌎
Reposted by Alice Risely
Nature not a blocker to housing growth, inquiry finds
Nature not a blocker to housing growth, inquiry finds
Commons committee report challenges ‘lazy narrative’ used by ministers that scapegoats wildlife and the environment
Nature is not a blocker to housing growth, an inquiry by MPs has found, in direct conflict with claims made by ministers.
Toby Perkins, the Labour chair of the environmental audit committee, said nature was being scapegoated, and that rather than being a block to growth, it was necessary for building resilient towns and neighbourhoods. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Nature not a blocker to housing growth, inquiry finds
I haven’t seen much from @zackpolanski.bsky.social on this bill. It is hugely important that we protect and enhance nature whilst building homes, which is more than possible if done right. We need to change the narrative around home building and Zack is in a good position to do this.
Amendment 40 to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill has been voted down.
Had it passed, it would have meant more precious wildlife would have retained existing protections.
Instead, MPs have bought into the false 'nature vs growth' narrative.
Had it passed, it would have meant more precious wildlife would have retained existing protections.
Instead, MPs have bought into the false 'nature vs growth' narrative.
November 16, 2025 at 9:18 AM
I haven’t seen much from @zackpolanski.bsky.social on this bill. It is hugely important that we protect and enhance nature whilst building homes, which is more than possible if done right. We need to change the narrative around home building and Zack is in a good position to do this.
Reposted by Alice Risely
Amendment 40 to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill has been voted down.
Had it passed, it would have meant more precious wildlife would have retained existing protections.
Instead, MPs have bought into the false 'nature vs growth' narrative.
Had it passed, it would have meant more precious wildlife would have retained existing protections.
Instead, MPs have bought into the false 'nature vs growth' narrative.
November 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Amendment 40 to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill has been voted down.
Had it passed, it would have meant more precious wildlife would have retained existing protections.
Instead, MPs have bought into the false 'nature vs growth' narrative.
Had it passed, it would have meant more precious wildlife would have retained existing protections.
Instead, MPs have bought into the false 'nature vs growth' narrative.
Reposted by Alice Risely
‘The latest surveillance data found that the number of antibiotic-resistant infections in 2024 equated to an average of nearly 400 newly reported cases a week.’
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Deaths linked to antibiotic-resistant superbugs rose 17% in England in 2024
Data also shows an average of nearly 400 newly reported cases of antibiotic-resistant infections a week last year
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:27 PM
‘The latest surveillance data found that the number of antibiotic-resistant infections in 2024 equated to an average of nearly 400 newly reported cases a week.’
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Another wonderful #BritishRail experience between Manchester and Liverpool - standing all the way to Liverpool, and a 3 hour bus replacement for the trip back 😭.
November 14, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Another wonderful #BritishRail experience between Manchester and Liverpool - standing all the way to Liverpool, and a 3 hour bus replacement for the trip back 😭.
Reposted by Alice Risely
We are looking for contributors to our series on the Methods Blog, exploring the experiences of ecologists conducting research in remote field stations during the holiday season 🎄
See previous blogs here 👉 buff.ly/MnMcRqG (1/2)
See previous blogs here 👉 buff.ly/MnMcRqG (1/2)
November 6, 2025 at 12:01 PM
We are looking for contributors to our series on the Methods Blog, exploring the experiences of ecologists conducting research in remote field stations during the holiday season 🎄
See previous blogs here 👉 buff.ly/MnMcRqG (1/2)
See previous blogs here 👉 buff.ly/MnMcRqG (1/2)
Reposted by Alice Risely
how did i go so long not knowing we were literally teaching people to read wrong. i knew something wasn't right but jesus christ www.apmreports.org/episode/2019...
How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers
For decades, schools have taught children the strategies of struggling readers, using a theory about reading that cognitive scientists have repeatedly debunked. And many teachers and parents don't kno...
www.apmreports.org
November 11, 2025 at 6:18 PM
how did i go so long not knowing we were literally teaching people to read wrong. i knew something wasn't right but jesus christ www.apmreports.org/episode/2019...