Carly Ziter
@carlyziter.bsky.social
Urban & landscape ecologist thinking about nature-based solutions for biodiversity, people, and climate in the cities we live in. Prof @ Concordia. Probably talking about trees on the radio. Potter. Knitter. Baker. Gardener. Year-round cyclist. 🇨🇦 (she/her)
Pinned
Carly Ziter
@carlyziter.bsky.social
· Nov 16
Hi, Bluesky! 🇨🇦 urban & landscape ecologist here - tweeting at the intersection of ecology and urbanism + mentorship and work-life balance. Based in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal
On the off-hours: pottery, knitting, all-weather cycling, & the embarrassment and enjoyment of learning a new language as an adult!
On the off-hours: pottery, knitting, all-weather cycling, & the embarrassment and enjoyment of learning a new language as an adult!
Reposted by Carly Ziter
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Reposted by Carly Ziter
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
November 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
Reposted by Carly Ziter
My ask of any science enthusiasts who tell the story of Rosalind Franklin:
Don't make her life be about the DNA debacle. She died far too young, but she was a promising scientist in her own right, a mentor and scientific author.
Not for Watson or Crick, but for her legacy.
Don't make her life be about the DNA debacle. She died far too young, but she was a promising scientist in her own right, a mentor and scientific author.
Not for Watson or Crick, but for her legacy.
Her sister wrote my favorite essay about her. She points out that RF would have been famous even if she'd never looked at DNA
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Remembering my sister Rosalind Franklin
Rosalind Franklin died of ovarian cancer in 1958 aged 37 years. Sympathy and feminism
have combined to give us her familiar image as a downtrodden woman scientist, brilliant
but neglected, a heroine t...
www.thelancet.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:17 AM
My ask of any science enthusiasts who tell the story of Rosalind Franklin:
Don't make her life be about the DNA debacle. She died far too young, but she was a promising scientist in her own right, a mentor and scientific author.
Not for Watson or Crick, but for her legacy.
Don't make her life be about the DNA debacle. She died far too young, but she was a promising scientist in her own right, a mentor and scientific author.
Not for Watson or Crick, but for her legacy.
Reposted by Carly Ziter
Please do! Details about the fellowship and the link to apply can be found here: thenarwhal.ca/2026-indigen...
November 7, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Please do! Details about the fellowship and the link to apply can be found here: thenarwhal.ca/2026-indigen...
Reposted by Carly Ziter
“In May 2025, Scotland’s largest city [Glasgow] reached a milestone that would make any transportation planner in Portland or Montreal do a double take: during the morning rush hour, there were more bicycles than cars traveling along Victoria Road, a major artery…” Via @momentummag.bsky.social
When Bikes Outnumber Cars: What Scotland’s Cycling Surge Can Teach North America
Scotland’s largest city reached a milestone that would make any transportation planner in Portland, or Montreal do a double take.
momentummag.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
“In May 2025, Scotland’s largest city [Glasgow] reached a milestone that would make any transportation planner in Portland or Montreal do a double take: during the morning rush hour, there were more bicycles than cars traveling along Victoria Road, a major artery…” Via @momentummag.bsky.social
Reposted by Carly Ziter
A quick explainer on Montreal’s election:
The urbanist Projet Montréal party of outgoing mayor Valérie Plante has lost the election to the opposition Ensemble Montréal.
Projet deserves a *lot* of credit for Montreal’s transformation in the past 10 or 15 years to be more bike/pedestrian-friendly.
The urbanist Projet Montréal party of outgoing mayor Valérie Plante has lost the election to the opposition Ensemble Montréal.
Projet deserves a *lot* of credit for Montreal’s transformation in the past 10 or 15 years to be more bike/pedestrian-friendly.
November 3, 2025 at 3:49 AM
A quick explainer on Montreal’s election:
The urbanist Projet Montréal party of outgoing mayor Valérie Plante has lost the election to the opposition Ensemble Montréal.
Projet deserves a *lot* of credit for Montreal’s transformation in the past 10 or 15 years to be more bike/pedestrian-friendly.
The urbanist Projet Montréal party of outgoing mayor Valérie Plante has lost the election to the opposition Ensemble Montréal.
Projet deserves a *lot* of credit for Montreal’s transformation in the past 10 or 15 years to be more bike/pedestrian-friendly.
Reposted by Carly Ziter
Everyone deserves joy. And it's pretty ironic for the capitalist class to complain that Gen-Z is finding what joy they can afford--given how little they're paid and how much debt they've been forced to carry--in a store-bought pastry or coffee cup.
“At the same time, more than half of Gen Z members say they are struggling to make ends meet, yet a majority buy themselves a small treat, such as a pastry, coffee, or sweet, at least once a week. That can lead to overspending…”
archive.ph/2TI8J
archive.ph/2TI8J
October 31, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Everyone deserves joy. And it's pretty ironic for the capitalist class to complain that Gen-Z is finding what joy they can afford--given how little they're paid and how much debt they've been forced to carry--in a store-bought pastry or coffee cup.
What a great audience! A treat for me to talk in my hometown.
It was a Halloween treat 🎃 to have Dr. Carly Ziter deliver our Integrative Biology Departmental Seminar today: Understanding biodiversity and ecosystem services across urban landscapes. Thank you @carlyziter.bsky.social! And thank you for hosting our guest @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social.
October 31, 2025 at 7:54 PM
What a great audience! A treat for me to talk in my hometown.
Yes, and this kind of public communication is a skill that can be learned and practiced!
Scientists have so many misconceptions around communication (that some people are just ‘naturally’ good presenters. Or that if you *are* a good presenter your work must just be easier/simpler, etc).
Scientists have so many misconceptions around communication (that some people are just ‘naturally’ good presenters. Or that if you *are* a good presenter your work must just be easier/simpler, etc).
i once had a professor comment that if you really knew your material, you could present it to anyone from any education background in a way they'd understand, from 1st graders to your phd peers
October 30, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Yes, and this kind of public communication is a skill that can be learned and practiced!
Scientists have so many misconceptions around communication (that some people are just ‘naturally’ good presenters. Or that if you *are* a good presenter your work must just be easier/simpler, etc).
Scientists have so many misconceptions around communication (that some people are just ‘naturally’ good presenters. Or that if you *are* a good presenter your work must just be easier/simpler, etc).
Great advice in this thread! I’ve enjoyed winter biking in Montreal so much more than I thought I would.
Hey Friends
As we head into #wintercycling season, what are your tried and true tips that help you keep pedaling throughout the frigid season?
What advice would you offer newbies? #yycbike #yegbike #biketo #ottbike #bikehfx #bikeyvr
As we head into #wintercycling season, what are your tried and true tips that help you keep pedaling throughout the frigid season?
What advice would you offer newbies? #yycbike #yegbike #biketo #ottbike #bikehfx #bikeyvr
a picture of snow covered bikes with the words winter is coming
ALT: a picture of snow covered bikes with the words winter is coming
media.tenor.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Great advice in this thread! I’ve enjoyed winter biking in Montreal so much more than I thought I would.
Reposted by Carly Ziter
It pains me to see adaptation used to undermine mitigation, but also to see it painted as a "false solution."
Adaptation is harm reduction for climate impacts that can no longer be avoided. Climate justice demands it. AND it has limits, becoming less effective and more costly as warming proceeds.
Adaptation is harm reduction for climate impacts that can no longer be avoided. Climate justice demands it. AND it has limits, becoming less effective and more costly as warming proceeds.
October 28, 2025 at 9:41 PM
It pains me to see adaptation used to undermine mitigation, but also to see it painted as a "false solution."
Adaptation is harm reduction for climate impacts that can no longer be avoided. Climate justice demands it. AND it has limits, becoming less effective and more costly as warming proceeds.
Adaptation is harm reduction for climate impacts that can no longer be avoided. Climate justice demands it. AND it has limits, becoming less effective and more costly as warming proceeds.
💯
Instead of trying to green cars so much why don't we just invest in trains. city trains. under ground trains. above ground trains. trains between cities. trains between countries. TRAINS
THE PEOPLE CRAVE TRAINS
THE PEOPLE CRAVE TRAINS
October 28, 2025 at 7:34 PM
💯
Tall grass prairie used to cover a million square km in North America. Today, a small fraction of one percent of that remains. These remnant patches in my hometown are some of the last remaining in ON
People overlook Windsor (a city of cars and industry), but the nature here is truly incredible.
People overlook Windsor (a city of cars and industry), but the nature here is truly incredible.
Beautiful day for a walk in the prairie. Gorgeous tallgrass prairie remnant in Windsor’s Ojibway park
tallgrassontario.org/wp-site/gras...
tallgrassontario.org/wp-site/gras...
October 28, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Tall grass prairie used to cover a million square km in North America. Today, a small fraction of one percent of that remains. These remnant patches in my hometown are some of the last remaining in ON
People overlook Windsor (a city of cars and industry), but the nature here is truly incredible.
People overlook Windsor (a city of cars and industry), but the nature here is truly incredible.
Beautiful day for a walk in the prairie. Gorgeous tallgrass prairie remnant in Windsor’s Ojibway park
tallgrassontario.org/wp-site/gras...
tallgrassontario.org/wp-site/gras...
October 28, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Beautiful day for a walk in the prairie. Gorgeous tallgrass prairie remnant in Windsor’s Ojibway park
tallgrassontario.org/wp-site/gras...
tallgrassontario.org/wp-site/gras...
Reposted by Carly Ziter
“In the era of the climate crisis, politicians campaigning against bike lanes aren’t fit for office.” — @taylornoakes.com in @cultmtl.com
Also in an era of worsening urban traffic, urban pollution, urban noise, exploding public costs, competition among cities, & not nearly enough space in cities.
Also in an era of worsening urban traffic, urban pollution, urban noise, exploding public costs, competition among cities, & not nearly enough space in cities.
In the era of the climate crisis, politicians campaigning against bike lanes aren’t fit for office
Amid the climate crisis, politicians campaigning against bike lanes — as in Montreal municipal election campaign — aren’t fit for office.
cultmtl.com
October 26, 2025 at 7:45 PM
“In the era of the climate crisis, politicians campaigning against bike lanes aren’t fit for office.” — @taylornoakes.com in @cultmtl.com
Also in an era of worsening urban traffic, urban pollution, urban noise, exploding public costs, competition among cities, & not nearly enough space in cities.
Also in an era of worsening urban traffic, urban pollution, urban noise, exploding public costs, competition among cities, & not nearly enough space in cities.
Reposted by Carly Ziter
My friend @katharinehayhoe.com is 1 of top climate scientists in the world. She knows climate changes naturally too. Geez. BTW, grass grows naturally but when we fertilize the lawn, it grows differently. Trees fall naturally in the forest. That doesn't make a chainsaw a hoax. It
October 26, 2025 at 5:43 PM
My friend @katharinehayhoe.com is 1 of top climate scientists in the world. She knows climate changes naturally too. Geez. BTW, grass grows naturally but when we fertilize the lawn, it grows differently. Trees fall naturally in the forest. That doesn't make a chainsaw a hoax. It
Reposted by Carly Ziter
Asking researchers to be mindful of their citational practices isn't a threat to academic freedom, and it isn't censorship. It's good academic practice
October 24, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Asking researchers to be mindful of their citational practices isn't a threat to academic freedom, and it isn't censorship. It's good academic practice
Reposted by Carly Ziter
Yesterday, I heard doctors speak who had recently been on the ground in Gaza with Doctors Without Borders.
They shared videos and photos.
It was…crushing. I can’t find the words to tell you how harrowing and devastating their testimony was.
They, and their Palestinian colleagues, are heroes.
They shared videos and photos.
It was…crushing. I can’t find the words to tell you how harrowing and devastating their testimony was.
They, and their Palestinian colleagues, are heroes.
October 25, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Yesterday, I heard doctors speak who had recently been on the ground in Gaza with Doctors Without Borders.
They shared videos and photos.
It was…crushing. I can’t find the words to tell you how harrowing and devastating their testimony was.
They, and their Palestinian colleagues, are heroes.
They shared videos and photos.
It was…crushing. I can’t find the words to tell you how harrowing and devastating their testimony was.
They, and their Palestinian colleagues, are heroes.
Reposted by Carly Ziter
It’s amazing how many cities in Canada and the US only started building protected bike lanes in the 2010s.
So much of what we’re fighting over is relatively new. No surprise people still don’t really understand it yet.
So much of what we’re fighting over is relatively new. No surprise people still don’t really understand it yet.
October 24, 2025 at 4:17 PM
It’s amazing how many cities in Canada and the US only started building protected bike lanes in the 2010s.
So much of what we’re fighting over is relatively new. No surprise people still don’t really understand it yet.
So much of what we’re fighting over is relatively new. No surprise people still don’t really understand it yet.
Cruising through the suburbs on my mom’s ride this week.
October 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Cruising through the suburbs on my mom’s ride this week.
Reposted by Carly Ziter
There is no environmental justice without social justice. We need a just earth.
Deliberate starvation is a war crime. Ecocide is genocide.
Please stop coming into my mentions telling me how how every subatomic particle in Gaza is Hamas. It's tired, it's evil, and it's pointless. I'm not going to argue with you. You're just wrong.
Please stop coming into my mentions telling me how how every subatomic particle in Gaza is Hamas. It's tired, it's evil, and it's pointless. I'm not going to argue with you. You're just wrong.
More than 95 percent of Gaza’s agricultural land unusable, UN warns
Israeli attacks on land, wells and greenhouses exacerbating the already critical risk of famine in Gaza, the FAO says.
www.aljazeera.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:32 AM
There is no environmental justice without social justice. We need a just earth.
Reposted by Carly Ziter
It takes 30 days to grow a radish. Also 2/3 of the country is already in or entering winter.
On Threads, the usual suspects are telling ppl about to lose SNAP benefits to just start a garden. As a gardener, I had to laugh. You need at LEAST an acre of land to feed a family of 4. Start-up costs are enormous. But yes, subsistence farming on the balcony of your rental apartment is the answer
October 23, 2025 at 5:41 PM
It takes 30 days to grow a radish. Also 2/3 of the country is already in or entering winter.
Reposted by Carly Ziter
Heyyyy we desperately need more archaeologists to volunteer to answer questions from students via video chat through @skypeascientist.bsky.social.
We have 80 unmatched teams. We’ve already matched 650 😵💫
If you know any archaeologists, please send them here www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
We have 80 unmatched teams. We’ve already matched 650 😵💫
If you know any archaeologists, please send them here www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
Sign Up
Skype a Scientist gives you the opportunity to connect with students and the public around the world.
www.skypeascientist.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Heyyyy we desperately need more archaeologists to volunteer to answer questions from students via video chat through @skypeascientist.bsky.social.
We have 80 unmatched teams. We’ve already matched 650 😵💫
If you know any archaeologists, please send them here www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
We have 80 unmatched teams. We’ve already matched 650 😵💫
If you know any archaeologists, please send them here www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
Reposted by Carly Ziter
Wishing you could hear me talk instead of reading posts one by one? Here's your chance! I'll be giving a free, online talk next Wednesday from 12-1pm EST for the Microbes and Social Equity working group! I will discuss our microbiome work & my HEU* work
microbesandsocialequity.org/events/speak...
microbesandsocialequity.org/events/speak...
Speaker Series 2025
Events will be hosted January – December, 2025, on the last Wednesday of every month, 12:00 – 14:00 pm ET. Presented over Zoom. After each talk, we will continue the discussions in an i…
microbesandsocialequity.org
October 23, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Wishing you could hear me talk instead of reading posts one by one? Here's your chance! I'll be giving a free, online talk next Wednesday from 12-1pm EST for the Microbes and Social Equity working group! I will discuss our microbiome work & my HEU* work
microbesandsocialequity.org/events/speak...
microbesandsocialequity.org/events/speak...
Reposted by Carly Ziter
worth noting this is the exact approach you get a lot of flak from other scientists for trying
To compete in our attention-driven online spaces, science communicators should adopt networked coordination and emotional storytelling tactics to amplify accurate science information.
October 21, 2025 at 8:35 PM
worth noting this is the exact approach you get a lot of flak from other scientists for trying