Samuel Brockington
@docbroc.bsky.social
Professor of Evolution | Curator of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden | Co-Director of the Connections-Collections-Communities Strategic Research Initiative
Pinned
Samuel Brockington
@docbroc.bsky.social
· Feb 10
Great to see our paper on the front cover @natureecoevo.bsky.social, with the tropical displays in our glasshouse range!
With thanks to all 50+ co-authors.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Nice editorial on the issues facing a variety of ex situ plant collection.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
With thanks to all 50+ co-authors.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Nice editorial on the issues facing a variety of ex situ plant collection.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Fantastic heartfelt thread…
On Friday, my son stayed home from school because he had a sore throat and wasn’t feeling well. He went with my husband to his office for the morning while I handled our daughter. When he came back at lunch, he was not interested in eating, saying his throat hurt too much. 1/n
May 7, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Fantastic heartfelt thread…
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
Excited to share a new paper with Sandra Guerrero-Rubio and @docbroc.bsky.social on the convergent evolution of betalains, now published in @newphyt.bsky.social! nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/.... A 🧵
Multiple transitions to high l‐DOPA 4,5‐dioxygenase activity reveal molecular pathways to convergent betalain pigmentation in Caryophyllales
Many specialized metabolic pathways have evolved convergently in plants, but distinguishing multiple origins from alternative evolutionary scenarios can be difficult. Here, we explore the evolution .....
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
May 6, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Excited to share a new paper with Sandra Guerrero-Rubio and @docbroc.bsky.social on the convergent evolution of betalains, now published in @newphyt.bsky.social! nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/.... A 🧵
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
All three days were epic!
March 18, 2025 at 6:47 PM
All three days were epic!
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
That was a good day for Natural History Humanities initiatives!
Thank you @theul.bsky.social @theulspeccoll.bsky.social @jillwhitelock.bsky.social for hosting a great workshop!
#GLAM
Thank you @theul.bsky.social @theulspeccoll.bsky.social @jillwhitelock.bsky.social for hosting a great workshop!
#GLAM
Bringing botanical illustrations and pressed plants to your feed 🌿
We recently hosted colleagues working across Cambridge collections with Collections-Connections-Communities to celebrate the launch of their Natural History Humanities research programme: loom.ly/C8reZbo @camglamresearch.bsky.social
We recently hosted colleagues working across Cambridge collections with Collections-Connections-Communities to celebrate the launch of their Natural History Humanities research programme: loom.ly/C8reZbo @camglamresearch.bsky.social
March 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
That was a good day for Natural History Humanities initiatives!
Thank you @theul.bsky.social @theulspeccoll.bsky.social @jillwhitelock.bsky.social for hosting a great workshop!
#GLAM
Thank you @theul.bsky.social @theulspeccoll.bsky.social @jillwhitelock.bsky.social for hosting a great workshop!
#GLAM
Productive and inspiring day with BGCI colleagues at @rbgkew.bsky.social talking about living collections management and data ecosystems. A highlight was first ever visit to the newly restored Marianne North gallery. Absolutely fabulous. Must see.
February 18, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Productive and inspiring day with BGCI colleagues at @rbgkew.bsky.social talking about living collections management and data ecosystems. A highlight was first ever visit to the newly restored Marianne North gallery. Absolutely fabulous. Must see.
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
Great Collections Lab yesterday: how communities shape participatory research! Questions were on issues that matter most to academic and non-academic researchers & what changes are needed in this space. Grateful to be able to convene these conversations! #research #participatory #community #seminar
February 11, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Great Collections Lab yesterday: how communities shape participatory research! Questions were on issues that matter most to academic and non-academic researchers & what changes are needed in this space. Grateful to be able to convene these conversations! #research #participatory #community #seminar
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
💫 Thrilled that our seed funding on Participatory Research partly allowed for MAA at @camunivmuseums.bsky.social won £90K for: “From the Caribbean to Cambridge: Reimagining Pre-Columbian Archaeology Collections Together”
Apply now for the new round!
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/news-events/...
Apply now for the new round!
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/news-events/...
Participatory Research project awarded a grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund - Collections Connections Communities
We are very pleased to share the news that the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge was granted £92,000 from the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund for the project: “Fro...
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk
February 11, 2025 at 8:57 AM
💫 Thrilled that our seed funding on Participatory Research partly allowed for MAA at @camunivmuseums.bsky.social won £90K for: “From the Caribbean to Cambridge: Reimagining Pre-Columbian Archaeology Collections Together”
Apply now for the new round!
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/news-events/...
Apply now for the new round!
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
The @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social are calling on retailers to label all peat containing products to help consumers avoid buying it. You can sign their open letter here to support them www.wildlifetrusts.org/peat-inspect... I’ve signed!
Peat Inspectors Open Letter to Retailers | The Wildlife Trusts
Hidden Peat- an open Letter to Retailers
www.wildlifetrusts.org
January 21, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social are calling on retailers to label all peat containing products to help consumers avoid buying it. You can sign their open letter here to support them www.wildlifetrusts.org/peat-inspect... I’ve signed!
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
Applications open for the new round of Participatory Research fund! NEW & IMPROVED!
Check the Further Particulars and Apply via our website.
Email us for any questions, and spread the word!
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/opportunities/
@jillwhitelock.bsky.social @docbroc.bsky.social @nealspencer.bsky.social
Check the Further Particulars and Apply via our website.
Email us for any questions, and spread the word!
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/opportunities/
@jillwhitelock.bsky.social @docbroc.bsky.social @nealspencer.bsky.social
Opportunities - Collections Connections Communities
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk
January 31, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Applications open for the new round of Participatory Research fund! NEW & IMPROVED!
Check the Further Particulars and Apply via our website.
Email us for any questions, and spread the word!
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/opportunities/
@jillwhitelock.bsky.social @docbroc.bsky.social @nealspencer.bsky.social
Check the Further Particulars and Apply via our website.
Email us for any questions, and spread the word!
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/opportunities/
@jillwhitelock.bsky.social @docbroc.bsky.social @nealspencer.bsky.social
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
📅 If you are in Cambridge on the 26 February, 5-7pm, join us for our termly Keynote on the exciting topic of 'Tapping Natural History Collections for Interdisciplinary Research' by Yota Batsaki @dumbartonoaks.bsky.social
Plants, animals and rocks can tell us more than what we might think!🪷🦎🪨📖👇
Plants, animals and rocks can tell us more than what we might think!🪷🦎🪨📖👇
Join us for our termly Keynote Lecture!
Launching our Natural History Humanities with a lecture from Yota Batsaki @dumbartonoaks.bsky.social:
Tapping Natural History Collections for Interdisciplinary Research: Perspectives from the Plant Humanities
Register below 👇
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/news-events/...
Launching our Natural History Humanities with a lecture from Yota Batsaki @dumbartonoaks.bsky.social:
Tapping Natural History Collections for Interdisciplinary Research: Perspectives from the Plant Humanities
Register below 👇
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/news-events/...
Keynote Lecture_Tapping Natural History Collections for Interdisciplinary Research: Perspectives from the Plant Humanities - Collections Connections Communities
Join us for the Lent CCC Keynote Lecture, which will mark the launch of the Natural History Humanities Initiatives Tapping Natural History Collections for Interdisciplinary Research: Perspectives from...
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk
February 4, 2025 at 11:52 AM
📅 If you are in Cambridge on the 26 February, 5-7pm, join us for our termly Keynote on the exciting topic of 'Tapping Natural History Collections for Interdisciplinary Research' by Yota Batsaki @dumbartonoaks.bsky.social
Plants, animals and rocks can tell us more than what we might think!🪷🦎🪨📖👇
Plants, animals and rocks can tell us more than what we might think!🪷🦎🪨📖👇
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
TODAY! Come to our interactive workshop and learn from members of our community who took part in the participatory research projects we funded last year via @ukri.org ! Still time to register 👇
Do your work with collections and interested in how communities shape collections-led research?
Register to our Collections Lab Seminar! Details below 👇
Register to our Collections Lab Seminar! Details below 👇
🥳 Collections Lab is back! How communities shape participatory research.Keeping 🤞 for more funding available soon for more participatory research projects!
Register via our website👇 @docbroc.bsky.social @jillwhitelock.bsky.social @nealspencer.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/news-events/...
Register via our website👇 @docbroc.bsky.social @jillwhitelock.bsky.social @nealspencer.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/news-events/...
February 10, 2025 at 9:20 AM
TODAY! Come to our interactive workshop and learn from members of our community who took part in the participatory research projects we funded last year via @ukri.org ! Still time to register 👇
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
If you are looking for beauty, fun, books, plants, insects and more across Cambridge and collections, please follow our wonderful Co-Chair @jillwhitelock.bsky.social 🌱🪷📖🦎
Bound (1996, The Wachowskis).
#AlphabetChallenge #WeekFforFilms 📷 #photography @theul.bsky.social @theulspeccoll.bsky.social
#AlphabetChallenge #WeekFforFilms 📷 #photography @theul.bsky.social @theulspeccoll.bsky.social
February 7, 2025 at 3:40 PM
If you are looking for beauty, fun, books, plants, insects and more across Cambridge and collections, please follow our wonderful Co-Chair @jillwhitelock.bsky.social 🌱🪷📖🦎
Great to see our paper on the front cover @natureecoevo.bsky.social, with the tropical displays in our glasshouse range!
With thanks to all 50+ co-authors.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Nice editorial on the issues facing a variety of ex situ plant collection.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
With thanks to all 50+ co-authors.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Nice editorial on the issues facing a variety of ex situ plant collection.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 10, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Great to see our paper on the front cover @natureecoevo.bsky.social, with the tropical displays in our glasshouse range!
With thanks to all 50+ co-authors.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Nice editorial on the issues facing a variety of ex situ plant collection.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
With thanks to all 50+ co-authors.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Nice editorial on the issues facing a variety of ex situ plant collection.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
"So, why isn’t conservation horticulture a priority? I suspect it is because the trade off with ornamental horticulture is too high. ... Sadly, it also reveals our disingenuousness – after all, we have a lot to say about the loss of biodiversity."
Fascinating read, and an important call to action.
Fascinating read, and an important call to action.
Our colleague Dr Paul Smith, Secretary-General for Botanic Gardens Conservation International has written an important reaction (“A rude awakening”) to the paper here:
www.bgci.org/news-events/...
www.bgci.org/news-events/...
A rude awakening | Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Dr. Paul Smith's latest blog "Rather than see this paper as a threat to the reputation of botanic gardens, we need to see it as an opportunity."
www.bgci.org
February 5, 2025 at 8:38 AM
"So, why isn’t conservation horticulture a priority? I suspect it is because the trade off with ornamental horticulture is too high. ... Sadly, it also reveals our disingenuousness – after all, we have a lot to say about the loss of biodiversity."
Fascinating read, and an important call to action.
Fascinating read, and an important call to action.
We’re delighted that our latest paper on the world’s living plant collections has now been published.
You can find it here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@roinnanluisigh.bsky.social
@natureecoevo.bsky.social
Grateful for the exclusive by @donnalferguson.bsky.social, here: shorturl.at/GnYIQ
You can find it here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@roinnanluisigh.bsky.social
@natureecoevo.bsky.social
Grateful for the exclusive by @donnalferguson.bsky.social, here: shorturl.at/GnYIQ
‘The risk of extinction is accelerating’: world’s botanic gardens raise alarm with space to protect endangered plants running out
University of Cambridge research suggests living collections have collectively reached peak capacity
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2025 at 1:45 PM
We’re delighted that our latest paper on the world’s living plant collections has now been published.
You can find it here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@roinnanluisigh.bsky.social
@natureecoevo.bsky.social
Grateful for the exclusive by @donnalferguson.bsky.social, here: shorturl.at/GnYIQ
You can find it here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@roinnanluisigh.bsky.social
@natureecoevo.bsky.social
Grateful for the exclusive by @donnalferguson.bsky.social, here: shorturl.at/GnYIQ
Powerful and eloquent articulation by @carolinelucas.bsky.social on need for a GCSE in Natural History, Radio 4 Today Programme.
January 25, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Powerful and eloquent articulation by @carolinelucas.bsky.social on need for a GCSE in Natural History, Radio 4 Today Programme.
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
🥳 Collections Lab is back! How communities shape participatory research.Keeping 🤞 for more funding available soon for more participatory research projects!
Register via our website👇 @docbroc.bsky.social @jillwhitelock.bsky.social @nealspencer.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/news-events/...
Register via our website👇 @docbroc.bsky.social @jillwhitelock.bsky.social @nealspencer.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/news-events/...
Collections Lab: How communities shape participatory research - Collections Connections Communities
At Cambridge, so many people use collections for their research and often discussions around its challenges and learning curves remain within such collections. Collections Labs are informal seminars o...
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk
January 14, 2025 at 11:53 AM
🥳 Collections Lab is back! How communities shape participatory research.Keeping 🤞 for more funding available soon for more participatory research projects!
Register via our website👇 @docbroc.bsky.social @jillwhitelock.bsky.social @nealspencer.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/news-events/...
Register via our website👇 @docbroc.bsky.social @jillwhitelock.bsky.social @nealspencer.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
Thais Vasconcelos @tvasconcelos.bsky.social will be the new Director of the Univ. of Michigan Herbarium starting in January -- and the first woman to fill this role in our herbarium's >100 year history. Congrats Thais!
December 21, 2024 at 1:38 PM
Thais Vasconcelos @tvasconcelos.bsky.social will be the new Director of the Univ. of Michigan Herbarium starting in January -- and the first woman to fill this role in our herbarium's >100 year history. Congrats Thais!
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
An obituary celebrating the life and research of Professor Mary Gibby, Ph.D., OBE, FLS, FRSE, PPBPS (1949-2024) by Professor Stephen Blackmore #RoyalBotanicGarden #Edinburgh and Professor Johannes Vogel #MuseumFürNaturkunde #Berlin published today #OpenAccess in #EJBotany: rbge.cc/4gsoNbc
December 20, 2024 at 11:27 AM
An obituary celebrating the life and research of Professor Mary Gibby, Ph.D., OBE, FLS, FRSE, PPBPS (1949-2024) by Professor Stephen Blackmore #RoyalBotanicGarden #Edinburgh and Professor Johannes Vogel #MuseumFürNaturkunde #Berlin published today #OpenAccess in #EJBotany: rbge.cc/4gsoNbc
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
In one year, I genetically engineered the boring Arabidopsis into a beautiful ornamental flower 🧬🌹
Here is how and why I gave this model organism a visual upgrade 🧵(1/7)
Here is how and why I gave this model organism a visual upgrade 🧵(1/7)
December 12, 2024 at 11:24 AM
In one year, I genetically engineered the boring Arabidopsis into a beautiful ornamental flower 🧬🌹
Here is how and why I gave this model organism a visual upgrade 🧵(1/7)
Here is how and why I gave this model organism a visual upgrade 🧵(1/7)
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
Community Collaborations: nature and art at @kettlesyard.bsky.social as part of our funded participatory research projects. Read the blog here 👇 @jillwhitelock.bsky.social @docbroc.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/blog/communi...
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/blog/communi...
Community collaborations: creativity as reciprocal practice at Kettle’s Yard - Collections Connections Communities
Community collaborations: creativity as reciprocal practice at Kettle’s Yard Inga Fraser Kettle’s Yard was the home of the collector and curator H.S. ‘Jim’ Ede and his wife Helen Ede between 1957 and ...
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk
December 10, 2024 at 4:23 PM
Community Collaborations: nature and art at @kettlesyard.bsky.social as part of our funded participatory research projects. Read the blog here 👇 @jillwhitelock.bsky.social @docbroc.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/blog/communi...
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/blog/communi...
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
Job opportunities!
We are currently recruiting for the following roles:
* Collections & Digitisation Assistant
* Herbarium Collections Manager
* Research Assistant / Research Associate
* Research Laboratory Technician
Find out more & apply:
tinyurl.com/3smk68t5
#PlantsAtCambridge
We are currently recruiting for the following roles:
* Collections & Digitisation Assistant
* Herbarium Collections Manager
* Research Assistant / Research Associate
* Research Laboratory Technician
Find out more & apply:
tinyurl.com/3smk68t5
#PlantsAtCambridge
December 9, 2024 at 1:00 PM
Job opportunities!
We are currently recruiting for the following roles:
* Collections & Digitisation Assistant
* Herbarium Collections Manager
* Research Assistant / Research Associate
* Research Laboratory Technician
Find out more & apply:
tinyurl.com/3smk68t5
#PlantsAtCambridge
We are currently recruiting for the following roles:
* Collections & Digitisation Assistant
* Herbarium Collections Manager
* Research Assistant / Research Associate
* Research Laboratory Technician
Find out more & apply:
tinyurl.com/3smk68t5
#PlantsAtCambridge
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
🚨Read our latest blog on participatory research projects!
Bringing the #ancestors home: how Cambridge collections can support #repatriation using #osteobiographies
Funded via CCC thanks to co-chairs: @jillwhitelock.bsky.social @docbroc.bsky.social & #nealspencer
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/blog/bringin...
Bringing the #ancestors home: how Cambridge collections can support #repatriation using #osteobiographies
Funded via CCC thanks to co-chairs: @jillwhitelock.bsky.social @docbroc.bsky.social & #nealspencer
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/blog/bringin...
Bringing the Ancestors Home: how Cambridge collections can support repatriation using osteobiographies - Collections Connections Communities
Bringing the Ancestors Home: how Cambridge collections can support repatriation using osteobiographies Juulia Tumanoff, Lydia Clough, and Trish Biers, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridg...
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk
December 9, 2024 at 9:33 AM
🚨Read our latest blog on participatory research projects!
Bringing the #ancestors home: how Cambridge collections can support #repatriation using #osteobiographies
Funded via CCC thanks to co-chairs: @jillwhitelock.bsky.social @docbroc.bsky.social & #nealspencer
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/blog/bringin...
Bringing the #ancestors home: how Cambridge collections can support #repatriation using #osteobiographies
Funded via CCC thanks to co-chairs: @jillwhitelock.bsky.social @docbroc.bsky.social & #nealspencer
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/blog/bringin...
Reposted by Samuel Brockington
To celebrate our arrival on @bsky.app here's our most recent report: African Collections Futures: the first initial mapping of African objects, histories, legacies within Cambridge collections! Check it out 👇:
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/initiatives/...
@docbroc.bsky.social @jillwhitelock.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/initiatives/...
@docbroc.bsky.social @jillwhitelock.bsky.social
African Collections Futures - Collections Connections Communities
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk
December 5, 2024 at 9:35 PM
To celebrate our arrival on @bsky.app here's our most recent report: African Collections Futures: the first initial mapping of African objects, histories, legacies within Cambridge collections! Check it out 👇:
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/initiatives/...
@docbroc.bsky.social @jillwhitelock.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/initiatives/...
@docbroc.bsky.social @jillwhitelock.bsky.social