Stephanie Holt
@stephholtnh.bsky.social
Naturalist & historian specialising in British Wildlife & the history of natural history. Fellow & Trustee of the British Naturalist Association & FLS, MCIEEM. Steering group member for Green Jobs For Nature.
https://linktr.ee/stephanieholtnaturalhistory
https://linktr.ee/stephanieholtnaturalhistory
I had no chance to post about Friday’s fantastic Curious Collections conference for @curioustravellers.bsky.social, but suffice to say these chairs were full as we welcomed nearly 60 guests to @nhm-london.bsky.social for a packed programme on Thomas Pennant and the work (and future🤞) of the project.
November 11, 2025 at 7:42 AM
I had no chance to post about Friday’s fantastic Curious Collections conference for @curioustravellers.bsky.social, but suffice to say these chairs were full as we welcomed nearly 60 guests to @nhm-london.bsky.social for a packed programme on Thomas Pennant and the work (and future🤞) of the project.
Back to history today and a lecture for the Oxford History Faculty Environmental Humanities group on @curioustravellers.bsky.social and our Curious Minds: Thomas Pennant and Gilbert White exhibition. #HistoricalResearch #DigitalHumanities #ThomasPennanr #GilbertWhite @ox.ac.uk
October 16, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Back to history today and a lecture for the Oxford History Faculty Environmental Humanities group on @curioustravellers.bsky.social and our Curious Minds: Thomas Pennant and Gilbert White exhibition. #HistoricalResearch #DigitalHumanities #ThomasPennanr #GilbertWhite @ox.ac.uk
Yesterdays launch of the 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year was excellent - I ran a science station on bats celebrating one of the best bat photos I’ve seen, chatting to our guests about bats, photography, and @nhm-london.bsky.social science 🦇 #WPY61
October 16, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Yesterdays launch of the 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year was excellent - I ran a science station on bats celebrating one of the best bat photos I’ve seen, chatting to our guests about bats, photography, and @nhm-london.bsky.social science 🦇 #WPY61
So busy at the Journeys Of Curiosity conference in Liverpool today that this was the only photo I took! But we had excellent talks covering Wales, the Himalayas, Egypt, Brazil discovering natural history, archaeology, and teacher training…you’ll have to take my word for it though! 🤦♀️
September 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
So busy at the Journeys Of Curiosity conference in Liverpool today that this was the only photo I took! But we had excellent talks covering Wales, the Himalayas, Egypt, Brazil discovering natural history, archaeology, and teacher training…you’ll have to take my word for it though! 🤦♀️
Excellent day speaking in The New Dark Aesthetic: The Bats Project at Orleans House Gallery. Nestor Pestana has drawn together such an inspiring project combining art & science for bat conservation, it’s a joy to be a part of it!🦇🦇🦇
#ArtAndScience #ArtOfNature #ArtInConservation
#ArtAndScience #ArtOfNature #ArtInConservation
August 3, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Excellent day speaking in The New Dark Aesthetic: The Bats Project at Orleans House Gallery. Nestor Pestana has drawn together such an inspiring project combining art & science for bat conservation, it’s a joy to be a part of it!🦇🦇🦇
#ArtAndScience #ArtOfNature #ArtInConservation
#ArtAndScience #ArtOfNature #ArtInConservation
And just like that our exhibition Curious Minds: Thomas Pennant and Gilbert White is over 🥲.
I’ve loved the whole process of exhibition design, installation, and events, and I’m so proud of what we created for @curioustravellers.bsky.social
I’ve loved the whole process of exhibition design, installation, and events, and I’m so proud of what we created for @curioustravellers.bsky.social
June 23, 2025 at 8:16 PM
And just like that our exhibition Curious Minds: Thomas Pennant and Gilbert White is over 🥲.
I’ve loved the whole process of exhibition design, installation, and events, and I’m so proud of what we created for @curioustravellers.bsky.social
I’ve loved the whole process of exhibition design, installation, and events, and I’m so proud of what we created for @curioustravellers.bsky.social
It’s been a beautiful day here in Selborne, and we’re set up and ready to go for the Gilbert White and His Contexts conference!
gilbertwhite.org.uk
#GilbertWhiteConference #GilbertWhite #HistoryOfNaturalHistory #HistoricalResearch
gilbertwhite.org.uk
#GilbertWhiteConference #GilbertWhite #HistoryOfNaturalHistory #HistoricalResearch
June 2, 2025 at 9:33 PM
It’s been a beautiful day here in Selborne, and we’re set up and ready to go for the Gilbert White and His Contexts conference!
gilbertwhite.org.uk
#GilbertWhiteConference #GilbertWhite #HistoryOfNaturalHistory #HistoricalResearch
gilbertwhite.org.uk
#GilbertWhiteConference #GilbertWhite #HistoryOfNaturalHistory #HistoricalResearch
On Thursday I got to view parts of the Du Bois herbarium at @ox.ac.uk. An incredible collection, and, although disbound and reordered in the 19th, fascinating examples of 17thC. herbaria and pre-Linnean nomenclature! #Herbarium #17thCentury #HistoryOfNaturalHistory #HistoricalResearch
May 25, 2025 at 7:20 AM
On Thursday I got to view parts of the Du Bois herbarium at @ox.ac.uk. An incredible collection, and, although disbound and reordered in the 19th, fascinating examples of 17thC. herbaria and pre-Linnean nomenclature! #Herbarium #17thCentury #HistoryOfNaturalHistory #HistoricalResearch
It’s my Transfer of Status interview today (essential part of my DPhil progression). Re-reading my emotional support copy of the Natural History of Selborne over a cuppa, wish me luck!
May 14, 2025 at 9:41 AM
It’s my Transfer of Status interview today (essential part of my DPhil progression). Re-reading my emotional support copy of the Natural History of Selborne over a cuppa, wish me luck!
Day 2 of #NatSCA2025 @natsca.bsky.social is up and running! I’m speaking later on behalf of @curioustravellers.bsky.social and the @nhm-london.bsky.social Thomas Pennant Collections #HistoryOfNaturalHistory #NaturalHistoryMuseums
May 9, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Day 2 of #NatSCA2025 @natsca.bsky.social is up and running! I’m speaking later on behalf of @curioustravellers.bsky.social and the @nhm-london.bsky.social Thomas Pennant Collections #HistoryOfNaturalHistory #NaturalHistoryMuseums
How yesterday started vs how it finished! Yesterday we installed the Curious Minds: Thomas Pennant and Gilbert White exhibition from the @curioustravellers.bsky.social project at @gilbertwhites.bsky.social. It looks amazing and is on until 22nd June, do come and visit!
#HistoryOfNaturalHistory
#HistoryOfNaturalHistory
April 8, 2025 at 6:15 AM
How yesterday started vs how it finished! Yesterday we installed the Curious Minds: Thomas Pennant and Gilbert White exhibition from the @curioustravellers.bsky.social project at @gilbertwhites.bsky.social. It looks amazing and is on until 22nd June, do come and visit!
#HistoryOfNaturalHistory
#HistoryOfNaturalHistory
Our exhibition Curious Minds: Thomas Pennant and Gilbert White launches on the 8th April at @gilbertwhites.bsky.social! We’re delighted that the exhibition will feature objects and images loaned by many organisations (see comments!)
Book your place at the launch at info@gilbertwhites.org.uk
Book your place at the launch at info@gilbertwhites.org.uk
March 26, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Our exhibition Curious Minds: Thomas Pennant and Gilbert White launches on the 8th April at @gilbertwhites.bsky.social! We’re delighted that the exhibition will feature objects and images loaned by many organisations (see comments!)
Book your place at the launch at info@gilbertwhites.org.uk
Book your place at the launch at info@gilbertwhites.org.uk
This little volume in the @orieloxford.bsky.social archives contains Gilbert White’s accounts for his bachelors and masters degrees. Notes like these provide a fascinating insight into the day to day life of a person, and how they change 🎓📝🧾🍷🍓🍋📚🐴🐶 #HistoricalResearch #HistoryOfNaturalHistory
February 18, 2025 at 10:37 PM
This little volume in the @orieloxford.bsky.social archives contains Gilbert White’s accounts for his bachelors and masters degrees. Notes like these provide a fascinating insight into the day to day life of a person, and how they change 🎓📝🧾🍷🍓🍋📚🐴🐶 #HistoricalResearch #HistoryOfNaturalHistory
Look at this amazing cartoon sketched while I was filming an interview with the Royal College of Art!
February 13, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Look at this amazing cartoon sketched while I was filming an interview with the Royal College of Art!
Yesterday was my first Oriel Talks session as convenor for the MCR. We had 2 great talks from Orielenses researching at CERN, absolutely fascinating! Our next is on the 26th! @orieloxford.bsky.social
February 13, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Yesterday was my first Oriel Talks session as convenor for the MCR. We had 2 great talks from Orielenses researching at CERN, absolutely fascinating! Our next is on the 26th! @orieloxford.bsky.social
On Friday during a tour for @ox.ac.uk #HistoryOfMedicineScienceAndTechnology masters students we were shown what I think is the oldest herbarium in @nhm-london.bsky.social. Dating from 1603, the state of preservation is incredible! #HistoryOfNaturalHistory #HistoryOfBotany
February 9, 2025 at 11:36 AM
On Friday during a tour for @ox.ac.uk #HistoryOfMedicineScienceAndTechnology masters students we were shown what I think is the oldest herbarium in @nhm-london.bsky.social. Dating from 1603, the state of preservation is incredible! #HistoryOfNaturalHistory #HistoryOfBotany
We have our Postgrad Researcher Symposium today, great to see @edwinrose.bsky.social speaking on his work in the @NHM collections & archives, including on @curioustravellers.bsky.social
@nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
@nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
January 29, 2025 at 2:50 PM
We have our Postgrad Researcher Symposium today, great to see @edwinrose.bsky.social speaking on his work in the @NHM collections & archives, including on @curioustravellers.bsky.social
@nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
@nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
New in the bookshop & today's #BookOfTheWeek! A Culture of Curiosity by Leonie Hannan is a fascinating insight into the home as a centre of scientific research in the 18th Century. Buy it from my @bookshop_org_uk affiliate bookstore here: uk.bookshop.org/a/14242/9781... (link also in bio)
January 27, 2025 at 4:42 PM
New in the bookshop & today's #BookOfTheWeek! A Culture of Curiosity by Leonie Hannan is a fascinating insight into the home as a centre of scientific research in the 18th Century. Buy it from my @bookshop_org_uk affiliate bookstore here: uk.bookshop.org/a/14242/9781... (link also in bio)
Backstage at the V&A today getting to use this rather brilliant bit of kit for an exciting project with @linneansociety. More on that another time. 🩻
(OK, didn’t actually get to use the kit, the excellent Sarah at the V&A did that).
#HistoryOfNaturalHistory #MuseumTechnology #MuseumResearch
(OK, didn’t actually get to use the kit, the excellent Sarah at the V&A did that).
#HistoryOfNaturalHistory #MuseumTechnology #MuseumResearch
January 23, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Backstage at the V&A today getting to use this rather brilliant bit of kit for an exciting project with @linneansociety. More on that another time. 🩻
(OK, didn’t actually get to use the kit, the excellent Sarah at the V&A did that).
#HistoryOfNaturalHistory #MuseumTechnology #MuseumResearch
(OK, didn’t actually get to use the kit, the excellent Sarah at the V&A did that).
#HistoryOfNaturalHistory #MuseumTechnology #MuseumResearch
Yesterday morning was spent in a basement studio in @royalcollegeofart.bsky.social working on Nestor Pestana’s brilliant project New Dark Aesthetic: The Bat Project. I love working with Nes, he makes collaborating across art & science so enjoyable 🦇 #Art&Science #ArtOfNaturalHistory
January 23, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Yesterday morning was spent in a basement studio in @royalcollegeofart.bsky.social working on Nestor Pestana’s brilliant project New Dark Aesthetic: The Bat Project. I love working with Nes, he makes collaborating across art & science so enjoyable 🦇 #Art&Science #ArtOfNaturalHistory
It's Monday of Week 1 of Hillary Term at @oxforduniversity.bsky.social and time for me to plunge into the depths of my Transfer of Status 😬. As I'm thinking all things historical, today's #BookOfTheWeek is one of my favourite #HistoryOfNaturalHistory books. 📚 uk.bookshop.org/a/14242/9780...
January 20, 2025 at 3:30 PM
It's Monday of Week 1 of Hillary Term at @oxforduniversity.bsky.social and time for me to plunge into the depths of my Transfer of Status 😬. As I'm thinking all things historical, today's #BookOfTheWeek is one of my favourite #HistoryOfNaturalHistory books. 📚 uk.bookshop.org/a/14242/9780...
It’s the start of 0th week and time to get properly back to school! I seem to have @orieloxford.bsky.social library to myself this morning and I have an article to write for @bshsnews.bsky.social #Writing #PhDLife ##OxfordStudentLife #GraduateStudent #HistoricalResearch 🤓🙂💻👩💻📝📖
January 12, 2025 at 10:06 AM
It’s the start of 0th week and time to get properly back to school! I seem to have @orieloxford.bsky.social library to myself this morning and I have an article to write for @bshsnews.bsky.social #Writing #PhDLife ##OxfordStudentLife #GraduateStudent #HistoricalResearch 🤓🙂💻👩💻📝📖
It's the end of #BSECS2025! This conference is such a highlight of the year. For the first time I’ve felt happy to introduce myself as a scientist AND a historian and really feel that through presenting here I’ve developed confidence as a historian of natural history. Onwards to #BSECS2026!
January 10, 2025 at 3:26 PM
It's the end of #BSECS2025! This conference is such a highlight of the year. For the first time I’ve felt happy to introduce myself as a scientist AND a historian and really feel that through presenting here I’ve developed confidence as a historian of natural history. Onwards to #BSECS2026!
Day 1 at @bsecs.bsky.social #BSECS2025 complete. My talk for @curioustravellers.bsky.social went well, standing room only in the seminar room, and great to be talking about #ThomasPennant and his #NaturalHistoryCollections (OK, I maybe mentioned #GilbertWhite once...twice max 😜)
January 8, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Day 1 at @bsecs.bsky.social #BSECS2025 complete. My talk for @curioustravellers.bsky.social went well, standing room only in the seminar room, and great to be talking about #ThomasPennant and his #NaturalHistoryCollections (OK, I maybe mentioned #GilbertWhite once...twice max 😜)
My first public talk this year is on Gilbert White's mammals on Monday 13th Jan at @morethanadodo for @oxfordshire_mammal_group. Come along and find out what Gilbert knew about bats, his discovery of the Harvest Mouse, and what the Urchin was! Info here: www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/gilber...
January 7, 2025 at 1:25 PM
My first public talk this year is on Gilbert White's mammals on Monday 13th Jan at @morethanadodo for @oxfordshire_mammal_group. Come along and find out what Gilbert knew about bats, his discovery of the Harvest Mouse, and what the Urchin was! Info here: www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/gilber...