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viveknityananda.bsky.social
Vivek Nityananda
@viveknityananda.bsky.social
5.2K followers 1.7K following 350 posts
I research behaviour. Writing. Illustration. Improv. Scicomm. Views my own. (He/Him) 🏳️‍🌈
website: www.viveknityananda.com
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viveknityananda.bsky.social
St Francis Church in Northumberland has a stained glass window featuring workers who built the nearby Catcleugh reservoir. What a powerful combination of medium and subject. Don't miss the animal figurines below!
Stained glass window featuring workers with spades pickaxes and wheelbarrows with a train in the far distance. On the sill, sit clay figures of a rabbit, a dog, hedgehogs and other animals.
August 6, 2025 at 5:15 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
And the book's still out in Indian bookshops and online: www.midlandbookshop.com/en/product/b...
Book cover with the title "Beyond Doubt" in yellow against a red background. The author's name "Vivek Nityananda" is in black. A graphic shows a hand holding an umbrella that has three layers. Two quotes are to the sides. Rob Brooks "Coherent and Entertaining". Olvia Judson "Fascinating and Sobering"
August 5, 2025 at 3:18 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
In March we put on an insect cabaret show I developed with Cap-A-Pie Theatre about insects and the threats they face. We've now uploaded the songs and everyone can now see how brilliant the actors and song-writer were. Thread of songs below 👇🧪 #Insects #cabaret #theatre #scicomm #songs
A poster for a play: "The Vanishing Act: A new cabaret about Earth's disappearing insects". On the right is a black and white ant in a top hat with one leg extended. Radiating from the finger are children's drawings of insect- bees, butterflies, beetles and so on.
June 16, 2025 at 5:19 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
Next deadline for submitting a proposal for a special issue in @royalsocietypublishing.org #PhilTransB is July 18th. I'm on the editorial board and would highly recommend it as an opportunity for new networks, insights and highlighting your field. Find out more at bit.ly/PTBproposals
Left: Colourful image of cells and neurons with the text "The Royal Society Publishing" Right: Phlosophical Transactions B. Submit a proposal to edit an influential themed issue in your field by 18 July. For more information visit bit.ly/PTBproposals
June 9, 2025 at 4:26 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
Cool set of talks by early career researchers on the neural basis of behaviour! Organized by @neuroethology.org
Alt text: Poster for a seminar series organised by the International Society for Neuroethology: The Future of Neuroethology May 20th 2025 1400 UTC. Registration link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZzMNjMB09V1uoBJlg2cGnuGUzSd6om_iFVCHkzskXwA/ Speakers: Sercan Sayin, University of Konstanz Germany: The behavioral mechanisms governing collective motion in swarming locusts. Andrew Matheson, Columbia University, USA: Environmental Plasticity of the Newt Olfactory System. Emily Lessig, University of Texas at Austin, USA: The neural basis of reciprocity in a highly social cichlid. Panel discussion after the talks on the financial landscape for science and its impact on the society. Speakers: Cindy Moss, ISN president, Professor at John Hopkins University Mathias Wernet, ISN member, Professor at Freie Universitaet Berlin Daniel Tomsic, ISN member, Professor at Universidad de Buenos Aires
April 29, 2025 at 3:55 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
Resharing the poster with alt text. Deadline: May 31 2025
Poster for the Diversity Award of the International Society for Neuroethology. Deadline: May 31 2025 Text: The Diversity Award is an annual initiative, launched in 2021, to support neuroethological scientists disadvantaged due to gender, ethnicity, disability, class, or other characteristics, and help them overcome the barriers they face. The Diversity Award is one of the programs of the ISN Inclusion and Diversity Committee aimed to promote diversity within the ISN membership. We invite ISN members to apply to the Diversity Award and to specify how this award will help them overcome barriers and progress their work. Do not hesitate to contact any member of the Inclusion and Diversity Committee via email if you have any questions.
April 4, 2025 at 2:45 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
In the spirit of this post - I've got a book out in India about why overconfidence persists and what it's doing to the world. You might be interested in giving it a read.

I've got my first book event today (eep!) - come along if you're in Bangalore. Authors- any advice on what to expect?
Three images. First book cover of a book called Beyond Doubt: Overconfidence and what is means for Modern Society. Then a photo of the author Vivek Nityananda. Then a photo of journalist Anupama Bijur. Event details: Saturday 4 January 2025, 630 PM. Library, Bangalore International Centre
January 4, 2025 at 4:39 AM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
Quote post with a bird on a sign
Grumpy herring gull sitting on a sign saying "Defibrillator"
December 28, 2024 at 2:31 AM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
I've got a book event at BIC, Bengaluru on Jan 4th. Come join us and we'll start the new year with a fun chat about overconfidence. #BeyondDoubt #Overconfidence
Three images. First book cover of a book called Beyond Doubt: Overconfidence and what is means for Modern Society. Then a photo of the author Vivek Nityananda. Then a photo of journalist Anupama Bijur. Event details: Saturday 4 January 2025, 630 PM. Library, Bangalore International Centre
December 26, 2024 at 1:25 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
Made me think of this scene:
John Turturro on the beach with a box in a scene from Barton Fink
November 30, 2024 at 9:57 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
Dunstanburgh castle was looking particularly beautiful this evening. #Northumberland #Castle #WeekendWalk
A ruined castle looming above a brown grassy field. Tiny figures of three people walking away from the castle The ruins of a castle viewed from another tower of the castle. Behind them are green fields with some misty spray blowing in from the sea The main entrance of a ruined castle - what was once two sturdy towers with a gateway between them. The curve of a coastline lit up by the last rays of the setting sun
November 30, 2024 at 5:11 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
Another beautiful weekend walk on the Northumberland coast. We saw seals!
#Northumberland #WeekendWalk #Beach #Castle
White feathers of clouds descending across a blue sky to a sandy beach with the sea on the right Wet sand by the receding sea with the small form of a castle on the horizon. Above, the light blue sky has some pale pink streaks. The silhouettes of tussocks of grass poking into a sky that is ablaze with colours: deep violet, orange and pink Several seals lying flat on a beach with the sea behind them and Lindisfarne island and castle rising up from the sea.
November 25, 2024 at 5:20 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
Are you an early career researcher, interested in how science is communicated, reported, & the evolution of the scientific ecosystem? Applications are open for the Royal Society Publishing Early Career Researcher Advisory Panel. Find out more: ow.ly/MaTk50U71W3 #ECRs
Pciture of a rainbow bee-eater with an insect in its beak. Text reads: Could you shape the future of scientific commmunication? The Royal Society Publishing Early Career Researcher Advisory Panel is open for applications. Text in the left hand corner: The Royal Society Publishing.
November 21, 2024 at 2:14 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
A beautiful walk in the Cheviots this weekend. Starting late meant that we caught the stunning sunset in these glorious hills! #Northumberland #Hiking
A feathery cloud lit up orange from the glow of a sunset behind a hill topped with pines. The mauve sky behind it fades to blue in the wide space above. An orange moon floats above clouds in the sky above a landscape of hills and fields. A huge wall of clouds falls down towards the right with a sharp triangle of blue sky on the left hanging above a forest of pine trees. Rolling green hills overgrown with rusty heather and ferns. An overcast sky above.
November 19, 2024 at 4:49 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
Job Alert! New postdoc position in our lab investigating cognitive biases in wild bumblebees. Thanks to Wild Animal Initiative for the funding.

Position for 31 months. Deadline: December 9th. Please apply/boost

#PostdocJob #AcademicJobs #Bees

jobs.ncl.ac.uk/job/Newcastl...
Bumblebee on anthers that form the yellow central spot of a large pink flower. Out of focus greenery in the background.
October 29, 2024 at 3:35 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
Big day today! I've written a book on overconfidence and it's out in India! Equal parts nervous and excited 😊

Out in bookstores and online. Have a read and tell me what you think!
Book cover with the title "Beyond Doubt" in yellow against a red background. The author's name "Vivek Nityananda" is in black. A graphic shows a hand holding an umbrella that has three layers. Two quotes are to the sides. Rob Brooks "Coherent and Entertaining". Olvia Judson "Fascinating and Sobering"
October 8, 2024 at 8:58 AM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
Some more happy news for the lab! We've been awarded a grant from Wild Animal Initiative to study wild bumblebee cognitive biases and welfare in the field. Postdoc position will be advertised in October but get in touch if you'd like to know more! #bee #AnimalWelfare
A bumblebee on a pink flower
July 26, 2024 at 4:23 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
New cartoon for #StuffScientistsSayCartoons

Young rattlesnakes move like their elders do.

Paper here: journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...

Commentary: journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...

#SciArt
Cartoon drawing: A young rattlesnake looks up at an older one. Behind them are identical squiggly paths, leading to two legs of someone in a horizontal position with boots pointing upwards
November 1, 2023 at 5:19 PM
viveknityananda.bsky.social
I've got back to drawing my science cartoons after a while.

Group living bees keep warmer than solitary bees in winter.

Paper here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#bees #StuffScientistsSayCartoons #SciArt
Group of bees huddling together surrounded by a warm glow on the right. On the left is single bee with icicles dropping of her wings.
October 18, 2023 at 4:25 PM