Daniel Collins
banner
watercyclist.bsky.social
Daniel Collins
@watercyclist.bsky.social
Water, climate change, science, policy, and people. Particularly floods, adaptation, and uncertainty. Dad, Pākehā/Ngāpuhi, MIT PhD, Ōtautahi/New Zealand.
We love our bird stamps and bird pins!
July 25, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Can anyone help my to identify the artist? It's from an old family photo, probably taken in France.
July 11, 2025 at 7:32 AM
It's not as crystal clear as scientific measurements, but looking at historical postage stamps (NZ) can paint a picture of retreating glaciers. Particularly for the Fox Glacier (bottom).
May 21, 2025 at 4:05 AM
These stamps of Aoraki/Mt Cook are from 1898. Among the earliest stamps globally not to feature portraits.

On the left, the Hooker Glacier is probably the white area beneath the mountain. But would the view on the right also have included the glacier?
May 20, 2025 at 10:12 AM
This 1946 NZ stamp shows a view of Lake Matheson on the West Coast, with Aoraki and Mt Tasman visible in the distance. It also shows a sliver of the Fox Glacier, just above the distant trees - alas, not a view we can see today.
May 14, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Happy Pi Day! May your Ides turn into pies, with a simple rotation of the 'Id' by π.
March 13, 2025 at 9:20 PM
For something completely different from my normal fare, a piece of glaciological art I recently completed.

'Fox Glacier, not looking up'

Draws from a 19th C watercolour, glacier length time-series, and reference to a painter who drew inspiration from a geologist.
March 4, 2025 at 4:14 AM
A less desirable application of PV = nRT is a swollen can of fruit 🙁
February 16, 2025 at 11:41 PM
With apples and pears galore, the 'pop' of the lids is the happy sound of PV = nRT in action.
February 16, 2025 at 11:20 PM
The most audacious treasure hunt I've prepared for my 5 y.o. son yet. A 2-day trip to and through the Waitaki.

🪨 Rocks
🐧 Wildlife
🛝 Playgrounds
🖍️ Art
🎸 Tom Petty
🤯 Core memory
February 16, 2025 at 10:17 AM
A new letterbox, for when your street needs more colour, puns, and literary references.
January 11, 2025 at 5:17 AM
The wisteria has found the plug for the car. Should I be worried?
November 27, 2024 at 1:48 AM
Here's a tip for parents: pretend weekend trips away to exostic destinations with your kids, with themed activities.

Parents I've told about this IRL have loved the idea, so I'm sharing it here. Fun and educational without the fuss and cost of real travel.
November 22, 2024 at 12:52 AM
Happy Pi Day!
March 14, 2024 at 3:51 AM
One day someone is going to live at the intersection of Squirtle Lane and Jigglypuff Place, in Las Vegas.
February 16, 2024 at 12:21 AM
Building houses on bridges, eg London Bridge, was a solution to rising population while needing to remain within city walls for protection. Today, urban intensification is a solution to rising populations in the face of modern risks, such as climate change.
January 24, 2024 at 3:04 PM
Te reo names have special meaning. Gisborne Herald, 12 Dec.
December 13, 2023 at 2:33 AM
How it started. How it's going. He kono.
December 1, 2023 at 6:08 AM
A risk management and socio-hydrological take on why more water storage won't eliminate drought risk.

www.linkedin.com/posts/daniel...
November 15, 2023 at 9:57 AM
November 4, 2023 at 7:53 PM
Lego Bird of the Century.
November 4, 2023 at 6:56 PM
I made another thing. I enjoy making learning resources for my son, tailoring them to his learning steps and interests.
October 30, 2023 at 5:44 AM
Lol. I guess I haven't changed my style and colour palette much in 30 years.
October 13, 2023 at 9:56 PM
What does this draft logo convey to you? With abstracted logos it can be important to check that different eyes don't see something wildly different from what is intended.
October 13, 2023 at 8:55 AM
Many years ago my engineering degree required me to take a welding course. This 3D interpretation of Escher's triangle is the only thing I really got out of it. Always look for multiple benefits, especially in coursework.
October 13, 2023 at 2:58 AM