iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Sad first for me today. This little bugger flew into me as I was leaving my kids school. I made quick work of stomping it and explained my actions to those around me. First one I've seen in Richmond, VA

Smashed spotted lantern fly on the cement

010

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Cold and rainy here today but here is showy goldenrod a few days ago. Absolutely loaded with pollinators.

000

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Many thanks again for @whysharksmatter.bsky.social public seminar last night and his talk to our senior capstone course today at Randolph-Macon College. Very informative and engaging talks!

011

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Very cool sighting with my non-majors conservation biology class yesterday. Perfect timing as we were sampling macroinvertebrates at a local park.

010

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Counting principal caudal-fin rays on some African mountain catfishes (Amphilius). 6 + 7 You guys aren't ready for this yet. But your kids are gonna love it

020

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Adding some relevant instructional images to my lab.

020

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

My buttonbush is putting in the work this afternoon

010

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

20 seconds of relative calm from a small spring trickling into the Sare River in Kenya.

010

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Sampling around Migori, Kenya. Hard to set and hold the seine in the fast flows but collected many Chiloglanis somereni. I was doing pretty good transferring them to the collecting jug, but got careless and grabbed one by the tail instead of a spine. It flipped and hit my finger pretty good.

030

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

Sampled the Riana River today after a 14 year hiatus. Last sampled in 2011 with the original IRES crew. Thankfully, things are still in decent shape. Dreamed of this river over the years because of the Chiloglanis and Zaireichthys collected. Today added some Gnathonemus sp.

020

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Taking tissues from samples with lots of interest from the local community. Great time to talk about what we are doing and why these fishes and macroinvertebrates are important.

010

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Glad to be back in Kenya. Joining our NSF-funded IRES group for the 2nd three weeks of research on freshwater biodiversity. I'll share pics as we go.

000

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Safely arrived in Kenya. Working with students from Randolph-Macon College, Tulane University, and the National Museums of Kenya. Will survey freshwater biodiversity in western Kenya for the next few weeks. Nice lunch at the museum and cataloging specimens from the past several weeks.

010

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

With the CIPRES portal coming to an end next year, I wonder where people are moving their analyses to? I know of ngphylogeny.fr and a few others, but it would be great to hear what others are using.

000

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

There is grandeur in this view of life. A couple weeks of down time before heading to Kenya. Good to catch up on some projects.

000

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Interesting, we worked on this years ago with 3d scans. Good to see this coming up again.

100

Ray C. Schmidt, PhD @afrfreshh2o.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

I nice place to stop and point out the differences between English ivy and poison ivy to my 5 yo on our walk to the library.

010