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Ben Hawthorne

@bensjhawthorne.bsky.social
646 followers 486 following 23 posts

PhD Student @ Newcastle University | he/him | Entomologist #Ecology #LGBwiththeT #PrideInEnto 🪲🧬🏳️‍🌈

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Reposted by Ben Hawthorne
Robin Hayward 🌳 🏳️‍⚧️ @canopyrobin.com · 25/09/2026
We're publishing new guidance to support trans people who do fieldwork (any work outside the office)! Now we need your help to get them seen so please share! inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.uk/trans/
a cartoon of three fieldworkers. One has a small trans flag. The logos of the university of leeds, research england, and canopy robin are shown, as well as the URL: InclusiveFieldwork (dot) Leeds (dot) AC (dot) UK (slash) trans
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Ben Hawthorne @bensjhawthorne.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
We have finally launched our @royentsoc.bsky.social funded EDI project called ‘What is an Entomologist?’, to platform the diverse people who study insects and arthropods 🕷️🦗🐞🐝🪲🦋🐜 Consider yourself an entomologist? You can contribute too by submitting a bio on the website: what-is-an-entomologist.uk
what-is-an-entomologist.uk
What is an Entomologist?
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Ben Hawthorne @bensjhawthorne.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
We have finally launched our @royentsoc.bsky.social funded EDI project called ‘What is an Entomologist?’, to platform the diverse people who study insects and arthropods 🕷️🦗🐞🐝🪲🦋🐜 Consider yourself an entomologist? You can contribute too by submitting a bio on the website: what-is-an-entomologist.uk
what-is-an-entomologist.uk
What is an Entomologist?
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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Revealed: just 20 out of of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation, as UK burns in fifth heatwave of this summer - FOI request by me @andyburnham.bsky.social needs to level with the country about the climate crisis & set out radical plan to tackle it 🧵 www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Just 20 of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation amid drought and wildfires
Exclusive: England ‘desperately unprepared’ for effects of crisis including water shortages and heatwaves
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RES Publications @respublications.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
New work by @jess-stokes.bsky.social, B. Fischer & @beebytes.bsky.social in #RESEcolEnt presents an #ethics review for insect research in the UK, evaluating patterns, drivers and perceived impact on research quality and process. Learn more about this important subject ⬇️ doi.org/10.1111/een.70117
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Tom Atkins @miniwildlife.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
New to Bluesky - wondering if anyone has any info on records of breeding for Clifden Nonpareil in the Northeast? Found this impressive caterpillar looking to pupate amongst a stand of Aspen in Newcastle!! Thinking fraxini - one of the most northerly breeding records for UK??! @nenature.bsky.social
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Fabian A. Boetzl @fboetzl.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
New meta-analysis: #Pollinator responses to distance from #crop field boundaries depend on pollinator taxa, crop type, and adjacent agri-environment habitats. Smaller field sizes can foster pollinators within crop fields. 🦋🐝🌾 #agroecology #conservation doi.org/10.1016/j.ag...
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Darren Evans @dmevans.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
The global food system is increasingly at risk from shocks. Using network science, we provide a framework to examine both the direct and indirect effects on major crop types and suggest ways for increasing resilience. Thanks to @royalsociety.org for funding & @chathamhouse.org for collaborating.
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Biological Recording Company @biologicalrecording.co.uk · 12/05/2026
Can development actually improve biodiversity? 🌿 Natalie Duffus explains Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)—how it’s measured and what it could mean for invertebrates and ecosystems. Watch the full talk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhSL... @britentsoc.bsky.social @amentsoc.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social
youtube.com
Biodiversity Net Gain and Invertebrates: Are We Getting It Right?
YouTube video by Biological Recording Company
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Rosy Christopher @envirosyment.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
It's that time of year again! and much like the Flower Crab Spiders, Spider Spies is coming out of hibernation and running a second year. So if you want to be involved in investigating these colourful spiders and their flower using habits head over to our website foragingecology.com/spider-spies/
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Sophie Harris @sophiesww.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
This morning I was interviewed on BBC Radio Gloucestershire and Newcastle on the BGB regarding the new guidance on birdfeeding and my favourite places to bird in the North East! You can listen on BBC sounds from 7am on Glocs and 8:20 on Newcastle 🐦‍⬛🪿🦆🦉
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School of Natural and Environmental Sciences @sciencesncl.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
🎨 Picture This: Someone Like Me transforms Newcastle University research into vibrant illustrated artworks at the Great North Museum: Hancock. A student‑led exhibition showing that research is for everyone — and that “someone like you” can be part of it. 👉 www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articl...
ncl.ac.uk
New exhibition turns Newcastle University research into art
Picture This: Someone Like Me is a new exhibition at the Great North Museum: Hancock that transforms Newcastle University research into illustrated artworks.
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Royal Entomological Society @royentsoc.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
🚨 New journal launch! We're ecstatic to announce #ApproachesInEntomology - a new #OpenAccess journal focused on methods, tools and innovation across #InsectScience, designed to support transparency, reproducibility, and practical advances in the field. Read more 🔽 buff.ly/tNTmujq @wiley.com
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RES launches new journal: Approaches in Entomology
Call for papers coming soon - Watch this space!
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Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Newcastle Uni @hassfacultyncl.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Don't miss this fantastic exhibition at Great North Museum: Hancock! Picture This: Someone Like Me transforms Newcastle University research into illustrated artworks, encouraging visitors to feel curious about research and to see themselves as part of it too. Read more >> bit.ly/4t0t8YN
bit.ly
New exhibition turns Newcastle University research into art
Picture This: Someone Like Me is a new exhibition at the Great North Museum: Hancock that transforms Newcastle University research into illustrated artworks.
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Network Ecology Group - Newcastle University @nclneg.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
NEW PAPER: Ecoacoustics for context-rich direct and indirect trophic interaction data and ecological network construction doi.org/10.1111/2041... led by Will Dawson @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social
doi.org
Ecoacoustics for context‐rich direct and indirect trophic interaction data and ecological network construction
Understanding species interactions is critical for ecology and conservation, yet conventional network construction methods often lack spatiotemporal resolution and important contextual information...
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leland c. graber @bug4bug.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Do you (or have you ever) worked with natural history collections? Are you trans or non-binary? If you said "yes" to both of those, @rin-krichilsky.bsky.social and I want to hear from you! Please consider filling out our survey and please share with others! 🏳️‍⚧️ 🐛🦕🦴🌿 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
Trans in Natural History Survey 2026
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Royal Entomological Society @royentsoc.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
⏰ Abstract Deadline this Saturday! 🌿 Why should you attend the RES #StudentForum? ✔️ Present your own research ✔️ Attend expert talks ✔️ Join wellbeing sessions ✔️ Meet peers from across the globe 📍 Newcastle University – 30–31 March 🔗 buff.ly/yQsZcMK @newcastleuni.bsky.social #SF26
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Student Forum 2026
Join the programme - Submit your abstracts before 28 Feb
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Rosy Christopher @envirosyment.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
We are a go! The student forum will be held at my very own Newcastle University this year, and we've got some cracking talks from some brilliant entomologists lined up for the key note spots, some fab workshops and as always we'll have the ENTOquiz! So please send your abstracts over #entomology
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RES Publications @respublications.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Ever considered joining the #RESAgForestEnt team? Are you an active researcher in the field? There are a few days left to apply to join our team as Editor-in-Chief! Think you might fit the bill? ⬇️ www.royensoc.co.uk/opportunities/eic-afe-2026/ Deadline: 31 January 2026 @royentsoc.bsky.social
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Biological Recording Company @biologicalrecording.co.uk · 23/01/2026
FREE NEW EVENT!!! 🕷️ Join us on Friend, Foe, or Freeloader? The Flower Crab Spider webinar on 2nd June. @envirosyment.bsky.social explores how Misumena vatia hunts on flowers—and how you can get involved in the research too! 🌍 🧪 🔗 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1915221742... @britishspiders.bsky.social
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Madeleine Fabušová @fabusovam.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Great new research shows that light pollution prevents activity in the critical twilight period (just after sunset) in a moth and spider species. 🕷️🦋💡- this calls for mitigations targeting this critical time period. Read more in our dispatch: www.cell.com/current-biol...
cell.com
Light pollution: Should twilight be the focus of mitigations for biodiversity?
New research shows that typical levels of artificial light at night can simultaneously suppress early-night activity and disrupt navigation cues in nocturnal arthropods. These findings identify twilig...
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Nicole Grimason 🐸 @nicolegrimason.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Please consider filling this in for Tom Smith, an MPhil researcher at the University of Wolverhampton, if you have seen an alpine newt preying on/being prayed upon by another amphibian! UK only!
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Oscar Berglund @berglundoscar.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
We (@crossdale.bsky.social, Christina Pantazis, @roxana-pessoa.bsky.social, Tiê Franco Brotto and I) present the first academic peer-reviewed article, studying the criminalisation and repression of climate and environmental protest as a global phenomenon. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
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Network Ecology Group - Newcastle University @nclneg.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
#TeamNEG 🥳
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Darren Evans @dmevans.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
If you work in this area (road safety, lighting specialists, ecologists) then please join our Knowledge Network (information below)
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Rowan Kuminski @rowankuminski.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Last year I wrote this for Transgender Awareness Week because of the challenges I've faced in my institution. Sharing it again as this week we celebrate trans identities and remember those who have been targeted for being themselves www.britishecologicalsociety.org/five-steps-t...
britishecologicalsociety.org
Five steps towards being a trans ally - BES
Five steps towards being a trans ally - BES is the largest scientific society for ecologists in Europe. We're working towards a world in which nature and people thrive.
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School of Natural and Environmental Sciences @sciencesncl.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
Time to rethink nature conservation? 🌍 Senior ecologists, including our own @dmevans.bsky.social, are calling for an ecosystem approach as the only way to halt the vanishing of UK wildlife and protect the ecosystem services that nature provides 🌱 www.britishecologicalsociety.org/time-to-reth...
britishecologicalsociety.org
Time to rethink nature conservation? - BES
Time to rethink nature conservation? - BES is the largest scientific society for ecologists in Europe. We're working towards a world in which nature and people thrive.
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Ben Hawthorne @bensjhawthorne.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Join our group @nclneg.bsky.social for this cool PhD project! 🔊🐦🌿🪰 Looking for impactful research, opportunities for personal and professional development, and a great research culture? Consider applying! ⬇️
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Royal Entomological Society @royentsoc.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
⏰ Abstract deadline extended - join the programme by submitting your research by Friday 24 October 🦋 Join us at our Outreach, Culture & Education SIG to network with like-minded people and plan your next outreach venture. 📍 National Museum Scotland 📅 22 Nov 2025 Register now 🔽
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Outreach, Culture & Education SIG Event 2025
Submit your abstracts on insect outreach and citizen science for a chance to share your research at the event.
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Ben Hawthorne @bensjhawthorne.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
📣🐞 Vacancy for a @royentsoc.bsky.social Student Representative! 🐞📣 Join @idrisadams.bsky.social & @envirosyment.bsky.social for one of the best opportunities around! Contribute to the RES and organise events, such as the renowned Student Forum Deadline: 5/10/25 www.royensoc.co.uk/opportunitie...
royensoc.co.uk
Student Representative vacancy 2025 - Royal Entomological Society
The Royal Entomological Society is recruiting one new volunteer to be a Student Representative. The 1-2 year role includes helping to organise the annual Student Forum with RES staff, and providing up...
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Rosy Christopher @envirosyment.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Not only will you be getting first hand experience in how societies are run behind the scenes but all the connections and opportunities that come will the role are unmatched! @idrisadams.bsky.social and I will be ready to bring you up to speed on everything to do with the position! 🪲🐝🐞
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Ben Hawthorne @bensjhawthorne.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
📣🐞 Vacancy for a @royentsoc.bsky.social Student Representative! 🐞📣 Join @idrisadams.bsky.social & @envirosyment.bsky.social for one of the best opportunities around! Contribute to the RES and organise events, such as the renowned Student Forum Deadline: 5/10/25 www.royensoc.co.uk/opportunitie...
royensoc.co.uk
Student Representative vacancy 2025 - Royal Entomological Society
The Royal Entomological Society is recruiting one new volunteer to be a Student Representative. The 1-2 year role includes helping to organise the annual Student Forum with RES staff, and providing up...
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Darren Evans @dmevans.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
It’s the end of #EcoNet2025 and what better way to celebrate than an exploration of Bamburgh Castle and walk on the beach
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Isa Donoso @isatxu.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
Back home after a wonderful week! Learning so much about metabarcoding 🧬thanks to the workshop organized by @nclneg.bsky.social, followed by inspiring plenaries, talks & posters! Loved catching up with 🫶🏼friends & meeting new generation of net ecologists. Already looking forward to the next one in 🇧🇷!
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Abigail Lowe @abigaillowe.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Do you do moth trapping in the UK? We'd love your help! 💡 At @ukceh.bsky.social we're training & testing AI to detect multiple moths in a single image. Send us top-down photos of multiple moths on egg trays to support this work. More info & form: forms.gle/e3HzBPEd7RVV... #mothsmatter #TeamMoth
A top-down image of 12 various moths on a green egg carton.
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Miles Zhang | 张远濛 @ymilesz.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
The Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (CBG) is seeking ten taxonomic specialists in Collembola or any of the following insect orders - Blattodea, Ephemeroptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Trichoptera! graduatestudies.uoguelph.ca/postdoctoral...
graduatestudies.uoguelph.ca
Arthropod Taxonomic Specialists (10 positions) | Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies
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Royal Entomological Society @royentsoc.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Do you know a young person with an interest in insects? 🦋 The Douglas Boyes Fund aims to provide people aged 14-18 with access to entomology equipment, fostering their passion for insects and inspiring them to engage and share their interest with other young individuals 🔽
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Douglas Boyes Fund - Royal Entomological Society
The Douglas Boyes Fund has been established in honour of Douglas Boyes (1996-2021), an esteemed entomologist specialising in Lepidoptera. The Fund aims to provide young people aged 14-18 with access…
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Charlotte Rankin @bumble-being.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
North-bumble-land Walk complete! 🐝 🐝 1,070 bumblebees counted 🔎 15 species recorded 🥾 84 miles walked A huge thank you for your support & donations for @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social! Notebook is full of sightings for @nenature.bsky.social's #NorthEastBeeHunt! www.justgiving.com/page/charlot...
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Ecological Continuity Trust (ECT) @ect-uk.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
We’re pleased to see the interp board that we produced with @dmevans.bsky.social @newcastleuni.bsky.social installed at Palace Leas! 3 weeks ago, we visited the site & witnessed a student poster go up. Thanks to Made By Landmark & #nclfarms staff. bit.ly/PalaceLeas @bensjhawthorne.bsky.social 🌎
A student academic poster containing a lot of text that is titled: Combining multiple entomological traps with metabarcoding to maximise species detection.Five people stand by the interpretation board outside at Cockle Park Farm: two on the left, and three on the right, all who look and smile at the camera. Darren Evans presents a slice of cake cut from the shown chocolate cake as he smiles at the camera.Photo of Darren Evans with his side to the camera as he puts up the student poster into the casing at Cockle Park Farm.
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Darren Evans @dmevans.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
Come and join us in Newcastle for a wonderful gathering of network ecologists! This year our theme is 'Network Ecology in the Anthropocene' and our plenary speakers include Jane Memmott and Paulo Guimarães. Symposium tickets are an absolute bargain, especially for students.
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Nat Duffus @natduffus.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Having had time to digest the new BNG consultation, I am *astounded* at the proposed changes to the small sites metric (SSM). If the changes are implemented, the SSM could apply to developments up to 49 dwellings/1ha - affecting a lot of developments! 1/ consult.defra.gov.uk/defra-biodiv...
consult.defra.gov.uk
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Foraging Ecology Research Group @foragingecology.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
🚨WHERE ARE THE CRAB SPIDERS?🚨 If you spot any crab spiders on flowers, help out @envirosyment.bsky.social by sending in photos and, even better, live spiders! This will help inform her important research on the weird and wonderful interactions between invertebrate predators and plants!
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Ben Hawthorne @bensjhawthorne.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
Seen a Flower Crab Spider? Get that camera out! 📸 By taking a few pics (potentially sending a sample), you could contribute to some really cool science, led by @envirosyment.bsky.social! And if you’ve never seen one, now is the time! Check out the handy thread below for ID help 🔍 #SpiderSpies 🌼🕷️🌿🕵️
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Ben Hawthorne @bensjhawthorne.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
It is such an impressive experimental design - I’m glad I could help with setting up! 💡🪲🌿 I’m already looking forward to seeing the results!
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Foraging Ecology Research Group @foragingecology.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
We had a great time last week putting up experimental lamp posts at one of the university's experimental farms for @miacroftento.bsky.social's upcoming artificial light experiments! We even had a mining bee digging its hole near ours - perhaps setting up their own lamp posts! 💡🐝
Mia and Ben with one of the postsOne of the fully set up posts
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Royal Entomological Society @royentsoc.bsky.social · 27/04/2025
There's still time to show your support for insect #ConservationScience with #BigGive. Your generous donations will support the next generations of the #LargeBlue in the UK & beyond 🦋 Double your impact before midday 29 April 🔽 buff.ly/lyGUtQ7 @gloswildlife.bsky.social @biggive.bsky.social
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 03/04/2025
Top genome scientists to map DNA sequence of invertebrate winner 2025
theguardian.com
Top genome scientists to map DNA sequence of invertebrate winner 2025
Sanger Institute’s Tree of Life team say genomes offer invaluable insight into how species will fare under climate crisis * Voting is now open! Vote for your favourite here “We are following the “invertebrate of the year” series with bated breath,” began the email that arrived in the Guardian’s inbox last week. Mark Blaxter leads the Sanger Institute’s Tree of Life programme, a project that sequences species’ DNA to understand the diversity and origins of life on Earth. But far more importantly, Blaxter and his team are superfans of our invertebrate of the year competition and have offered to map the genome sequence of whoever wins this year. Continue reading...
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Rosy Christopher @envirosyment.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
So excited to be joining the RES in this position, and looking forward to meeting and working with so many people at conferences and beyond!
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Ayman Asiri @aasiri.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
And just like that, my final PhD student conference is over! So glad I finally got to present at the @royentsoc.bsky.social Student Forum as a delegate—and thrilled to receive a prize for my talk (as the cheesy smile shows). Huge thanks to everyone who made it such a great event 🐝 #SF25
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Ben Hawthorne @bensjhawthorne.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
RES Student Forum 2025 over and out! Plenty of great science and great people 🕺🏼 we couldn’t have done it without the help from the @royentsoc.bsky.social, the plenary speakers, and of course the delegates #SF25 🦋
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