Sign in

Mel Pardi

@drpardi.bsky.social
2.1K followers 639 following 249 posts

Quaternary Paleoecology🧪, Curator of Geology Illinois State Museum, Bacchante, Museum Nerd

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Kieran Healy @kjhealy.co · 26/09/2026
It’s kind of embarrassing how susceptible academics are to this sort of nonsense. It should be straightforward to establish the existence or non-existence of prestigious honor societies or “academies” in fields you are nominally a leading expert in, for heaven’s sake.
nature.com
Exclusive: Sham scientific societies are misleading star researchers
A Nature investigation reveals a network of organizations that have been building their ranks through deceptive practices.
76510
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Deadline for workshop registration is 10/13, so if you've delayed in registering or have been contemplating attending, there's still time.
000
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
www.nbcnews.com/science/envi... New cat just dropped
nbcnews.com
New wild cat species is identified for first time in 100 years, researchers say
A type of tiger cat, the animal is slender, spotted and smaller than a house cat. It lives in the Bolivian cloud forest.
097
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
There are still slots available for the Neotoma Paleoecology DB pre-meeting workshop at SVP! In this workshop you'll learn how to access data from @neotomadb.bsky.social and we'll walk you through some foundational analyses
043
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Going to SVP? Looking for a workshop? Have a student who intends to use the Neotoma DB? We, Jessica Blois and myself, are doing a workshop. There are slots available, but could fill up as we approach the early registration deadline. Please share! Info here: vertpaleo.org/using-the-ne...
vertpaleo.org
Using the Neotoma Paleoecology Database to Explore Quaternary Vertebrate Data – Society of Vertebrate Paleontology
Tuesday, November 10, 2026, from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
041
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
This doesn't improve anyone's life or make anything cheaper or make us safer. This is nothing but petty people being petty.
030
Reposted by Mel Pardi
The Whimsical Muse @whimsicalmuse.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
It would be so amazing if museums were open until midnight. I don't want to go clubbing, I want to go museum-ing!
3074767
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Their goal is to create so much chaos and so many crises that it starts to feel like nothing you do makes a difference. Don’t believe it. Every action matters. Keep showing up and remember the resistance will prevail!
18276562347
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
I just submitted my formal comment on the disastrous proposal to transform essentially all U.S. federal grantmaking--affecting every sector of American science, technology, education, & health--into an overtly partisan political process. Full text here: weatherwest.com/wp-c...
Screenshot of page 1 of my letter (see link in post for full text).Screenshot of page 2 of my letter (see link in post for full text).Screenshot of page 3 of my letter (see link in post for full text).Screenshot of page 4 of my letter (see link in post for full text).
8915325
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Dr. Sarah Parcak @indyfromspace.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
I tell my students the #1 thing to focus on to do good science/ archaeology is learn how to be a good friend. If you can develop meaningful friendships with your collaborators and teammates, the hard stuff will get much easier.
413221
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Thomas Hegna @thomashegna.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
New paper out with Sarah Losso and Javier Ortega Hernandez : "These legs were made for walking: 150 years of trilobite appendage morphology and evolution" authors.elsevier.com/c/1nN4m2weR2... #trilobite #paleontology #arthropod #palaeontology #fossils
authors.elsevier.com
Please wait whilst we redirect you
All content on this site: Copyright © 2026 Elsevier B.V., its licensors, and contributors. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. For all open access content, the relevant licensing terms apply.
052
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Robin G Nelson @robingnelson.blacksky.app · 05/07/2026
We're hiring an associate/full professor in paleoanthropology in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University - As Katie Hinde says - come join our science party in the desert!!
careercenter.americananthro.org
04033
Reposted by Mel Pardi
maraleia @maraleia.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
That place has to be saged now.
730110
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Never let the cynics and naysayers grind you down. You *can* have it all at once.
Luddites Books & Wine, which, heartbreakingly, when I took this photo in Antwerp last year, was closed.
17888164
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Science Friday @scifri.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
For America’s 250th birthday, Ira traveled to @wburcityspace.bsky.social to chat with historian Robert Allison about scientific thinkers in early America. And yes, they talk about more than just Ben Franklin and his kite. Hear the full convo today from 2–4pm ET on your local public radio station.
05212
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Plugging this pre-meeting workshop we're holding at the annual meeting for @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social Would love to get a full house!
066
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Dr. Tanya Lentz, R.Psych. @pednpsy.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
If you were a gymnast, the equivalent would be having someone else practice your flips and expecting to get better at flips.
128215
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Michael Nabert @sustainablesong.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Research confirms that the more skilled professionals like doctors and software engineers rely on AI, the more their skills degrade. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Is AI ruining our skills? Early results are in — and they’re not good
Reliance on artificial-intelligence tools degrades the abilities of physicians and software engineers, studies show.
4722021165
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Literally had this conversation the other day, it's awful how much of the access to the sea back home is "private"
1413
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Dr. Advait M Jukar, FLS @amjukar.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Come join us at the @floridamuseum.bsky.social www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/assis...
floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Assistant Curator of Ichthyology
The Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida (UF) seeks qualified applicants for a 12-month tenure-track Assistant Curator of Ichthyology. This position will be filled at the Ass...
021
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
I really hope to see a headline with him arrested
000
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
@mayajuman.bsky.social is giving a seriously cool talk on using museum collections to detect pathogens @mammalogists.bsky.social
A presentation slide outlining the use of museum collections for detecting pathogens, includes several bat specimens
281
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Per tradition, we kicked off the meeting with our graduate student honoraria. Congratulations to: Emilyn Gilmore - Annie M. Alexander Award Madeleine Becker - Anna M. Jackson Award Joshua Robinson - A. Brazier Howell Award Jonathan Keller - Elmer C. Birney Award
420
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Opening remarks for the 105th Annual meeting for the American Society of Mammalogists @mammalogists.bsky.social
020
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Mr. Caballólogo 🦓 @occh15.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
As far as I have studied in my PhD all the taxonomic information in equids is quite "elusive" hahahaha
131
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Mark Peifer (He, him) @peiferlabunc.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Russell Vought, Director of the OMB, has issued a set of proposed changes that would dramatically alter federal grant funding. However, we can each take action to prevent these from taking effect. Here's how, a 🧵 🧪 1/n www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
White House seeks to tighten political oversight of grantmaking
Sweeping proposed rule, now open for comments, would also restrict foreign collaborations and remove federal funding for open-access fees
4192167
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Eos @eos.org · 02/06/2026
National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt is about to deliver the third annual State of the Science address. Follow along with us at 3 p.m. ET 🧵👇
22010
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Flor Yannelli *typo queen* 👽🌱🪁(she/her/ella) @floryannelli.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
We here in Argentina went for a factual name: scienticide. Sad times..
062
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
🧵 Public science in the US has taken some heavy hits over the last year, but the White House OMB is proposing a series of changes that will result in a TKO for science as we know it unless we fight back. Here's what's happening, and why it matters. 1/n
2719251088
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Colette Delawalla, PhD @cdelawalla.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
🚨The OMB rule will be the end of science as we know it. MARK YOU CALENDAR for @standupforscience.net EMERGENCY SCIENCE MEETING June 2nd, 4pm et. We will be giving an overview & assigning EVERY SCIENTIST IN AMERICA their marching orders. REGISTER: events.standupforscience.net/stand-up-for...
events.standupforscience.net
Emergency Science Meeting by Stand Up for Science
[discussing OMB-2026-0034?]
03412
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Same. He's right where my legs (really, my body) should be.
010
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
in general I think popular discourse confuses "vices that were downplayed, excused, or ignored for men's benefit" with "traits that were upheld as masculine virtues" and this phenomenon is part of why: these particular men not only have few if any virtues but single out their vices for broadcasting
122124288
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Mika McKinnon @mikamckinnon.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Mineral Museum organized by lickability of rocks, with tasting notes (and option to buy samples) of the Do Lick list and worst case scenarios for the Do Not Lick list. The Boring But Safe list will form a neutral zone between them.
1238849
Reposted by Mel Pardi
🇵🇸Martin “Doomsday” Pfeiffer🖖🏳️‍🌈 @nuclearanthro.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Semiotic anthropologist here w/alt-text! As I tell students & everyone who will listen: One of the great lessons of anthropology is that we built this. All of it. And we choose throughout our days how we will continue or change the world we have built. We can & must build differently.
You guys....we made it all up. ALL of it.
Everything. Money. Bills. Gender.
Capitalism. Femininity. Masculinity.
Body image. The 5 day workweek.
Three meals a day. School. College.
Fashion. Expectations. Institutions.
Holidays. Traditions. Literally every single thing that we take for granted as
"just the way it's done" is fucking made up and I just feel like it's really important that we remember that.
12792346
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Going to the American Society of Mammalogists meeting in Norfolk and/or have a student going who is interested in fossil mammals and museum careers? Get breakfast with me! (Steve is cool, too) @mammalogists.bsky.social
Sign up sheet for students to get breakfast with a mammalogist. June 14th at 7am, meet at the registration desk after signing up.
012
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
This week we had a visitor! Leah, from the Ungar Lab at the University of Arkansas, spent two days in our fossil collections studying the teeth of mammoths and mastodons.It's always fun hosting researchers at ISM, especially students. #FossilFriday
060
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Chenxin Li, PhD @chenxinli2.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Is this just another way to send tech bros money
0236
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Andrew Quemere @andrewqmr.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Actual “AI” literacy would involve explaining why it's not and never will be a reliable source of information nor will it ever be a replacement for research or creativity.
3396159
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Owen Goodchild @paleowen.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
#fossilfriday this week saw the description of a new gomphothere from the Clarendonian of Virginia: Chesalophodon gulottai. smithsonian.figshare.com/articles/boo...
2206
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. @arctomet.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
www.scientificamerican.com/article/krak...
scientificamerican.com
Meet the real-life ‘Kraken’ that ruled the Cretaceous seas
Fossil jaws from colossal octopuses place them at the top of a prehistoric marine food chain
0102
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Marcus Brandel @lostbones.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
#FossilFriday The largest bone in the skeleton—the femur—often survives the test of time. It is the eighth most common vertebrate mammal post cranial element I’ve documented in county museum collections across the Midwest so far. #Palaeontology #CitizenScience Lost Bones marcusbrandel.substack.com
Whole and partial femur at the Melrose Area Museum. Each bone preserves data from ancient animals that once roamed the area’s post glacial landscapes.Distal end of a bison femur at the Rice Country Historical Society. #Pleistocene #Holocene #Bison #Palaeontology #Mnmuseums #CitizenScienceBison femur at the Pope County Historical SocietyBones discovered near Hansen Park in New Brighton Minnestoa
0112
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Goals lol
140
Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
I saw this movie with a good friend and the validation I'm getting from everyone who had the exact same instantaneous reaction we did is... beautiful.
030
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Birder K @birderk.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
There is a new Ryan Gosling movie out apparently and the only thing I know about it from posts here is that the centrifuge is unbalanced, and I’m delighted that this fact has come across my feed many many many times today. You’re my people 😂
1394
Reposted by Mel Pardi
pussy commie-tatas @eveningbells.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
I love trying to balance centrifuges with odd numbers of tubes and in atypical configurations. Makes me feel like some sort of a physics pervert
A picture of a centrifuge with 5 blue top tubes in triangle
112724
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Steph @stephy.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
The only “online debate” I’ve seen about this movie is about how he loaded the centrifuge, and it’s not much of a debate - we all agree that Ryan Gosling doesn’t know how to load a centrifuge www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
hollywoodreporter.com
Why Has ‘Project Hail Mary’ Ignited So Much Online Debate?
"There's debate around a number of themes that seem to be political," says one industry expert about why the Ryan Gosling-led film has seen a sky-high level of social media engagement.
47413
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Anders Bergström @anders-bergstrom.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Out today is our paper 'Genomic history of early dogs in Europe', in which we uncover the identity of the dogs that lived in Europe before agriculture—during the Paleolithic & Mesolithic periods: doi.org/10.1038/s415.... A thread ⬇️ (10) @biouea.bsky.social @crick.ac.uk @mpi-eva-leipzig.bsky.social
418175
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Gwen Pearson @bug-gwen.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Fantastic news! 🦋🦋 Link to full report in 🧵 www.worldwildlife.org/news/stories...
worldwildlife.org
Monarch butterfly population increases 64%
Two new reports estimate a 64% increase in species population and a significant decrease in forest degradation in the butterfly's winter home
111193467
Reposted by Mel Pardi
cenofreak88.bsky.social @cenofreak88.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Third installment of #mammothmarch2026 a cast of a Columbian mammoth footprint found at the Carson City Prison, Nevada. On display at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California. #fossilfriday #naturalhistorymuseumoflosangelescounty #prehistoricnevada #mammoth
13110
Reposted by Mel Pardi
Owen Goodchild @paleowen.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
#fossilfriday it’s been a very busy week visiting the collections @ucmpberkeley.bsky.social to study the gomphotheres houses here. Enjoy the three holotypes I have had the pleasure of studying/scanning this week: Megabelodon minor, Gomphotherium cingulatum, and Trilophodon simpsoni!
Megabelodon minor holotype mandible, small and lacking any evidence for lower tusks. Despite small size is a young adult with m3 erupting Subadult gomphothere mandible with p4-m1 and two round lower tusks Large mandible with a long and downturned symphysis. The second and third molars are well worn suggesting this was an old adult.
12211