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Fiona Beckman

@fionabeckman.bsky.social
371 followers 565 following 324 posts

Camera-wielder, obsessive walker, ocean enthusiast. Manxie living in Plymouth. Ocean Science Communicator for @pogo-ocean.bsky.social & @obon-ocean.bsky.social (views all my own) #photography #marinescience #ocean #Plymouth #IsleOfMan #Dartmoor #CoastPath

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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Looking forward to checking out this ocean-themed art installation when I get home from #CommOCEAN2026. Looks amazing! Artist creates cars filled with water to show tide www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Artist creates cars filled with water to show tide in Plymouth
David Cotterrell's installation has the water level in the cars change in tune with the tides.
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POGO @pogo-ocean.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
POGO’s August newsletter went live on Friday - with updates from POGO projects, working groups, & training initiatives, news from members, reports from capacity development activities, and lots more. Take a look here: mailchi.mp/pogo-ocean/p...
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Stove-top griddle joy for dinner tonight. Mmmm halloumi & mushrooms 😋
Slices of halloumi cheese on a stove-top griddle, with chargrilled stripes. Button mushrooms on a stove-top griddle.
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
It’s been another busy quarter in Team OBON☺️ If you are interested in #eDNA - particularly for #oceanobs - have a read ⤵️ 🌊 🧬
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Day trip to beautiful #Lundy in the Bristol Channel last week. It was a pretty hot day, with calm seas, but low cloud for a certain misty mystery. ☺️ Also deer 🦌
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Hard disagree 🤬. Give me a human over AI anytime - with bonus points if they can diverge from the script… www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
‘Customers prefer AI chatbots,’ says British Gas owner as 1,300 call centre jobs axed
CEO Chris O’Shea defends Centrica’s plans as it reports rise in retail profits following focus on bigger margins
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Love this initiative by my colleagues at @samsocean.bsky.social Director, Nick Owens, says he knew the decision was coming alive when, listening to conversations at executive meetings and during coffee breaks, he began to hear the question: “What would the ocean think about this?” 🌊
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
So many red & black moths flying around Ford Park Cemetery this week. They appear to be 6-spot #burnet moths - but I know that these #ragwort plants will be covered with striped Cinnabar moth caterpillars in the coming weeks. It’s weird - I *never* see the (similar) #cinnabar adults flying about 🤷‍♀️
Black-winged day-flying moth with red spots - probably a 6-spot burnet - sitting on the yellow flowers of the common ragwort plant (also known as Cushag)
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Plymouth’s newly refurbed Armada Way looking colourful in the evening 🥰 #plymouth
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Look II watching the GigRower championships taking place in Plymouth Sound this weekend 🚣‍♀️🌊 #plymouth #gormley
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Plymouth Marine Laboratory @pml.ac.uk · 29/06/2026
Widespread declines in #plankton across the North East Atlantic ⚠️ A new study has used more than six decades of data to show that plankton abundance is declining across vast swathes of the #NorthEastAtlantic. 🔗 pml.ac.uk/news/decline...
pml.ac.uk
Decline in plankton across North East Atlantic sends stark warning for ocean health
A new study, involving scientists from PML, found there were no habitats assessed as being of ‘Good Environmental Status’ in a region stretching from Portugal to Norway.
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Not a tennis fan myself, but I do love to see #Plymouth city centre set up for watching #wimbledon on a summer’s day 🥰🎾
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David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
These assholes back down when we push back. We should push back more often. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/c...
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Backs Off Plan to End Ocean Monitoring
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Third day of fog on #PlymouthHoe, and my phone camera thinks it’s a dirty lens issue 😂
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Depressing read about the environmental impact of pet flea treatments 😢. We only treat our cat with spot-on when humans get a flea bite, but I’ll now be looking at just using an isoxazoline pill instead - no matter how hard he fights me 😂 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Vets advise ban on over the counter flea treatment for pets
Pet owners have historically been advised they should treat cats and dogs as a preventative measure every month.
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Nooo! Not Giles! 72 is far too young 😭 💔 www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio... #buffy
theguardian.com
Anthony Head, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ted Lasso actor, dies aged 72
British actor starred on the West End before finding international fame in the 90s on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
All my walking routes seem to involve at least a few #bluebells at the moment 🥰. Love this time of year. Happy May Day ☺️
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POGO @pogo-ocean.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Are you a scientist at a POGO Member institution with an idea for a POGO working group or training initiative? 🌊 ➡️ Speak to your POGO Scientific PoC about how to apply for this year's Microgrants. 📆 Expression of Intent deadline: 30 April 2026 ➡️ Find out more: pogo-ocean.org/call-for-pro...
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POGO @pogo-ocean.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
The 2026 POGO-SCOR Fellowship Programme is now open for applications! 🚀 This fellowship provides funding for early-career scientists, technicians & postgraduate students from developing countries to spend 1–3 months at a leading oceanographic institute abroad 🌎 More at: mailchi.mp/pogo-ocean/p...
Graphical text about the POGO-SCOR Fellowship programme. For full details visit: https://mailchi.mp/pogo-ocean/pogo-scor26
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POGO @pogo-ocean.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Meet Abasiofon Essien Timothy, POGO's newest shipboard trainee! As the 2026 Ocean Decade NF-POGO-SeaNetwork-GEOMAR Fellow, Ofon will join the WASCAL Floating University aboard the #RVPolarstern from Cabo Verde to Germany. Congratulations, Ofon! @unoceandecade.bsky.social @geomarkiel.bsky.social
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Been watching the #bigwheel construction on #PlymouthHoe as I walked to-and-from work this week. At lunchtime today, it looked rather like a giant #PacMan 😁 #Plymouth
White Big Wheel ride under construction, with left side segment still missing.
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AuthentiSci @authentisci.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
🌲 Are you an environmental scientist? 🔍 We have new articles ready for expert review! "Climate change may produce “fast-food” phytoplankton" authentisci.com/article/c21c... "Synthetic chemicals are widespread in marine ecosystems, study finds" authentisci.com/article/5d7c...
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Definitely not about me…
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
In contrast with yesterday’s glorious sunshine, today’s morning mist thickened and persisted all day - the red and white stripes of #smeatonstower were barely visible! #plymouth #plymouthhoe
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David Firn @davidfirn.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
What's even the point of driving if you have to obey the speed limit?
The enforced slow pace of traffic has made motoring less sexy. I may as well take the bus, says Helen Rumbelow
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Good morning #Plymouth ☺️ There may be a risk of #aprilshowers today, but these glorious sunshine views of Plymouth Hoe and the Sound as I walked to work have set my happy mood for the week ahead. I don’t think even heavy rain could dampen my spirits 🌧️🥰🌊
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RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
To reduce disease, we all need to make some urgent but simple changes to how we feed our garden birds. See our website for the latest guidance: brnw.ch/21x1t4w
A Robin perched on a branch, its beak full of food and other material.
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
South Cornish coast yesterday, and north Cornwall coast today. Both stunning, as ever, but we were particularly lucky with amazing weather for early April 🥰 #southwestcoastpath #RameHead #StIves
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Unfortunately, our gutters are insanely high & pretty inaccessible for us (big old Victorian terrace on a steep hill 😬) - but others in and near #Plymouth might want to join this #citizenscience project ⬇️ 📢 Call for citizen scientists to collect space dust www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Call for citizen scientists to collect space dust
Resident are urged to join a cosmic quest for micrometeorites from space landing in their gutters.
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POGO @pogo-ocean.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
📆 SAVE THE DATE for the IQOE Passive Acoustics workshop - bringing together the ocean acoustics & bioacoustics communities: 22-24 Sept 2026 at @vliz.be in Oostende, Belgium.🌊👂 Find out more at www.iqoe.org/workshops/ch... @iqoe.bsky.social @scor-int.bsky.social @pogo-ocean.bsky.social
IQOE, POGO and SCOR logos, with text that says:
SAVE THE DATE
Charting the Future of Ocean Passive Acoustics: From observations to science and management

22-24 September 2026
InnovOcean Campus of the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)
Oostende, Belgium
In Person and Online
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Hazy views of the Bristol Channel, looking from #BreanDown in North Somerset on Saturday.
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Lomelindi12 @lomelindi12.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
After the stress & fear of trying to leave a potential war zone (“combat operation” my ass) will UK people reflect in time on the horrors which make people flee towards asylum? 😒
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Good morning Glasgow!! So pleased the sun decided to drop by for the final day of #OSM26 so we could see the Clyde looking so pretty and reflective 🥰🌊
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Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network (OBON) @obon-ocean.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Great OBON oral session this morning at #OSM26 - thanks to everyone who joined us! Find out about even more #eDNA observing projects at the Poster session this afternoon: OT44F Date: Thursday, 26 February 2026 Time: 16:00 – 18:00 Location: Hall 4 (Poster Hall) (Scottish Event Campus)
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Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network (OBON) @obon-ocean.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Are you at #OSM26 in Glasgow this week? OBON will be hosting two sessions on THURSDAY 26th: - oral session 08:30 - 10:00 (Carron, SEC) - poster session 16:00 - 18:00 (main poster hall - boards 1208-1236) Drop by to find out more about this UN Ocean Decade programme and our associated activities!
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Hope to see lots of colleagues and friends at #OSM26 in Glasgow next week! Drop by the @obon-ocean.bsky.social oral & poster sessions on Thurs 26th to catch the OBON and POGO folks 🌊⤵️
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Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network (OBON) @obon-ocean.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
OBON's February newsletter has just gone live - with lots of updates on programme and project activities - including our sessions at #OSM26 in Glasgow next week Read at: bit.ly/OBON_NL12 (link in bio). #eDNA #biomolecular #oceanobservations
Cover image for OBON (Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network) newsletter Issue 12 (Feb 2026), including logo, multiple small images from the issue, and bit.ly link: https://bit.ly/OBON_NL12
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David Firn @davidfirn.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
It makes no sense to build windfarm on wild and windy moor, area electricity users confirm.
theguardian.com
‘It makes no sense’: the battle over plans for a windfarm by the Yorkshire Dales
The fight for Hope Moor is set to be repeated across the UK as the government aims to hit its renewable energy targets
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
Frogspawn spotted on #Dartmoor yesterday. Feels early to me, but I looked up spawning dates, and apparently mid-Feb is pretty normal in the Southwest. My Isle of Man childhood memories are probably influencing my expectations :) #spawnwatch #what3words funds.pigtails.slips
Frogspawn visible in watery ditchFrogspawn sitting on wet grass - not in the water!
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European Marine Board @emarineboard.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
📢Our #EMBracingtheOcean #artistinresidence programme call closes on Monday! We are seeking #artists to co-create work with Ocean scientists to embrace connection to the Ocean, inspire behaviour towards sustainability & contribute new insights to science. Apply here: tinyurl.com/f7jc8b53
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Popped to @theboxplymouth.bsky.social to take a look at the new #BerylCook exhibit ‘Pride & Joy’ - an excellent way to spend a wet afternoon off work :). Never been a big fan of her work (sorry!), but it was beautifully curated, & I really enjoyed learning about her art/inspiration. Worth a visit 🥰
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Pretty wild in #Plymouth again today #stormchandra
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Currently house bound with a chest infection of some description, so cheering myself up by posting pics from last week’s #isleofman visit 🥰
View of sun low on horizon, taken through dirty bus window. Fields, hedges and sunrise-coloured clouds. View towards the Tower Of Refuge in Douglas bay (Isle of Man). Foreground has an empty bi-valve shell on wall pillar. View towards Peel Castle (Isle of Man), taken across the bay from mid-promenade. Sunset on Douglas beach, with rocks, rippled sand, and wet sections reflecting the sky
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European Marine Board @emarineboard.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
The call for the 2026 – 2027 #EMBracingtheOcean #artistinresidence programme is open! We are looking for #artists to co-create work with Ocean scientists to embrace connection to the Ocean, inspire behaviour towards sustainability & contribute new insights to science. More: tinyurl.com/f7jc8b53
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POGO @pogo-ocean.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Meet @prejie.bsky.social, an MSc student at Univ Philippines, selected through the 2025 NF-POGO Open Call for Shipboard Training Fellowships. Supervised by Dr Sophie Fielding from @bas.ac.uk, he will participate in the #POETS-WCB cruise aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough in the Southern Ocean.
Image of POGO Shipboard trainee, accompanied by the following text:

Prince Federe successfully applied to the 2025 NF-POGO Open Call for Shipboard Training Fellowships and was selected to participate in the POETS-WCB cruise under the supervision of Dr Sophie Fielding (BAS, UK). The training will be conducted aboard the RSS Sir David Attenborough (SDA), with the expedition departing from and returning to the Falkland Islands between 4 March and 22 April 2026. 
Congratulations, Prince!

"I have many expectations for the POETS Cruise. I expect the journey to be cold, but the excitement alone feels like enough warmth to keep me operational aboard the SDA. I do hope my tropical body gets me through the expedition in one piece. Beyond that, I am excited to learn about the engineering of the ship and how it enables oceanographic polar sampling. On that note, I look forward to sampling Antarctic krill for an AI model. Most of all, I am eager to meet the scientists working in Antarctica and to learn from their stories of navigating the Southern Ocean and the science it demands. This experience is bound to amplify my growth as an ecologist and oceanographer, one that I hope to share with my peers in the Philippines."

Prince Federe, MSc student, 
University of the Philippines
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Seriously people! Use headphones in public places. I have no interest in your random videos blaring out on buses, trains, or airport waiting rooms 🤬
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Sunset as I walked along Douglas beach this afternoon 🥰 #isleofman
View of beach, looking towards the sunset, with wet patches reflecting the warm orange glow
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Very excited to see how Plymouth’s City of Culture bid plays out over the next couple of years. I rate it as the best place I’ve ever lived (sorry IOM, York, Walthamstow 😬) - 21 years now - for its unique combination of city-by-the-sea arts and activities. Go Plymouth! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Opportunities 'endless' for Plymouth City of Culture bid
Plymouth City Council confirmed its intention to bid for the title of UK City of Culture 2029.
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Fiona Beckman @fionabeckman.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Some pics from yesterday’s sunset walk around #plymouth sound to cheer me up after confronting a group of teenage boys unapologetically littering on Mutley Plain. I pointed out the bins just 2 metres away - and they insisted that ‘everyone litters’ (including me, apparently 😱). Depressing stuff 🥲
Rock pigeon on harbour wall, overlooking water. Sunset view of Plymouth sound, looking towards Drake IslandSunset view of Plymouth sound, looking towards the breakwaterSunset view of Plymouth sound, from West Hoe, including view of drake island and the Gormley statue.
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Now more than ever, it’s important to understand how energy, climate, and environment are inextricably linked to finance and geopolitics. It’s a great time to follow some awesome journalists focused on those topics here. It’s free!
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