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Kate Helmstedt

@katehelmstedt.bsky.social
2.9K followers 932 following 43 posts

Maths, models, and decision science for biodiversity conservation. Professor of mathematics. Lead QUT Applied Mathematical Ecology Group, CI in @arcsaef.bsky.social

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Reposted by Kate Helmstedt
Luz V. Pascal @luzvpascal.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
How long should we be investing in technology development for ecosystem conservation? When should we divert our funding to other conservation actions? We try to answer these questions with POMDPs: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... @katehelmstedt.bsky.social @matthew-p-adams.bsky.social and Iadine Chades.
pnas.org
Developing new technologies to protect ecosystems: Planning with adaptive management | PNAS
Technology development is an essential investment for policymakers to address contemporary global crises, including climate change, biodiversity lo...
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Matt Mack @matthras.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Ooh arXiv paper from @matthholden.bsky.social @katehelmstedt.bsky.social about embedding sustainability in undergraduate maths with case studies 👀 Looks very actionable! arxiv.org/abs/2508.07594
arxiv.org
Embedding Sustainability in Undergraduate Mathematics with Actionable Case Studies
There is a growing need to integrate sustainability into tertiary mathematics education given the urgency of addressing global environmental challenges. This paper presents four case studies from Aust...
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Reposted by Kate Helmstedt
Matthew Holden 🏳️‍🌈 @matthholden.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Job alert: 2.75 -3 yr postdoc in Mathematical ecology/epidemiology or Decision Sci at the University of Queensland on the value of information for decisions with @hugepossum.bsky.social @katehelmstedt.bsky.social Katriona Shea & myself #MathSky 🌍 uq.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/uqcareers/jo... please share
uq.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Mathematical Ecology and Environmental Decision Science
School of Mathematics and Physics Full-time, fixed-term position for up to 2 years and 9 months with the possibility up to 3 years, depending on funding availability. Base salary will be in the range ...
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Justine Shaw @justineshaw.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
What information is most useful to make better decisions based on a model? @katehelmstedt.bsky.social explains how Value of Information can inform which marine invasive species should be monitored in Antarctica AND which uncertainties in our ecosystem models should we be resolving? #ICCB2025
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Jo Wood @jwolondon.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
🚨 Datavis Job Alert! 🚨 Permanent Senior Lectureship in Data Visualization. Exciting opportunity to join us @ giCentre, London to teach & research #datavis including our £11m Centre for Doctoral Training in Visualization. Feel free to DM for informal chat. www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/about/jobs/a...
citystgeorges.ac.uk
Details | City St George's, University of London
Details of job vacancy at City St George's,, University of London
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Greg Jericho @grogsgamut.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Strength to all trans women today. The bigots are out in force, but always remember their hate says everything about them not you. Trans women are women, and a bigot is always a bigot.
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
The US has three bases in Antarctica. Besides the important science done there, they're a proxy for geopolitical power. China just built its fifth base in Antarctica, so if the US pulls back, guess who will take over?
nature.com
Does US science have a future in Antarctica? Trump cuts threaten to cancel fieldwork and more
Funding for the National Science Foundation, which finances research at US bases on the icy continent, has already been reduced, and the agency faces steeper cuts soon.
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Reposted by Kate Helmstedt
Dan Oehm @danoehm.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
A player who has shared the most votes with a jury member is ~37% more likely to get their vote. And more votes, more likely. At this stage, Kaelan has the highest jury favorability, and Myles is critically low. This is a strong indicator, but not deterministic. A few more things 🧵 1/ #SurvivorAU
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
We're hosting an early International Women in Maths Day event in Brisbane next Monday - come hang out and eat lunch. All genders welcome, but you gotta like maths and women killing it. Research talks from women, professional development discussions, free food smp.uq.edu.au/event/sessio....
smp.uq.edu.au
International Women in Mathematics Day 2025
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ARC Tracker @arc-tracker.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
The total Australian Research Council budget is $1bn.
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 19/03/2025
I’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped
theguardian.com
I’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped
I was stuck in a freezing cell without explanation despite eventually having lawyers and media attention. Yet, compared with others, I was lucky
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Reposted by Kate Helmstedt
Matthew Holden 🏳️‍🌈 @matthholden.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Job alert: 3 Aotearoa New Zealand Postdoctoral fellowships in complex systems www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/2025/03/07/p...
tepunahamatatini.ac.nz
Postdoctoral fellowships in complex systems
We're looking for three postdoctoral fellows to join our newly created Modelling for Impact Hub.
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Reposted by Kate Helmstedt
Auke-Florian 🪹 @aukeflorian.nl · 14/03/2025
In the final stretch of my PhD thesis on nests, I keep thinking about this pigeon's masterpiece. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just done. Let’s do this! 🐦🪶 #PhD #PhDsky 🧪
A pigeon sitting beside its simple nest—just a few twigs, nothing fancy, but it works. One egg rests inside, soon the city will welcome another little pigeon to its flock.
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dallo @mdallo.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
He’s not wrong #brisbane
‘This is a fluid situation’, premier says
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
We introduce a method to quantify how extreme events affect ecosystem function and services. Paper out today in @natureecoevo.bsky.social - very fitting on a day that Cyclone Alfred is looming off the coast of my city!
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Reposted by Kate Helmstedt
Laura Dee @lauradee.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Brief interruption in my/our doom scrolling/posting to share a paper I'm really proud of that has taken almost a decade with the very patient @exconomist.bsky.social @katehelmstedt.bsky.social P. Reich, S. Polasky & K. Boersma www.nature.com/articles/s41... 1/n
nature.com
Quantifying disturbance effects on ecosystem services in a changing climate - Nature Ecology & Evolution
A generalizable, functional-trait-based approach for quantifying the effects of disturbances to ecosystem services and economic outcomes, including under climate change, highlights the need for incorp...
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casey briggs @caseybriggs.com · 25/02/2025
For a long time I've joked that Antony Green is immortal and will never retire. He is sharp, fast, funny, and it has been such a privilege to have a front row seat to the master at work for so long. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02...
abc.net.au
Legendary ABC chief election analyst Antony Green to step down
The ABC's 2025 federal election coverage will be the last to feature Antony Green AO in an on-air role, with the chief election analyst stepping down after more than 30 years.
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ARC Tracker @arc-tracker.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
This week the ARC should release Expressions of Interest outcomes for Discovery Projects. Should be Wed–Fri. They’re not public, so my bot cannot track them. The ARC should email applicants, and maybe tweet(?), to say outcomes are available in RMS.
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Yess this conference in Nepal is going to be awesome. Maths, environment, natural resources, lots of biodiversity conservation focus. Can’t wait
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Matt Mack @matthras.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Another one for important work on climate change and its effects (presumably on the Great Barrier Reef), Luz V. Pascal from Queensland University of Technology presents: "When does non-stationarity matter for threatened ecosystems?" #ANZIAM2025 1/6
Luz on the lectern standing next to the title slide of her talk.
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Congratulations @kleshnina.bsky.social!! The award every academic in the room was vying for. The students were right - her talk on game theory, resilience, and inequality was impressive. Read the paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
The effect of environmental information on evolution of cooperation in stochastic games - Nature Communications
In stochastic games, there is a feedback loop between a group’s social behaviors and its environment. Kleshnina et al. show that groups are often more cooperative when they know the exact state of the...
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Matt Mack @matthras.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Next for Tuesday's #ANZIAM2025 is Grace Robinson from Queensland University of Technology: "Balancing competing priorities: optimising land usage allocation" Mmm, practical optimisation! The type of optimisation I like! 1/4
Grace is standing on the podium looking at the introductory slide of her talk. The slide is using a very colourful palette of pink-purple combined with many photos of nature and animals.
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
We can all go back to knowing ARC grant outcomes within 17 seconds of them being posted, thank god
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Greg Jericho @grogsgamut.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Yep, when you hear that mining is huge, remember they mean the profits are huge... The Hospitality industry pays more wages to Australians than does mining.
Charts of the payments to workers:
Hospitality - $42.8bn
Mining - $42.4bn

Profits:
Hospitality - $13.9bn
Mining - $253.2bn
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Martin Stabe @martinstabe.ft.com · 15/01/2025
The Palisades fire in LA overlaid on a map of central London. calmatters.org/environment/...
A map showing the area of the Palisades fire in Los Angeles overlaid on a map of central London.
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Reposted by Kate Helmstedt
Erwan Rivault @erwanrivault.com · 10/01/2025
NEW: 2024 has just been confirmed as the warmest year on record, and the first to breach the 1.5C threshold. We used a ridgeline (Joy Division inspired) chart to visualise daily temperature anomalies since 1940. 2024 clearly stands out with 100% of its days above 1.3C and 75% above 1.5C.
Ridgeline chart showing the distribution of global daily air temperature differences from the pre-industrial reference period (1850-1900), for every year between 1940 and 2024. Each individual year resembles a hill, shaded in a darker shade of red and further to the right for warmer years. The trend is clearly towards warmer years, with 2024 standing out as first year above 1.5C.
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Reposted by Kate Helmstedt
Sarah Vollert @sarahvollert.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
In true academic style, I'm finishing my new years resolutions just before due date. The ideas behind this paper have been my passion project since day 1 of my PhD, and I'm pleased to announce that it's finally published! doi.org/10.1007/s115... @chris-drovandi.bsky.social
doi.org
Ecosystem Knowledge Should Replace Coexistence and Stability Assumptions in Ecological Network Modelling - Bulletin of Mathematical Biology
Quantitative population modelling is an invaluable tool for identifying the cascading effects of conservation on an ecosystem. When population data from monitoring programs is not available, determini...
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Reposted by Kate Helmstedt
Matthew Holden 🏳️‍🌈 @matthholden.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
I've submitted my abstract. Hope to see you in Nepal to discuss the latest in quantitative modeling to improve the environment! @katehelmstedt.bsky.social
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
We're hosting our fourth annual 'Environmental Modelling for Better Predictions and Decisions' symposium at QUT on 20-21 January. It's in-person only, always fun, and free! We focus on ECR/student presentations, networking, and panels. I always learn heaps and meet lots of researchers. Register now
docs.google.com
2025 AMEG Symposium: Environmental modelling for better predictions and decisions
Dates: January 20-21, 2025 (optional HDR workshop on January 22) Location: In person at QUT Gardens Point campus Cost: FREE (food included) Contact us at: AMEGsymposium@gmail.com The QUT Applied Math...
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
This makes me want to re-write my entire data visualisation course (to give this an A+)
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Laura Dee @lauradee.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
We are hiring a postdoc in my lab @colorado.edu to work on this NSF CAREER proposal (tinyurl.com/cak8dkza) to quantify how and when global change (drought, warming) alters the role of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning. Job here: colorado.avature.net/searchhub/Jo... 1/2
tinyurl.com
NSF Award Search: Award # 2340606 - CAREER: Quantifying how and when global change alters the role of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning Lock
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Kit Yates @kityates.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
I Wrote a Poem about exponential growth...
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Looking forward to #ESAus2024 in Melbourne this week! I successfully wrote my talk about optimal learning in Antarctica and the value of information on the plane and now I am ready to party. And learn, I guess (hopefully just by osmosis)
A king penguin and its fluffy brown baby (which is comically large for a baby)
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
It’s that time of year again. Teaching evaluations are known to be sexist, racist, and xenophobic. They can be mentally harmful (especially for ECRs). Yet our institutions insist on using them. Remember - you do not actually have to read your evaluations. You do not need to volunteer for harm 🫡
tandfonline.com
Sexism, racism, prejudice, and bias: a literature review and synthesis of research surrounding student evaluations of courses and teaching
This paper analyses the current research regarding student evaluations of courses and teaching. The article argues that student evaluations are influenced by racist, sexist and homophobic prejudice...
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
Is new data useful for management? We dunno! Sometimes! Sorta! In some cases! Some data! Soon we’ll have better answers for you, I promise. Stoked to work with my mates on this cool science for the next few years
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Australian Antarctic Program Partnership @antarctic.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
🌊 "Nowhere on Earth is there a greater cause of uncertainty in sea-level rise projections than from East Antarctica, in Australia’s backyard. The East Antarctic Ice Sheet alone holds enough water to raise global sea levels by approximately 50m if completely melted." www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11...
abc.net.au
Unprecedented changes in Antarctica ice prompt researchers to issue emergency statement
Hundreds of polar researchers issue an emergency statement calling for urgent action to deal with the impacts of climate change in Antarctica.
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Society for Conservation Biology @society4conbio.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Call for mentors! Join our Mentorship Program to help mentees refine their English presentations for #ICCB2025 + help them build their confidence while you build your leadership skills. Mentors earn a certificate from SCB! @iccb2025.bsky.social #languageaccessibility 🌍 conbio.org/mini-sites/i...
Blue background with the ICCB 2025 logo on it. The logo contains blue designs, fish and turtles and the text Meeanjin, Brisbane. Text on the image saying: Call for Mentors for our Language Accessibility Mentorship Program. International Congress for Conservation Biology. 15-19 June, 2025.
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Anyone working at the ARC want to accidentally upload an unmarked pdf to an unlisted page on the depths of the website this weekend?
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Markus Eichhorn @markuseichhorn.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Who should you nominate as reviewers for your manuscript? After a long chat with a post-grad it appears that there's a lot of misguided advice out there. Thread 👇
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Dave Sayers @davesayers.eurosky.social · 15/11/2024
Academia runs on contacting other academics out of the blue and saying HEY do you wanna do this COOL THING for essentially NO REWARD and equally certainly NO RECOGNITION from your employer and those people going OH MAN that sounds AWESOME sign me up for the COOL NO REWARD NO RECOGNITION EXPERIENCE.
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Matthew Holden 🏳️‍🌈 @matthholden.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
When do you need to collect more data? ... surprisingly, more data often has little value for decisions. Our new paper unravels why "Value of Information Analyses" can yield surprising results in #ecology doi.org/10.1111/2041... w @katehelmstedt.bsky.social in @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social 🌍
3D plots showing how the value of information is often low and only high when an analytic condition is met. See the paper in link for a full description  Plots showing how the value of information depends on the number of actions and states, with more actions and states often leading to higher value of information. See the paper in the link for a full description
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
I’ll add the two things I think every academic needs to find: a cleaner and a therapist. Both will improve your life, and neither is a source of guilt
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Andrew Gelman et al. @statmodeling.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
Faculty positions at Princeton in interdisciplinary data science statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2024/11/13/f...
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu
Faculty positions at Princeton in interdisciplinary data science | Statistical Modeling, Causal Inference, and Social Science
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Kevin Bairos-Novak @ecolology.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
Hey all, please RT this new starter pack for locating our fellow ecological modellers on Blue Sky! And please reply to this post if you'd like to be added to the starter pack! go.bsky.app/EfUQaM2
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
My mate and inspiration Jas Chambers will be the next president of Science & Technology Australia! She co-founded Oceans Decade Australia - having her at the helm of STA is great news for environmental science and sustainability scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/visionary-st...
scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au
Visionary STEM expert and advocate Jas Chambers to lead STA | Science and Technology Australia
Visionary leader and ocean governance expert Jas Chambers is Science & Technology Australia’s new President-elect.
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
This is not factoring in December Vibes, a core element of an academic’s year. Or exam marking. Or all your students and collaborators also using the end of the year as an imaginary deadlines. Or bluesky suddenly getting good. RIP 2024. 2025, I swear I’m gonna treat you better
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
Apply for this job so I can (1) envy you and (2) have another excuse to visit Boulder. Go work with some of my best and nicest friends! There’s a triceratops on campus! (don’t get the wrong idea - it’s dead)
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Laura Dee @lauradee.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
This is truly amazing!!!
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Kate Helmstedt @katehelmstedt.bsky.social · 21/09/2023
New data can be incredibly informative when planning biodiversity protection. But sometimes we should just act given what we already know. How should we decide between those two options - manage or learn? Deborah Akinlotan introduces ideas and metrics in our new preprint arxiv.org/abs/2309.09452
arxiv.org
Beyond expected values: Making environmental decisions using value...
In ecological and environmental contexts, management actions must sometimes be chosen urgently. Value of information (VoI) analysis provides a quantitative toolkit for projecting the expected...
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