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LEC Reefs

@lec-reefs.bsky.social
5.7K followers 480 following 43 posts

Research group @ Lancaster Environment Centre, UK. We study coral reefs, fisheries, aquatic foods, environmental justice, animal behaviour, ecology, and climate change. 🐠 🐟 🎣 🪸 lec-reefs.org

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Sal Keith (she/her) @salkeith.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
NEW! Mesopredatory fish communities keep stable coz diff species populations do diff things at diff times, via functional diversity. Used 197 Indo-Pacific time series. Led by the brill @ruchakarkarey.bsky.social Read it here nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... @lec-reefs.bsky.social
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Asynchronous population trends stabilize mesopredatory coral reef fish communities in the face of global change
Biodiversity can underpin stability in communities, allowing them to withstand environmental fluctuations without changes in aggregate properties like total abundance or biomass. We investigated the ...
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Ruth Dunn @ruthedunn.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
A really great article by @lisasgardiner.bsky.social on some of the research on tropical #seabirds that we've been doing over the last few years 🐦🐟 www.snexplores.org/article/tagg...
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
A great few days at our REEFS retreat in the Lake District!🏔️🍁 From ghyll scrambling and team-building to workshops and discussions, it was a brilliant chance to step away from our usual routines, connect as a group, and think together about our research! A Fun, challenging and inspiring few days🐠
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Incredible new study from @timlamont.bsky.social on detecting bomb fishing - involving @zslofficial.bsky.social , IPB, UNHAS & @lancasteruni.bsky.social CHECK IT OUT HERE : 🎙️📻 Interview (from 2h23) www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... 💣🐟 Summary 👉 tinyurl.com/yzpv5m7b 📰📊 Paper 👉 tinyurl.com/yc2fjbh5
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
goodlawproject.org/petition/jas... - Please consider signing this petition by the Good Law Project to support their campaign for "an immediate public inquiry into how to ensure a responsible press given its contribution to Dr Arday’s tragic death".
goodlawproject.org
Jason Arday: Demand a public inquiry now | Good Law Project
Commission an immediate public inquiry into how to ensure a responsible press given its contribution to Dr Arday’s tragic death.
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Ruth Dunn @ruthedunn.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
New research published in ‘Ecology’: doi.org/10.1002/ecy.70453 It was so fun to help Laura-Li collect some of these data on the contrasting influences of #seabirds on coral reef productivity pathways 💞🐠🦐🪸 @esajournals.bsky.social
Laura-Li smiling whilst driving a boat to scuba dive for cryptobenthic fauna in the tropics
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Lancaster University @lancasteruni.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
We're launching a ‘Food for Nature and Society’ doctoral programme to fund 30 PhDs! Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the Leverhulme Doctoral Programme will deliver 30 fully funded PhD scholarships over 7 years. 📰 tinyurl.com/4v5yn28h @leverhulme.ac.uk | @lec-reefs.bsky.social 📸 Hazel Healy
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Sal Keith (she/her) @salkeith.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
2 #postdoc positions now live! 🐠🐡🐟 (1) #AI for #Ecology, (2) #Marine Field Ecology for AI-Enabled Behavioural Monitoring, & v soon (3) AI-Enabled #BehaviouralEcology for #Conservation Join our team, unlock #AnimalBehaviour as an early warning system. #Jobs @lec-reefs.bsky.social Links 👇
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Lancaster University @lancasteruni.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
A @royalsociety.org award of £7M has been awarded to Prof Nick Graham of @lec-reefs.bsky.social so he can establish an ‘Island-Ocean Research Hub’ 🏝️ The hub will investigate the interconnection between island and marine ecosystems at the forefront of the biodiversity crisis.
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Laura-Li Jeannot @lljeannot.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Happy to also share that our story was picked up by the press (in English, French, and German!). Read more here: ▶️ www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/how-inv... ▶️ www.spektrum.de/news/oekolog... ▶️ www.geo.fr/animaux/comm...
lancaster.ac.uk
How invasive rats rewire coral reef food webs creating winners and losers - Lancaster University
Invasive rats on tropical islands are creating winners and losers among the tiny underwater animals near the bottom of the food chain that inhabit surrounding coral reefs.
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Laura-Li Jeannot @lljeannot.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
🐠📣 New paper alert! 🦀 📣 Cryptofauna doesn't react uniformly to nutrients: cryptobenthic fishes are better able to capitalize on extra nutrients near seabird colonies, likely boosting larger piscivores; when rats are present, inverts thrive instead ▶️ doi.org/10.1002/ecy....
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Anastasia Smith @anastasiasmith.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
2months of PhD fieldwork in Kenya complete!🇰🇪 From reef fish abundance and LIT benthic surveys to interviews and focus groups with local fishers , traders and leaders involved in Beach Management Units (BMU). It's been a packed and incredible experience and opportunity to work with a great team!🐠🤿🎣
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Sal Keith (she/her) @salkeith.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
RECRUITING 3 Senior Research Associates to develop responsible AI-enabled approaches to unlock animal behaviour for conservation. Roles include: 🧠 AI/Computer Vision 🐠 Behavioural Ecology 🌊 Marine Field Ecology Join @lec-reefs.bsky.social & @dsailu.bsky.social, Lancaster Uni, UK. Ads coming soon!
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Some of our PhD REEFs researchers had an exciting week at #ISBE2026 presenting their PhD work for the first time🎉 Stella & @mollylouisefowkes.bsky.social shared insights on eel movement and sociality 🐍 Victoria explored the global biogeography of reef fish behaviour 🐠 Congratulations Team!🌊
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
A busy week for LECREEFS at #ICRS2026🪸 A plenary from @christinahicks.bsky.social & talks from @cherfychow.bsky.social @lisagoberdhan.bsky.social @lljeannot.bsky.social Khatija & @nickajgraham.bsky.social about diversity patterns, cryptofauna distributions & pelagic subsidies to coral reefs 🪸🐠
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Molly Fowkes @mollylouisefowkes.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Grateful to have shared my research at ISBE 2026, learned from so many inspiring people, and left with new ideas, new connections, and plenty of motivation for the next steps. Thank you ISBE for the travel grant! Here’s to many more. 🌍🧪 #isbe2026 #behaviouralecology #europeaneel #sciencecomm
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
@salkeith.bsky.social & @chaimelchik.bsky.social ran a #BESMacro2026 workshop on AI modelling in ecology 🖥️ The workshop involved some hands on modelling work 👩🏽‍💻 & lots of discussion around the ethical, environmental and scientific issues in applying AI 💭 #ICRS & #ISBE updates to follow shortly 🪸🐠🐬
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
@christinahicks.bsky.social, @anastasiasmith.bsky.social, @fmc1.bsky.social and Omokotu attended the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa! 🪸 Ana spoke about Kenyan reef fishery governance 🐟 Christina delivered a wonderful keynote speech & moderated several sessions representing @oceana.bsky.social
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Seattle updates! @lljeannot.bsky.social attended a cryptobenthic fish taxonomy workshop at the University of Washington, led by Luke Tornabene, @chrisgoatley.bsky.social, Diego Vaz & @lizmillermacroevo.bsky.social, to learn about delineation, descriptions, phylogenetics, CT scanning & more📊🐠👩
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Lancaster University @lancasteruni.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Congratulations to Prof Nick Graham, who has been elected to become a Fellow of @royalsociety.org, one of the world’s most prestigious learned societies! 👏 Nick is a Chair in marine ecology, and his research explores the effects of climate change on coral reef ecosystems 🐟 @lec-reefs.bsky.social
pulse.ly
Lancaster marine ecologist elected to become Royal Society Fellow - Lancaster University
Lancaster University’s Distinguished Professor Nick Graham has been elected to become a Fellow of the Royal Society, one of the world’s most prestigious learned societies.
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Sal Keith (she/her) @salkeith.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Had fun talking corals at Brownies tonight - such an enthusiastic and engaged bunch! My daughter couldn’t stop giggling when I dressed her up in all the dive gear 😂🥰
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
@james-robinson.bsky.social & @bwoodhead.bsky.social at the PICES SPF Symposium!🐟 Beth spoke on distal drivers of SPF fishing pressure🎣 James ran a workshop on nutrition in SPF value chains & presented @crisruanocha.bsky.social work on fishmeal factory impacts on fish consumption in West Africa🐟
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
New Paper Alert! @sophiestanden.bsky.social Is Understanding‘Fish as Food’ Enough?Reclaiming Power and Politics in Aquatic Food Research and Policy 📈Despite aquatic food systems gaining global attention, the role of power dynamics shaping debates is still overlooked. 👇 tinyurl.com/FishAsFood26
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Cecilia Keating @ceciliakeating.carbonbrief.org · 24/04/2026
NEW: How is climate change impacting the AMOC, the Atlantic currents that help keep Europe warm? @carbonbrief.org’s new in-depth explainer covers: 🌊 How the AMOC is impacted by warming 🌎 What research says about AMOC collapse 🗞️ How the media covers AMOC Read more here: tinyurl.com/5caxbw5a
tinyurl.com
AMOC: Is global warming tipping key Atlantic ocean currents towards ‘collapse’?
The AMOC is under threat from human-caused climate change, as warming seas, melting ice and increased rainfall upset the temperature and salt balance of the North Atlantic.
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Last week our fantastic PhD student @nyxonrf.bsky.social attended the @thembauk.bsky.social Postgraduate Conference in Newcastle! Nyxon presented her first thesis poster, highlighting data from Kew Herbarium @rbgkew.bsky.social on the photosynthetic diversity of seagrass Well Done Nyxon! 🐠🐚🌊
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Last week some of our PhDs attended Envision's student conference in Windermere Khatija Alliji, @bwoodhead.bsky.social, @anastasiasmith.bsky.social & @nadia-hamilton.bsky.social spoke on topics from coral reefs to pelagic systems 🎣🪸 AND alumni @markh22.bsky.social joined a panel on post-PhD life 🎓
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Lancaster University @lancasteruni.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
The study, which is based on six years of observing the species in Fiji, has been covered by major media outlets including the BBC… Check out the BBC Wildlife Magazine: www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts... Or listen to Lancaster’s Dr David Jacoby (from 26 mins): www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
discoverwildlife.com
Researchers studied 184 bull sharks in Fiji – and discovered they might make friends | Discover Wildlife
Scientists studying bull sharks in Fiji found that the animals may have more complex social lives than previously thought.
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Lancaster University @lancasteruni.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
The surprising social life of sharks hit the headlines this week, thanks to new research supported by Lancaster researchers. They discovered that bull sharks form relationships with specific “friends”, rather than mixing at random www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/bull-sh...
lancaster.ac.uk
Bull sharks have ‘friends’ - Lancaster University
Bull sharks form social relationships with specific “friends”, new research reveals.
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Laura-Li Jeannot @lljeannot.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
New paper out on the use of Virtual Reality to increase ocean literacy in higher education 🤿🌊 Not everyone has the chance to see & interact with reefs, but immersive tools like these can allow for a more personal connection with the ocean & ultimately foster a deeper sense of agency and empathy!
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Sal Keith (she/her) @salkeith.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
VR dive experience tested on my coral reef ecology module @lancasteruninews.bsky.social found it helped consolidate knowledge & motivated learning+pro-environmental behaviour. Just avoid that uncanny valley! esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... @lec-reefs.bsky.social VR by thehydro.us
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Enhancing motivation to learn marine ecology and increase ocean literacy through virtual reality in higher education
Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly recognized as a tool for enhancing engagement and motivation in education. This is particularly true where access to experiential learning is limited, as is often...
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Check out this new paper by @salkeith.bsky.social and @lljeannot.bsky.social on using VR to improve and motivate pro-environmental learning behaviour in coral reef contexts! 🪸🐟👩‍💻
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
This international women’s day we celebrate the inspiring women that are part of, and work alongside our group. The UN’s theme for #IWD is “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”- learn more here: www.unwomen.org/en/get-invol... 👩🏽‍🔬👩🏻‍🎓👩🏾‍🏫👩🏼‍💻
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Lancaster University media relations team @lancasteruninews.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Thousands of dead puffins are washing up on Europe’s beaches - Dr Ruth Dunn explains why in the Conversation @lec-reefs.bsky.social @ruthedunn.bsky.social theconversation.com/thousands-of...
theconversation.com
Thousands of dead puffins are washing up on Europe’s beaches – why it’s been such a dangerous winter for seabirds
Seabirds are washing up on Europe’s beaches in large numbers after weeks of bad weather.
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Sal Keith (she/her) @salkeith.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Very excited to be one of the new Fellows of the BES! It has always been the society where I feel I belong the most 🥰 www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/marine-... @britishecologicalsociety.org @lec-reefs.bsky.social @dsilu.bsky.social @macrobehaviour.bsky.social @lancasteruninews.bsky.social
lancaster.ac.uk
Marine biology scientist recognised by Fellow status in world’s oldest ecological society - Lancaster University
A Lancaster University marine biologist has been recognised with prestigious Fellow of the British Ecological Society (BES) status.
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Sal Keith (she/her) @salkeith.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Today our Applied Data Science for Biodiversity MSc students took a trip to our underwater Coral Crisis Centre to coordinate a rapid response to an upcoming heatwave. Ready to dive? 👌 @lec-reefs.bsky.social @dsilu.bsky.social @lancasteruninews.bsky.social
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Ruth Dunn @ruthedunn.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Excited to head to Oxford for this on Friday! 🐦
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
🎙️ The fabulous @mollylouisefowkes.bsky.social was recently invited to talk on the Impact Storytelling Podcast about her research exploring the hidden social lives of the endangered European eel! 📊 👩‍💻🛥️ Listen now on YouTube & Spotify: tinyurl.com/Eelpodcast 🎧
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Lancaster University @lancasteruni.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
Is it possible to save our seas and enjoy seafood at the same time? 🐟🍴 Check out this #NationalGeographic interview with marine scientist and conservationist Prof Christina Hicks of @lec-reefs.bsky.social on sustainable seafood and protecting marine life 👇
nationalgeographic.com
A marine scientist explains why she eats seafood—even octopus
Conservationist Christina Hicks explains the tension between protecting marine life and depending on it for food, and how our seafood choices ripple across the world.
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Lancaster University @lancasteruni.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Congratulations to @salkeith.bsky.social of @lec-reefs.bsky.social, who has has been recognised as a Fellow of @britishecologicalsociety.org! 👏 Dr Keith pioneered the concept of ‘macrobehaviour’, exploring behavioural patterns across large geographical regions, varying species, and long timescales.
lancaster.ac.uk
Marine biology scientist recognised by Fellow status in world’s oldest ecological society - Lancaster University
A Lancaster University marine biologist has been recognised with prestigious Fellow of the British Ecological Society (BES) status.
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Cher Chow 周馥溢 @cherfychow.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
Super excited to announce I've started as a postdoc at LEC REEFS @lec-reefs.bsky.social with James Robinson @james-robinson.bsky.social and Renato Morais @renatoamorais.bsky.social. Not only can I stick with my reef fish, but we're scaling up work on fish productivity and nutrient fluxes 🦠🐠
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
New paper on coral reef restoration and recovery by @timlamont.bsky.social et al: doi.org/10.1111/gcb.... 🪸
doi.org
Corallivorous Fish Have Reduced Population Sizes and Altered Foraging Behaviour on a Recently Restored Coral Reef
We investigated the recovery of corals and fishes at one of the world's largest coral reef restoration projects, in central Indonesia. Within 4–6 years of the coral restoration starting, the total am....
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
New PhD project available here at @lancasteruni.bsky.social! Come and research coral reefs, MPAs, and climate impacts 🪸 www.exageo.org/phd-student-...
exageo.org
Available PhD Projects – ExaGEO DLA
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James Robinson @james-robinson.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
We're #hiring a new #PhD student - come join @lec-reefs.bsky.social to investigate coral reefs, MPAs, and climate impacts. 🌊 🧪🦑 Details + apply here - www.exageo.org/phd-student-... Deadline Jan 9th! International applicants encouraged 👍
exageo.org
Available PhD Projects – ExaGEO DLA
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
You can keep up with the whole LEC REEFS gang via our starter pack! 🐟🪸🎣🏝️ go.bsky.app/3m4FFzH 🦑🧪🌍
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LEC Reefs @lec-reefs.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Two new post-doc positions in our team here at Lancaster! 👇
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Tim Lamont @timlamont.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
We're hiring! 🥳 Come and join our team in Lancaster - we're looking for two senior postdocs to work on corporate sustainability and restoration ecology. 🌳 🪸 ♻️ (1 of 2) @lec-reefs.bsky.social @pentlandcentre.bsky.social @sci-tech-lancaster.bsky.social @lancasteruni.bsky.social
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Ruth Dunn @ruthedunn.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
New in @natrevbiodiv.nature.com: our review of the influence of #seabirds, via their nutrient transfer, on islands & adjacent marine ecosystems 🐦🏝️🪸 We highlight knowledge gaps & future directions ✨ "The circular seabird economy is critical for oceans, islands and people": doi.org/10.1038/s443...
Schematic diagram of the influence of seabirds on temperate and tropical near-shore marine systems.
Temperatre systems:
- Nutrient enrichment and predation on herbivorous invertebrates can lead to increased algal production
- Phytoplankton communities change, featuring more large-celled species
- Intertidal organisms incorporate seabird-enriched material by grazing on detritus and biofilm in tidepools
- Macroalgae biodiversity and primary production are boosted
Tropical systems:
- Mangrove leaf nutritional quality increases
- Corals recover faster after bleaching events
- Fish biomass increases across different trophic groups
- Pelagic and benthic consumers' foraging behaviour shifts
- Parrotfish grazing and bioerosion rates increase
- Fish grow larger
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Oceana @oceana.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
A new study reveals that although they are often overlooked, dried fish are critical to helping feed millions of people across Africa. Read more: bit.ly/4nItEIj @lancasteruni.bsky.social
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Tim Lamont @timlamont.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Starting a new job felt like a good time to join the BlueSky party! 🙌🦋 Excited to be starting a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship - look out for job ads soon on ecosystem restoration 🪸🌴🐠, business sustainability ♻️ and corporate accounting 🧮📊. Exciting plans ahead! www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/lancast...
lancaster.ac.uk
Lancaster’s world-class researchers will turn bold ideas into innovations to improve lives - Lancaster University
Three Lancaster University researchers have been awarded Future Leaders Fellowships, through a flagship scheme by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
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Sal Keith (she/her) @salkeith.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
@ruchakarkarey.bsky.social is in Vogue India! Great article about India's women marine defenders www.vogue.in/content/once...
vogue.in
Indian women used to be afraid of the ocean. Now, they’re turning into its strongest defenders
Along India’s coastline, a rising wave of women is healing our oceans, moving beyond the margins of shore-bound roles traditionally ascribed to them
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