iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

In May, two of my colleagues and I presented at the Biennial Conference on Undergraduate Education in Natural Resources in Houghton, MI.

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Last fall, Levi conducted a survey of the deer population at Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation using trail cams. In May, he presented his findings at the Fort Leavenworth Rod and Gun Club monthly meeting.

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

In May, students in my Scientific Communication class did outreach at the second annual Hays Science Festival. The students chose to talk about native pollinators and organized two activities: pollinator masks and seed bombs.

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

We had a great round of fieldwork in May! The #patrickbatlab is working on two projects at Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation. We are trapping small mammals to study parasite communities and microplastics. We’re also participating in the #snapshotusa #lewisandclarkresurvey project.

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

End of the semester #patrickbatlab potluck. As usual, Finn the cat was the most popular guest.

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Patrick Geyer successfully defended his thesis today! Patrick’s project examined differences in bat echolocation calls and feeding buzzes on and off prairie dog colonies at The Nature Conservancy’s Smoky Valley Ranch in western Kansas. Congratulations!!!

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Tara Chestnut, PhD @tcastanea.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

FIRST UP: #2-seed OSSIFRAGE (Gypaetus barbatus) vs #15-seed CICADA KILLER WASP (Sphecius speciosus) #2026MMM #2026mmm

An enormous black and yellow banded wasp with golden-brown eyes, legs and wings. It is hugging a cicada belly to belly in a patch of bright green grass. By hugging, I mean the wasp has captured the cicada and stung it to paralyze it and take it back to it's lair to feed it's larvae alive. The cicada is larger than the wasp, has a white belly and a green back

An enormous white and brown vulture flying with a dark grey cliff in the background. Sun is shining through it's flight feathers. It's tail is diamond shaped and has tail feathers in different stages of growth. The leading edge of the wing is is dark brown. It's white belly and neck have tinges of orange.

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Alyson Brokaw, PhD @alybatgirl.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Next Up: #2-seed Wild Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius) vs. #15-seed NZ Greater Short-Tailed Bat (Mystacina robusta) #2026MMM

Single dromedary camel (one hump) facing towards the left. The camels' tan coat is a very similar color to the dark and light browns of the desert background

A blackish-brown bat being held by two hands.One of the bats wings is extended out to the side.

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Dr. Patrice K. Connors @pkconnors.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

UP NEXT: 4th-seeded Caribbean Monk Seal (Neomonachus tropicalis) vs. 13th-seeded Yallara (Macrotis leucura), a special collaboration between @mammalssuck.bsky.social & yours truly #2026MMM

Black and white hand-drawn illustration of Caribbean Monk Seal, cited as Figure 2 in scientific paper by Jorgensen 2021. The seal is resting on a flat rock, head and neck down, with tropical plants and the ocean's coastline in the background.

Colored photograph / rendering of Yallara, standing on hind legs (feet clearly visible, long and flat with clawed toes), fore limbs pointing towards ground, tail resting on ground, tall ears erect, long snout visible. Surroundings include red soil, rocks and short vegetation. Image by AussieAnimals.com.

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Dr. Chloe Josefson @chloejosefson.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

UP NEXT: 1st-seeded Steller's Sea Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) vs. 16th-seeded St Kilda House Mouse (Mus musculus muralis) #2026MMM

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Katie Hinde @mammalssuck.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

TONIGHT is ROUND 1 of the Extinction is Forever Division of species lost in recent decades & centuries due to the actions, and inactions, of humans. #HumanImpacts #Anthropocene #2026MMM

media.tenor.com

a black and white photo of a thylacine eating a snake in a room .

ALT: a black and white photo of a thylacine eating a snake in a room .

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Katie Hinde @mammalssuck.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Moving On: #5-seed Grey Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) vs. #12-seed Book Scorpion (Chelifer cancroides) #2026MMM

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Mauna Dasari @chumblebiome.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Next Up: #7 White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) vs. #10 Mesopotamian himri (Carasobarbus luteus) #2026MMM

A photo of a Mesopotamian himri on a black background.

A photo of a White Stork standing in a grassy field.

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Alyson Brokaw, PhD @alybatgirl.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Up next: 6-seed cat (Felis catus) vs 11-seed common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) #2026MMM

Grey striped cat yawning, pink tongue lolling out

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Katie Hinde @mammalssuck.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

First Up: #1-seed Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) vs. #16-seed Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) #2026MMM

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Katie Hinde @mammalssuck.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

LAST BATTLE OF THE NIGHT! Seed #8 Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) vs Seed #9 Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei) #2026MMM

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Lara Durgavich @ldurgavich.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

But sloths are good swimmers! Though surprised at his suddenly aquatic surroundings, Sloth begins to paddle. (Britton 1941) #2026MMM www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7HG...

youtube.com

Swimming Sloth Searches For Mate | Planet Earth II | BBC Earth

YouTube video by BBC Earth

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Lara Durgavich @ldurgavich.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Next Up! 3rd seed Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) vs 14th seed Brown-Throated Sloth (Bradypus variegatus). #2026MMM

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Carlos Chavez Ramirez @carloschalicothere.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Hippos are the closest relatives to cetaceans (whales, dolphins), but these two groups lost their hair independently. Genetics show that hair-related PADI3 and S100A3 became nonfunctional pseudogenes AFTER these two groups split. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1007/s002...

This phylogenetic tree marks with red arrows the pseudogenization (gene becoming nonfunctional) of PADI3 and S100A3, two hair-related genes. The two groups seem to have lost these genes independently. This is an example of convergent evolution in two aquatic animals.

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Marc Kissel @marckissel.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

NEXT UP: 2-seed Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) vs. 15-seed Beech Marten (Martes foina) #2026MMM

grey Asian elephant in forest. he is facing the camera and takes up most of the image!

Beech marten in forest. Its nose is grey colour. he has a white , forked throat patch, coarse, brown fur, and a long tail

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Marc Kissel @marckissel.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

But judge them not by their size! A Beech Marten took down the ~9 billion dollar Large Hadron Collider when it chewed through wire connected to a transformer, bringing a, ahem, paws to the workday (Aron 2016) #2026MMM

media.tenor.com

a man in a white shirt and tie is standing in front of a steering wheel and talking .

Alt: a man in a white shirt and tie has unplugged a power cord and is saying "oh, just kidding...haha!"

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Katie Hinde @mammalssuck.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

NEXT UP: No. 5 Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) vs. No. 12 Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) #2026MMM

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Erin Rowland-Schaefer @docrowschaef.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

NEXT UP: No. 4 Indian Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) vs. No. 13 Chital (Axis axis) #2026MMM

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Katie Hinde @mammalssuck.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME to the first night of ROUND 1 MONEY MAMMALS DIVISION! #2026MMM

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Katie Hinde @mammalssuck.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

But can we talk about that "Bone Collector Caterpillar" March Mammal Madness bump? #GoogleSearchTrends #DustsShouldersOff #2026MMM

4x the search traffic for the species after being included in MMM than when it was covered in the NYT, CBS, NPR, etc.

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

Finally, some cute pet pics from the past few months.

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

The @mammalmeetings.bsky.social meeting wrapped up last week. I have a well-attended talk on teaching, co-facilitated a workshop with other @stemsquirrels.bsky.social folks, attended workshops and talks, and with old and new friends. I’m also terrible at remembering to get pics with folks…

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

Summer research! Graduate student Patrick had to pivot his project and is now continuing the ongoing bats and prairie dogs study.

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

Very belated congratulations to the FHSU Biology Class on 2025!

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

My #zoology students once again knocked their #unessay projects out of the park!

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

In May my Science Communication students participated in the first annual Hays Science Festival! They came up with activities to teach kids about DNA structure.

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

I’m super behind on lab updates! In March we attended the joint meeting of Kansas Academy of Science and the Central States Entomological Society. Grad student Patrick presented his proposed research project and undergrads Emily and Chad gave talks. Chad won best undergrad talk!

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Yesterday’s high: 85 F Today: Blizzard conditions Typical March weather in Kansas

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Bethany Brookshire @beebrookshire.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

At @standupforscience.bsky.social and the signs are statistically significantly excellent

A person in a mask holding a painting that says “hands off my transgenic mice”

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Lin Andrews @ksdarthteacher.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Our little rally in Topeka, KS, for Stand Up for Science was never going to make the headlines like the DC one, but many Kansans still showed up! I’m glad I took my daughter to see that even little ripples can cause larger waves. We will not go quietly into the night. #standupforscience

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

We stood up for science today in Topeka! Thanks to the organizers for planning the event so we could stand together in solidarity. #standupforscience @standupforscience.bsky.social

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Dr. Lorelei Patrick @loreleipatrick.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

For those that don’t know, Oakley is a very small town in western Kansas, near where my lab does a lot of fieldwork. This is a very red area. Kansans are not happy with what’s happening and made their voices heard.

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

stemsquirrels.bsky.social @stemsquirrels.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Squirrel-Net is a community of student, instructors and researchers alike. To join and learn more about how we integrate research-based learning into higher education, keep swiping! #SquirrelNet #STEMSquirrels #squirrels #CUREs #researchbased #highereducation

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Dr. Catherine Macdonald @drcatmac.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Every scientist, long before they were a scientist, was a little kid who stood in front of a fish tank or stared up at the stars or turned over a rock to look at the bugs underneath and said “wow”. On the best days, working in science still feels like that.

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Katie Hinde @mammalssuck.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

I escaped poverty because I am a scientist. And I am a scientist because of the National Science Foundation. A 🧵:

A Lady Professor with brown hair and glasses, wearing a scarf in red, green, yellow, & black, a gift from an incredible lactation consultant, sitting in in front of cactus.

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

One of our supporters shared this with us—people are getting creative tonight!

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Neil Shubin @neilshubin.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Gene editing technology began by people studying salt marshes. Ozempic began by folks studying the venom of Gila Monsters. Support for basic science has empowered us to understand our world. Tethering it to applications health has transformed and saved countless lives.

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Reposted by Dr. Lorelei Patrick

Neil Lewis, Jr. @neillewisjr.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

1/8. This week I had a few different conversations with scholars who, in the face of the attacks on science and institutions of learning in the U.S., are wondering what to do. One suggestion I have is: keep doing your work. It matters in and of itself. Why do I say that? A few reasons.

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