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Dr Micha Campbell

@michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy

269 followers 39 following 639 posts

Physical geographer (palaeoclimate, karst hydro, water resources, fire, surface water) | Lover of bicycles, clouds, #rstats | 🚲☁️📈 | Born at 352 ppm | Not […] 🌉 bridged from ⁂ fediscience.org/@michcampbell, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact

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Reposted by Dr Micha Campbell

bryan newbold @bnewbold.net · 5h

ah damn, RIP Margaret Hamilton. she took safety-critical software engineering seriously, and got people to the moon and back. news.mit.edu/2026/margare...

old photos of a woman (Margaret Hamilton) standing next to a tall stack of books (printouts of Apollo space mission software source code)

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 03/10/2026

Spent this morning at Kings Park for a tour of the orchid conservation program. We got to see the seed bank, the cell culture lab, the cryolab and the greenhouse. I even got to hold some cloned Queen of Shebas! Kings Park scientists are doing amazing work […] [Original post on fediscience.org]

Cloned Queen of sheba orchids in a take away container

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 01/10/2026

In the field today, things are warming up in the wheatbelt - literally and metaphorically as the harvest approaches! I said to my colleague "we should take care today, the snakes will be starting to wake up". 10 minutes later, a gwardar slithered across the road in front of us, couldnt have […]

fediscience.org

Original post on fediscience.org

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Reposted by Dr Micha Campbell

Comrade Weez @weezmgk.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 30/09/2026

Any Fediversians with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis? What was your first clue?

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 30/09/2026

Hunter Valley coal expansion approved. I just don't know, hey. It's hard to feel much hope when our governments are so visionless. We often talk about how scientists haven't done a great job at communicating climate science (which is pretty offensive, we've been up against a billion dollar […]

fediscience.org

Original post on fediscience.org

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 28/09/2026

I hope all the Western Australians and Victorians had an excellent long weekend! It feels like hiking season is ending very soon, so some friends and I went down to do the Nyingarn bidi - 2 nights in the bush is what the doctor ordered. Walking through the […] [Original post on fediscience.org]

A purple enamel orchid. A shiny purple orchid flower, against a backdrop of fallen leaves.

A mauve coloured donkey orchid, so called because it looks kind of like a donkeys head.

Two women walking through the beautiful Jarrah Banksia woodland of the south west.

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Reposted by Dr Micha Campbell

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Wtaf is this question my university just asked me about my project?

Does the project involve any work that could be interpreted as promoting DEIA, climate change research, or non-compliant to any Presidential Executive Orders?

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 24/09/2026

New levels of "being assumed I am a student" reached. My own dept charged me a key deposit, assuming I wasn't staff. I did think it was weird to have to pay to do my job, wish I'd pushed back 🙃

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 24/09/2026

Another look at Perth's temperature, prompted by some online discussion that "I remember real scorchers as a kid, we just don't get that anymore" (I need to stop scrolling reddit). First, we can look at the distribution of Perth's daily max. temp - when we […] [Original post on fediscience.org]

A kernel density estimate for daily maximum temperature at perth airport, coloured by decade. The data show decadal distributions of temperature getting warmer

A column chart of the number of days where daily perth max temp >40.3 degrees for each decade bewteen 1950 and 2026. There is a steady increase in the number of these extreme days.

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 23/09/2026

If, like me, you couldnt get through the Internet Hug Of Death this morning to vote in #FatBearWeek round 1, take comfort! Apparently they're putting a tech fix in and we'll be able to vote tomorrow. If you don't know what Fat Bear Week is, welcome to the best week of the year […]

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Original post on fediscience.org

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Reposted by Dr Micha Campbell

Jon Sullivan @joncounts.mastodon.nz.ap.brid.gy · 22/09/2026

We had an article published today in the open science journal #PeerJ about my method for recording roadkill. I've been mapping and counting roadkill along my bike commute to work since 2003. Our paper describes how I now do it using a smart phone (I started with pen and paper). It includes some […]

Original post on mastodon.nz

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 22/09/2026

I never miss Germany more than while commuting. 20 minutes through the fields has turned into an hour through the city. Socially normalised bike riding has turned into avoiding Cat 6 racers (if you're doing efforts on the Perth-Freo PSP between 8 and 9 am, you are a Bad Person. I see you […]

fediscience.org

Original post on fediscience.org

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 21/09/2026

I must be finally feeling settled, because I've found time for a favourite hobby - bugging Main Roads about unsafe and/or dumb intersections for bicycles. Today, an intersection in Freo with a bike lane, where the sensors don't respond to bikes, and where there is no beg button for cyclists to […]

fediscience.org

Original post on fediscience.org

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Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 19/09/2026

The legends at Get Off My Chest know how to put a projector to good use! Carn the Dockers, but also let's stop accepting sponsorship from fossil fuel companies, and tax gas exports while we're at it! #WharfieTime #Freo #FreoDockers

A photo of the Woodside building in perth with a "wharfie time" banner and the words "to tax gas" projected below.

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 18/09/2026

New research suggests that the Indigenous population in Australia was >2 million before the invasion, and that 90% of the population died in the following 70 years. Sobering stuff. theconversation.com/more-than-2-mil…

theconversation.com

More than 2 million Indigenous people lived in Australia in 1788: new research

Genetic, archaeological and environmental evidence suggest the Indigenous population fell by more than 90% in the 70 years after the British invaded.

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 17/09/2026

A pleasure to have been able to see Prof Ben Newell present tonight on "Climate Risk and Response: A Behavioural Challenge?". A couple of things struck me. 1. There is a mismatch between risk and perception of risk, and survey respondents both over and underestimate risk. This has got to be […]

fediscience.org

Original post on fediscience.org

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 16/09/2026

Hitting 30 degrees here in Perth today, and naturally this has brought out the "akshually it's pretty normal" people. Well actually, it's pretty abnormal. Based off the Perth Airport data (1944-2026), if today gets to 30C at the airport, it'll exceed the […] [Original post on fediscience.org]

A density plot of daily September maximum temperature as measured at the Perth airport, with vertical lines indicating the 50th, 75th, 95th, and 99th percentiles, and one indicating today's forecast temperature of 30C. Todays temperature exceeds the 99th percentile.

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 16/09/2026

Met someone this week from Melbourne. Self-identified as being from Melbourne. Is actually from Perth. The Perth-Melbourne diaspora needs to be studied.

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 15/09/2026

Pals, free Covid19 boosters in Australia end on 1 October (exceptions for elderly and chronically ill). I just booked mine for Saturday morning :)

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 14/09/2026

I had a delightful long weekend, as my sister came to visit from Brissie! We did a really cool jewellery making course on Friday (using silver art clay, I'm excited to see the results after firing), and then walked the first day of the Bibbulman track to […] [Original post on fediscience.org]

A native honeysuckle in fluorescence, with golden yellow flowers.

A small purple orchid

Large trigger plant flowers.

Small yellow cowslip orchids. Flowering in the leaf litter.

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 08/09/2026

Job app submitted*, fingers and toes crossed. The "I'm so great, look at all these great things i can do" narrative of a job app does act a bit like positive affirmations. Having just spent a few hours writing about how great i am, I would hire me (sure this will have worn off by tomorrow). *i […]

fediscience.org

Original post on fediscience.org

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 07/09/2026

Ooof, sorry about your fascists, Deutschland! Hopefully the AFD colours will come through in Sachsen-Anhalt, before the next Bundeswahlleiterin 😭

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 06/09/2026

First trip back to perth on the newly reopened Australind. Its quite fabulous, with 14 bike spaces (!!!) although I'm unsure whether one can alight outside the end terminals, as the exits were consistently from a different carriage. Maybe TransWA needs to lengthen some platforms? It is missing […]

fediscience.org

Original post on fediscience.org

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Reposted by Dr Micha Campbell

Nick Evershed!? @handle.invalid · 02/09/2026

this little bloke just casually wandered past me on the footpath

it's an echidna walking down the street like he owns the place

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 02/09/2026

Unfortunately the wrong Mammoth Cave! We are hanging out in western Australia 😊 paper looks interesting though, I'll have a look!

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 01/09/2026

Happy Wattle Day! Here's a fun one spotted today to celebrate. I think it"s an angle leaved wattle, but so happy to be corrected. Just one of the ~500 wattles we have in WA.

A wattle, of the genius acacia, flowering.

It has bright yellow puff ball flowers, and angled green leaves.

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 31/08/2026

Back to back field weeks, what a treat! This week we are taking 40 second year students down to Busselton to learn how to read landscapes - an essential tool for physical geographers. I'm most excited to be heading to Mammoth Cave for a walk-through to talk about palaeoenvironments and karst […]

fediscience.org

Original post on fediscience.org

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 26/08/2026

Had time for a bit of wildflower spotting yesterday, but today is looking much less suitable for dilly-dallying. 28 mm so far, and it's still going. Not just a cold front, it's rotating! Great weather for ducks, and scientists trying to measure stream flow in ephemeral streams.

A map of southwest Australia with the rainfall radar, and a red pin where we are.

Three pink and white everlasting daisies in varying levels of focus.

Everlastings are small round flowers with many petals

A small bush covered in white spiky flowers

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 25/08/2026

The wheatbelt is stunning at the moment. We're out near Kellerberin this week instrumenting some surface water sites, among other things. We're trying to understand how water and salt are moving through the landscape, and how that relates to biodiversity […] [Original post on fediscience.org]

A man stands knee deep in a muddy drain, fitting a water level logger.

A woman stands perched on a small ladder next to a water level logger.

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 20/08/2026

A pretty gnarly bike-car altercation this arvo. Close passed approaching a roundabout, so I caught up to them and knocked on their window to remind them of the 1 m passing law. The 20 something year old driver threatened to call the cops for knocking on their window 😂😂😂 that's a new one for me […]

fediscience.org

Original post on fediscience.org

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 20/08/2026

I was touched by this, a compilation of everything good about Jason Arday. I wasn't following the case before his death, so I don't have a well-informed perspective. But I do think that no-one deserves to be hounded to death for (alleged?) plagiarism, and I do think that many, many academics […]

fediscience.org

Original post on fediscience.org

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 14/08/2026

There's nothing like a manuscript rejection to end the week 🙃 Thankfully, after years in this game, I am largely immune to disappointment. I do wish they'd keep the bad news for Tuesdays or Wednesdays though!

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 14/08/2026

[#3284 Geology Building] RE: mastodon.xyz/@xkcd/1170855566815071… Our geology building increasingly looks like this, because it's a million years old and needs some love...

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Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 13/08/2026

Very enjoyable day spent at the WaterSmart Farms desalination workshop today. A whole day learning about desal, it's amazing that the technology has improved so much that on-farm desal in the salty wheatbelt is viable. Really cool to hear from some early adopter farmers about their experiences […]

fediscience.org

Original post on fediscience.org

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Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 13/08/2026

Good to see the LNP saying the quiet part out loud this morning. If you're poor, you should just expect to live in substandard housing. I'd say the average Australian already does live in substandard housing. We should be bringing building codes up to […] [Original post on fediscience.org]

A pinned highlight from the Guardian. The text reads:

"Australians should accept substandard housing, Bragg says

Yesterday Andrew Bragg announced he would strip the 2,000 page national housing code down to just 80 pages, removing most standards outside health, fire safety and essential structural requirements.

It caused a furore among some including the Australian Council of Social Service (Acoss), who said it would lock renters into skyrocketing power bills to keep their homes inhabitable.

RN Breakfast host Sally Sara asks Bragg if his policy means low-income earners should just accept that they will live in substandard housing. “Yes, definitely”, he replies."

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 12/08/2026

@kim_harding well jealous, hope you've got clear skies there :)

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Reposted by Dr Micha Campbell

kim_harding ✅ @kim-harding.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 12/08/2026

What time is the solar eclipse? How and when to see today’s spectacular display www.the-independent.com/space/solar… Here’s when the eclipse will be visible over Europe, US and Canadian skies

the-independent.com

What time is the solar eclipse? How and when to see today’s spectacular display

Here’s when the eclipse will be visible over Europe, US and Canadian skies

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 12/08/2026

The absolute hide of Tim Wilson going on the radio to say housing (un)affordability is "by government design" when it's Howars era LNP policies that have done this to us. To then say that new efficiency standards should be optional just shows that the LNP live in the dark age. Australian houses […]

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Original post on fediscience.org

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Reposted by Dr Micha Campbell

Joshua Byrd 🐀 @phocks.bne.social.ap.brid.gy · 11/08/2026

“In real terms Australian wages have actually fallen by about 5 percent since the pandemic” and economists, central bankers, and politicians keep being so perplexed by why everyone is so down on the economy these days

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 11/08/2026

Happy Census day, to all those who celebrate!

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 10/08/2026

Add another tally to the "things you can do on public transport." Amazing what the bus and train drivers will let you bring on board if you wait till off peak and give them a big smile. PS i know the Germans won't blink an eye, but Australia is so car […] [Original post on fediscience.org]

Two wooden stools covered in plastic bags, sitting in the accessible part of a train carriage.

The same two stools, uncovered and at home. They are mid century, with wooden legs ans orange vinyl seats. They're amazing.

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Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 10/08/2026

Very nice trip out to Kellerberin last week - the first fieldwork for my new position! Despite the dry July, the wheatbelt is looking lush, and we saw a bobtail!

A bobtail, a large Australian skin with a stubby tail, on a sandy track.

Gum trees against the backdrop of a blue sky and Canoga in flower

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 05/08/2026

Pleased to share that applications for the Leanne Armand Travel Award are now open. This award honours the late Professor Leanne Armand, and is targeted at training the next generation of micropalaeontologists. The award is open to students, ECRs, and MCRs, and consists of a $3000 travel stipend […]

fediscience.org

Original post on fediscience.org

Reposted by Dr Micha Campbell

Gory Thing @korybing.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The “best” thing about genAI (the quotes are doing heavy work here) is that it’s really lowered the bar on getting into hand-made art. Literally anything you make is better than ai. There’s never been a better time to throw away your fear and start learning that craft you’ve always wanted to learn.

Reposted by Dr Micha Campbell

Joshua Byrd 🐀 @phocks.bne.social.ap.brid.gy · 04/08/2026

"A 30-year property super-cycle that has made Australian homes among the most expensive in the world may finally be coming to an end" I hope so, even though I will be in negative equity. I'll survive (hopefully). House prices need to fall another 50% to be considered "affordable". Keep it […]

Original post on bne.social

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 04/08/2026

Grateful to have a relocation allowance, but come the fuck on.

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 04/08/2026

Uni HR: book your flights directly, we'll reimburse you when you start. Uni relocation expenses procedure: book your flights directly, we'll reimburse you when you start. Uni Finance: we see you booked your flights outside the system, here are a bunch of extra hoops to jump through to be […]

fediscience.org

Original post on fediscience.org

Reposted by Dr Micha Campbell

Dr. Dan Killam @dantheclamman.scicomm.xyz.ap.brid.gy · 04/08/2026

Giant clams love light. As a general rule, the more light they can get for their symbiotic algae, the better. Some species will even continue to photosynthesize in air for hours exposed by the tide, since their photosynthesis provides them some oxygen. Which makes the "devil clam" (Tridacna […]

Original post on scicomm.xyz

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 03/08/2026

Ugh, this is so sad. First H5N1 mass mortality recorded in Australia. The WA Dept of Primary Industries advises what to do if you see unwell birds: Avoid. Record. Report to 1800 675 888 (all states) […]

fediscience.org

Original post on fediscience.org

Dr Micha Campbell @michcampbell.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 03/08/2026

I think if universities were required to pay interest on reimbursements, they'd get processed a lot quicker...

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