Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 17/09/2026RIP George Gibbs. You will be sorely missed. You were a wonderful mentor. I'll forever remember taking your inspirational NZ Flora and Fauna summer paper (which led to the book Ghosts of Gondwana), teaching the paper with you, & many conversations about the evolution of our unique biodiversity. 1243
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 17/09/2026RIP George Gibbs. You will be sorely missed. You were a wonderful mentor. I'll forever remember taking your inspirational NZ Flora and Fauna summer paper (which led to the book Ghosts of Gondwana), teaching the paper with you, & many conversations about the evolution of our unique biodiversity. 1243
Reposted by Nic RawlenceVincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍 @devoevomed.bsky.social · 16/09/2026static.klipy.comClue: Flames on the Side of My FaceALT: Clue: Flames on the Side of My Face 161
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026While additional money for conservation is welcome, I find aspects of this announcement of a $4M partnership between @itiscolossal.bsky.social & the IUCN somewhat worrying www.prnewswire.com/news-release... 1/6 🧵prnewswire.comIUCN Species Survival Commission and Colossal Foundation Launch $4 Million Partnership to Accelerate Global Species Conservation/PRNewswire/ -- IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and the Colossal Foundation, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of Colossal Biosciences, today announced a... 2138
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026@itiscolossal.bsky.social & the IUCN have a shared goal of "Global Species-Survival Communications Campaign: The organizations will create a global campaign to strengthen informed public understanding of species conservation, restoration & biodiversity." 2/6 131
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026If @itiscolossal.bsky.social brand of science communication & aggressive tactics against critics is anything to go by, I wonder how much damage this campaign with the IUCN will actually do to conservation. 3/6 143
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026The genome engineering tools @itiscolossal.bsky.social is developing could be useful in the conservation toolbox, but they won't be a panacea or silver bullet. Conservation will come down to the grunt work of predator control, habitat restoration, translocations, & captive breeding programmes. 4/6 152
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026What @itiscolossal.bsky.social is not mentioning is that the ability to get new genetic variants into populations (like disease resistance or reintroducing lost genetic diversity) is much easier in large, relatively fast randomly breeding populations. 5/6 121
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Most endangered species are the opposite - small, slow-breeding, & inbred populations where mating is non-random. This makes it very much harder to get these genetic variants fixed in these populations. If what @itiscolossal.bsky.social says sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't. 6/6 161
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026While additional money for conservation is welcome, I find aspects of this announcement of a $4M partnership between @itiscolossal.bsky.social & the IUCN somewhat worrying www.prnewswire.com/news-release... 1/6 🧵prnewswire.comIUCN Species Survival Commission and Colossal Foundation Launch $4 Million Partnership to Accelerate Global Species Conservation/PRNewswire/ -- IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and the Colossal Foundation, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of Colossal Biosciences, today announced a... 2138
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Happy Birthday to the late, great Sam Niell. Thanks for all the inspiration. You can now read @heapsgood.bsky.social & my tribute in German (www.epochtimes.de/wissen/gesch...), Spanish (theconversation.com/la-interpret...) & English (theconversation.com/how-sam-neil...) - @aunz.theconversation.comepochtimes.deDas Vermächtnis von Dr. Alan GrantDer im Juli verstorbene Schauspieler Sam Neill hat mit seiner Rolle als Dr. Alan Grant in „Jurassic Park“ einen ganzen Berufsstand geprägt. 073
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Happy Birthday to the late, great Sam Niell. Thanks for all the inspiration. You can now read @heapsgood.bsky.social & my tribute in German (www.epochtimes.de/wissen/gesch...), Spanish (theconversation.com/la-interpret...) & English (theconversation.com/how-sam-neil...) - @aunz.theconversation.comepochtimes.deDas Vermächtnis von Dr. Alan GrantDer im Juli verstorbene Schauspieler Sam Neill hat mit seiner Rolle als Dr. Alan Grant in „Jurassic Park“ einen ganzen Berufsstand geprägt. 073
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNew Scientist @newscientist.com · 12/09/2026These images from photographer and soil ecologist Frank Ashwood's new book The World Beneath Our Feet zoom in on life for the weird and wonderful creatures that call soil homenewscientist.comTake a stunning microscopic safari into the hidden world of soil | New ScientistThese images from photographer and soil ecologist Frank Ashwood's new book The World Beneath Our Feet zoom in on life for the weird and wonderful creatures that call soil home 1206
Reposted by Nic RawlenceAsher HELLbein @asherelbein.bsky.social · 11/09/2026I don't know about y'all, but as a kid I absolutely loved all-ages compendiums of weird extinct animals. So this year, I wrote one. And then @stievenvdp.bsky.social illustrated it, and the results will knock your socks off. HOW TO SURVIVE PREHISTORY. Out April 27, 2027. You can preorder it now!bookshop.orgHow to Survive Prehistory: A Guide to the Wildest Beasts of Ancient EarthFrom Smithsonian and Scientific American writer Asher Elbein comes the ultimate illustrated guide to prehistory's most dangerous real-life monsters, perfect for lovers of survival guides and dinosaur ... 19369101
Reposted by Nic RawlenceVincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍 @devoevomed.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Part 2 is still no; also it’s not possible, so there’s that 033
Reposted by Nic RawlenceErin Hahn (she/her) @erinhahn.bsky.social · 09/09/2026📣 Join us in Canberra, 10–12 November, for a workshop exploring Historical Gene Expression and Epigenetic Analysis! 🧬 Exciting keynotes from @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social & @marmole6.bsky.social 🎤 Short community talks ✈️ ECR travel bursaries available 🎟️ Free registration Register: bit.ly/4hheZU3 043
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026You can check out my piece I wrote for @theconversation.com several years ago that is as relevant now as it was then theconversation.com/despite-the-... 2/2theconversation.comDespite the myth, deer are not an ecological substitute for moa and should be part of NZ’s predator-free planClaims that introduced deer perform the same ecological function as ancient moa are outdated and wrong. Deer destroy forests, and large-scale culling is still the best solution. 0197
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Deer are a pest, plain and simple, and should be part of our predator-free plan www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ... 1/2rnz.co.nzNZ 'sleepwalking into catastrophe' as feral deer crisis spirals out of controlHistory is repeating itself across New Zealand's back country and farms but this time there are no good keen men being handed rifles and rations and sent to sort it out. 1146
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026The Centre for Biodiv Analysis @ANU is hosting a free 3-day workshop (10-12th Nov) on historical gene expression & epigenetic analysis of ancient & museum specimens. I'm giving a keynote talk & it would be great to see you there cba.anu.edu.au/news-events/... @erinhahn.bsky.socialcba.anu.edu.auHistorical gene expression and epigenetic analysis of ancient and museum specimensJoin keynote speakers Nic Rawlence, University of Otago and Emilio Mármol Sánchez, University of Copenhagen for an exploratory workshop for researchers interested in generating and utilising historica... 078
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026RNZ has released Part 2 of their investigation into @itiscolossal.bsky.social plan to de-extinct moa. This week, the focus is whether it should be done, incl. widespread Indigenous concerns. Both episodes can be found here (www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/ourc...) or tune in at 7.30pm tonight 1/2rnz.co.nzOur Changing World podcastStories of NZ science and nature from out in the field and inside the labs. 147
Reposted by Nic RawlenceAllison @handle.invalid · 08/09/2026This country has so much work to do and it has people to do it and yet we don’t get people to do it. 051
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026RNZ has released Part 2 of their investigation into @itiscolossal.bsky.social plan to de-extinct moa. This week, the focus is whether it should be done, incl. widespread Indigenous concerns. Both episodes can be found here (www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/ourc...) or tune in at 7.30pm tonight 1/2rnz.co.nzOur Changing World podcastStories of NZ science and nature from out in the field and inside the labs. 147
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026The Centre for Biodiv Analysis @ANU is hosting a free 3-day workshop (10-12th Nov) on historical gene expression & epigenetic analysis of ancient & museum specimens. I'm giving a keynote talk & it would be great to see you there cba.anu.edu.au/news-events/... @erinhahn.bsky.socialcba.anu.edu.auHistorical gene expression and epigenetic analysis of ancient and museum specimensJoin keynote speakers Nic Rawlence, University of Otago and Emilio Mármol Sánchez, University of Copenhagen for an exploratory workshop for researchers interested in generating and utilising historica... 078
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Deer are a pest, plain and simple, and should be part of our predator-free plan www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ... 1/2rnz.co.nzNZ 'sleepwalking into catastrophe' as feral deer crisis spirals out of controlHistory is repeating itself across New Zealand's back country and farms but this time there are no good keen men being handed rifles and rations and sent to sort it out. 1146
Reposted by Nic RawlenceE-Tangata @etangata.bsky.social · 05/09/2026“People like David Seymour like to frame what we’re doing as selecting medical students based on race. No, that’s actually the issue we’re trying to correct — historically our admissions processes have selected an overwhelmingly Pākehā student cohort.” — Professor Papaarangi Reid.e-tangata.co.nzDavid Seymour is afraid of MAPAS because it’s working | E-Tangata“People like David Seymour like to frame what we’re doing as selecting medical students based on race. No, that’s actually the issue we’re trying to correct — historically our admissions processes hav... 18244
Reposted by Nic RawlenceBen Miller @extinctmonsters.bsky.social · 05/09/2026@diplotomodon.bsky.social has substantially increased the value of this post with a lengthy comment explaining the context. This is part of a larger pattern of Philadelphia cultural institutions getting shafted, and the interests of real estate developers are clearly in play. Please give it a read. 24317
Reposted by Nic RawlenceAnthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 04/09/2026We live in an era of increasingly warped reality: ChatGPT-generated articles, deepfake videos, fake journals, AI slop, and phenotypic facsimiles offered as evidence of successfully resurrected extinct species. www.rnz.co.nz/news/science...rnz.co.nzCan we de-extinct the moa and more importantly, should we?Colossal Biosciences calls itself an advanced genetics company that's developing the science that will save us all. 052
Reposted by Nic RawlenceCascaolas @cascaolas.eurosky.social · 05/09/2026Kind of sucks that we killed off all of the Northern Hemisphere's flightless seabirds. 061
Reposted by Nic RawlenceDr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 05/09/2026I'm super excited about this. Been fascinated with these birds since I spent 4 summers in the Aleutians, and especially now that I look after 2 of the 6 specimens in existence! 0182
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 05/09/2026Check out the preprint of our new ancient DNA paper on the evolutionary history of the large, extinct Spectacled Cormorant and whether it was part of the North Pacific kelp-associated fauna www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... 03714
Reposted by Nic RawlenceJeanne Timmons @mostlymammoths.bsky.social · 05/09/2026Many miners in the Yukon have a great relationship w/Dr. Zazula (Yukon paleontologist) & report their finds to him. Another amazing find was a young wolf pup. @yukonberingia.bsky.social gizmodo.com/canadian-gol...gizmodo.comCanadian Gold Miner Finds 57,000-Year-Old Wolf Pup Still Covered in FurHer life was short. Scientists estimate she lived for about six or seven weeks in the underground den, before it collapsed around her. This tragedy and 0154
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 05/09/2026Check out the preprint of our new ancient DNA paper on the evolutionary history of the large, extinct Spectacled Cormorant and whether it was part of the North Pacific kelp-associated fauna www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... 03714
Reposted by Nic RawlenceVincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍 @devoevomed.bsky.social · 04/09/2026static.klipy.comDrew Scanlon Blinking Eyes Meme ReactionALT: Drew Scanlon Blinking Eyes Meme Reaction 031
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026Given our rich archaeological & fossil record, dynamic coastline, & impacts of climate change, I'm amazed that there isn't a dedicated Ministry of Culture and Heritage fund for rescue excavations like this . 2/2 083
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026One of the most significant archaeological finds in Aotearoa & Polynesia is in desperate need of rescue excavation before it's lost, & the government, which is legally required to save it, won't cough up the $$$ to do so. Guess it shows where their priorities lie www.1news.co.nz/2026/09/04/a... 1/21news.co.nzAncient waka left buried – Moriori warn delays could lose it to the sea1News understands the Ministry for Culture and Heritage has plans to resume excavation of the buried waka, but not until late 2027. 1125
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026NZ needs a properly funded natural history museum. We may not have the popn base but our biodiversity (past & present) is unique. It would also be an ideal opportunity to develop globally focused exhibitions on evolution of life thru the fossil record, human evolution, and touring exhibitions. 1277
Reposted by Nic RawlenceDr Alex Fitzpatrick @animalarchaeology.com · 04/09/2026It’s always ‘fuck Colossal Biosciences’ here, folks. 5367
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026NZ needs a properly funded natural history museum. We may not have the popn base but our biodiversity (past & present) is unique. It would also be an ideal opportunity to develop globally focused exhibitions on evolution of life thru the fossil record, human evolution, and touring exhibitions. 1277
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026One of the most significant archaeological finds in Aotearoa & Polynesia is in desperate need of rescue excavation before it's lost, & the government, which is legally required to save it, won't cough up the $$$ to do so. Guess it shows where their priorities lie www.1news.co.nz/2026/09/04/a... 1/21news.co.nzAncient waka left buried – Moriori warn delays could lose it to the sea1News understands the Ministry for Culture and Heritage has plans to resume excavation of the buried waka, but not until late 2027. 1125
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026www.critic.co.nz/news/article...critic.co.nzOUSA Confirms University Bookshop Under New OwnershipThe Otago University Students’ Association has announced that the University Bookshop (UBS) has been sold to John Brenssell, with plans for the bookshop to continue operating as an independent booksto... 194
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026Based on our widespread engagement around ancient DNA, there's little to no support across Ngāi Tahu rūnanga (incl. Ngāi Tūāhuriri members) for @itiscolossal.bsky.social colonialist moa de-extinction project & no support from any of the iwi in Te Tau Ihu @ top of Sth Is bsky.app/profile/nicr... 1/3 13315
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026@itiscolossal.bsky.social, Canterbury Museum & the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre need to stop saying they represent the iwi when they are sampling moa bones for de-extinction found outside the rohe of Ngāi Tūāhuriri. This is just trampling over the wishes & lack of support from other rūnanga 2/3 1103
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026The decision to 'de-extinct' a Sth Is giant moa needs to be a Ngāi Tahu-wide decision, not a single research centre's. Better still it needs to be a Sth Is-wide one with iwi from Te Tau Ihu, & for other moa an Aotearoa-wide one, not just bc of Indigenous concerns around GE & data sovereignty. 3/3 0153
Reposted by Nic RawlenceNic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026Pretty stoked that the mātuhituhi Stead's bush wren made an appearance on Radio New Zealand's Critter of the Week. This sadly and recently extinct (only 1972!) songbird helped shape modern conservation practice in NZ & is a poignant reminder of what's at stake www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro... 02914
Reposted by Nic RawlenceSarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Attention Philadelphia! We're hosting a rally to demand that Drexel University maintain The Academy of Natural Sciences Museum open to the public. Join us on Tuesday morning at 10am in front of the academy. Please spread the word, we need all hands on deck! RSVP here: luma.com/1qwnrqz2 171411894
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026Pretty stoked that the mātuhituhi Stead's bush wren made an appearance on Radio New Zealand's Critter of the Week. This sadly and recently extinct (only 1972!) songbird helped shape modern conservation practice in NZ & is a poignant reminder of what's at stake www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro... 02914
Reposted by Nic RawlenceTe Ara Paerangi Com - Research Advocacy Capability @te-ara-paerangi.community · 04/09/2026🚨🚨🚨'increasingly rely on knowledge/generosity of retired experts' is describing a state of emergency. 🚨🚨🚨 This is what decades of under funding followed by outright attacks on public research leads to. And there are almost no jobs for those finishing PhDs. Why not? 🤔 #ResearchIsWork #NZPOl 🇳🇿 23520
Reposted by Nic RawlenceVincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍 @devoevomed.bsky.social · 03/09/2026I’ll be damned—it’s only one study with only two very specific scenarios—but the moral hazard of #DeExtinction may be less than I expected… www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...sciencedirect.com 172
Reposted by Nic RawlenceAnthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Quote: "These are essentially smear campaigns designed to silence critics. The most famous example is when the tobacco industry went after public health experts, or when oil and gas companies seeded doubt around climate change." outsideinradio.org/shows/scient...outsideinradio.orgScientists spoke up against a de-extinction company. Then the smears began. — Outside/InWhat happens when academics spar with a multibillion dollar corporation? 0124
Reposted by Nic RawlenceTe Ara Paerangi Com - Research Advocacy Capability @te-ara-paerangi.community · 31/08/2026See this webinar by Dr. Nic Rawlence for a thorough de-bunking of these claims. Nic was awarded the Prime Minister's Science Communication Prize this year for Myth Busting.genomics.nzMyth Busting De-Extinction - Recorded Webinar - Genomics for Aotearoa New ZealandMyth Busting De-Extinction - Recorded Webinar. What's the truth about de-extinction? - A New Zealand perspective. 0106