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Nic Rawlence

@nicrawlencenz.bsky.social
1.5K followers 534 following 546 posts

Associate Professor, palaeoecologist, and science communicator @Otago Ancient Ecology Lab Mātai Hauropi Tawhito using ancient DNA and palaeontology to reconstruct past ecosystems.

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Reposted by Nic Rawlence
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Congrats to Shanshan Shen on her first MSc paper in IBIS (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...) on convergent MCR1 mutations underpin repeated evolution of brown plumage in seabirds. Proud of you - with @grahammccullochnz.bsky.social, Tania King, Martyn Kennedy & @jonwatersnz.bsky.social
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Congrats to Shanshan Shen on her first MSc paper in IBIS (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...) on convergent MCR1 mutations underpin repeated evolution of brown plumage in seabirds. Proud of you - with @grahammccullochnz.bsky.social, Tania King, Martyn Kennedy & @jonwatersnz.bsky.social
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Reposted by Nic Rawlence
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
I'll be giving a free public talk on "Mythbusting de-extinction to sort fact from fiction" in Christchurch (in the central city) on Thurs 29th Oct at 6pm. It would be great to see you there. Spread the word. events.humanitix.com/myth-busting... @smcnz.bsky.social
events.humanitix.com
Myth busting de-extinction to sort fact from fiction
Associate Professor Nic Rawlence, University of Otago will speak on can scientists actually de-extinct animals, and more importantly, should they bring them.
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
I'll be giving a free public talk on "Mythbusting de-extinction to sort fact from fiction" in Christchurch (in the central city) on Thurs 29th Oct at 6pm. It would be great to see you there. Spread the word. events.humanitix.com/myth-busting... @smcnz.bsky.social
events.humanitix.com
Myth busting de-extinction to sort fact from fiction
Associate Professor Nic Rawlence, University of Otago will speak on can scientists actually de-extinct animals, and more importantly, should they bring them.
02318
Reposted by Nic Rawlence
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
RIP 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.
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
RIP 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.
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Reposted by Nic Rawlence
Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍 @devoevomed.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
static.klipy.com
Clue: Flames on the Side of My Face
ALT: Clue: Flames on the Side of My Face
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
While 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.com
IUCN 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...
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Reposted by Nic Rawlence
Nic 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
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
If @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
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The 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
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
What @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
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Most 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
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Most 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
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
What @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
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The 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
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
If @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
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Nic 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
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
While 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.com
IUCN 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...
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Happy 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.com
epochtimes.de
Das Vermächtnis von Dr. Alan Grant
Der im Juli verstorbene Schauspieler Sam Neill hat mit seiner Rolle als Dr. Alan Grant in „Jurassic Park“ einen ganzen Berufsstand geprägt.
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Happy 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.com
epochtimes.de
Das Vermächtnis von Dr. Alan Grant
Der im Juli verstorbene Schauspieler Sam Neill hat mit seiner Rolle als Dr. Alan Grant in „Jurassic Park“ einen ganzen Berufsstand geprägt.
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Reposted by Nic Rawlence
New Scientist @newscientist.com · 12/09/2026
These 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
newscientist.com
Take a stunning microscopic safari into the hidden world of soil | New Scientist
These 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
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Reposted by Nic Rawlence
Asher HELLbein @asherelbein.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
I 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.org
How to Survive Prehistory: A Guide to the Wildest Beasts of Ancient Earth
From 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 ...
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Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍 @devoevomed.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Part 2 is still no; also it’s not possible, so there’s that
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Erin 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
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Reposted by Nic Rawlence
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
You 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-... 2/2
theconversation.com
Despite the myth, deer are not an ecological substitute for moa and should be part of NZ’s predator-free plan
Claims 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.
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Deer are a pest, plain and simple, and should be part of our predator-free plan www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ... 1/2
rnz.co.nz
NZ 'sleepwalking into catastrophe' as feral deer crisis spirals out of control
History 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.
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
The 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.social
cba.anu.edu.au
Historical gene expression and epigenetic analysis of ancient and museum specimens
Join 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...
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Reposted by Nic Rawlence
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
RNZ 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 1/2
rnz.co.nz
Our Changing World podcast
Stories of NZ science and nature from out in the field and inside the labs.
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Allison @handle.invalid · 08/09/2026
This country has so much work to do and it has people to do it and yet we don’t get people to do it.
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
www.rnz.co.nz/news/science... 2/2
rnz.co.nz
Can 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.
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
RNZ 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 1/2
rnz.co.nz
Our Changing World podcast
Stories of NZ science and nature from out in the field and inside the labs.
147
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
The 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.social
cba.anu.edu.au
Historical gene expression and epigenetic analysis of ancient and museum specimens
Join 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...
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
You 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-... 2/2
theconversation.com
Despite the myth, deer are not an ecological substitute for moa and should be part of NZ’s predator-free plan
Claims 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
Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Deer are a pest, plain and simple, and should be part of our predator-free plan www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ... 1/2
rnz.co.nz
NZ 'sleepwalking into catastrophe' as feral deer crisis spirals out of control
History 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 Rawlence
E-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.nz
David 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...
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Ben 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.
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Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
We 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.nz
Can 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.
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Cascaolas @cascaolas.eurosky.social · 05/09/2026
Kind of sucks that we killed off all of the Northern Hemisphere's flightless seabirds.
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Dr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
I'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!
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Check 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...
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Jeanne Timmons @mostlymammoths.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Many 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.com
Canadian Gold Miner Finds 57,000-Year-Old Wolf Pup Still Covered in Fur
Her 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
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Check 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 Rawlence
Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍 @devoevomed.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
static.klipy.com
Drew Scanlon Blinking Eyes Meme Reaction
ALT: Drew Scanlon Blinking Eyes Meme Reaction
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Given 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
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
One 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... 1/2
1news.co.nz
Ancient waka left buried – Moriori warn delays could lose it to the sea
1News understands the Ministry for Culture and Heritage has plans to resume excavation of the buried waka, but not until late 2027.
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
NZ 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.
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Dr Alex Fitzpatrick @animalarchaeology.com · 04/09/2026
It’s always ‘fuck Colossal Biosciences’ here, folks.
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
NZ 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.
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Nic Rawlence @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Given 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
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