iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. @arctomet.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

What with all these posts flaring up about the lab label on a specimen at a U Chicago lab, I want to remind people in advance that the @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social abstracts for this year's conference are coming out soon and that you are OBLIGED NOT TO POST ABOUT THEM before the meeting.

0228

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 09/09/2026

Registered for SVP 2026! See you in Cleveland, Ohio!

1111

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Eric Scott @captainfossil.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The idea that the oldest natural history museum in the US is closing its doors, due to poor management & limited foresight, just shy of their bicentennial celebration is simply appalling. There is simply no legitimate excuse. This is a failure of vision and competence from Drexel University. Shame.

14223

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Kevin Sievers @diplotomodon.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

#DoItForNed

Ned Gilmore, Academy collections manager extraordinaire, dutiful steward of basically half the entire museum at this point, extracting a very old hellbender specimen from a jar of formaldehyde

184

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I better see you tomorrow morning. We got a stage and ASL interpreter and everything 😎

320051

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology stands with the Academy of Natural Sciences (ANSP) staff, and preservation of the ANSP Museum. SVP urges our member community and anyone who enjoys and supports the natural sciences to speak up on behalf of the ANSP and their staff! #SaveTheAcademy

06034

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Please repost! Drexel announced that it will close the Academy of Natural Sciences public museum- the oldest nat history museum in the US. There are 2 petitions to support the academy. Please sign both & come to our rally Tues. actionnetwork.org/petitions/pe... www.change.org/p/the-academ...

A poster featuring the T-Rex at the cognitive natural sciences, which says save the Academy natural sciences, museum rally in front of the academy 1900 Ben Franklin Parkway, Tuesday, September 8 10 AM. The T-Rex is saying tell Drexel keep the museum open. There’s an RSVP QR code and then the logos of Philly Science Action Skype scientist In Philly on the bottom.

9908860

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Attention 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

A dinosaur on a white background with the text SAve the academy of Natural sciences museum rally Tuesday Sept 8 10am in front of the academy 1900 ben Franklin Parkway. "Tell Drexel University "Keep the museum open!" with the logos for Philly Science Action, Skype a Scientist, and Green Philly

171411894

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Eric Scott @captainfossil.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

This legal action is so good to see. The illegal land grab by the current US administration, & the conservative Utah politicians supporting this harmful action, will dramatically & adversely impact numerous significant fossil resources as well as multiple cultural & sacred Indigenous sites. 🦖🧪

1207

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) has joined a series of co-plaintiffs and is suing the Trump administration for shrinking Bears Ears National Monument.

1168

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 03/09/2026

SVP Sues the Trump Administration for Shrinking Bears Ears National Monument Now THIS is what I want my membership dues going towards @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social vertpaleo.org/svp-sues-the...

vertpaleo.org

SVP Sues the Trump Administration for Shrinking Bears Ears National Monument – Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

16232

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Natural History Museum of Utah @nhmu.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

#FossilFriday A recent poll found that 60% of Utahns support collecting fossils and artifacts from public lands. This highlights an important misunderstanding about why federal laws protect these resources and why permits are required to collect them. www.deseret.com/opinion/2026...

deseret.com

Opinion: Preserving our shared heritage through Utah’s fossils and artifacts

A recent poll reported by the Deseret News found that 60% of Utahns support collecting fossils and artifacts from public lands.

073

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Taissa Rodrigues who has been elected SVP Vice-President, and Dr. Jessica Blois who has been elected Member-at-Large. Thank you to all the members who voted! We look forward to welcoming both longtime contributors to SVP into their new leadership roles at the annual meeting!

0135

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

John P. Friel, Ph.D. @friel.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Dear @mosasaurologist.bsky.social, I am so very sorry. 😂

As screen shot from Triebold Paleontology's LinkedIn page featuring a partial Xiphactinus fossil with a red and wide sign stating "Hello my name is Anthony"

3356

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Steven Ray Morris @stevenraymorris.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

One of the quiet bright moments of lockdown was Sam Neill serenading us on the ukulele. This type of tenderness feels rare nowadays, how lucky we were. Thank you for everything. ❤️❤️❤️

352147493003

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Shannon Ellery Hubbell @brundlefly.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

I've been bummed all day about this obviously, but this is the first post about Neill's passing that actually made me tear up.

081

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Dr. Lynne Elkins @ljelkins.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

❤️

031

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Ferwen @ferwen.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Alan Grant: Dinosaurs and man, two species separated by 65 million years of evolution, have just been suddenly thrown back into the mix together. How can we possibly have the slightest idea what to expect? Us: Everlasting love and gratitude Rest in peace, Dr. Grant

194

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Andrew Alden @geology.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Guy rocked a field hat too

063

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

ConradTM @conradtm.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Tbh if anyone else is like me it'll probably be a sad day for a lot of scientific disciplines, you don't get a lot of realistically human scientists in film that aren't gigantic assholes or frauds. Fictional or not and outside my field or not he was part of an aspirational archetype for me.

031

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Handy Devine 🇵🇸🏴 @almightybob.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

I was 9 when jurassic park came out and basically everyone I knew including me wanted to be a paleontologist after seeing it

0111

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

shanny8.bsky.social @shanny8.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Really cool that his portrayal of a character inspired future paleontologists

021

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

EmHELLy @eminist.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

let this be your reminder that generations of kids didn't grow up wanting to be the guy who funded the park, they grew up wanting to be the knowledgeable, awe-struck scientist

0137

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

halloweentime goblin 👻 @sasscarpone.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

oh my heart 💔

1292

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Stéphanie Bodin 🌿🪵🔥🔬 @tifanosaurus.cpesr.fr · 13/07/2026

This makes me really sad 😢 Alan Grant and the Jurassic Park movies inspired me as well. My flat is fulled with all sorts of dino things. And I got a Palaeontology degree (Master 1st year). Rest in peace Sir Sam Neill. May you be welcomed by the Triceratops

052

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Mindy Weisberger @laminda.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Really sweet tribute to Sam Neill from @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social

19236

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Scott Williams @museumguyscott.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

All of this. #SamNeill was an outstanding actor, & by all accounts an outstanding human as well. Aside from the Jurassic Park movies, he was fantastic in- Hunt for Red October, In the Mouth of Madness, Event Horizon, Dead Calm, the Tudors, Peaky Blinders, the list goes on. RIP & thanks Sam.

061

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

CosmicRami 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @rami.spaceaustralia.com · 13/07/2026

You should absolutely live your life in a way that when your time has come, science societies, museums, celebrities, politicians, journalists, and the general public not only mourn your passing as a huge loss, but highlight how you inspired millions.

013056

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

T. K. Rex @tkrex.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Look at the bullet points under "What is at stake?" They are trying to kill science dead in the United States. There will be no scientific conferences, no future careers in science, and no functional scientific community, with those rules in place.

055

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Mel Pardi @drpardi.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Plugging this pre-meeting workshop we're holding at the annual meeting for @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social Would love to get a full house!

066

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Please see your SVP member email for the full message with embedded hyperlinks so you can join the fight to help save intellectually rigorous, merit-based, independent US scientific research funding from this politically motivated attack! 1/3

On May 29, 2026, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed sweeping changes to U.S. federal grant regulations (Title 2, Part 200 of the CFR) that would fundamentally alter how our science is funded, managed, and conducted.

If finalized, these rules will introduce unprecedented political interference into scientific research, add heavy administrative burdens, and restrict how U.S. paleontologists and our international collaborators use grant money.

What is at stake?

The proposed rule directly threatens your active and future research by seeking to:
Introduce Political Oversight: Gives political appointees veto power over grant awards to ensure they align with administration priorities, bypassing traditional merit-based peer review (§ 200.205).
Threaten Funding Stability: Drastically expands agency authority to abruptly pause or terminate active, multi-year grants mid-award (§ 200.340).
Ban Publication Funding: Prohibits using federal grant funds to pay for journal publication and open-access fees without rare, case-by-case agency pre-approval (§ 200.461).
Restrict Conference Travel: Restricts the use of grant funds to attend scientific meetings, requiring strict, case-by-case government pre-approval (§ 200.432).
Jeopardize support for students and early career scientists: Introduces administrative hurdles related to the use of federal funds that support student stipends and wages (§ 200.430), as well as scholarships (§ 200.466).

Why Your Voice Matters

The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and the Paleontological Society stand in staunch opposition to this proposal. But institutional pushback is not enough! We need our individual voices.

Under federal law, the OMB is legally required to review and respond to every unique, substantive public comment before issuing a final rule. Form letters are easily dismissed, but personal narratives explaining how these changes will harm your specific fieldwork, museum collections, or student training programs cannot be ignored. Because these perspectives must all be addressed, a large number of comments becomes a powerful tool.

How to Take Action (Deadline: July 13, 2026)
Step 1: Read the SVP/PS joint statement to learn more.
Step 2: Use the Geological Society of America’s OMB Comment Toolkit for step-by-step help in drafting your own comment.
Step 3: Submit your specific, technical, and personal perspective directly to the OMB portal.
Whether you are a senior researcher, museum professional, faculty member, or an early-career student, these rules will reshape your future. Do not let political alignment dictate the success of scientific endeavors.

Sincerely,

The Leadership of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology & the Paleontological Society

Link to full text document in the comments.

1107

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

🐦‍⬛ Maleficent the Unfriendly Ghost 👻 @kasper99.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Stegosaurus is my favorite dinosaur and I will forever imagine them looking as cool as this one. ❤️🌈

121

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

This month, SVP stands in proud support of our LGBTQIA+ community. Complex and expansive expressions of gender and sexuality are as natural as they are ancient. It is imperative to protect the rights of all people, celebrating the diversity that strengthens our society. Art: @emmalerae.bsky.social

07828

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Silvia Pineda-Munoz, PhD - Climate Ages @climateages.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

After a few years break, I just submitted my abstract for the @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social meeting in Cleveland, Ohio! I can’t wait to present my Climate Ages work! Who’s planning on being there? 🧪#SciComm

1223

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

History of Geology @historyofgeology.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

🌈⚒️ (unfortunately I have no idea who originally came up with this meme)

754750624

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

ChaosInAB0x 🎃🍂🍭 @chaosinab0x.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Super duper excited and happy share with y’all a brand new RedBubble drop! Introducing, the Pride Trilobites 🏳️‍🌈 Featuring 16 unique designs, there’s something for everyone, both queer and paleo enthusiasts alike 🦖🌈 #art #redbubble #trilobite #paleoart #pridemonth #queer #lgbtqia+

3207

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Raven Amos (Spoopy Edition)🎨🐦‍⬛ @alaskanime.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Still trying to get Open Graph to pull images from my portfolio pages to links I post here 😖 in the meantime, have a Europasaurus in front of a pride flag background - one of the very very first all-digital paintings I made #Pride #paleoart #sciart #art

A dinosaur, Europasaurus, against a pride flag background. It's a pony-sized sauropod, one of those long neck type, and it's bright blue and purple.

© Raven Amos - http://cubelight.graphcs or http://cgfx.us
All rights reserved. Use in generative “artificial intelligence” model datasets, "AI art training programs" or other similar technologies is prohibited and will be pursued as copyright infringement.

It’s a cherished Korean pastime to destroy Elon Musk’s testicles with a spinning kick.

13712

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Dynamognathus @dynamoterror.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

A massive bull Konobelodon britti, the largest of beasts in late Miocene Florida, decrees with a misty jet from his trunk into the sunlit sky that all shall have a happy and safe pride month. #sciart #paleoart #miocene #pridemonth #florida

A colored-pencil drawing of Konobelodon britti, a massive shovel-tusked cousin of elephants that lived in southern North America during the late Miocene, walking with its head raised up, mouth open, and trunk curled up as it sprays a jet of misty water over its head. A large, vibrant rainbow curls across the middle of the spray.

210534

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Ana Voltz 🏳️‍⚧️ @anavoltzart.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Happy pride!!

A digital painting of two sinosauropteryx dinosaurs making a heart shape with their tails. The one on the left glows with lesbian pride colors, the one on the right glows with trans pride colors. They stand there on a snowy night.

A digital painting of two utahraptors, nuzzling one another. Their feathers glow with LGBTQ+ pride colors, framed by two strands of grass that make a heart shape

5344158

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Another SVP leadership election is upon us! The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Nominating Committee has put forward the candidates for the offices that will open at the 2026 SVP Annual Meeting. The election will commence around July 6th. Keep an eye on your inbox for more details then.

133

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Members, check your email for the meeting link and password. See you on Thursday!

All members of the Society are invited to join SVP President Stuart Sumida and other members of the SVP Executive Committee for the latest in the series of town hall meetings designed to let members discuss opportunities, questions, concerns, and planning that impact our Society. The topic of the next town hall meeting will be: The SVP 2026 Annual Meeting: Events, Plans, and Precautions. It is anticipated that the town hall will last approximately one hour.

Please join us (Thursday), May 7, 2026, at
9:00 AM PDT
12:00 NOON EDT
+ 7 hours GMT

042

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Eric Scott @captainfossil.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Also for #FossilFriday - the @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social has released this statement re: the US administration's recent decision to dismiss all members of the US National Science Board. 🧪

Statement from the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology re: the US administration's decision to dismiss all members of the US National Science Board:

"The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology joins with the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) in its profound opposition to the U.S. administration's decision to dismiss all members of the National Science Board (NSB). This unprecedented action bypasses the critical guardrails established by the U.S. Congress to ensure that federal scientific research remains independent and free from political influence.

"The Administration's decision not only threatens to further erode public trust in federal science, but also eliminates the public's opportunity to independently assess that trust for themselves. Such actions strike at the very heart of the democratic process. SVP calls upon Congress and the Courts to stand up against the politicization of science and the independence of scientific endeavor- an independence that has until now marked the United States as a global leader and partner in scientific research and innovation."

02920

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Regarding the recent gutting of the National Science Board by the U.S. administration.

The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology joins with the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) in its profound opposition to the U.S. administration’s decision to dismiss all members of the National Science Board (NSB). This unprecedented action bypasses the critical guardrails established by the U.S. Congress to ensure that federal scientific research remains independent and free from political influence.

The Administration’s decision not only threatens to further erode pubic trust in federal science, but also eliminates the public’s opportunity to independently assess that trust for themselves. Such actions strike at the very heart of the democratic process. SVP calls upon Congress and the Courts to stand up against the politizacition of science and the independence of scientific endeavor – an independence that has until now marked the United States as a global leader and partner in scientific research and innovation.

1178

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Good afternoon! Please see the images below for an update on our ongoing ethics violation reporting and processing systems, including a visual walkthrough diagram.

Good afternoon! First, we want to thank the community for their public and private feedback over the past few months. We have been doing our best to listen and take progressive, adaptive steps on improving SVP's internal systems, processes, and leadership communication approaches. Large changes to organizations like and including SVP take time to complete in a thoughtful, rigorous manner, and we ask for your continued patience as we roll out these forthcoming changes in the runup to the fall annual meeting. Please be on the lookout for future membership town hall event announcements as we continue seeking community dialogue from members in vertebrate paleontology's interconnected professional disciplines.

Below you will find the first step in this process that we are pleased to be sharing publicly. We have heard your concerns that the SVP ethics review process has been unclear, impeding its intended use by those looking to file reports and receive feedback on them. We hope that this visualized breakdown of the ethics review process will help clarify steps and stages and improve its useability. A link to the slideshow on the full ethics violation review process, presented at our last town hall event by the Ethics Committee, has been linked in the comments.

A narrated video walkthrough of the full ethics violation reporting and review process is also in the works, which we hope to make available online this summer. We have more work in-progress to bolster the effectiveness of the ethics review process and Ethics Committee itself, including increasing the total number of SVP member volunteers serving on the committee. We will have more public announcements once the details of those improvements are finalized. Again, we appreciate both your feedback as well as your patience as we process member input into tangible, durable improvements to SVP.

Flow chart indicating steps and processes in the SVP ethics violation reporting and assessment system.

1103

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Mira Thompson @wensthomp.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

I am glad you're going to provide lots of info for travelers who are at risk. I will help out here by providing a link to Trans Ohio: www.transohio.org . They can help the SVP and anyone attending in person with the nuances of trans safety in Ohio. I have some other contacts too if interested!

transohio.org

TransOhio

TransOhio serves the Ohio transgender and ally communities by providing services, education, support, and advocacy, which promotes and improves the health, safety and life experience of the Ohio trans...

1106

Reposted by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Mati Armella @matiarmella.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

#FossilFriday HUGE news! We're thrilled to announce the JAPV! 📍 Tucumán, Argentina 🗓 May 2026 Mark your calendars for the premier meeting on fossil vertebrates! Researchers, students, enthusiasts—get ready! @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social @thepalass.bsky.social @therhinoscaros.bsky.social

074