In the news

Becks Spake thought you may be interested in the Conservation Leadership Programme’s funding awards, including the Future Conservation Award http://www.conservationleadershipprogramme.org/AboutUs.asp (thank you Becks!)   Staff contributor of the week this week is Rob Holland who sent in some bunny facts (thank you and congratulations to Rob!) 1)    The World’s Largest Rabbit is called “Darius” and weighs […]

The National Pollinator Strategy was released for consultation on 6th March – read more about it from the British Ecological Society http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/blog/2014/03/12/defra-get-buzzy-protecting-pollinators/   We’re trying out some tweeting in BIOL1003. You can see what we’re up to by searching Twitter for #sotonbiol1003. Last week’s tweets include the barnacle song, performed by the world’s least charismatic […]

Insect preservation techniques workshop – Saturday 17th May 10-12:30 and 13:30-16:00 at Hampshire County Council Arts & Museums Service, Chilcomb House, Chilcomb Lane, Winchester SO23 8RD. In the workshop you will learn how to pin specimens are where to pin them. Christine Taylor from the Museums service says that she will offer you a student […]

From staff contributor of the week, Lex, he says “Especially relevant to students on BIOL1004, but hopefully of interest to anyone” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25944817   Evolution and complexity http://nautil.us/issue/9/time/evolution-youre-drunk   Parasites very rarely change their hosts’ sexual behaviours http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2014/01/why-sexual-mind-control-rare-nature   Moles swimming through couscous (this is real research) http://www.nytimes.com/video/science/100000002665100/creaturecast-swimming-with-cilia.html (sorry, there is an advert first)   Alpine […]

Rob Gandola sent in a link to a youtube film “101 East: return of the lizard king” which he says gives “a very real picture of what’s going on at ground level in Madagascar” (thank you Rob!)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo7O2DhUH8A   Another film from Lex Kraaijeveld, very funny (thank you Lex)! http://www.edisproduction.de/2013/10/02/what-if-animals-were-round/   Zoe Harris has found […]

Third year Steph Cowling spent last year one a placement at Kew Gardens. She thought you might be interested in the training course at Kew http://www.kew.org/learn/specialist-training/courses-a-z/plant-taxonomy-identification-and-field-skills/plant-taxonomy-identification-and-field-skills.htm (thank you Steph!).   PhD student Rob Gandola sent in details about the UK Herpetological workers’ meeting at Bristol zoo on 1st-2nd Feb. He says is it a must […]

2nd year Zoologist Lisa Jones says “Read this and thought of SEEN 🙂 Quite an interesting (but depressing!) article about tigers and their susceptibility to a canine virus. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24535799 (thank you Lisa!)   Our first staff contributor, Jake Snaddon, thought this BBC story about the long term effects of an elephant cull http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24754682 (thank you […]

In the news 3rd year Natural Sciences student, Michael Hockey, sent it 2 links from the BBC website (thank you Michael!). Firstly, sponges are key to nutrient recycling in coral reefs http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24398394 You can read the original article here http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6154/108   Secondly, Fatally strenuous exertions http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24443104 This was a widely reported story about highly promiscuous […]

3rd year Biologist Jake Bailey found this story about the evolution of cartilaginous fish http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2013/09/26/3856025.htm http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature12617.html Thank you Jake!   PhD student Pete Boyd sent in this link from Jerry Coyne’s “Why evolution is true” blog, posted by Matthew Cobb http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2013/09/12/crane-fly-mimicry/ . Thank you Pete!   PhD student Rob Gandola sent information about a student […]

Recently I have received email messages from my first year tutees which include phrases such as “I don’t know if you’re still around…”, “You might be on holiday…” and even a friend said “Lucky you, 3 months off”. As I have told them all, lovely as it would be to have 3 months off, that’s […]