Christina Birnbaum, PhD 🍃

‘The process of writing forces the writer to be present’ Writing is hard and uncomfortable, but the craft of turning thoughts into words should not be lost to the frictionless ease of generative AI, write Jackie Webb and Christina Birnbaum

Proud to have published this piece with @christinabirnbaum.bsky.social for THE Campus.

Check out the article to hear our two cents on why pure writing is just too important to dismiss in this wild west AI landscape in higher education.

www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/proce...

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026 💫

From quad bikes in the Kimberley to driving boats in Louisiana marshes, science has taken me to places where I’ve met some of the most inspiring people, including many awesome women. Curiosity, adventure and discovery is what drives me.

17 incredible Australian women in botany - Australian Geographic Australia is home to many talented botanists, many of whom are women. Here are just a few of their stories.

www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2019/03...

O-week is in full swing and the room is packed @soaes-unisq.bsky.social
A/ProfJohn Dearnaley is giving a great overview of teaching and research at the new School of Science, Engineering and Digital Technologies.
#fullroom #university #academia

The 5 stages of the ‘enshittification’ of academic publishing Academic publishing now shows the same decline that has hit social media and online marketplaces.

"In this sense, academic publishing rivals the music and film industries. Some publishers report profit margins comparable to tech giants such as Microsoft and Google."

The 5 stages of the ‘enshittification’ of academic publishing
theconversation.com/the-5-stages...

Emma Johnston was a visionary scientist, environmentalist and leader, with an abiding hope for humanity The University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor, who has died aged 52, was driven by a deep love of science and a desire to safeguard the planet’s future.

“Emma believed research should be about teamwork rather than personal accolades.”

I’m so saddened to hear of Prof Johnston’s passing. She was a true inspiration for women in science and beyond. Gone too soon…

Vale Emma Johnston 🕯️

theconversation.com/emma-johnsto...

These Xmas holidays will look very different with the addition of this cuteness to the family 💜
#puppy

Congratulations to the winners from the Plant-Soil Symposium at the @ecolsocaus.bsky.social conference last
week generously sponsored by the @britishecologicalsociety.org.
Thank you for supporting the fantastic research being led by these student researchers in plant–soil ecology in Australia!
🧵

Congratulations to all and thank you for the support @britishecologicalsociety.org and @frewecologist.bsky.social

Feeling very grateful to have such wonderful people to work with every day @unisq.bsky.social.
On the left, Birnbaum ecology group 2025.
On the right, word cloud of how we have been feeling this year.☺️

Well done to Genavieve (pictured below on the right) presenting at her first ever scientific conference!
Even better when your co-supervisor makes a special trip from Western Australia to support you 🥹

#ESA2025
@esaplantsoilecol.bsky.social

Alcoa shelves plans to explore Perth Hills for mining expansion US mining giant Alcoa will withdraw part of its plans to expand its mining operations in the world's only jarrah forests, following community concerns around water security and environmental impacts.

🌳🌿💚 Monday morning good news story!

Following strong opposition from local councils & residents, Alcoa has shelved its plans to explore the Perth Hills #jarrah #forests for its #bauxite mining expansion... for now at least.

#wildoz #conservation #ozflora #trees
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

ping @unisq-csas.bsky.social

This project was possible thanks to the wonderful support from MALDIID CEO Sofie De Meyer, Wildflower Society of Western Australia, and financial support from Friends of Meelup, The Ecological Society of Australia and University of Southern Queensland. We salute you all!

How good is this poster from our master's student Genavieve Jurd ?! 👇🎉☺️
If you are attending @ecolsocaus.bsky.social conference next week, please support ECRs like Genavieve during the Barbara Rice memorial poster session on Monday evening!

I'm so sad to miss out on this fantastic symposium.
Please make sure you check it out and share the insights with us on Bluesky, too! 🍄

Toward a macroevolutionary understanding of live‐leaf flammability in plant species of fire‐prone forests Premise The flammability of live leaves in canopies varies considerably among plant species. Identifying macroevolutionary processes that shape variation in leaf flammability contributes to an under.....

The final version is now available #AmJBot
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Flower likened to 'cancer' for environment still sold at nurseries The colourful flowers of gazanias might attract you to buy them at a nursery but it is worth considering whether you are getting an invasive weed causing havoc to our landscapes.

www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2...

The Equilibrium Conundrum Although an assumption of equilibrium dynamics underlies most ecological theory, the evidence for this dynamic in nature and in empirical studies is scarce. This creates an unfortunate disconnect bet...

Most major theories in ecology assume some sort of equilibrium, but only ~half of empirical tests acknowledge it & even fewer observed it in their system. Does this matter? How did the idea become so pervasive in ecology anyway? Find out in our new paper! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Monday was spent scouting for new field sites when we stumbled upon this beauty 😍
Dipodium roseum - a saprophytic orchid that does not produce chlorophyll but rather relies on carbon from decaying matter near eucalypt trees.

Invasion impacts in terrestrial ecosystems: Global patterns and predictors Biological invasions can alter ecosystems, yet their impacts vary across ecological contexts. Using a global meta-analysis of 775 studies (2223 effect sizes) in terrestrial systems, we show that the m...

Invasion impacts in terrestrial ecosystems: Global patterns and predictors | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

A quote from the article. Text reads: "The decline of soil biodiversity has visible and growing consequences. The science is clear, the frameworks exist, and the need for action is urgent."

.@cmarin.bsky.social and 127 co-authors present a global call to strengthen national #SoilBiodiversity action, in an #OpenLetter to policymakers at 27th meeting of the @unbiodiversity.bsky.social SBSTTA taking place in Panamá City this week.

📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

#SBSTTA27

📢 Over 120 researchers have issued a major call to action for a coordinated approach to studying soil biodiversity! 📢

This letter urges policymakers, scientists, and others to recognize the importance of soil biodiversity and harmonize efforts. 🪱

nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

128 authors - 1 message:
Open letter: A global call to strengthen national soil biodiversity action through coordination and harmonization - Marín - PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET - Wiley Online Library nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Thanks @cmarin.bsky.social @thegsbi.bsky.social for leading!

I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for letting me know.

YouTube video by University of Southern Queensland Friends with benefits or frenemies: The role of soil biota in shaping plant responses

Here goes a bit of shameless self-promotion:
If you missed my National Science Week online webinar, it is now available via YouTube.

Friends with benefits or frenemies: The role of soil biota in shaping plant responses.

youtu.be/B_hnTfg10TM?...

The October intake of our free mentoring for early career ecologists is now open for registration! 🦇

You've got questions and they've got the answers! (They'll try their best 😅) Jump online to apply and check out the range of mentors available: tinyurl.com/bderjjxj

#mentoring #mentor #ecology

In the first half of 2025, renewables became the biggest source of global electricity for the first time, as wind & solar growth exceeded global demand growth

Shocking that it's China & India leading - EU & USA have fossil power growing

ember-energy.org/latest-insig...

Our department at UBC is hiring for a professor of forest ecophysiology, including "tree ecophysiology; plant abiotic or biotic stress physiology; forest mortality and climate change responses; forest carbon balance; tree water relations; or nutrient use." Learn more at: tinyurl.com/5da56f5c