Dr Steven Allain

Alongside mooted restrictions on salary sacrifice - which universities make a lot of use of to pay for pensions - this is not shaping up to be a great budget for a sector already mired in cutbacks and redundancies.

It’s insane to think that this record has now turned 50, yet like most of Pink Floyd’s work the music is timeless and relevant to most people today. Shine on your crazy diamond! #PinkFloyd #WishYouWereHere

Looking forward to joining #2025SVP later, would be great to say hi to as many of you as possible!

#SciFri: GIANTS at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery I was fortunate enough to be in Birmingham recently, and while I was there I visited the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. I will be covering the museum itself in a later blog post for #MuseumMond…

Something special for #SciFri and #FossilFriday, a review of #GIANTS which was recently at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. If you love extinct #megafauna, then make sure you try to visit this travelling exhibition! #Mammoth #Megalodon #Fossils #Extinction stevenallain.co.uk/Blog/scifri-...

Four polar stereographic maps showing Arctic near-surface air temperature anomalies for the month of November in 1985-1994, 1995-2004, 2005-2014, and 2015-2024. Most all areas are observing long-term warming, which is largest along the Eurasian coast.

Impossible to ignore what’s happening to #Arctic temperatures in the month of November...

Data from @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social ERA5 reanalysis.

It’s a shame I’m driving to Birmingham then or I’d be in the door!

#MuseumMonday: Grande Galerie de l’Évolution, Paris Tucked within the leafy grounds of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution is a monument of natural history, architecture and museography. It is operated by the Muséum na…

Something special for #MuseumMonday, a review of the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution in Paris! I loved walking around this museum in the summer, just wish I had more time to take everything in. You can find out more on my blog below. #Evolution #Ecology #Conservation
stevenallain.co.uk/Blog/museumm...

British Ecological Society and Endemic Network webinar titled "Reasonable Adjustments" on November 4th at 6:00pm GMT. Ring-tailed lemur image included.

Join the ENDEMIC Network on 4 November for a webinar that focuses on how to make reasonable adjustments in the workplace and at university for neurodivergent ecologists at any career stage.

Register now 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/rkknflximp

#SciFri: Discovering Dinosaurs at Lightroom At heart, I am just a big kid (if that wasn’t already obvious). One of my passions outside of herpetology that helps to satisfy my inner childhood curiosity, is palaeontology. I am lucky enou…

Ever wanted to see a T. rex or Triceratops up close in life-size? Now is your opportunity while also learning more about these amazing Mesozoic reptiles at Prehistoric Planet: #DiscoveringDinosaurs at #Lightroom. #SciFri #Dinosaurs #Fossils #TRex #FossilFriday

stevenallain.co.uk/Blog/scifri-...

Darren rode past you on a unicorn?

What, If Anything, Is A Strabomantid? — Tetrapod Zoology Welcome to 2024! And we kick things off with frogs. What, I hear you ask, is a strabomantid?

You like small, obscure #frogs, don't you? What, If Anything, Is A Strabomantid?, an article from Jan 2024 tetzoo.com/blog/2024/1/... #amphibians

YouTube video by Steven Allain Reviewing the Toymany 6-Piece Turtles Figurines Playset

Do you love #turtles as much as I do? Then you'll enjoy my latest video reviewing the Toymany turtle playset. This 6-piece set is extremely impressive and I can't recommend it enough. Perhaps it will make the perfect gift for someone this Christmas? #Herpetology #Reptiles #Toys youtu.be/cwRgreqVPvY

He’s still going, amazing!

#StevesLibrary: Tortoise Husbandry and Welfare There are few books out there that comprehensively summarise everything you need to know in order to provide your pet tortoise the best possible care. However, a new book titled Tortoise Husbandry …

Do you or someone you know keep a #tortoise? This new book by Jane Williams is an excellent guide to their care, welfare and natural history. It also makes a great gift as Christmas is coming up! #Herpetology #Reptiles #Chelonians #Turtles stevenallain.co.uk/Blog/stevesl...

It’s a wrap! #SEH2025 has been a blast and it’s been amazing to see old faces but meet so many new ones. Thanks to all that made it such a memorable conference. #Herpetology #Amphibians #Reptiles #SEHCongress2025

It’s actually a big deal in all organisms! Amphibians are just a really cool system in which to show it off.

The second day of #SEH2025 kicks off with a plenary talk from @markscherz.bsky.social on why miniaturisation in amphibians is a big deal. #Herpetology #Amphibians

Who am I going to see at #VanishingViper2025 this weekend?

The Winged Obsession is absolutely mental, needs to be turned into a movie! Hope you enjoy the others.

#StevesLibrary: Top 10 Illegal Wildlife Trade Books After a few conservations with some friends, I thought I’d do something a little different and put together a list of my Top 10 popular science books on the illegal wildlife trade. As a remin…

Are you interested in the illegal wildlife trade and an avid reader that wants to know more? If so, I've got you covered. Find out my top ten recommendations for what you should read next: #StevesLibrary #Conservation #WildlifeTrade #Poaching #IllegalWildlifeTrade

stevenallain.co.uk/Blog/stevesl...

Amazing!

#SciFri: Fossil Hunting at Abbey Wood for Shark’s Teeth I’m no stranger to going fossil hunting on the coast, I know many of you have read my posts about the Essex and Kent coats. However, what about in the middle of London? I was fortunate enough…

I recently visited the fossil pit in Abbey Wood with some colleagues of mine, to see what we could find. It was shark teeth, lots of shark teeth! You can read more on my blog, including on how you can do the same:
stevenallain.co.uk/Blog/scifri-... #SciFri #FossilFriday #Fossils #Sharks

Ben Bartlett’s Walking With Beasts and Walking With Dinosaurs soundtrack being played on a record player.

Upset that I couldn’t make it to #DinoConUK this weekend, but I did manage to listen to this instead. Hopefully, I’ll see you all next year as I’ve heard great things so far! @dinoconuk.bsky.social #DinoCon #WalkingWithDinosaurs @tetzoo.bsky.social

Are you a neurodivergent ecologist? Are you planning to undertake any fieldwork soon as part of research? Then our upcoming webinar with the @britishecologicalsociety.org's ENDEMIC Network may be for you. Find out more and sign up here: britishecologicalsociety.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?...

#MuseumMonday: Musée Curie Do I have a surprise for you all? I recently spent two weeks in Paris with the goal of visiting as many cool museums as I could. The first of these that I want to share with you is the Musée Curie.…

I recently visited the Musée Curie in Paris, which took me on a journey back in time through the lives of the Curies. You can find out more about this amazing place on my blog. #MuseumMonday #Radioactivity #MarieCurie #MuséeCurie

stevenallain.co.uk/Blog/museumm...

First genetic data from the Platyceps najadum population on Kalymnos Island, Greece, attempts to resolve a nearly half-century-old taxonomic question: doi.org/10.3897/zook...

#endemicspecies #melanism #taxonomy @dj-herpetology.bsky.social

He’s still going!

Neurodivergent, By Nature: Why Biodiversity Needs Neurodiversity Neurodivergent, By Nature: Why Biodiversity Needs Neurodiversity

A new book on a topic close my heart is now available. @joeharkness.bsky.social's Neurodivergent, by Nature explores the importance of #neurodiversity and how it can benefit nature, while also looking at the opposite relationship. #NeurodivergentbyNature #ADHD #Neurodivergent amzn.to/3U8Dh6p

🛑Over 24.1 MILLION illegal online wildlife listings REMOVED! 🦏🖥️

From ivory to exotic pets, platforms are becoming safer for wildlife thanks to the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online.

Together with @wwf.org.uk & @ifawglobal.bsky.social, we're keeping species #OfflineAndInTheWild

Smiling bearded rogue at Crystal Palace Gardens

The Saturday schedule for DinoCon

The Sunday Schedule for DinoCon

Display featuring two Dinosaurs and the DinoCon logo

Are you coming to the inaugural @dinoconuk.bsky.social event in Exeter next month?
Interested in learning more about Palaeoart in a fun and engaging manner with expert supervision?

We are running workshops over both days and I’m delighted to be one of the people running these activities!