Prof Thorunn

Cover of the BMS's Fungal Ecology journal

📣 Call for papers! Special issue of #FungalEcology on “Fungal conservation: from knowledge to actions” co-edited by Susana C. Gonçalves @cfemycolab.bsky.social & Jonathan Cazabonne @jonathancazabonne.bsky.social. Deadline for manuscripts: 31 Jan 2026. Find out more: www.linkedin.com/company/brit...

🥺 go gently. Hope you get the rest and support you need

Call for symposia at @ICOM2026 is open until 15 October.
The 13 conference of @mycorrhiza_ims #Mycorrhiza will take place in Cairns, Australia, 12-17 July 2026!
@southmycorrhiza @karst_justine @fmartin1954 @1pantunes #soil #fungi

icom2026.org/symposia/

Join the BES Board of Trustees - British Ecological Society We are seeking an ecologist working in academic research

We are looking for a research ecologist to join the Board of @britishecologicalsociety.org. This influential role will help to set the strategic direction and priorities of the Society. Deadline 30 June with the role to start in December.

Find out more here:

Panel One: A scientist is giving a lecture. she stands at a lecturn. The current slide shows a list of the five kingdoms of living things: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista and Monera. She says "Most people assume that fungi are plants. Whereas in fact, they form a kingdom of their own." Panbel Two: Caption : After the lecture The scientist now appears to be in a subterranean cave, before her stand two very large mushrooms guarding a larger, beardedmushroom who sits in athrone wearing a crown. One of the mushrooms says "His majesty is very pleased with the work you are doing."

A recent @newscientist.com cartoon #fungi

This is the best, and my favourite space traveller
We should strive not only to do projects like voyager, but to *create* and *protect* the systems that allow risks like this to be taken. Voyager was pretty cheap, as projects go, but it needed optimistic vision…

Hot off the press 🔥 

The Spring Niche is here🌸 

Find exciting research stories and key policy moments from our global community of ecologists packed in the new issue BES membership magazine. Get your copy by becoming a member today.

🧪🌍

Can't recommend this postdoc opportunity highly enough. Really exciting Wellcome-funded project led by a wonderful PI. You will be happy in this lab.

I wrote a thing for #IWD25
- a more personal description of my pathway to #ecology than what you’ll see in my biogs and CV 😏

Curious about leadership and diversity? sign up to the Elm network mailchi.mp/d4a21a569247... and join @britishecologicalsociety.org - together we will change the world!

It’s Sunday & it’s 8pm so it’s time for #wildflowerhour 🥳 Please share your pics of the wild & naturalised plants you’ve spotted blooming from across Britain & Ireland in the last week!

A playful illustrated title reads “How different birds would act on a first date." A disclaimer underneath states: “Not approved by RSPB fact-checkers.” The image features a cute Coal Tit perched sweetly on a blue flower. The background is a romantic shade of pink.

How different birds would act on a first date...a thread.

(From us to you this #ValentinesDay) 💕👇

I long ago moved the social media apps to the “back” of my phone. It is liberating to break the habit.

Blue knitted lace shawl before blocking c. 60cm long

Same knitted shawl after being washed and pinned for blocking and it’s now 120cm + long

Here’s a “why you have to block lace knits” mood 😮
🧶

Aww thank you ☺️- 50g of spare variegated sock yarn was sitting in the stash crying out for a dark wool contrast. I really like how it’s turned out

A very nearly complete pair of Nordic pattern knitted handwarmers with a bonus cat

For WiP Wednesday what will be the first completed project of the year - and a bonus cat 🧶

Knitting needle holder - looks like a dissecting kit!

Knitting needle holder rolled up and tied with a bow

I found this on Etsy years ago and it’s the best knitting accessory I’ve ever got keeps things from getting lost - it’s not the tidiest but i would be lost without it

Are they top down? If so, frog it back to the cuff and turn them into mittens. Am planning doing that with a sock where the 2 colour work made it too tight to put on.

Crow waiting for treats on the ground

Two bold crows on a wall waiting for treats

I think I promised crows. The weather is chilly here at the moment and the campus crows particularly bold in pursuit of treats from me - they spot me veeery quickly when I appear.
Being spotted in cahoots with them does get me into some nice conversations too 😄

Stephen Spoel delivering keynote address

And #PlantSciEd is up and running! We’ve started with an excellent keynote from Stephen Spoel giving us an overview of UK plant science strategy, and food for thought as to what this means for educators.

You speak the truth, ma’am

Well, having knitted a bunch more of it, I then had to do a significant frog ‘n’ repair because I accidentally knitted 2 together and messed up the pattern big style 😳🤯

My fast asleep white and dilute ginger spotted grumpy cat

Happy New Year all, and hello to my many new followers.
Stay for the #wildflowerhour #knitting #academic chat, #ecology my cat, and possibly the odd crow 🐦‍⬛ - everything else is muted to preserve my equanimity…

Half finished mitten in Nordic pattern, using black/purple and shades of pink yarns, back of hand side

Half finished mitten in Nordic pattern, using black/purple and shades of pink yarns, palm side

Homage to Amma (maternal grandma) who could knit this stuff with her eyes shut (though she only ever did the tradition Icelandic black and white - yarns have come a loooong way!)
First #knit cast on of the year, and likely to be the first completion of the current WiPs

Headshot of Nathalie Pettorelli

A huge congratulations to @pettorelli.bsky.social for being awarded an OBE for services to conservation and outreach in the #NewYearsHonours!

Nathalie has been involved with the BES for many years and has made major contributions to numerous areas of our work 🌍

🧵1/3

It's Day 3 of #NewYearPlantHunt, best wishes to all our intrepid hunters going out today while weather is 🤞 still ok.
Check out this round-up of Day Two results from the fabulous @commonbynature.bsky.social:
bsbipublicity.blogspot.com/2024/12/new-...
📷 @danryannature.bsky.social & Matt Williamson

The BEST plant hunt of the year!!!! Have you signed up yet? #WildflowerHour

So, let's try doing #duvetknowitschristmas here this evening? People are literally Driving Home For Christmas right now, which MIGHT JUST mean that they'll be sleeping somewhere unusual. 1/

Oh I’m so glad you found it! It’s chaotic but amazing 🤩

This is so true. Natural history is such an important part of ecology. Not knowing the actual organisms in the real world makes it very hard to understand the interconnectedness, and the role of time and space.
#naturalHistory