OpenLiving Labs

Setup for the NISF talks

Social media interview prep!

NISF

I’ll be doing my talk at @niscifest.bsky.social at 4pm today. A few of my colleagues are here too, with the first speaker starting in 15 mins! Come along if you’re interested. #NISF #NorthernIreland #Ecologi

12.02.2026 12:47 — 👍 0    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

How to turn urban spaces into wildlife havens | NI Science Festival

In a few weeks I’ll be talking about #biodiversity loss, ecological restoration and urban #butterflies including the restoration work we are doing at the @openlivinglabs.bsky.social at the Northern Ireland science festival in Belfast! #NISF.

It’s free! nisciencefestival.com/event/how-to...

02.02.2026 11:40 — 👍 4    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

A wet and cold view outside of the office window on the OU campus.

Almost not working outside today (see weather), but lots of analysis completed for our bird song data so far. We will be updated the website with our findings soon!

05.02.2026 14:13 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

It really is. We had a huge swarm of Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis) during the weeks that the temperature peaked throughout the autumn. You could pretty much tell the weather by counting them!

13.01.2026 11:15 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

A malaise trap for catching insects that are used for DNA sequencing to monitor biodiversity.

River Ousel looking quite full on the Open University campus.

First day of 2026 that we are able to collect inverts to send for DNA sequencing to @sangerinstitute.bsky.social #BIOSCAN. With the snow last week it wasn’t possible, so now it’s relatively warm we can see what’s flying at the site January! #urbannature #ecology #inverts #bugsky

13.01.2026 09:48 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

A well plate filled with organisms for genetic sequencing. Most of the species pictured are the sap-sucking bug Trioza urticae.

Prepping the December catch for genetic #sequencing. Most of this plate is the bug Trioza urticae, which are found in nettles and we have absolutely loads at the living labs! Interesting to see their numbers grow over the past few weeks— maybe this is the peak? #nature #entomology #genomics #BIOSCAN

22.12.2025 13:48 — 👍 3    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0

Thank you!

17.12.2025 08:58 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

We've just created our first Starter Pack for staff at The Open University (UK)... join us! go.bsky.app/UhqW8VR

#OUfamily

14.11.2024 15:11 — 👍 72    🔁 34    💬 45    📌 6

Please add us 😊

16.12.2025 16:29 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

OpenLiving Lab at The Open University Digital Humanities allows scholars to approach old problems with new means, or to ask new questions that could not have been asked with the traditional means of humanistic enquiry. Whatever the approa...

Welcome to the official account for the OpenLiving Labs! We are a #citizenscience and #nature restoration project @ #OpenUniversity campus.

Please add us to the starter packs, @openuniversity.bsky.social and @oulibrary.bsky.social! Much appreciated 🌼🦦🦋🌳

OLL website: openliving-lab.open.ac.uk

16.12.2025 16:27 — 👍 6    🔁 2    💬 2    📌 0