Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge

Image: Jane Goodall at TEDGlobal 2007 in Arusha, Tanzania. Photo by Erik (HASH) Hersman

Remembering Jane Goodall 1934 – 2025

Primatologist, conservationist and alumna of this department. An inspiration to us all.

bit.ly/3VNtR0Y

The Cambridge University Entomological Society is hosting a symposium on ”The good, the bad, and the monstrous: insects in mythology, literature and media”, at the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, on 20th November 2025.

Huge thanks to @royentsoc.bsky.social for supporting us!

📢Publication alert!

Insect biodiversity research:

🪰Large-scale analysis finds livestock ranching threatens aquatic insects

🐝Model predictions show no overall UK insect occupancy decline

Find out more: bit.ly/3ItHlvU

@rothamsted.bsky.social @joemillard.bsky.social

Postgraduate Cambridge University Scholarship | Gates Cambridge A fully funded graduate education for future leaders committed to improving the lives of others.

If you are from the US and interested in applying for a PhD with me (or anyone else @camzoology.bsky.social @cambridgebiosci.bsky.social), your deadline for the gates scholarship is October 15!
(You’ll need to write a research proposal, so contact PIs now) www.gatescambridge.org/programme/th...

📢ARTIST REQUIRED📢Love working with young people & families? We're seeking an artist/facilitator to lead some workshops & create an art installation, film or animation, on the theme of climate change & the Ice Ages! ❄️ Apply by Mon 6 Oct 🙂@camunivmuseums.bsky.social
ow.ly/llRt50X05P3

Purple graphic with Neuroscience, Psychology and Beavhiour logo (profile of a head containg purple neurons). Headshots of Theme Leads Riccardo Beltramo, David Bulmer, Lucy Cheke, Hannah Clarke and Iris Hardege. Quote from Lucy Cheke: Cambridge produces world leading research addressing some of the most fundamental questions of modern science - but it also a large institution where individual researchers can find themselves looking for collaborations. The Themes are an amazing way to bring together people working on complementary topics to create value, discoveries and impact beyond what each of us can achieve alone - and they do so through friendly, fun and social interaction.

Today meet the leadership team for our Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour Research Theme! New lead Lucy tells us her thoughts on the Research Themes - find out more bio.cam.ac.uk #BiologicalSciences
@phar.cam.ac.uk @pdncambridge.bsky.social @campsydept.bsky.social @camzoology.bsky.social

Iris Berger photo by: Oli Broadhead

📢Publication alert!

PhD student, Iris Berger and Prof Lynn Dick's paper is published today in @natecoevo.nature.com

It analyses one of the world’s biggest agroecological transitions, and its exciting implications for biodiversity and economics.

Read more: bit.ly/4nht5Wi

🏳️‍🌈Our Pride in Nature tours are back this October! 🏳️‍🌈Book onto one of these FREE tours to discover how queer perspectives help us to better understand the natural world. These tours are run by our expert volunteers. All welcome. ow.ly/AzRw50WY0jp @camunivmuseums.bsky.social @camzoology.bsky.social

Looking for a PhD? I am advertising two industry sponsored PhD projects. One on black soldier fly genetics with #betabugs and another on searching insect biodiversity for novel enzymes #Syngenta. Get in touch if you are interested!! bbsrcdtp.lifesci.cam.ac.uk/available-ic...

Research into tiny charismatic peacock spiders makes the news!

BBC Breakfast this morning featured research by PhD candidate Jonah Walker and @joanameier.bsky.social @sangerinstitute.bsky.social

Find out more: bit.ly/3JUL5qF

🐳If you could talk to a whale, what would you say? With our artificial intelligence experiment you can now chat to our fin whale. It's the largest specimen in Cambridge! Just scan the QR code in the Whale Hall & start chatting. Museum upper gallery, shop & café open Tues - Sun. Entry FREE 😀

Images: a diver collecting community data on soft corals in Japan; trophallaxis between ants; ashy mining bee visiting oilseed rape flowers. Credit: Steven Falk

Are you a prospective postgrad looking for a research project?

Check out our brand new list of postgrad projects for 2026-27.

From animal weapons 💥and rewilding, to neuronal plasticity and invitro fertilisation 🧪 the breadth of topics is tremendous.

Find out more: bit.ly/3VxHscv

Prof Lynn Dicks, leader of our Agroecology Group met Daniel Zeichner MP #FoodSecurity and #RuralAffairs Minister on his recent visit to @slcuplants.bsky.social.

Lynn presented research on #regenerativefarming 🌿🐝and its potential to transform agriculture.

More about Daniel's visit: bit.ly/3I4McTU

📢Congratulations!

🎖️Prof Andrew Balmford FRS has won the
@royalsociety.org's new Environment Medal and Lecture!

Awarded for groundbreaking contributions to #conservationscience & redefining conservation education.

Read more: bit.ly/41oPGr1

@conservation.cam.ac.uk

📢We’re recruiting!

🌳Assistant Professor in Ecology, Evolution & Conservation

A permanent teaching-focused position in our vibrant, welcoming and intellectually stimulating academic community.

Deadline: 7 September.

Apply here: bit.ly/3HKtNeZ

Photo of two Rodrigues parakeets from the Museum collection

On 14 Aug 1875 the last Rodrigues parakeet was seen alive. 150 years on it rests (with one other) at the Museum, the only physical evidence that it ever existed. @jackdashby.bsky.social explains how collections are used to learn lessons from past losses. theconversation.com/the-rodrigue...

📢Publication alert

Out now! No Island too Far by Michael Brooke, Emeritus Strickland Curator of Ornithology @zoologymuseum.bsky.social

The story of a life-long global adventure searching for seabirds on remote specks of land.

Find out more: bit.ly/4mLVinw

📢We’re delighted to announce that the Vice Chancellor has appointed @markjfbrown.bsky.social as Director of the University @zoologymuseum.bsky.social and Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology.

Congratulations Mark! We look forward to welcoming you in Jan 2026.

Read more: bit.ly/3UVHmey

Photo of a carpet python skeleton

Celebrate reptiles with us on Thurs 14 Aug at our Summer Family Day 🙂 follow our Reptile Trail, make craft snakes & handle real reptile skeletons! All FREE, just drop in. #SummerAtTheMuseums @camunivmuseums.bsky.social

CPS Henslow Fellow Dr Tiffany Ki from
@camzoology.bsky.social with Victoria Smith, Local Nature Reserves Ranger for Cambridge City Council conducting fieldwork on insect populations.

Read more on Tiffany's research here:
cambridgephilosophicalsociety.org/funding/hens...

Glasswing butterfly (Mechanitis messenoides). Photo by Alex Arias

New research on glasswing butterflies🦋 by an international team of researchers, including @joanameier.bsky.social and Prof @chrisjiggins.bsky.social offers fresh insights into insect evolution and may help shape more effective conservation of these species.

Read more: bit.ly/4oi4XUo

Speakers at the opening event photo by Gabriel Popa

We’re so excited to see the work of our #agroecology group members featured in the @sciencemuseum.org.uk's new exhibition Future of #Food.

Work by Prof Lynn Dicks, @irisberger.bsky.social, Katie Berthon, Ailsa Harris & Annie Northfield is on show.

Go see!

Read more: bit.ly/470rMFH

Fabulous to meet my former @telegraphnews.bsky.social young science writer @LynnDicks at the launch of our #FutureofFood exhibition in the @sciencemuseum.org.uk , which features the research of her @camzoology.bsky.social group, inc @Iris_Berger_ !!!

We're recruiting!

🌳Assistant Professor in Ecology, Evolution & Conservation
🌳Postdoctoral Research Associates in
Drosophila Connectomics
Whole Organism Neuroscience
🌳Research Assistant Environmental impacts of food consumption & policy

Find out more: bit.ly/4o028qV

Future of Food | Science Museum A new, free exhibition about how food must change to protect the planet. Be the first to see it this summer—opens 24 July 2025.

Opening tomorrow!

The Future of Food at London's @sciencemuseum.org.uk

Research by Prof Lynn Dicks' #Agroecology Group, including @irisberger.bsky.social features in this new exhibition all about how food 🥗must change to protect our planet🌍.

Free tickets: bit.ly/4lyxWkL

Showtime! This photo by Jonah Walker, PhD student here in Zoology, shows a tiny male peacock spider performing an elaborate dance to attract a mate.

Jonah describes his fieldwork finding these spiders as like Pokémon Go on a continental scale.

When a peregrine falcon chick was sadly found dead in Hertfordshire, our team from @camvetschool.bsky.social helped reveal a lodged bone in its throat. A sad story - but one now teaching future vets and students @camzoology.bsky.social

👉🏼https://bit.ly/3IalvNu

#VetMed #WildlifeForensics

Planning to apply for a Senior Research Fellowship next year?

Our Senior Research Fellowship Sponsorship Scheme is now open!

The scheme sponsors externally funded fellowship applications to start research groups in our department.

Find out more: bit.ly/44bhaCe

Picture by Daniel Field

❓Want to help shape a more sustainable food system?

Take @restpoll.bsky.social’s 20-minute survey and share your opinion on pollinator-friendly products.

👉 Your voice matters – support the bees and support science!

Available in 7 languages!
agreconlab.limesurvey.net/328536?lang=en