Dr Victoria J Burton

Work in FE or sixth form? 🌱we’re gathering student views on nature & climate for the National Education Nature Park.
Take part by:🧑‍🏫 completing the survey in class💬 discussing as a group + sharing a summary✏️ or completing it independently. Open till end of April ~10 mins survey 👉http://bit.ly/469qXJz

Who watches the worms? Motivation and (non-)participation in a contributory citizen science project - BMC Ecology and Evolution BMC Ecology and Evolution - Citizen science projects rely on public participation to generate data and promote engagement with science. However, little is known about the motivations of individuals...

My paper with @andypurvisnhm.bsky.social @dralanjones.bsky.social et al. on our Earthworm Watch 🪱 #citizenscience project @nhm-london.bsky.social & @earthwatcheurope.bsky.social is out! We examined motivations of those who did, and importantly, those who didn't, take part doi.org/10.1186/s128...

Before and after photographs of school grounds. One is a concrete playground the other has been improved with containers of colourful flowers.

🌿 Working in ecology, biodiversity or wildlife conservation?
Join our webinar exploring the open‑access Nature Park Map and how schools across England are taking action for nature recovery 📅 11 Feb, 16:00–16:45 🔗 www.educationnaturepark.org.uk/webinar-expl...

We're incredibly PROUD to be offering 80+ online and in-person courses (most completely FREE to attend!).

Led by passionate specialists who want to share their knowledge, book as many as you want!

This is a huge opportunity for nature enthusiasts🌿

Join us NOW!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-biolog...

SHNH Early Career Researcher Symposium 2026 - Society for the History of Natural History For this symposium we have welcomed papers from across the field which speak to any aspects of the history of natural history. The speakers have been drawn from individuals registered for PhD…

We're excited to be supporting the Early Career Researcher Symposium from @sochistnathist.bsky.social.

Taking place on 19 February, the programme showcases research into the study of natural history through time, done by early career researchers across the globe.

Book:

A montage of animals that had relevance of one sort of another to my 2025…. proboscideans, varanids, phorusrhacids, marsupials, and cryptids like long-necked seals and tatzelwurms.

Cover slide from one of the several events on Mesozoic Art II. The art on the cover of the book is by the amazing Anthony Hutchings, who I’ve now worked with on several occasions (the results of a new collab are due out soon).

Lightroom London gives you more than one opportunity to see the Prehistoric Planet dinosaurs at life-size, both outside (as here) and as part of the event. At right, me with actor Damien Lewis, the show’s narrator. Damien was one of several celebs at the opening event in July. Billie Piper was there too but I didn’t talk to her.

Darren Naish being subtle and low-key in demonstrating enthusiasm for Spinosaurus. This replica skull was brought to the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival 2025 by the University of Portsmouth team.

Today (Jan 21st) is the day... TWO DECADES of Tetrapod Zoology. We start with a review of what went down in 2025... it was quite a busy year. Huge thanks to everyone who visits, reads and leaves comments at Tet Zoo, and especially those who assist with efforts. tetzoo.com/blog/2026/1/...

Are you planning to undertake a project in 2026 which involves collecting plant-related data?
Would you like <£1,000 towards your costs?
Apply for a #BSBIPlantStudyGrant!
Here's how:
bsbi.org/learn/grants...
Read how a #BSBIGrant helped Katherine research ancient meadows:
bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...

Black and white photo of an actor in the centre of a woodland of tall tree trunks, accompanied by a musician in a long coat playing a violin. Credit: Jack Parris, 2025 Massee Arts Grant awardee. https://www.instagram.com/jackparrisd/

Open for applications: Massee Arts Grant: up to £5000 to support novel arts projects focused on fungi. For artists from all disciplines & all geographic locations who can help us encourage engagement and learning about mycology. Find out more & apply here: www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/massee-arts-...

BES grant application is now open. Image shows a diver photographing a large whale shark underwater, with the British Ecological Society logo.

We are now accepting grant applications to fund ecological research and outreach worldwide.

⏰Apply before 10 March 2026!

Find out what grants you can apply to 👇
https://f.mtr.cool/cucxadvxjq

🧪🌍

a screenshot of a flyer about the BES Macro SIG -- there's a meandering river, pink 'British Ecological Society' branding, and the title 'BES Macro Group Volunteer Opportunities'

Are you into macroecology and/or macroevolution? Want to make our field a better place?

Please consider joining the BES Macro SIG Committee! We're currently recruiting for a vice chair and ordinary member(s).

More info and how to apply (deadline Jan 20th!): mcusercontent.com/a9537304d9bd...

Effect of bulb type on moth trap catch and composition in UK gardens We analyse 10 years of records Garden Moth Scheme (GMS) to estimate the effect of bulb and trap type on the number of moths caught by moth traps. We find that brighter, higher wattage bulbs collect ...

Interested in moth trapping?

Wondering which trap to use? Or if different bulbs collect different species?

Using 100k samples from @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social our new paper looks at these questions and more! With with Bill Kunin and @katatrepsis.bsky.social

#mothsmatter #teammoth

“We cannot withdraw from the fact that over 1 million species of plants and animals face extinction.” 🧪

IPBES remains committed to its mandate to provide the most credible science and evidence about biodiversity to all decision makers and actors. 🌍

The Earth BioGenome Project: Building the Ultimate Library of Life Earth is full of amazing life forms, from giant whales to tiny microbes. Scientists want to understand and protect this biodiversity—but first, they need to know what is out there. That is where the E...

An accessible, easily understandable description of the Earth BioGenome Project @ebpgenome.bsky.social - a worldwide effort aiming to read the complete set of genetic instructions (genomes) for every known eukaryotic species on Earth kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.... #biodiversity #genomics

📢 Call for Collaborators!

Interested in Isopods? Check out this call in Soil Organisms by Konstantin Gongalsky and colleagues @msteinwandter.bsky.social @soilscholar.bsky.social

soil-organisms.org/SO/article/v...

The MERL wins again (sorry to my employer @nhm-london.bsky.social)! And their Bluesky Hog is just the thing for a pig-loving 80th birthday New Year celebration which was stressing me out!

Oh #DinoConUK 2026 is on my birthday!! I'm going to have to try and wrangle a holiday.

NHM Postgraduate Showcase Come along to the NHM to learn more about postgraduate study at the museum!

Interested in postgraduate study @nhm-london.bsky.social? There's a showcase coming up on 27 Nov 2pm to 5pm GMT. Find out about our programmes & meet current students. Sign up for free: www.eventbrite.com/e/nhm-postgraduate-showcase-tickets-1848134021609 I had an amazing MSc & PhD here - never left!

📣 Excited to advertise a new @treesdla.bsky.social CASE PhD project exploring the effects of forest diversity on soil fauna with ecoacoustics. Supervised by me, @evolecollab.bsky.social and Carlos Abrahams @soilacoustics.bsky.social. Apply by December 17th! 🌳🌲🐜🎧🎤 www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/nov...

Webinar for MATs, local authorities and councils: Exploring the Nature Park Map | Education Nature Park Aimed at multi-academy trusts, local authorities and councils, join us for a webinar to explore the National Education Nature Park Map where you can see the collective efforts being made by schools, c...

Webinar for MATs, local authorities & councils: Explore the National Education Nature Park Map, see how schools are improving biodiversity & learn how to support them 🌱 📅 3 Dec | 🕐 13:00–13:45. Sign up! #EducationNaturePark #Biodiversity www.educationnaturepark.org.uk/webinar-mats...

Sad to be missing out this year 😢 double booked with Conchological Society meeting I'm hosting. Hopefully I can catch up with recordings.

Soil Ecology Group - British Ecological Society Understanding the vital ecosystem services provided by soil

We are happy to introduce the Soil Ecology SIG @britishecologicalsociety.org! Our aim is to connect soil ecology researchers across career stages, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration. Check out www.britishecologicalsociety.org/content/plan... and feel free to get in touch!

Smart cutting system used by female sawflies could transform surgery and reduce patient harm Scientists at Heriot-Watt University have unlocked the secret behind how female sawflies make specific cuts to plants—a discovery that could revolutionize surgical instruments and dramatically reduce ...

Another superb example of #biomimicry reinforcing the intrinsic significance of protecting all biodiversity including the newts, bats & invertebrates demonised as barriers to development by Rachel Reeves

As this study demonstrates one day they may literally save your life.

phys.org/news/2025-10...

Yep!

I shot mine across the room once, anxiety clenched rather than laughing. Definitely possible!

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

Outreach, Culture & Education SIG Event 2025 Submit your abstracts on insect outreach and citizen science for a chance to share your research at the event.

⏰ Abstract deadline extended - join the programme by submitting your research by Friday 24 October 🦋

Join us at our Outreach, Culture & Education SIG to network with like-minded people and plan your next outreach venture.

📍 National Museum Scotland
📅 22 Nov 2025

Register now 🔽

Open letter: A global call to strengthen national soil biodiversity action through coordination and harmonization Soil biodiversity remains one of the least systematically studied components of global biodiversity, largely invisible in policy agendas. A coordinated soil biodiversity monitoring approach is urgent...

I am one of more than 100 signatures on an Open Letter to strengthen national soil biodiversity action through coordination and harmonization 🪱🌱@plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social @cmarin.bsky.social @thegsbi.bsky.social doi.org/10.1002/ppp3... #soil #soilbiodiversity #policy #environment

Orthoptera Special Interest Group (SIG) 2025 Join us at The Natural History Museum, London for the Royal Entomological Society’s annual Orthoptera meeting about grasshopper and cricket research, conservation, recording and more. Our Orthoptera Special Interest Group (SIG) provides a forum for the discussion of all aspects of research and outreach involving Orthoptera, including behaviour, physiology, acoustics, ecology and taxonomy. The programme includes around ten short talks, with posters and livestock presented during refreshment breaks. The meeting is followed by an optional supper and drinks in the NHM common room. We welcome contributions from all enthusiasts, students, academics, and other professionals.

Don’t miss the #OrthopteraSIG 2025 on 5 Nov at @nhm-london.bsky.social 🦗

Enjoy talks, posters & live specimen displays, and a buffet dinner option at our friendly informal forum to share research across behaviour, acoustics, taxonomy, ecology & more.

Submit your abstract and register now 🔽

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Plus my MSc and 2/3 of my PhD tutors didn't get any of the money from my fees or scholarships because they don't work for the institution my degree was awarded by, I guess it went on journal access fees, admin etc. 🤷‍♀️ they tutor because that's what scholars do.

Yeah! Again an invertebrate wins!