There's a story in the news today casting doubt on the idea that #wombats can outpace than Usain Bolt: abc.net.au/news/science/2…
My book #PlatypusMatters adds to the evidence that these brilliant dumpy beasts can indeed run that fast:

Wombat people know this.

My gift to you: a young snow wombat.
#WombatWednesday #fieldwork #Tasmania #wombat #MammalWatching #WildOz #wombat s

My talk, 'Re-presenting representation: complicated identities of celebrated figures' is now on Heritage and Colonialism Discussion Group's channel.
I discuss the eminent Australian scientist, EC Stirling, & explore why narratives about him don't reference his African-Jamaican heritage:
youtu.be/wfU9PhVXx64?si…

Clearly wombats adapting to the English countryside.

Buttongrass Tussocks is such a great name for a character…

Thank you!!

Wombats have the largest brain of any #marsupial . Their blank expressions are just a reflection of the fact that they know they can outsmart you.🧠
#WombatWednesday #fieldwork #Tasmania #wombat s #MammalWatching #WildOz #wombat

Well, shucks. This is nice! 😊
'It is rare to find such an exploration of biology, conservation, behaviour, and cultural significance in such an accessible form. #PlatypusMatters is a triumph of natural history writing'

Uncivilised: Ten Lies That Made The West is brilliant.
With the easy style of a profoundly well-read, witty, wise fictional bartender, Subhadra Das explores how pillars of Western civilisation, from notions of democracy, law, art & science, may not be all they're cracked up to be

A fully-funded PhD studentship at the University of Cambridge to explore South Asian natural history collections at the University Museum of Zoology and University Herbarium, co-supervised across the faculties of history, zoology, plant sciences, and history of science!

Wowsers. This book is so thoroughly brilliant. The Winter Road by Kate Holden is the true story of the murder of an environmental officer by an Australian farmer, but it's much more than that: it delves deep into complex relationships with, and exploitation of, land in Australia.

Here's a great chance to build a cool community art partnership for this year's Cambridge Pride, working on a creative response inspired by our collections (and particularly our fabulous #LGBTQ + themed trails.) Take a look: 🌈🏳️‍🌈🐧🦄

I am *extremely* excited about this. Please share with anyone who might be keen: we're offering a FULLY FUNDED PhD studentship, exploring:
Colonial Natural Historical Collecting in the South Asian Indian Ocean.
There are some important stories to tell here
ccc.cam.ac.uk/cc-ee/students…

Very occasionally, you come across a #wombat that just looks mean. #MortalWombat
#WombatWednesday #fieldwork #Tasmania #MammalWatching #WildOz #wombat s

If you can get yourself to #RefikAnadol 's free installation at Serpentine, I promise you will not regret it. Entrancing, hypnotic, and thoroughly beautiful ceiling and wrap-around wall projections of AI-generated art filling the whole gallery. Only a couple of weeks left.

Natural history #museums strive to make people care about biodiversity. BUT, their displays don't communicate what biodiversity actually looks like (most animals are #insects ).
To be clear, though, we don't want to see fewer platypuses and echidnas, but more flies would be nice.

If you're in London and haven't seen the epic awesomeness of the Grant Museum of Zoology's newly renovated displays, get yourself over there (still complete with all your jar-of-moles, wall-of-mice, platypus, Micrarium, thylacine and quagga favourites).