One of first species I worked on during my PhD, Pterostylis longifolia with Mycomya sp. fungus gnat pollinator.

The end of the PhD journey

December 15, 2022

It was over five and a half years ago when I first sat down at my PhD desk to begin my journey to uncover the secrets of Pterostylis pollination. A lot has changed since then - we moved buildings at uni, I spent years in the field chasing gnats and in the lab working out chemistry, I published two papers on my research, I moved to Arnhem Land and moved back again, I started working in the public service and I submitted my PhD thesis.

Today, at least symbolically, I capped off that journey as I graduated from my PhD at the ANU.

When fieldwork doesn't work out, stop and smell the Acacias. But really, the joys of fieldwork are in the places one gets to go, and the things one gets to see.

The joys of fieldwork

November 5, 2017

Ahhh fieldwork. It never goes according to plan. But, finally, my field season has come to an end and its time to put aside the 4WD, camping equipment and car fridge, and actually unpack the bags which have been moving between the car and house since May.

I was lucky to get a window desk in the PhD office.

Philosophiae doctor

May 2, 2017

PhD stands for the Latin philosophiae doctor, or Doctor of Philosophy. But there are some amusing alternatives for the acronym: parents have doubts/ paid half of what I deserve/ probably heavily in debt/ piled higher and deeper/ permanent head damage/ pretty heavily depressed/ patiently hoping for a degree/ please hire - desperate/ pour him.her a drink/ pulsating heaving disaster. And if you are still stuck in high school, it could also mean pretty huge dick.

March for Science Canberra crowd in front of Parliament House. (Photo: Richert Ahlers)

Why I Marched for Science

April 23, 2017

Yesterday I joined a thousand people on the lawns of Parliament House, as part of the Canberra version of the global March for Science.

I'm not normally part of protests. I'm not sure why, because in many cases I agree with what people are protesting for. I suspect that, like many other scientists, I feel uncomfortable playing the role of the activist.

Latest Instragrams

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The view from the kitchen window this morning. Nature photography is a little different in 2020!
#smoke #fires #climatechange #canberra

The view from the kitchen window this morning. Nature photography is a little different in 2020! #smoke #fires #climatechange #canberra

Those who’ve seen Rufous Bristlebirds know that they’re simply the best. Such characters.

Those who’ve seen Rufous Bristlebirds know that they’re simply the best. Such characters.

I was recently asked to provide images of Red-kneed Dotterels for a sign at Jerrabomberra, and I had to go off digging in my old hard drives from way back in 2011. I’d forgotten that I’d spent a magical afternoon at Calperum Station with

I was recently asked to provide images of Red-kneed Dotterels for a sign at Jerrabomberra, and I had to go off digging in my old hard drives from way back in 2011. I’d forgotten that I’d spent a magical afternoon at Calperum Station with Red-kneed Dotterels coming almost within touching distance in beautiful sunset light. At the time I was out with @hoops.daniel helping him catch dragons near Renmark in South Australia for his PhD. . . #redkneeddotterel #southaustralia #australianbirds #ausgeo #canonaustralia #plover #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #bird_brilliance

The lowly greenhood is quite an incredible orchid. It grows in central northern Victoria and flowers in November-December at a time when most other orchids in the area have died off for the season.
It grows on soil which is baked hard by the hot sun

The lowly greenhood is quite an incredible orchid. It grows in central northern Victoria and flowers in November-December at a time when most other orchids in the area have died off for the season. It grows on soil which is baked hard by the hot sun and seems an inhospitable place for a delicate little orchid to be growing. Plus, it is rare and just looks damn cool! . . #australiannativeorchids #australiannativeplants #pterostylis #pterostylisdespectans #summer #orchids #ausgeo #canonaus #macro_secrets #zeiss100mmf2

The Campbell Albatross is the celebrity of seabird world. Well dressed, perfectly drawn eyeliner, audacious lipstick. Always ready for a night out on the ocean.
#noeyelinerneeded #iwokeuplikethis #seabirdcelebrity #albatross #campbellalbatross #wild

The Campbell Albatross is the celebrity of seabird world. Well dressed, perfectly drawn eyeliner, audacious lipstick. Always ready for a night out on the ocean. #noeyelinerneeded #iwokeuplikethis #seabirdcelebrity #albatross #campbellalbatross #wildlifephotography #canonaustralia #annateenlyf

Sun. Orchid. Explosion! I remember this scene, 5 years ago I found this spotted sun orchid in beautiful Bush at Royal National Park. The last golden rays of the sun were hitting the back of the flower causing the most magnificent explosion of pinks a

Sun. Orchid. Explosion! I remember this scene, 5 years ago I found this spotted sun orchid in beautiful Bush at Royal National Park. The last golden rays of the sun were hitting the back of the flower causing the most magnificent explosion of pinks and purples and yellows. . . #australiannativeorchids #australiannativeplants #sunorchid #thelymitraixioides #sun #orchids #macro_secrets #canonaustralia

So happy for the #hoiho to win NZ Bird of the Year, the first seabird to win. I feel incredibly privileged to have seen these gorgeous penguins on Enderby Island in the sub-Antarctics.
#yelloweyedpenguin #forestandbird #enderbyisland #birdoftheyear2

So happy for the #hoiho to win NZ Bird of the Year, the first seabird to win. I feel incredibly privileged to have seen these gorgeous penguins on Enderby Island in the sub-Antarctics. #yelloweyedpenguin #forestandbird #enderbyisland #birdoftheyear2019 #penguin #subantarctic #seabird

A little bit tongue-in-cheek 😛
I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of how weird these plumed greenhoods are. The densely hairy labellum is probably involved in pollinator attraction somehow but exactly how is unclear. There is some sugges

A little bit tongue-in-cheek 😛 I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of how weird these plumed greenhoods are. The densely hairy labellum is probably involved in pollinator attraction somehow but exactly how is unclear. There is some suggestion dagger flies are involved in pollination (including a great set of photos by Rudie Kuiter) but evidence is still scarce. . . #australiannativeorchids #pterostylis #greenhood #ausgeo #orchid #australiannativeplants #macro_secrets #zeiss100mmf2