Thread by @DollyJorgensen

Made it to Edinburgh for the keynotes at #spnhc2022 ! Starting with Mark Maslin on the Anthropocene.

Yikes! An extremely Euro-centric view of the “modes of human society” on a timeline presented by Maslin (who is a geologist).
Just shows that we historians are doing a terrible job of breaking down this kind of narrative.

Now Hermione Cockburn on Edinburgh and the birth of deep-sea science.
Starts by saying we need ocean literacy among general public.

Presenting Charles Wyville Thompson’s work in the N Atlantic, including major collection voyages. He found incredible diversity, which countered idea of deep ocean as dead zone.
#histsci

Wyville Thompson was lead scientist on HMS Challenger expedition and samples came back to Edinburgh. They ran out of official containers and ended up using things like a cigar box.

The new immersive exhibition on the deep sea at Dynamic Earth science center in Edinburgh looks really cool in her presentation : dynamicearth.co.uk/visit/discover…

3rd keynote is Greg Kenicer on Scottish folklore and plants (plant-lore).
Discussing Robert Sibbald who was interested in medicinal uses of plants and making a living collection in Edinburgh as a “physic garden”.
Catalog of the early contents of RBG biodiversitylibrary.org/item/123335#pa…

Some interesting plant folk stories in that talk - from warding off hunger to warding off fairies.

But now on to marine zoologist Gilles Doignon on Global Coalition #UnitedforBiodiversity

Doignon discussing the #UnitedForBiodiversity coalition of museums, zoos, research centers, universities, etc. ec.europa.eu/environment/na…
More institutions invited to join!
It’s about making a commitment to discuss the nature crisis.

Nice shout out for the @bristolmuseum Extinction Voices intervention by @isla_gladstone.
Extinction narratives matter!

Very strong action-oriented message from @gillesdoignon to close off the plenary talks.