Our PhD Medals and Awards are now open for nominations, celebrating outstanding early career researchers in both botany and zoology. • The Irene Manton Prize • The John C. Marsden Medal • PhD Student Paper Prize Check out the three categories and submit nominations by 30 September.

Can't visit our current exhibition? You can now walk through (online) our in-depth exhibition on Linnaeus’ classification of humans through his books and manuscripts. Watch below! This is a really nifty way of 'seeing' it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMHG...

The John Spedan Lewis Emerging Leader Award is for initiatives that have had a notable positive impact for the UK natural environment. It's presented in collaboration with John Lewis Partnership Foundation’s Nature Fund. Download the form to nominate a deserving nature leader.

On 20 March 1838, Robert Schomburgk presented a paper 'Description of the Mora Tree' at the Linnean Society, with a watercolour and specimens of the tree itself. Our talented conservation volunteer, John Abbott, has conserved this beautiful painting. Read below. www.linnean.org/news/2026/07...

New Blog! 📣 There isn't much room for fungi in the fossil record, yet here Isabelle Pola discusses the discovery of one of the oldest ever found! From Cretaceous period sedimentary rock, these fossils help to reshape our understanding of how modern ecosystems developed. buff.ly/3hp1vOd 🧪

Most UK media reports on June heatwave failed to mention climate crisis

What are ‘clock’ flowers? Can we use flowers to tell the time? Join us in SE London for a guided walk and reflective, creative activity exploring blooms with daily movements on Aug 1, 10 am. Book here: bit.ly/4gyhS33

For National Map Reading Week, we present this unique geological map of Northumberland-Durham. What makes this unique are the species annotations made by the owner. The first image is especially striking with the species names radiating out in a sun-like formation.

Bromeliads are one of the great evolutionary success stories of the neotropics. Explaining how the plant biodiversity evolved is one of the greatest challenges in evo bio. Read this study that confirms the crucial role that hummingbirds played from our Botanical Journal! bit.ly/4h69Z4Z

Inherent Vice has distilled the work presented at our symposium, Exploring Queerness in Natural History, into a 114-page zine! The publication features articles inspired by the symposium and original reflections and research exploring queer ecologies. See more here: www.inherentvice.co.uk

Danielle Crowley, our former Engagement Officer and current PhD student, writes about how nature has always been a place of safety and comfort, where gender doesn’t matter, and the role of queer-focussed programmes in institutions. #PrideMonth Read here: bit.ly/3RoJuxd @aquadan1.bsky.social

For #DragonflyWeek, boy do we have the perfect thing! A talk by dragonfly expert Ruary Mackenzie-Dodds on New Zealand’s Bush Giant, Uropetala carovei. It is a unique underground dwelling dragonfly - watch astonishing videos on the nocturnal behaviour of one of these burrow-dwellers! buff.ly/qiGY1F6

Excited to receive Inherent Vice No. 3: Exploring Queerness in Natural History, a zine in collaboration with us! From reflections on queerness during conservation work on hyenas and porpoises to creating ecology/queerness festivals, read about nature's intersection with queerness. buff.ly/47eZgmH

This is happening this Thursday! In-person talk at the Linnean Society at 6 pm - grab your tickets now! Here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1989218859...

How do we understand the dispersal and evolution of a species-rich gecko group across Australia and the South Pacific? Latest blog by guest blogger TW Fieldsend. Read here: bit.ly/4y8NouW PS: Also, how adorable is that perch?

In 1965, 13 great auk eggs disappeared. Tim Birkhead set out to find those eggs and reconstruct the great auk’s lifestyle. Did he find the eggs? Find out at our lecture on July 9 at the Linnean Society. Bonus: Tim's bird paintings! Book below. buff.ly/lWD0mz1

In 1965, 13 great auk eggs disappeared. Tim Birkhead set out to find those eggs and reconstruct the great auk’s lifestyle. Did he find the eggs? Find out at our lecture on July 9 at the Linnean Society. Bonus: Tim's bird paintings! Book below. buff.ly/lWD0mz1

Are humans really fish? Why are we the only animals with chins? How much of our DNA do we share with the trillions of bacteria in our bodies? Watch Prof MaxTelford's Linnean Lecture on the epic history of life on our planet. youtu.be/SzT2dEhQN7M

Nominations open for Linnean Medal for research! Awarded for significant and sustained advances in the understanding of nature, including academic research into any relevant branch, including science, history and the humanities. Deadline Sept 30. For more details and past winners 👇️ buff.ly/X52reM9

Applications are open! For the annual Linnean Medal for significant and sustained dedication to the protection of nature including conservation, communication, education and advocacy. Deadline for nominations is 30 September. For all details and nominations: www.linnean.org/the-society/...

Happy 125th to @hornimanmuseum.bsky.social & the story of our link through Kate Hall, the 1st female museum curator in England. Hall, was one of the first female Linnean fellows (1905), & curator of the Whitechapel Museum. She was also one of the speakers in the Horniman Museum's series of lectures.

Call for Writers! 📣 Are you a student or early career researcher? Science communicator? Know someone who is? We're looking for our next round of Guest Bloggers for our journal blog The Paper Trail! Check out our vacancies page to apply, and read some of our latest posts here: buff.ly/7JVQmSx 🧪 🌍

Happy Friday! It's a scorcher this week, so while we all try to stay cool, why not read one our Treasure of the Month blogs? This one, written by resident bat expert Georgia Cowie, looks at John Hooper's bat scales and the impact he had on bat ecology. Read it here: buff.ly/gFHaggw. 🦇 🧪

Published today! Inherent Vice No. 3: Exploring Queerness in Natural History. I'm delighted to be involved with this following a pioneering symposium @linneansociety.bsky.social earlier this year. 🌈📚🏳️‍⚧️🐦 www.pagesofhackney.co.uk/webshop/prod... #Pride #PrideMonth #PrideInSTEM #queer #nature #zines

Can't make it to our exhibition? No problem, we will bring it to you! Join our Head of Collections Isabelle Charmantier and us online for a virtual and free tour of our in-depth exhibition on Linnaeus’ classification of humans through his books and manuscripts. buff.ly/Ykyhg4i

Yes, it is sunny out there & these sunflowers sure would love it. Helianthus annuus from Johann Sebastian Müller's 20-part series 'Illustratio Systematis Sexualis Linnaei' which attempted to illustrate the Linnaean classification system and was one of the most successful books of the time.

Ruary Mackenzie Dodds shared amazing videos and stories about finding dragonflies in unexpected places - underground burrows - earlier this month. Celebrate #InsectWeek with a little watch! buff.ly/GMMYSY6

Thanks to Rose Awareness Week for prompting us to post these gorgeous roses from Robert Thornton's 'Temple of Flora', Part III of 'New illustration of the sexual system of Linnaeus' (1799-1807). You can even buy a print for yourself or the rose lover in your life, here: bit.ly/4eDjeXw #roses

We will soon be hosting our summer lectures on Tuesday 23 June - join us to discover the fascinating history of interactive printmaking with two expert speakers Suzanne Karr Schmidt & Katie Birkwood, & create your own interactive volvelle. history.rcp.ac.uk/event/body-k... #BodyOfKnowledge

Are humans really fish? Why are we the only animals with chins? Join us and Professor Max Telford on Thursday (6 PM) as he takes us inside one of science’s greatest quests: reconstructing the web of relationships between all our planet’s species. @maxjtelford.bsky.social Book here: bit.ly/4uPhlgw

I will be talking about The Tree of Life at the Linnean Society on 25th June. If you are interested you can find out a little more and sign up for a ticket at the link below. Hope to see some of you there! members.linnean.org/events/69f21...

On 25 November, our symposium 'Orchidaceae | Taxonomy, Diversification, and Biogeography' will bring together perspectives on orchid evolution. Curated by @latinorchidbot.bsky.social, editor of a Special Issue in @botjlinnsoc.bsky.social, with speakers including Richard M. Bateman.

We were delighted that four of our Fellows have been elected in the recent intake of Royal Society Fellows - Professors @larschittka.bsky.social, @beverleycubg.bsky.social, @stuwest.bsky.social and Kathy Willis. Congratulations from all of us at the Linnean Society!

Did you know seals, sea lions and walruses hear well both above and below water? James Rule told us all about how - with an added interlude from Hoover the talking seal - in our recent lunchtime lecture. James published some of his work on this topic in @zoojlinnsoc.bsky.social. buff.ly/X1J1pmv

BHL @biodivlibrary.bsky.social es un recurso indispensable para los estudios en biodiversidad. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

A colouring book (?) from the 18th C! These illustrations are from British entomologist Dru Drury's famous book "Illustrations of Natural History". This copy was donated to us by Vivian Seymer, possibly a descendant of naturalist Henry Seymer. The insects really seem to lift off the page. Cont...

How we train the next generation is critical to nature recovery.

Blog Alert! 🚨 How would you achieve complete ecological dominance in the Mesozoic? Early sauropodomorphs like Macrocollum itaquii decided a long neck was the answer, stretching their vertebrae into great lengths...talk about sticking your neck out! 🧪 🌍 Read it here 👇 www.linnean.org/news/2026/06...

Citizen science data from iNaturalist has helped uncover the evolution of parental guarding behaviour in harvestmen: from @zoojlinnsoc.bsky.social Combining nearly 300 years of fieldwork with data from iNaturalist, researchers have more than doubled documented cases of parental care in harvestmen.

This Thursday 6 pm, a talk tracing the story of an arboretum planted by Suffragettes & almost forgotten by history. The tale of a lone Monterey Pine planted by suffragette Rose Lamartine Yates, found by artist Elaine Duigenan who began a quest that spans nature, culture, feminism & art. Book below

Our warmest congratulations to Kabir Kaul FLS, who is recognised in today's Honours list for services to nature. Kabir said: “I remain incredibly grateful for the Society’s kindness and encouragement, and the wisdom of all the Fellows I've had the privilege to meet so far." buff.ly/fmWsoma

In this lecture we examine two copies of one of natural history’s great female pioneers Maria Sybilla Merian’s great work held in both the Linnean Society and Oak Spring Garden Foundation libraries. Explore this masterpiece of scientific illustration. Watch here:

A moving story of a writer falling in love with an ancient linden tree. Europe’s oldest lindens have seen as many as 1000 winters. Lindens are tied to Linnaeus as Carl Linnaeus father had adopted the Latinized surname after a majestic, ancient small-leaved linden (Tilia cordata) on their homestead.

You don't want to miss this free and fantastic talk - all about underground dragonflies! Yes! And all the way from New Zealand by dragonfly conservationist Ruary Mackenzie Dodds. PS: There is an AMAZING video that has dragonflies, a feral cats, possums, a hedgehog... Book: bit.ly/4g8drvu

The 20th C transformation of biology owes a lot to Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman whose cancer cells led to the first immortalized human cell line. Read our blog by Olive Rothwell, winner of the annual KYTOS Award for Academic Writing. bit.ly/4v3SBSI

We had a great time at @citywestminster.bsky.social's Biodiversity Bioblitz during half term! Our Education Manager, Dan, and volunteers from among our Fellowship spent the day with local residents, identifying as many species of plants, animals and fungi as possible.

Happy #WorldOceansDay! "Science is a story of exploration, discovery and understanding," writes marine biologist Melissa Cristina Márquez. In The Linnean, she writes about shark science, and why multi-language communication is so important for the future of research and engagement. bit.ly/4v4kKcs

You are a survivor of many great dyings. How did we come to think of ourselves as survivors in a world where species can vanish forever? This Thursday (6 pm), join us for a talk on the tangled and unnatural histories of extinction and empire by @sadiahqureshi.bsky.social Book here: bit.ly/49HM5bM

Delighted to hear about the evolution of trees & how they have transformed our planet. And even more delighted to hear two of our Fellows discuss the brilliance of tree evolution on 'In Our Time', with William Baker and Christopher Berry! You can listen below. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

For #WorldEnvironmentDay, we would like to show you the New Naturalist Library. These books aim to interest the general reader in British wildlife by recapturing the inquiring spirit of the old naturalists. Our set was owned by James Fisher, author/broadcaster/naturalist & one of its first editors.