Courtney Birksmith

Masters of Research student at Macquarie University • @MQBiology • Palaeobiology • Interested in cambrian fossils and dating rocks!

[Courtney Birksmith @OpalFossil]

I am so happy to announce that I have finally submitted my Master's thesis!!!! So thankful for everyone who helped and supported me along the way ❤️

[Courtney Birksmith @OpalFossil]

@ValentinJamart Hi Valentin, thanks for your interest! I used an integrated multiproxy approach including biostratigraphy and carbon and oxygen chemostratigraphy. Since the thesis has just been submitted and will soon be under review I can't provide details yet, but in short, yes and yes!

[Courtney Birksmith @OpalFossil]

I am so happy to announce that I have finally submitted my Master's thesis!!!! So thankful for everyone who helped and supported me along the way ❤️

[Palaeontologia Electronica @PalaeoE]

Our annual poster competition is underway and we're excited to see your creative submissions. Choose one publication from our archive and create a graphic to win a cash prize. See examples from last year below.

Deadline: 1 December 2022
More information: https://t.co/rvoi36OBxs

[Alyssa Fjeld ✨ @slyssabits]

It is once again time for #SciCommSeptember! This year, let’s talk about how paleontologists do field work. Since my speciality is marine invertebrate paleo, I’ll be discussing that; other paleo folks please feel free to talk about your own methods!

[Alyssa Fjeld ✨ @slyssabits]

Very excited to be working again with @CastlePalaeo , @200micron , as well as newcomers @OpalFossil , @sallykhurst and the Mizzou Team under the seasoned @smjacquet !

[Dr. Joe Moysiuk @CambroJoe]

The #Cambrian Explosion marks the first appearance of many animal phyla in the #fossil record, but just how radical was it? I'm starting a new #FossilFriday thread where I post Cambrian fossil representatives of one phylum per week. Join me on this trek across the tree of life

[Patrick Mark Smith @PatrickMarkSmi1]

I was part of the new podcast from the Australian Museum. It was good fun to chat all about the geological evolution of central Australia in Episode 1 & naming species in Episode 4: https://t.co/IgCfsSeJTF

[Courtney Birksmith @OpalFossil]

Started taking images of my beautiful beasties that I've taken out of acid this week!!

I absolutely love using the Scanning Electron Microscope ❤️🔬

[Alyssa Fjeld ✨ @slyssabits]

This Is My Science: Cambrian geology/paleontology, via Flinders Ranges, SA! When we collect in the field, we break rocks down into transportable chunks. Some- like the beautiful ripple cast- are left behind. The views are worth it! #ThisIsMyScience #PintAU22 @pintofscienceAU

[Alyssa Fjeld ✨ @slyssabits]

I LOVE my labmates! They really are fantastic. Reliable material processing, top notch writing, and always there to lend a hand with training. They’re supportive, patient and hilarious! @OpalFossil @CastlePalaeo #ThisIsMyScience #PintAU22 #AvidResearch

[Marissa J Betts @200micron]

1⃣ ⚡️Hot off the press⚡️Our new paper in #EarthScienceReviews reviews ways to define the base of the Cambrian and presents new integrated #multiproxy data from the #Ediacaran - #Cambrian of Mongolia. Check it out! And check out this thread! https://t.co/VhDvSzT0rH

[Courtney Birksmith @OpalFossil]

@CastlePalaeo 100%!!

[Courtney Birksmith @OpalFossil]

And it has been yet another amazing week of progress! Managed to start putting some of my core samples in acid!!

Very excited to start seeing what beasties I'll find ❤🐚

[Courtney Birksmith @OpalFossil]

Also finished cutting all the core I'm planning to thin section! Shoutout to @CastlePalaeo for making sure I didn't cut my fingers off 😁

These will be sent to @200micron at @litholab_une for processing! Looking forward to seeing the beautiful carbonate textures 🥰

2/2

[Courtney Birksmith @OpalFossil]

What a week it has been! Ended up hitting 2 major milestones in my project progress!

Finished drilling powders for all of my core material which will be sent to @UniAdelSciences for carbon and oxygen isotopic analysis! Can't wait to see what the data will look like 😁

1/2

[Marissa J Betts @200micron]

Chopping rocks to see what they look like inside is honestly one of my favourite things to do. 🤣

[Dr. Joe Moysiuk @CambroJoe]

Introducing Tomlinsonus dimitrii, a new marrellomorph #arthropod from the #Ordovician of Ontario. This is the oldest case of soft tissue preservation known from Ontario and fills an important gap in our understanding of these rare animals. 1/10
https://t.co/qrXK7yZOZT

[Alyssa Fjeld ✨ @slyssabits]

@herbertologist Olivine/Quartz starter Malseer, a malachite tarsier. He kicks, shoots azurite spears, and he has so many things that might be eyes. I am not good at drawing lol.

[Sabin Zahirovic @tectonicSZ]

We will be running a FREE online (py)GPlates workshop on 3-6 May (9-11am, Sydney time). Huge thanks to @AuScope for funding (py)GPlates development through NCRIS. Register: https://t.co/nHjojtzWTt
@EarthByteGroup @WOMEESA @BenRMather @gsansw @anzic_iodp @AUGEN_TEAM @sydneyunigeo

[Dr. Rod Taylor @FossilRod]

This #FossilFriday, one of my favourite palaeontological reconstructions: D.W. Miller's #Ediacaran (left) + #Cambrian (right) seafloor. It clearly shows changes in mobility and feeding after the Cambrian Explosion, caused in part by the development of the arthropod exoskeleton.