https://www.activeintellect.blog/cardio-conservation daily 0.75 2026-02-16 https://www.activeintellect.blog/cardio-conservation/guppy-love monthly 0.5 2026-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/762beb5e-c515-40be-8c43-575b7e7aecd9/FreePik+image.jpg Cardio & Conservation - And they called it Guppy … Love? - Guppies [Source https://www.freepik.com/] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/26ea9723-8e36-418d-92af-ceab3e35f580/Trinidadian+guppy+from+Deacon+et+al.webp Cardio & Conservation - And they called it Guppy … Love? - Make it stand out Trinidadian guppy (male, top, female bottom). [Source © Deacon et al, 2015] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1771244231870-MEG3TF9IQE7MJWSK6VRX/unsplash-image-LEw6N9wLQQE.jpg Cardio & Conservation - And they called it Guppy … Love? - Make it stand out [Source Unsplash.com] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1771247149394-K4AU7QSPVX978RCS9M5S/unsplash-image-weJBleMT_CA.jpg Cardio & Conservation - And they called it Guppy … Love? - Make it stand out [Source Unsplash.com] https://www.activeintellect.blog/cardio-conservation/researcher-spotlight-2 monthly 0.5 2026-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1763226822209-LMLGNZYKO6COH6QQJLXK/Lauren+Main+Logo+-+Blog+TD.png Cardio & Conservation - Researcher Spotlight - Hannah - Make it stand out https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1767102131998-O18OUJGJ0YTSZUMEFYN0/unsplash-image-w41YjwQzXm4.jpg Cardio & Conservation - Researcher Spotlight - Hannah - Personally, I haven’t written anything “extra-curricular” since I deleted my Wattpad account in 2011, but it’s probably good to get more practice in before I start writing thousands of words worth of thesis next year…. So if you’re interested in learning about oil pollution, evolution, and tropical fish, read on! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1767097273864-5NMA4KTQ81DAKBMZML21/unsplash-image-Qmuou04mG10.jpg Cardio & Conservation - Researcher Spotlight - Hannah - We often think of evolution as a historical process, but the world is still changing (arguably more than it ever has) and there are so many new pressures to respond to, from climate change and habitat loss to antidepressants in our waste water making fish more confident (that’s for real btw, see Gould et al (2021)* for a review if you’re interested. Its pretty wild! ). Understanding how species are adapting to the challenges we humans have thrown at them is really interesting to me, from both a scientific and also an optimistic perspective. Hopefully, if the world ends, we’ll at least still have guppies! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1771247039287-N7B7Q3DXUUA4VHVBIK2L/unsplash-image-9Vnxo0cCR3Q.jpg Cardio & Conservation - Researcher Spotlight - Hannah - But guppies are also tolerant of a lot of man-made stressors, including, in our case, high levels of water pollution. Which is what took me to Trinidad, home of the guppy and also home to a large number of on-shore oil rigs. Trinidad & Tobago is a major oil and natural gas producer (over 1/3 of the country’s GDP) but the industry is poorly regulated, with over 1000 oil spills reported between 2016 and 2024, the equivalent of 3.8million gallons, and over 70% of this occurring on land. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1767102269716-PV7ILGPW7ANUNOV7USAW/unsplash-image-8xAA0f9yQnE.jpg Cardio & Conservation - Researcher Spotlight - Hannah https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/cdadc47f-ae10-427d-8d4f-b6033c6f5ddc/Screenshot+2025-12-17+140441.png Cardio & Conservation - Researcher Spotlight - Hannah - In fact, my own fieldwork has shown how much change in pollution can happen in just a year! Left: Vance River in 2024. Right: Vance River at the same spot in 2025. A floating foam noodle was placed to catch oil flowing into the river. This was likely caused by oil pipe damage during nearby road construction. Crude oil completely coated the plants up and downstream of this “pollution limiting device”. Image credit H. McGovern, All Rights Reserved https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1767102580662-T0114UU7USOP5WYI2TG0/unsplash-image-82TpEld0_e4.jpg Cardio & Conservation - Researcher Spotlight - Hannah - These stressors may still lead to physical differences in the short term, something we call Phenotypic Plasticity - the ability to change a physical trait within your own lifetime. Unstable, high-stress environments can lead to selection for high levels of phenotypic plasticity as organisms need to respond rapidly to a severe change. We’ve found some evidence for this in these guppies: fish from high pollution environments have developed longer guts - typically common in guppies eating a low quality diet. Why they would do this however is still up for debate, and the lack of previous research becomes a bit of a drawback. But I suppose it leaves plenty of room for future students to investigate… https://www.activeintellect.blog/cardio-conservation/researcher-spotlight monthly 0.5 2025-12-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1760040466102-MZ5JEYDZZ6R6Y2I6XJS5/unsplash-image-HtOtpf3sLZU.jpg Cardio & Conservation - Researcher spotlight - Oliwia - My final year was definitely something. I did my final year project on how light pollution affects the distribution of small mammals, finding that, unsurprisingly, small mammal populations tend to decrease with light pollution, however this effect was much more prominent with streetlights (rather than motorway lights), and with females rather than males. I could write so much more but that research is not what this post is about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1760210819178-2CTJIFG64I02322H56KI/unsplash-image-aUXsL7rDOcw.jpg Cardio & Conservation - Researcher spotlight - Oliwia - Make it stand out Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Oliwia’s research will focus on two species of fish found in coastal Brazil. [Unsplash] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/39a841e9-d949-49b7-b958-4b388cef1a3d/Screenshot+2025-10-11+202117.png Cardio & Conservation - Researcher spotlight - Oliwia Wish me luck on my journey! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1762201713619-KYQFENAG8XXESL8A2XM3/unsplash-image-rMDrnKCH-aM.jpg Cardio & Conservation - Researcher spotlight - Oliwia They may monopolise and take all the resources away from native organisms (mosquitofish). They may breed faster and have populations grow at a rate that native organisms cannot compete with (muntjac deer). They may predate native organisms (domestic cats). They may carry diseases that organisms in the habitat have not previously been exposed to (grey-squirrels). These are all world-wide problems, and mostly human-caused. Humans have released so many organisms to parts of the world they do not belong, having the interactions organisms have built between each other over millenia ruined by an unwelcome intruder. https://www.activeintellect.blog/cardio-conservation/Blog Post Title One-h4xh9 monthly 0.5 2025-10-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1757344947719-THC6X10DBVN8PC1V781K/unsplash-image-Qmuou04mG10.jpg Cardio & Conservation - Welcome to Cardio & Conservation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1757344657710-XRSG3B2P4GOWEXUEBGYZ/Screenshot+2025-08-16+200531.png Cardio & Conservation - Welcome to Cardio & Conservation That’s where Cardio & Conservation comes in. https://www.activeintellect.blog/phd-in-motion daily 0.75 2026-02-12 https://www.activeintellect.blog/phd-in-motion/end-of-term-1-wrap-up-5-things-i-learnt-this-term monthly 0.5 2025-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/9bc278d2-122a-4d95-95c0-66f2471bcfc4/20250924_094937.jpg PhD Blog - Term 1 wrap-up - 5 things I learnt this term - Make it stand out The beautiful Founder’s Building at RHUL - where I spend precisely 0% of my time :( https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1767095095060-GZU896FA2QDMOWTU1VGL/unsplash-image-QPA4Txj6zbU.jpg PhD Blog - Term 1 wrap-up - 5 things I learnt this term I’m massively back into reading at the moment (see PhD in Rest Mode if that’s also your thing!), and it was watching a BookTuber vlog (forgive me) as she read whilst listening to brown noise that made me try this one. And honestly, I’m here for it. When reading for myself, or reading academic papers, writing my lit review or whilst working in the cosier setting of the campus coffee shop, listening to brown noise has helped shut out the distractions, and I have found myself to be more productive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1765876981242-3GKV5VEW51ZP4S78MTF0/20250924_095102.jpg PhD Blog - Term 1 wrap-up - 5 things I learnt this term - Obviously there are multiple ways to pursue and complete a PhD, but as a full-time student, dedicating the next 3.5-4 years to research, with flexibility, individual responsibility, and the benefits that come with being a student… WHAT A TIME! Stressful; yes. Overwhelming; yes. Am I expecting to cry?; yes. But these next few years will be unlike any I have yet experienced, and very likely never will again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1765903592368-8F0S6O88LUWMM2KS0RZY/unsplash-image-z3TVLPqcgGk.jpg PhD Blog - Term 1 wrap-up - 5 things I learnt this term - Until next time, have a very Happy Christmas and New Year! x https://www.activeintellect.blog/phd-in-motion/i-dont-belong-here-imposter-syndrome monthly 0.5 2025-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/dd00877a-e00a-4a70-b719-02c54a5f6431/phd+comics+imposter.gif PhD Blog - ‘I don’t belong here’ - Imposter Syndrome - Make it stand out Image Copyright PhD Comics - I do not own this image https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/3c6798be-7efe-44ba-8516-c8b2bb5c9ecd/Dunning+Kruger.png PhD Blog - ‘I don’t belong here’ - Imposter Syndrome Imposter Syndrome can tie very neatly into that sharp fall into the Valley of Despair; you realise how little you know, how much there is to learn, how are you ever going to learn it all, this is a mistake, you don’t belong here, you know nothing!! And so it goes on and on and on…. (currently me by the way). Source: 2 Tapan Desai: https://tapandesai.com/dunning-kruger-effect-theranos/ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/16814adb-4ef7-47fe-a71d-4d6e2fd454e7/phd+comics.gif PhD Blog - ‘I don’t belong here’ - Imposter Syndrome - Make it stand out Source: 3 PhD Comics: https://phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1976 https://www.activeintellect.blog/phd-in-motion/first-few-weeks-what-to-expect monthly 0.5 2025-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/075afcf9-cdd9-47c3-bf47-127d1210c356/Screenshot+2025-11-03+204113.png PhD Blog - First few weeks - what to expect - PhD Studentships First off, let me just point out that some of these points may be specific to my particular circumstances as a recipient of a funded PhD Studentship - my PhD is funded by NERC - the Natural Environment Research Council in the UK, in collaboration with the TREES DLA - Training, Research & Equity in Environmental Sciences, Doctoral Landscape Award. I am of course incredibly lucky to have this, and would not be able to study without it. But these points should still be useful to any PhD programme at an academic research institution, whether funded, self-funded, full, or part-time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1762204512129-TA387O4MFLVS4VKTSOEC/unsplash-image-MldQeWmF2_g.jpg PhD Blog - First few weeks - what to expect - Forms, forms, forms… …gotta fill in all those forms (think Bills, bills, bills - if you don’t understand that reference please leave (please don’t actually! But do go and find the song)). During said inductions, we were introduced to the Eisenhower Matrix (or the ‘Urgent-Important Matrix). These forms place highly on my ‘Urgent but Not Important’ task axis. There are quite a few of them, for instance; Postgrad Start of Session, BACS, Student ID, campus Parking Permit, Health & Safety, anything and everything related to your Funding, even down to more personal circumstance forms like Student Discount on Council Tax (this one was a very pleasant surprise, but have I heard from the council?? Of course not!). Just… forms. They will be there. Expect them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/084db348-efd5-4474-9c44-69c04b8951c1/20251027_082418.jpg PhD Blog - First few weeks - what to expect - Explore your campus… Seems a little obvious, yes. If you’re continuing at the same institution, clearly not needed. For me, I was completely new to the campus - I had visited before and had a brief tour with my now-supervisor, but it was quite hard to take everything in when you’re trying to impress one of the people who could hold your future in their hands! On my first few days on campus, pretending to look more comfortable than I felt, I wandered my new home to try and get my bearings. The little wins, such as just knowing where you are going, can make a huge difference. … and find your space I was pleasantly surprised to find that my institution had a PhD student ‘office’ and I was entitled to a desk space. Quite clearly, I am still struggling with the fact this is my place of work! Find yours early. And related to the above, find a place you like to be, and where you like to work. I recently found a rather beautiful spot in the library with a great view out to the Founder’s Building at RHUL - I’ve yet to have to fight someone for it, but as a public space this is far more likely to be taken than my desk in the office. But here is a spot I know I will come when the office walls start to close in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1762205621163-OB1AVLHLVJ17M2QQZAT2/unsplash-image-zMRLZh40kms.jpg PhD Blog - First few weeks - what to expect - Start reading This personally, I am struggling with. I am involved in the above mentioned training, which currently is taking up about 45% of my week. With another day or so set aside for meetings, plus family life, my ‘PhD days’, and within those my Reading hours, are actually far more limited than I would like. But wherever you can, even if you are continuing the line of research from your Master’s, start reading the academic literature. I’ve had this mentioned to me SO many times in the first few weeks, and I’m going to do the same. If you’re not already, start using Bibliographic software to manage your references. I use Zotero, but there are plenty of others out there, and your institution may have their own subscriptions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1763220636573-TOWTX59JUOWGP4WHYFIW/unsplash-image-s9CC2SKySJM.jpg PhD Blog - First few weeks - what to expect - And that’s it. Congratulations on smashing your first few weeks if you are just starting out. If you haven’t started yet, I hope this helps give a rough idea of what your first few weeks might indeed look like. https://www.activeintellect.blog/phd-in-motion/journey-to-a-doctorate monthly 0.5 2025-10-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1758889978780-8GCUJMMR55IJCM9QLJ08/unsplash-image-noa9OfagwjA.jpg PhD Blog - Journey to a doctorate - Working with species such as the Malayan Tapir (left), Muntjac Deer, Sumatran Tigers (yes it counts if you weeded the enclosure!), and my favourites of all time, the Bearded Pigs ! Whatever your feelings towards zoos, there’s no denying that making the most difference you can to these animals, forming relationships and bonds, is something incredibly special. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1759404194206-XEY96RHKGNFZ1N9SOJ4D/20180906_140508+%281%29.jpg PhD Blog - Journey to a doctorate https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1759404193289-82AJVCQME0CEMRDGA4LK/20181220_150600+%281%29.jpg PhD Blog - Journey to a doctorate https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1759404199260-WJ5KJ3DZLVFO0F72HZVF/20190214_152424+%281%29.jpg PhD Blog - Journey to a doctorate https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1759404196023-LO1ZHP8708IJSBR1IJ2V/IMG-20190321-WA0007+%281%29.jpg PhD Blog - Journey to a doctorate https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1759404647197-FARJVBA1577ECBL0YODL/20211006_082850.jpg PhD Blog - Journey to a doctorate https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1759404442772-1T5X5K0N29RJX6AKE6NP/20231018_133938.jpg PhD Blog - Journey to a doctorate https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1759404447669-Z25C2PIBB2D09290V8PS/20231018_134003.jpg PhD Blog - Journey to a doctorate https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/9bc278d2-122a-4d95-95c0-66f2471bcfc4/20250924_094937.jpg PhD Blog - Journey to a doctorate - Make it stand out The Founder’s Building, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham https://www.activeintellect.blog/phd-in-motion/blog-post-one-welcome monthly 0.5 2025-10-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/a6cc2c6d-3035-4532-993b-fa36eb8c2a11/Zoe+Graphic+design+1.png PhD Blog - Welcome to PhD in Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1757344402927-VBU96WSVTNR66SXQC919/unsplash-image-F_lns58a_ec.jpg PhD Blog - Welcome to PhD in Motion Not just in my other role as a mother, but in my other other role as a Fitness Instructor - specifically a Group Cycle class instructor (fitness enthusiasts FTW!). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1758800926165-16AWFFUGDGMY0BI277MY/IMG-20250921-WA0012.jpg PhD Blog - Welcome to PhD in Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1758800824556-RSJ5MOVYF83ZH5I6PUNS/IMG-20250921-WA0008.jpg PhD Blog - Welcome to PhD in Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/4c0fc916-824b-4d90-bb07-c5a054b119c4/unsplash-image-5YtfiBnXGT0.jpg PhD Blog - Welcome to PhD in Motion At the time of writing I’m also in training for my first Hyrox**, and I’ve got a Tough Mudder * * in a couple of weeks. https://www.activeintellect.blog/-in-conversation daily 0.75 2025-10-11 https://www.activeintellect.blog/-in-conversation/ky8pgqmurhzd0186m7q4m7x930noug monthly 0.5 2025-10-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1760209096876-P8T5NZZHOEDNTIJ19HV9/Lauren%2BCardio%2Band%2BConservation%2BLogo%2BTD%2B-%2BBlog.png ... in Conversation - C&C in Conversation - Very soon I’m hoping to bring conversations with other researchers, academics and professionals, in the world of science or beyond. Sharing their data, findings, experience, opinions on and solutions to complex environmental issues, and more. These will be irregular episodes, recorded whenever the conversation arises, and time allows. https://www.activeintellect.blog/phd-in-rest-mode daily 0.75 2026-03-05 https://www.activeintellect.blog/phd-in-rest-mode/happy-world-book-day monthly 0.5 2026-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1772740942935-PTUVRW8N3MJ2CNN7YHOI/unsplash-image-NIJuEQw0RKg.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - Happy World Book Day! - What are you reading right now? This year, my Fable reading goal is 45 books, and with today’s official SJM news, a large chunk of this needs to be finishing the other two current series!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1772741486796-R9AZQPWD51MQEGW4NX54/unsplash-image-YcYSkBfEXYI.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - Happy World Book Day! - Rebecca Yarros - The Empyrean Series Onyx Storm 4.75★★★★★ I put this on my 2025 reading wrap up but I didn’t technically finish this until the New Year, and I am as hooked as ever! And now in the same boat as most people who started this series early on and didn’t have all three books to binge. I.e. having to wait - patiently - for book 4! Love this series so much! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/9ce4cd33-7779-4ea3-8952-91b39af2c71e/20260305_202012.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - Happy World Book Day! - The Queen - Sarah J Maas Throne of Glass Series - Crown of Midnight 3.75 ★★★ I’m not stressing at all that I have the rest of TOG and all of Crescent City to finish by October - I’m lucky to be so far behind. Yes, definitely. Lucky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1772743019683-Q4GCYUMTESIX96O9FXEL/unsplash-image-dCgbRAQmTQA.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - Happy World Book Day! - Taylor Jenkins Reid - Atmosphere 4.5 ★★★★ My first TJR book and oh jeez! This one just hit different. I haven’t reviewed much feedback but some mentioned; not a lot happens, the characters don’t change. But my thought is, why do they have to? How much am I really and profoundly changing as a person? Not all that much. Except in becoming a mother. And as the mother to a boy who dressed up as an astronaut today for world book day, with his cardboard rocket ship and black hole (yep, not a planet, a black hole), I am not letting him go into space! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/d50a704b-32d1-40a6-ae51-2ab2f62b42a6/cerulean+sea.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - Happy World Book Day! - Why didn’t I end on my current read? Because of T. J. Klune - Cerulean Chronicles duology The House in the Cerulean Sea 5★★★★★★★★★★ I adored EVERYTHING about this. I laughed. I came close to crying. I felt all the feels and fell in love with pretty much every major character, including the cat. The perfect break to some of the high fantasy and romantasy I have been reading, with the huge plots and worlds. This one didn’t need it. It was cosy and sweet and fun and I just absolutely adored it! Did I say that alread? Must read, please. [Image Source: Goodreads.com] https://www.activeintellect.blog/phd-in-rest-mode/2025-reading-wrap-up monthly 0.5 2025-12-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/0839525e-eea3-4941-9105-c93773f3bd7c/20251217_090045.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - 2025 Reading Wrap Up! But this post isn’t meant to be a plug for Fable. I love tracking my reading throughout the year, on the app, and in my own journals. And as this is the first year I’ve had my own platform, I wanted to take a page out of Fables’ book (hah!) and do a Reading Wrap-Up. I said before I have been in my Romantasy Era, and I’m not ashamed of it! Below is a list of all of the books I have read (and listened to) this year. I’m not going to meet my target, unfortunately, but it’s still been the best year for reading I’ve had in about a decade. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1765960479116-AEYD64S9LN0R3PQGY3R6/unsplash-image-tweOetXrOSw.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - 2025 Reading Wrap Up! - Sarah J. Maas My most-read and top author this year by far! I am actually really glad I am so late to the SJM party, because I have been devouring these books! A Court of Thorns and Roses series I ate up the entire series this year! If you haven’t started this series or got a bit stuck on book 1, PLEASE push through. This series is perfection! READ IT! A Court of Thorns and Roses A Court of Mist and Fury - actually amazing A Court of Wings and Ruin A Court of Frost and Starlight (novella) A Court of Silver Flames - incredible! Throne of Glass series I’ve got the boxset ready to go, but read only the first book this year. It hasn’t hit as hard as ACOTAR yet, but I’ve heard the series is perfect. Throne of Glass https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1765960936661-HOYAGF8EZ6D22OPHG6A8/unsplash-image-qWZMFJbWb-E.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - 2025 Reading Wrap Up! - Rebecca Yarros The Empyrean Series What can I say? If you’re into fantasy/ Romantasy, you’ve likely already read it. I was late to this series too and, again, I’m happy about it. I’m currently reading book 3, so will have completed the entire series released so far this year. Highly recommend! And again I definitely recommend The Fantasy Fangirls Podcast, as they do incredible Deep Dives, chapter by chapter - there’s so much I missed on a first-read! (Currently listening to the entire ACOTAR series) Fourth Wing (Hello Shadow-Daddy Xaden!) Iron Flame Onyx Storm https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/fa81dcf9-618c-41b2-8f8d-a8ec37af45b8/20251217_085934.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - 2025 Reading Wrap Up! - Sarah A. Parker - The Moonfall Series When The Moon Hatched The book that started it all! My first read of the year; I gave it 5* and it made my heart yearn for more Romantasy! Retrospectively, is it the best book I’ve read this year? No. So if I’m going to give SJM and Rebecca Yarros 5* I would probably have to drop this one down. But I still loved it and can’t wait for book 2, and can’t thank it enough for pulling me out of a fantasy reading slump. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/0e342ded-912e-4919-89c2-43c4b6708ebb/20251217_092110.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - 2025 Reading Wrap Up! - Satoshi Yagisawa - Days at the Morisaki Bookshop One of the prettiest books on my bookshelf, but this fell flat for me unfortunately. I got lost somewhere in the middle of the book and didn’t connect with the characters. But I would recommend this one for a cosy afternoon - you could get through it in one go and that might help hold it together. Nick Bradley - Four Seasons in Japan Something about Japan and the Japanese Culture calls to me, and I am desperate to travel there. So I was looking forward to this one so much. It didn’t live up for me. Devastated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1765963498585-W0NM7FYQYS6S07PQ97J0/unsplash-image-bkEb423smLE.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - 2025 Reading Wrap Up! - Ali Hazelwood Bride duology Bride - Yes, I read it, and I’m not going to talk about it! Hah. My favourite Ali Hazelwood book; it’s so different to her STEM romance. But the genre of fantasy / paranormal maybe isn’t for me. Check & Mate https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1765976603134-U0417ZI7KGG3JJVOLATY/unsplash-image-jvU1gYxgfnA.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - 2025 Reading Wrap Up! - So, overall best books of the year for me? No question - Sarah J Maas A Court of Mist and Fury, but literally the ENTIRE series Rebecca Yarros - Fourth Wing - need I say more? Percival Everett - Erasure M. L. Wang - Blood Over Bright Haven And that’s a wrap on 12 months of reading! Please, let’s talk about books - I’m desperate for my book bestie. Until next time, have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! x https://www.activeintellect.blog/phd-in-rest-mode/blog-post-title-one-rndrn monthly 0.5 2025-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1763224063957-PF4CZCVBLFRITZLJWKS6/unsplash-image-w_qTfiPbjbg.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - Books, books, BOOKS! - A couple of years ago, studying in evenings whilst at Birkbeck, and dealing with the constant sleep regressions of a tiny human, I massively dropped off reading. Also, I spent so much time reading Tolkien … wading through The Silmarillion, Beren and Lúthien, sure I enjoy the world but goshh they were hard going… I completely lost interest. So, all in all, not much reading. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/50b46e0d-0ec6-419e-9cc4-b421a94a78d4/unsplash-image-E-a0dTUzwi8.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - Books, books, BOOKS! - Audible has been around for as long as I can remember. But I currently use the 15 hours of audio listening you get with Spotify Premium Alongside BookBeat, who have different subscription levels depending on how much you listen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/3edda8b6-4267-4289-a806-13cd890dc7bd/20250924_073205.jpg PhD in Rest Mode - Books, books, BOOKS! - I spend a lot of time on dog walks, commuting to uni or work, nursery pick ups and all sorts. Audiobooks have changed my life. I have had many arguments with my husband about whether you’ve actually read the book if you listened to it, and I don’t want to have the same argument with you, lovely reader. Let’s just agree, or agree to disagree. https://www.activeintellect.blog/phd-on-pedals-fitness-blog daily 0.75 2026-02-12 https://www.activeintellect.blog/phd-on-pedals-fitness-blog/sexy-mudder-tougher monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/689074a6cfadb270466c7162/1758800824556-RSJ5MOVYF83ZH5I6PUNS/IMG-20250921-WA0008.jpg PhD on Pedals - Fitness Blog - Sexy Mudder Tougher! - For the past 2 years, I have been having the BEST time as a class instructor, with my great love being Indoor Cycle. I’m lucky enough to still be able to teach a few classes a week alongside my full time position as a Researcher. 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