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ECRI Distinguished Guest Lecture Recap

ECRI Inaugral Guest Lecture with Professor Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi CBE FREng FRS, Vice-President (Research & Innovation) and ARM Professor of Computer Engineering at King’s College London : Rethinking Research: The Role of Humans in Scientific Discovery in the Age of LLMs*

On Wednesday 4 February 2026, ECRI hosted its inaugural guest lecture featuring Professor Sir Bashir M. Al Hashimi CBE, who delivered a thought-provoking talk on The Role of Humans in Scientific Discovery in the Age of LLMs.

The event brought together over 100 researchers for an engaging and highly stimulating session that actively challenged assumptions and sparked fresh perspectives on the future of scientific research and doctoral training in an AI-driven world. Attendees responded enthusiastically to the lecture, with many reflecting on how it prompted them to rethink established approaches and consider new forms of collective thinking.

The energy continued beyond the lecture itself. At the drinks reception that followed, researchers from across Imperial gathered for lively, in-depth discussions with Professor Sir Bashir M. Al Hashimi CBE and with one another. The animated conversations and strong turnout reflected the genuine interest and engagement the talk generated, marking the event as a highly successful inaugral ECRI guest lecture.

The full lecture was recorded and can now be viewed online via the following link: Guest Lecture 2026

Becoming a Successful Postdoc – Previous Attendees Feedback

Following the completion of the previous Becoming a Successful Postdoc residential in May 2025 we asked attendees to share their thoughts and feedback on the session. Below you will find some comments and images they shared. Please note the course was then known as Making the Most of Your Postdoc and has since changed name although the content remains the same:

Myriam Uhrhan: Attending the Making the Most of Your Postdoc residential workshop was an incredibly valuable experience. Over three days, Anna and Ines guided us through a wide range of topics, including career pathways, timelines, what makes a successful postdoc, and practical tools like narrative CVs, time management strategies, and personal action plans. The sessions brought much-needed clarity and structure to my current postdoc role, while highlighting ways to proactively build my skillset and explore opportunities—both within and beyond academia.  A real highlight was connecting with a diverse group of fellow postdocs from various disciplines; the informal evening activities (particularly the long hours of Heads Up) and spontaneous hikes to beautiful viewpoints helped foster genuine connections with some truly awesome people. Being away from my usual environment allowed me to fully immerse myself, reflect, and gain fresh perspectives without everyday distractions.

Eimear Rutherford: I thoroughly enjoyed the Making the Most of Your Postdoc retreat at Shendish Manor. Over three intensive days, we received a wealth of guidance and insight that has been invaluable in helping me map out my career path and identify the steps needed to reach my goals. Gaining clarity on these next steps—and learning about the support available through ECRI—has given me the push I needed to put my plans into action. The funding and CV workshops, along with the sessions on increasing visibility, were particular highlights. However, the true standout of the retreat was connecting with 15 fantastic postdocs from diverse fields and building a supportive network for advice, encouragement, and future collaboration.

Eftychios Manoli: The retreat ‘Making the Most of Your Postdoc’ was very helpful, instructive, and well-designed. Anna and Ines did a great job organizing the sessions and various activities, providing help and support throughout the course. They created a safe and encouraging environment for us to share experiences and reflect. The retreat helped me discover both the drive and the strategies necessary to navigate the difficulties of postdoctoral work, which I had struggled to find beforehand. Being outside Imperial College and close to nature also gave a unique feeling to the event, and the choice of venue was fantastic—well-suited to reinforce the whole experience and foster increased communication, collaboration, and openness. I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity to participate. Thank you to the organisers for your tremendous energy, passion, and effort in making this a successful event! This is a very valuable and truly a ‘must-attend’ course for every early-stage postdoc.

Harry Chown: ‘Making the Most of Your Postdoc’ was an engaging 3-day residential trip from the ECRI on professional development. The course provided a space for us to develop our skills to enhance our current job and to excel in the next stage of our careers. We were provided with a holistic view of what being a post-doc means and how we can improve, as individuals, as part of a research group, as part of the University and as a member of the scientific community. A lot of time was spent in active discussion of specific areas where improvement can be made for post-docs: time-management, CV building, fellowships, industry job applications, managing expectations…the list goes on! By generating a judgement-free space, we were able to explore ideas as a group. This often led to a feeling of reassurance, that we are not alone on this journey and that one of our peers out there has either experienced the same as you or knows a way to overcome an obstacle you are facing. Largely in part to this open community spirit, beautiful surroundings and separation from the usual working day, we were able to form a strong bond as a group. Personal highlight included the super-secret team building activity on the first day. It was a fun way to get to know people, as the description suggests, I can’t give much more away than that. I cannot express how amazing and genuinely life-changing I feel those 3-days were for me. The staff who ran and organised the event were fantastic, and I highly recommend attending. 

Laura Deelan: The Making the Most of Your Postdoc event was a 3-day course in which we delved into what a postdoc entails, what future careers in and outside of academia look like, how to find the things that you may want to work on and many other things! Personally, I feel like I got a much better grasp on what a postdoc is or should be – it comes in so many shapes and forms! The fact that we had many participants across different departments and campuses at different stages made it a super interesting experience as you can see how postdocs from different backgrounds have come thus far. This has helped me immensely with tackling my imposter syndrome! Because both Anna and Ines made it such a safe and open environment, we all had the opportunity to open up and communicate in which areas we can help each other and where we could benefit from help! It is incredibly nice to have learnt the expertise of the other participants and I will not hesitate to contact them if when needed. My personal highlight was the face-to-face setting, and getting to know people on a level that online would not be achievable. The fact that it was three days also made it possible for us to take the time to snap out of our usual environment, and really think about our future! Lastly, it is super nice to have concrete and useful links for every aspect we covered in the course – as the internet can be an overwhelming space of information!  

 

 

Life Sciences – Living Planet Data Challenge

By Agnes Szwarczynska, PhD Researcher at Schroeder Lab at Silwood Park

Recently, I came across a Nature article titled “Reproducibility trial: 246 biologists get different results from the same data sets.” It got me thinking — what if Imperial students, with expertise spanning from animal communication to microbial science, took on the same challenge? That’s how The Living Planet Data Challenge was born — an exciting three-day event that, for the first time, brought together master’s and PhD students at Silwood Park to tackle a real-world data problem.

In the first week of February, participants applied their skills in data analysis, coding, and research to address a question at the intersection of ecology, evolution and environmental conservation. The primary aim of the challenge was to foster problem-solving skills in a fun and inclusive environment — free from the pressure of grades. But despite its playful nature, it turned into something students could proudly add to their CVs. It also provided a chance to practice presenting methodologies and refine communication skills ahead of thesis vivas. For me, it was a big lesson in leading an event and everything that comes with it — securing funding, managing logistics and fostering engagement.

The event kicked off on Tuesday, February 4th, with participants tackling a problem using a publicly available dataset from eBird, a citizen science database with avian occurrence data. The challenge was set within a hypothetical scenario: as Tunisia’s newly appointed Environmental Officers, students had to assess whether the avian conservation program launched in 2017 had achieved its goals. AI tools were permitted, but participants had to justify their usage, adding an extra layer of challenge that required teams to critically evaluate their methodological choices.

[slides from the presentations of a) Jinxuan Cui, Xinting Cheng, Vicky Lin b) Yolanda Qian, Kotaro Kuroda, Rahim Dina c) Nathan Clark, Scott Tytheridge d) Saskia Pearce, Nia Potapova, Georgina Chow]

Using the eBird dataset, teams defined “success” in different ways — some focused on species diversity trends, while others analysed geographic distribution and changes in range sizes or simulated population numbers under various scenarios. From the organiser’s perspective, it was fascinating to see how different teams set out to solve the same problem by adopting very different strategies.

Over the next three days, five teams brainstormed ideas, analysed data and prepared their final presentations. Each day, they were provided with vegan and vegetarian snacks to fuel their creativity. More than just an academic exercise, the challenge served as a platform to refine scientific communication, encourage collaboration and knowledge exchange. With the two £150 prizes in vouchers for sustainable shops, teams were motivated to demonstrate that their approach was the most scientifically robust.

On the final day, teams presented their findings in 10-minute presentations, followed by a Q&A session with a panel of postdoctoral researchers. The prize in the master’s students category was awarded to Saskia Pearce, Nia Potapova and Georgina Chow for their ability to create a well-structured, compelling story and its critical interpretation. In the PhD category, the prize went to Nathan Clark and Scott Tytheridge for accounting for data collection biases and conducting a robust analysis that considered both the short- and long-term effects of the intervention.

Here, I want to thank all the teams for their hard work and determination! Special thanks to Dr. Ambre Salis, Dr. Vivienne Comyn-Platt and Dr. Balig Panossian for assessing the presentations and providing detailed feedback and to Stanislav Modrak for help with the event organisation. Lastly, this event would not have been possible without the funding provided by Imperial’s Early Career Researcher Institute, whose support brought the Living Planet Data Challenge to life.

A Delicious Reunion, Pizza, and Physics Adventures!

Student Research Seminar Series 2022/23

by Giorgio Mentasti, Research Student, Department of Physics

Hey there! Welcome to our super exciting blog post, where we spill the beans on our epic return to the good old days before COVID hit. We’re a bunch of theoretical physicists who’ve weathered the storm, working on mind-boggling equations from our cozy abodes. But guess what? We’re finally back to the normal times together, ready to rock the scientific world.

Picture this: our research group, scattered and isolated during the pandemic, suddenly coming together like the Avengers assembling for a grand mission. The highlight of our triumphant reunion? You guessed it—pizza! And not just any pizza, my friend. Our Italian comrades made sure to choose the most delectable slices in town. It was like a cheesy, tomatoey celebration of life, reminding us that some things never change, no matter the circumstances.

But hey, let’s be real. Our journey back to normality wasn’t a walk in the park. We found ourselves in uncharted territory, trying to navigate the treacherous waters of hybrid meetings. You see, blending in-person and online interactions was like juggling quarks—tricky, to say the least. Our trusty computer systems decided to give us a hard time, playing pranks and causing hilarious technical hiccups. We laughed, we facepalmed, but we soldiered on, determined to make our meetings kick some serious scientific butt.

And guess what? We didn’t just stick to our cozy little bubble. Oh no, we went big! We managed to bring in some stellar speakers from other universities, all through the magic of the digital realm. Can you imagine the excitement? We sat on the edge of our seats, diving into mind-bending talks that expanded our universe even further. From mind-blowing calendars and categories to dynamical massive gravity (seriously, that’s what one of us does for a living), we explored the cutting edge of physics with gusto.

The excitment became a challenge where the phd group had the chance to choose a topic and two of the bravest phd decided to prepare a seminar in 24h!

As we wrap up this rollercoaster of a year, we can’t help but feel a renewed sense of purpose and camaraderie. Our reunion wasn’t just about pizza and shenanigans (although they played a major role, let’s be honest). It was about reigniting our passion for unraveling the secrets of the cosmos. We faced the challenges head-on, adapting and innovating like true science warriors. And you know what? We came out stronger, wiser, and more connected than ever before.

So, what was there on our mind-bending agenda? Well, the variety of topics was only limited by a finite number of time slots. We kept pushing the boundaries of knowledge, armed with quirky titles like:

  • “The Leggett-Garg Inequalities & Tests of Macrorealism”
  • “A Non-Local Vacuum for Curved Spacetime”
  • “Riding on Regge Slopes”
  • “The Hubble Tension and how the Astro+Theo Community can (try to) solve it”
  • “Dynamical Massive Gravity; or What I Actually Do For A Living”
  • “Does this theory smell off to you? EFTs and amplitudes”
  • “The weak field limit of classical-quantum gravity: We’ll dive into mind-boggling bi-form symmetries and charges in gravity, because, hey, why not? The universe is our playground, and we’re ready to rock it!”

We’d like to give a massive shout-out to the Graduate School for being our partners in crime throughout this epic adventure. Their support and sponsorship have made all of this possible, and we’re forever grateful for their commitment to fostering a vibrant and collaborative research environment.

Science Writing Competition 2022 – joint 3rd Place

by Teodora Rînciog, MSc Student, Centre for Environmental Policy

Hyenas – misunderstood villains?

Hideous creatures with a demon-like laugh, hyenas definitely meet all the criteria for a classic cartoon villain. I certainly thought so when I was a child, as did all of my childhood friends. None of us even thought twice about this judgement, even into our adulthoods. But, was this fair?


Why do we hate hyenas?

 Since the premiere of the exceeding-popular cartoon “The Lion King” in 1994, hyenas were globally established as the silly enemies of the noble lion. Considering the unpleasant appearance of hyenas, the young audience didn’t find this hard to believe. However, this influenced adults too. The New Scientists magazine had hyenas in their cartoon confess: “We’re scavengers, we’re ugly and we smell bad, if we didn’t laugh, we’d crack.” Ernest Hemingway, the world-renowned author, wasn’t a fan of hyenas either. He created many hyena myths in his writing that continued to degrade their reputation (3).


People are easily influenced by the graceful appearance of the lion and thus typically hold positive opinions on the lion’s role in nature. But, looks aren’t everything. The fragile balance of the ecosystem depends on hyenas’ “dirty work” as the garbagemen of nature (4). Fittingly, garbagemen also have negative reputations in competitive human societies, but are an equally crucial part of it. As carnivores and scavengers, hyenas’ main diet consists of corpses of all kinds. These corpses can become a source of microbes that can reach humans and spread like wildfire. Thus, they have the potential to cause serious diseases. Luckily for all of us, hyenas eat these ticking biological timebombs before they can hurt us (4).

Losing the main scavenger is devastating for an ecosystem and also catastrophic for us. For instance, in India, vultures were hunted intensely due to their negative reputation among farmers. The suppression of this central scavenger led to a dramatic increase in infections that transmit from animals to humans (5).

Their cruel destiny

Despite hyena-and-human co-existence for thousands of years, farmers have been poisoning hyenas because they claim hyenas attack their livestock. But hyenas actually target old or ill animals, and are often just caught eating animals that have died from another cause. Hyena’s have been poisoned at an industrial scale with the arrival of European settlers, leading to the extinction of hyenas in South Africa (4). According to The Red List, the population of the most numerous hyena species, the spotted hyena, is estimated at 27,000– 47,000 individuals worldwide, yet it is in in continuous decline. Along with lack of data, this could put the spotted hyena on course to becoming vulnerable to extinction (6).

Hyenas are a crucial link in the food chain and maintain the delicate balance of nature. Sometimes, fairy tales, like the Lion King, can’t show us the true heroes. Heroes can have messy fur instead of red capes. We need to see past our prejudices and take action so that nature does not pay for our mistakes again.

 

Disclaimer: All the illustrations except the photography (2) and the lion silhouette are created by me using Inkscape software as a tool (3); the thought bubble (cloud) is generated using Microsoft Office shapes. The lion is generated using Microsoft Office Word’s icons.

Science Writing Competition – People’s Choice Award Winner

by Soteroulla Ellina, PhD Student, Department of Brain Sciences

Lab grown heart cells: Keeping the beat up

– Sorry, I am running late at the lab so I will have to raincheck today’s meeting…

This is probably something I have said more times than I wanted… Sometimes in confidence that the other person would understand and sometimes- especially with someone that I haven’t known for long, in a more apologetic way, hoping that they would not judge me. Good for me, this time, my friend belonged in the first category- he has known me for more than 15 years- so we quickly rescheduled.

A few days later, we finally met. After apologising once more for cancelling, I started talking about how unpredictable the lab can be, and how time flies once you are in your lab coat. That was when he looked at me puzzled asking:

– So, what is your PhD about…? Seeing the distress in my face when I realized that one of my best friends did not know what I had dedicated my life for the past 3 years, he tried to calm me down adding:

I know it has to do with Genetics and you are using cells that you take care of everyday. But why?

In his defence, he knew the basics and he was genuinely asking for more information. How could I be mad at him? So, for the first time, I started explaining the science- rather than the practical difficulties and the stress that come with it.

– As you said, I am interested in Genetics, the way that the information about all our traits is transmitted from one generation to the other. More specifically, I am working on an inherited disease- Friedreich’s ataxia- which is incurable and frequently devastating. It usually starts in childhood and mainly affects the nerves causing loss of balance, slurred speech, while the patients die early due to heart failure…

I could see he was stunned… so I quickly switched to the bright side.

– Our aim is to cure the disease. To achieve that, we need to understand the exact mechanism that leads to it. Previous research has shown that the problem within the gene is that its code has 3 letters that are repeated too many times – GAA. This GAA repeat, in patients, switches off the gene when it should be on. The gene is switched off by triggering an ancient defence system which packages the DNA making it inaccessible. Understanding how to overcome this trigger leads to the possibility of switching the gene back on using enzymes that mark the affected gene as ‘active’. That is why I am using these demanding stem cells. They have the capacity to turn to the affected cell type- heart cells- so we can study the disease in a system that resembles the heart, without using the actual organ! Let me show you a video of the beating cells.

– That explains the long hours – he whispered – you keep up the hope along with the beat!

Motivation boosted instantly.

Science Writing Competition – Joint 2nd Place

by Adwoa Sarfo-Bonsu, MSc student, Department of Metabolism, Digestion & Reproduction

The more, the merrier: Cells have social lives too

There are certain processes that occur inside us that can only happen effectively when our cells are in close contact with each other. Our cells are ALWAYS communicating. Sometimes they check in on each other to make sure everyone is alright (tissue homeostasis), other times they might even team up together to fight an infection (immune response), and sometimes cells come together to make a whole new embryo (fertilisation).

To achieve all these things and many more, cells need to be able to constantly send and receive messages and instructions to each other. This communication is crucial to the healthy maintenance of our cells and our bodies. If cell communication goes wrong, this can lead to many diseases including dysregulated cell growth (cancer).

Growing human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in the lab has helped us understand many mechanisms in the processes that happen inside us. Using hESCs we can model some of the events that happen during human embryonic development.

During development, BMP4 is a growth factor that has a role in generating the cells (mesendoderm cells) that will become our future lungs, liver and heart, amongst other organs [1]. We can model and monitor this period in the lab by treating hESCs with BMP4. When treated with BMP4, hESCs which are grown in cell clusters develop mesendoderm cells. However, when grown as single cells, hESCs do not develop mesendoderm cells.

My project was to find out more about why these differences occur and how cell-to-cell contact plays a role in the early stage of embryonic development.

From the difference between the responses to BMP4 in cell clusters and single cells, we know that how cells contact each other affects how they develop. For hESCs to develop into mesendoderm cells, they need to communicate with each other, and we believe that the further away cells are from each other, the less likely they can hear and respond to instructions.

What we don’t know is if the number of cells plated in a dish together can affect how strongly the cells contact each other, and in turn, how that influences cell communication. Finding this out could help us understand more about how cells interact in our bodies.

My experiment consists of plating both low and high numbers of hESCs into dishes and measuring the amount of connecting proteins they present with their neighbouring cells. The more connecting proteins, the stronger the cells are connected. The less connecting proteins, the weaker the cells are connected.

I think the more cells put in a dish together, the more connecting proteins they will have and the more strongly connected they will be. This in turn allows hESCs to communicate better and respond to instructions (such as BMP4) appropriately.

Overall, my project highlights the link between cell-to-cell contact and cell communication. It might be easy to overlook something like how many cells to put in a dish, but let’s be honest, cells have social lives too.

Science Writing Competition 2022 – Joint 2nd Place

by Nicola Robson, MSc student, Department of Life Sciences

The Fossil Gallery

My life in this museum may
Seem rather dull to you,
100 years stuck on a wall
Sounds tiring, it’s true.

But if you knew my story, you
Would soon begin to see
That epochs pass like seconds
When you’re as old as me.

I watch you humans flit about
Like ants, from my display,
And I confess, I do enjoy
To people-watch all day.

And so I’m quite content here, in
The Fossil Gallery – yet
I often reminisce about
My old life in the sea.

My ancestors were lizards
Slinking through the sun-kissed sand,
‘Till one day they decided
They were not content on land.

A major mass extinction meant
All sea creatures were killed;
The ocean was an empty niche
Waiting to be filled.

This drove their evolution,
And scales turned into skin,
Their fingers became flippers
And tail turned into fin.

And so my kind invaded
Any ocean that they pleased.
The ichthyosaurs were reigning
Every corner of the seas.

The Mesozoic Era
Was when I lived and died.
When reptiles ruled the oceans,
Land, rivers, seas and skies.

As powerful as any tide,
My tail swept to and fro,
Wide eyes made for the darkness, so
Into the deep, I’d go.

But I was made for swimming –
Chasing prey in open sea.
You wouldn’t find another who could
Swim as fast as me.

But then there came a time when I
Could chase my prey no more,
I knew my time was over
And sank gently to the floor.

I lay there for millennia,
Upon the ocean bed,
As sediment, like sands of time
Built up upon my head.

And as the heaviness above
Pressed down upon my bone,
Rock soon replaced my body,
And turned me into stone.

The continents all shifted –
Either merged or broke apart.
New species rose and fell, just like
The beating of a heart.

And all the while I stayed there
‘Till my rocky tomb unfurled –
And I gazed upon the landscape of
An unfamiliar world.

You dug me up and hung me on
The wall for all to see.
No living soul had seen a stranger
Animal than me.

A funny fish, or crocodile,
Were both bandied about.
Sea-dragon, dolphin, dinosaur,
You couldn’t work me out.

But science has progressed, and so
You know me now, it’s true.
But just think, I’ve had lots of time
To get to know you, too.

Your climate’s getting warmer, you’re
Held captive by your phones,
Will you only stop to see it
When all that’s left of you is bones?

So as the day comes to a close here
In the Fossil Gallery,
I watch you down below me, and
You look, but do not see.

So I look on with interest
Because stay on this wall I must –
Until you come to join me
Or I crumble into dust.

Science Writing Competition 2022 – 1st Place

by Thea Mainprize, PhD Student, Department of Life Sciences

The Trial of the Red Gazelle

The thylacine, aurochs and countless more, What is another knocking at Heaven’s door? One more quietly met their maker,
The red gazelle (Eudorcas rufina).
Bright rufous pelts – such beauty, such grace! But all we know about are skin and face,
No genetic studies, no records in the wild, Only two specimens worldwide on file.

Three, there once were, shot 19th century, Allegedly Algerian – though this is speculatory, Upon inspection, an imposter! Begone!
One red-fronted gazelle (Eudorcas rufifrons). With the IUCN denouncing its legitimacy1, The red gazelle faded into obscurity,
A true species, or all imposters? Court in session to settle the matter.

“Last expert, please!” The judge demands, I swear my oath and begin at the stand,
“Ringed horns, large pocket for scent glands, Undeniably Eudorcas, no doubt about that”. “It is slightly similar”, remarked I,
“To Thomson’s gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii), But most features and short, straight horns,
It completely resembles Eudorcas rufifrons.”

But what of its real affinity? Distinct, rufifrons or thomsonii?
Measurements done, the analysis complete, The jury reached a verdict, drum roll please. Several points clustered together,
Eudorcas rufifrons and Eudorcas rufina, Also grouped in the evolutionary tree, Unanimous decision – defendant guilty.

The defence lawyer rumbles, suddenly erupts, “Explain yourself!” The judge interrupts, “Objection, your honour!” Cried he,
“This trial is based only on morphology!
I beg you, your honour, you must reconsider, Else my client be condemned forever,
To the vast depths of purgatory, Remaining anonymous to humanity.”

The judge ponders, slowly speaks, “A trial with DNA is what you seek?”
“Yes, your honour, for anatomy can lie – Birds and bats – unrelated – but both fly.” The judge, moved by impassioned plea, Adjourns the court immediately,
This creature, thought I, imposter or not, Should not be one Father Time forgot.

At time of writing, I patiently await,
DNA results – species or not will they state? The judge arrives, bangs the gavel,
“Order! Order!” The plot unravels, Prosecution ready, the accused tense Defence determined, courtroom suspense, Soon, once again, I take to the stand,
The red gazelle’s fate rests in my hands.

(1) From left to right: The skulls of Thomson’s gazelle (E. thomsonii), red gazelle (E. rufina) and red-fronted gazelle (E. rufifrons). Note the prominent horn rings and large, deep dip in front of the eyes. This is called the pre-orbital fossa and houses important scent glands. These features are hallmarks of the Eudorcas gazelles.

(2) A plot constructed from measurement data taken from skulls of Eudorcas gazelles. This type of cluster analysis, called ‘principal component analysis’ is often used in morphological studies, and when points group together it can be indicative of the same species – as can be seen for the red gazelle (E. rufina) which is nestled within the E. rufifrons group. The two were also grouped in my evolutionary tree based on morphological features.

1. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2008). Eudorcas rufina (Red Gazelle). Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/8974/12944313#assessment-information