This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
Since 2009, I have enthusiastically administered the Circus of the Spineless - a monthly traveling blog carnival about the most important of all animal life, the invertebrates. Though my own involvement goes back to 2007, the carnival is one of the longest running science and nature blog carnivals going starting in 2005. Even Sci-Am's own blogfather and network wrangler, Bora, appeared in the inaugural edition nearly 7 years ago!
What is a spineless blog carnival? It's a monthly gathering of fantastic science writing on blogs without any of that backbone! Blog authors are encouraged to submit a link or two to their favorite invertebrates blog posts, either their own or someone else's. Its a great community exercise that packages up last month's best posts. Entries don't always have to be written though. Many natural history blogs post pictures of backyard wanderings with little text. Pictures, after all, can speak volumes. So make sure you follow the links each each to new edition of the Circus, read the posts that catch your eye, volunteer to host an edition of the carnival yourself and submit to the next month's circus!
Each month, as I do on the marine science group blog, Deep Sea News (where I serve as Assistant Editor, webmaster and contributor since 2007), and the Circus' homepage I will update readers here on the whereabouts of the Circus. You can always submit posts either to me at kzelnio at gmail or to the host directly. The information for next month's submission is always at the end of the most recent Circus and on the Circus homepage.
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I am VERY pleased to announce that the July edition is hosted at Scientific American Blog's own The Artful Amoeba! Please go check it out. Jennifer has weaved together many marvels to be had there from land to sea! If you haven't yet already her last couple posts too, she is a masterful writer! Also, this is Scientific American's first blog carnival but it won't certainly be the last since I am hosting the August edition. So, please send me your spineless links by August 7th for inclusion.