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Alex Lipp

@alexlipp.github.io
740 followers 1.2K following 126 posts

Lecturer in Earth Sciences @es-ucl.bsky.social | Interested in rivers, mud, mountains, pollution, carbon cycling, quantitative methods, open science | alexlipp.github.io | www.sewagemap.co.uk | he/him | 🌍 🌱 🏔 🧗‍♂️ 🏕 🏃‍♂️

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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 21/06/2026
I often think this with respect to sewage spills from water co’s. If Thames *is* renationalised, the pollution doesn’t instantly stop and it’s no longer “sufficient abstract evil shareholder” to blame it’s literally the government. Do you really want to touch that 3rd rail?
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 16/04/2026
Thanks to @mysociety.org for this great focus on SewageMap and what we’re doing to make sewage spill data more transparent! (And how the public can apply pressure for even more data!!)
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 16/03/2026
A proposal that would improve the university sector, bring in external investment and help normalise EU relations… so obviously the gov and UUK are dead against it
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 20/02/2026
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... “‘Is university still worth it?’ is the wrong question”
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 21/01/2026
wonkhe.com/blogs/gradua... Remarkable quote: "We’ve gone from government suggesting that the state would subsidise undergraduate student loans by about 45p in the pound, to making a profit on them for that cohort."
wonkhe.com
Graduates are paying more and getting less
Jim Dickinson traces how a student loans system once sold as cost-sharing has become one where graduates fund everything – and where Labour has quietly reversed promises to make things fairer Jim Dick...
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Lewis A. Jones (he/him) @lewisajones.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
🚨 Pre-announcement! 🚨 We’re hiring for 2 x two-year, full-time roles to join me and the wider @palaeoverse.bsky.social team @es-ucl.bsky.social. - Research Software Engineer (REF: B04-06999): lnkd.in/eNRBiPnP - Community Engagement Coordinator (REF: B04-06998): lnkd.in/ejUACCzn
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 11/12/2025
In our 💫 new preprint 💫 Barney Dobson & I drill into the statistics behind “shitty” headlines like these about the number & duration of sewage pollution spills. We analyse a dataset of nearly 4 million individual #sewage spill events… 1/ eartharxiv.org/repository/v...
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 15/11/2025
OTOH the environment agency *is* massively under-resourced so not totally their fault, *but* this defence is totally inappropriate… You’re an arm of the State, it’s right and good to be subject to criticism and you need to respond to it better than “uwu don’t be so mean” 🙄
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Brandon Bishop @brandontbishop.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Many people believe that the way to attract people to the geosciences is via logical, utilitarian returns on an undergraduate degree. But left unexplored is the power of the field's inherent irrational, cosmic horror to command attention. It's 2nd only to astronomy in that, & much more immediate.
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 16/10/2025
Another research institute opting for “short lived AI start-up chic” in their (no doubt vastly expensive) rebranding I see
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 05/09/2025
Stunning conditions (and enthusiastic students!) for the first few days of the @es-ucl.bsky.social mapping course in North West Scotland! ☀️ ⛰️ ⚒️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🗺️ #fieldworkfriday
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 26/08/2025
Neat idea from psephology that might be useful for geological ternary plots too. Similar to the 4 component solid solution of garnet.
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 15/08/2025
Given that universities/gov are savaged in the media even for increasing fees with inflation, is there anything meaningfully lost from advocating for a one-off step change back to an inflation adjusted £9k (~£13k)?
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 11/08/2025
Me to students: "Keep field notebooks legible, and only write down the most relevant information". My own notebooks:
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 05/08/2025
Shocked to hear that Stream, which has given Esri huge sums of bill payer money to create an extremely basic API, has won an award from…. Esri! Trebles all round…
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 31/07/2025
eartharxiv.org/repository/v... In our new preprint we describe in detail the software & workflows behind www.SewageMap.co.uk! One for the open environmental data nerds out there :) 💩 🧑‍💻 🏞️
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 14/07/2025
Related reminder that the student loan repayment threshold for current students is now *£25000*... i.e., if you now graduate and get *any full time job* you will be paying back your loan. (www.gov.uk/repaying-you...)
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Shamelessly replugging this from two years ago. We would never look at the proportion of, say, schools, that don't turn out literate pupils and go 'oh well, probably those kids were better off out of it'. We shouldn't view the short tail of bad courses and/or outcomes any differently:
ft.com
Everyone needs educating in the fight over university degrees
Political confusion over the purpose of these institutions means the obvious fixes are being neglected
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 04/06/2025
Putting together a NERC proposal and somewhat baffled by what NERC mean when they want a Summary to be suitable for "opinion-formers". Who are these people and how am I meant to write for them?!
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pbown.bsky.social @pbown.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
We are offering a full-time permanent academic post at Lecturer level (Grade 8) in UCL Earth Sciences. Research areas include the climate crisis, hydrogeology, sustainable resources, the energy transition, natural hazards, and planetary science. www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
ucl.ac.uk
UCL – University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 02/06/2025
We at @es-ucl.bsky.social are hiring a Lecturer! Research area is broadly defined within the climate crisis, hydrogeology, sustainable resources, the energy transition, natural hazards, and planetary science. www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
ucl.ac.uk
UCL – University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 29/05/2025
Total ignorance here that Universities *already offer* vocational training. The whole point of the 92 reforms was to give these vocational courses at polytechnics the same level of accreditation as academic degrees...
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 28/05/2025
My favourite fact about crushing rocks is that it uses up **1%** of all global energy usage…
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 21/05/2025
Really excellent news, and should never have been doubt. The original protest on Dartmoor was a hugely moving event and has sparked a new wave of R2R movement ⛰️ 🏕️ 🌱
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Bob Hilton @profbobhilton.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
New Job! Please repost! We have a NERC funded PDRA position here @oxuniearthsci.bsky.social, 2 yrs, on modelling cryosphere change and hydrochemistry #models, #carbon, #permafrost, #deglaciation Come join our friendly team! Apply by 11/06, any Qs get in touch! my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 27/03/2025
www.theguardian.com/business/202... I really question how useful this type of reporting is in practice. The question to ask is "Is This A Big Number?" and I just don't think we have enough years worth of data (3 years tops) to work out if 4m is, or is not, a big number...
theguardian.com
Nearly 4m hours of raw sewage dumped in England’s waters last year
Duration of spills by water companies up on previous year, in data described by environment secretary as ‘disgraceful’
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Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Does the UK state have a vendetta against universities?
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 12/03/2025
www.theguardian.com/environment/... The new government policy on bathing water status seems to be taking direct inspiration from the survivorship bias meme, for some reason?!?
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Dr. Rebecca Barnes (she/her) @waterbarnes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
"The intersection of science and politics is both inescapable and of vital importance. Scientists possess unique expertise that is crucial for informed policymaking and societal progress. Embracing political engagement allows scientist" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Elon Musk is a proven danger to good science, but the Royal Society won’t say so. That’s why I resigned | Kit Yates
It is vital to act, and I urge colleagues to do so. How can we stand by and laud this man while he undermines scientific integrity? asks academic and author Kit Yates
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Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her) @moudhy.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
In this ancient Assyrian letter, astronomers complain that they can’t do their jobs or teach astronomy “because of the ilku-duty”, a type of taxation in the form of labour. “we cannot keep the watch of the king, and the pupils do not learn the scribal craft” cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/33...
Photo of a portrait shaped clay tablet with well-preserved cuneiform signs. Photo of a portrait shaped clay tablet with well-preserved cuneiform signs.
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 10/02/2025
Question for #hydrology #dataviz and #webdev folks… has anyone seen a visualisation like the below from earth.nullschool.net (by @cambecc.bsky.social) but for river discharge not wind speed?? Sure I saw something similar previously but now can’t remember where!
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 27/01/2025
Ooft
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Seismica @weareseismica.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Are you passionate about science communication and spreading the word about the diamond open access revolution in geosciences? Here's your chance! Join the Seismica movement as a volunteer for our Media & Branding team. Details and application here: forms.gle/D5QWWFZY65GP...
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Jonny Dawe @jonnydawe.github.io · 26/01/2025
www.sewagemap.co.uk now covers the whole of England. The picture is pretty horrifying.
sewagemap.co.uk
Sewage Map
Real-Time Sewage Discharge Monitoring | Sewage Map - Stay Updated on Sewage Pollution
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 26/01/2025
www.sewagemap.co.uk now has national coverage! North Devon getting a bit of a pasting right now 💩 💩…
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 18/01/2025
Working on some exciting updates to www.SewageMap.co.uk with @jonnydawe.github.io!!
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Advances in Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry @weareagc.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
Be sure to visit our website journals.uu.se/AGC and let us know if you are planning to submit your work to AGC in the upcoming months (link below). We appreciate your support and are looking forward to receiving your manuscripts!
journals.uu.se
Advances in Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry
Advances in Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry is a community-led diamond open access journal that aims to publish innovative and globally relevant articles in Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry. Regional studies put in the context of a wider research question will also be considered.
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 12/12/2024
Happening all morning at poster board #1224 in Earth & Planetary Surface Processes!
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 11/12/2024
This was a really great poster on a fascinating topic! #AGU24
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 09/12/2024
Now up! Come learn how cocaine enters rivers in London! (…and if someone could also bring me a coffee… ☕️)
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David Firth @firthstat.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
This is my personal "evenings and weekends" project. Mathematically adjusted football league tables. Quite interesting at the moment for the Premier League.
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 07/12/2024
Really excited to share that as of January I will be joining @es-ucl.bsky.social as a Lecturer! Looking forward to getting stuck in and being a part of an exciting and growing cluster in #surfaceprocesses and #geochemistry expertise! 🗻🧪🧑‍🔬🏞️
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 07/12/2024
I'm attending #AGU24 all of next week in DC and excited to have some great chats with folks about pollution, weathering, & landscapes! 🇺🇸 I'm presenting and involved in a few talks and posters this year...👇1/5
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MarcA Millet @marcamillet.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
There it is! @weareagc.bsky.social is opening for submission next month. It's been quit a ride so far and we're excited for the future! Go check our policies and team on www.agcj.org And help us plan our initial workloa by telling us if you plan to submit a paper to AGC here: t.co/Ji7NnCOBCC
agcj.org
Advances in Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry
Advances in Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry is a community-led diamond open access journal that aims to publish innovative and globally relevant articles in Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry. Regional studies put in the context of a wider research question will also be considered.
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 06/12/2024
Really excited to be a (small) part of this endeavour as a copy editor! AGC is a new community led, *free to read, free to publish* journal of geo+cosmochemistry! Open for submissions 20th of January! Please share widely 🧪⚒️☄️💫📝💎
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INSTAAR @instaar.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
🌎 Are you an early career researcher keen on Earth surface processes? Want to learn about numerical modeling & software development? Apply for the *free* @csdms.bsky.social ESPIn immersive training experience May 5-12, 2025 in Boulder Colorado. Apply starting 02 Dec buff.ly/40Uefwu
Participants for the 6-day immersive Earth Surface Processes Institute (ESPIn) in Boulder Colorado, 2024Participants for the 6-day immersive Earth Surface Processes Institute (ESPIn) in Boulder Colorado, 2024Participants and instructors for the 6-day immersive Earth Surface Processes Institute (ESPIn) in Boulder Colorado, 2024
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 22/11/2024
I'm in The Conversation discussing the new release of nationwide sewage spill data in the wider context of open data, open models and environmental transparency. 1/n #opendata 🧪 theconversation.com/water-compan...
theconversation.com
Water companies now have to release live sewage spill data – here’s why more transparency is the key to cleaner rivers
A new law is forcing water companies to make pollution data readily accessible to the general public - but it doesn’t go far enough.
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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Water companies now have to release live sewage spill data – here's why more transparency is the key to cleaner rivers theconversation.com/water-compan... by @alexglipp.bsky.social #StormOverflows Data www.streamwaterdata.co.uk/pages/storm-... (England) #opendata (CC BY)
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Alex Lipp @alexlipp.github.io · 22/11/2024
I'm in The Conversation discussing the new release of nationwide sewage spill data in the wider context of open data, open models and environmental transparency. 1/n #opendata 🧪 theconversation.com/water-compan...
theconversation.com
Water companies now have to release live sewage spill data – here’s why more transparency is the key to cleaner rivers
A new law is forcing water companies to make pollution data readily accessible to the general public - but it doesn’t go far enough.
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Sam Harrison @samharrison.science · 05/11/2024
Last week I had the pleasure of hosting a Euro-CSDMS workshop to envision future models of the natural world. Inspirational discussions & tangible next steps towards a thriving international community pioneering the next generation of environmental models! @csdms.bsky.social @ukceh.bsky.social
Group photo of approximately 30 people in a garden, with a backdrop of tress and hills.
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