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Prof Ben Britton

@bmatb.expmicromech.com
3K followers 1.2K following 3.8K posts

Dyslexic atomic sorcerer @ UBC, Vancouver 🍁 (he/him & 🏳️‍🌈)|🐕 dad|🇨🇦🇬🇧 Materials and Manufacturing Engineering (🔬⚛️), Clean Tech, Academic Governance (UBC Senate & Faculty Assoc.), EDI. T1 CRC. Leads @expmicromech.com. Has too many hills to die on. Views own.

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Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Hannah Vardit @hannahvardit.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
i worry that men think being A Good Guy is dramatically and heroically intervening on behalf of an endangered woman and then being publicly rewarded on a grand scale when actually being A Good Guy is just usually saying, “hey man that’s not funny” or “wow that’s fucked up” and there is no reward
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Kim Cobb @kimcobb.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
And I'm on the search committee, so send me your questions. But mostly, send the talented early career scientists in your network our way! Target deadline: Oct 26
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Richard Waite @waiterich.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Quotes & replies are showing that Bsky is what you make of it. If your feed is full of drama & misinformation, well, you are seeking out people who are providing it. Similarly the way you act encourages your followers to respond in kind, for better or worse. I appreciate being able to curate this.
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 27/09/2026
Waffles says hiii
A photo of Waffles the dog, from a view overlooking the ocean
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Wagatwe Wanjuki @wagatwe.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
really sad to see colleges are still protecting rapists. kudos to the students exposing Cornell's institutional betrayal.
cornellsun.com
EDITORIAL | Cornell Won’t, We Will
The Editorial Board demands that Cornell stops protecting the alleged Chi Phi rapists through the University's opaque sexual assault policies.
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Rami Ismail (رامي) @ramiismail.com · 25/09/2026
I honestly have never considered switching from Google Pixel phones until they sent me a "wanna celebrate destroying the lives of trans people" as a system update.
Android Pixel system update screen, showing Harry Potter customizations as a bullet point.
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Venkat Rao @venkyrao.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Jumping on the bandwagon with a 3D view of Xenopus multiciliated cells: cilia (magenta) sprouting above the apical actin network (cyan) 🐸. Not live, but no #AISLOP
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 25/09/2026
So I just had a nightmare about attending a conference: 1 - it was in Vegas, and it took several hours to leave the resort half of the hotel. 2 - I got to the conference centre, and they continued the "resort theme" by having it as a glass floor over a fishpond. The glass cracked and we had to swim
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Simon Cleary @simoncleary.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Nikon seem to have admitted awarding an AI-generated video 1st place in the Small World in Motion contest, which has a rule forbidding AI-generated entries:
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 24/09/2026
#UBC folks: "[President] Bacon also hinted at some potentially major changes on the horizon. He said the university will be “redesigning” the faculty of graduate and postdoctoral studies “shortly,” meaning “within a year,” but didn’t give further details." @ubyssey.ca ubyssey.ca/news/board-o...
ubyssey.ca
Student unions ask for stable food security funding at Board of Governors
The board is meeting for the first time this school year, with four student unions across two campuses presenting their yearly priorities to the body. Also being presented is the president's prioritie...
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 24/09/2026
This stacks up. I briefly dated a tech bro, and couldn't make his area of work align with what I thought about the world 🫥
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 24/09/2026
This is one of the many examples of people calling out the improper use of AI & microscopy - making something visible "just for the presentation", especially with an unexplainable ML model is basically fraud 🔬🧪
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 23/09/2026
Academia would like its voice heard.
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 23/09/2026
I was warned that BC politics can be a whirlwind... and they were right.
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Sarah Dorner @sarahdorner.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Meanwhile, my cousin just posted she is doing research on mastitis in male cows because there isn't enough funding to deliver on EDI plans that are actually needed. Yves Gingras, Gad Saad, and Steven Pinker were part of the coordinated group that testified against EDI at the standing committee.
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Jim Woodgett @jwoodgett.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
There’s a concerted campaign to undermine EDI in Canada. The evidence behind EDI policies reducing excellence are based on abysmal, flawed evidence. Look at who feels threatened by equity, diversity and inclusion. They’re the least diverse, least equitable and most exclusive people. Just no.
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 22/09/2026
ELI5: Interpret my dog's inner thoughts...
A photo of waffles the doodle staring at the camera
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Iris van Rooij 💭 @irisvanrooij.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Shocking to see this for one of the (historically) most respected Theoretical Computer Science conferences
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Olivia Guest · Ολίβια Γκεστ @olivia.science · 19/09/2026
Neural networks did not work UNTIL they got all that data. Raw data is useless without immense human labour to clean and store it in massive data centres. GPUs which are also required need rare earth minerals. On and on. AI only works because we're dedicating all of a massive industry to it.
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 17/09/2026
It's curious how dogs grow up - quite fast (😭). My dog is settling into his 4th spin around the sun, and has firmly decided that mornings are overrated and stays in bed while I breakfast.
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 16/09/2026
There is definitely a strange feeling being British when the UK voted to leave and left the EU, and then being Canadian(-British) as Canada and the EU explore associate member status
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 16/09/2026
Not being able to exercise (due to an injury) means jetlag recovery continues to be less than ideal 😭
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Prof Chris Jackson @seismatters.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
In recent years, many professional/learned societies replaced their *young* scientist awards/grants with more inclusive titles and criteria that recognise that not all early career scientists are, for example, under 30. So what is this rather odd #50Under50 framing @geosociety.bsky.social?
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Kevin J. Kircher @kevinjkircher.com · 15/09/2026
One aspect of research funding that it took me a while as a prof to appreciate: Someone who directs significant funding can shape the questions researchers investigate, *even researchers they don't directly fund*. Why? Because many researchers chase citations, and better-funded areas get cited more.
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The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
many social media managers will encourage you to spread your posts throughout the day but why do that when you have 500 thoughts and you could just literally post them all at the same time
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Prof Chris Jackson @seismatters.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
I’ll be real with you: the gloss was taken off today’s Great North Run by a very crowded “Raise the Colours” roundabout at around mile 9. My wife and kids had to walk past it to see me. Check this post about the impact those present had on one Black participant: www.instagram.com/reel/DdO3Kt8...
instagram.com
Emma Kirk-Odunubi 🙋🏽‍♀️ The Voice of Running on Instagram: "Well not how I thought my post would go sharing finishing Great North Run 🙃 As I said aside from being hyper aware of being literally 1 of ...
3,013 likes, 534 comments - emmakirkyo on September 13, 2026: "Well not how I thought my post would go sharing finishing Great North Run 🙃 As I said aside from being hyper aware of being literally 1 ...
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21 Group @21group.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Roshaan Khattak was a postgraduate at Wolfson College, Cambridge His research on enforced disappearances in Baluchistan attracted threats Instead of protecting academic freedom, Cambridge did not permit him to progress to the doctoral stage of his PhD 21percent.org?p=4367
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 12/09/2026
And this is in USD, 🫠
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Prof Rachel Oliver @profrachelgan.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
In the face of researcher concerns that the change in policy to prioritise longer larger grants may have undesirable impacts on EDI, UKRI suggest they will "keep an eye" on it. Gee, thanks! I'm not sure that covers their duties under the equality act. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
researchprofessionalnews.com
Fewer, longer research grants ‘could exacerbate inequalities’ - Research Professional News
Science minister’s call for larger, longer-term investments prompts fears around benefits for “big hitters”
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 12/09/2026
Academia is weird. There are so few specialists in my area of expertise, that I need to travel half way around the world to help accelerate my learning.
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
'The University of Sydney has signed a multi-year partnership with OpenAI which will see the introduction of AI agents at all levels of learning. The partnership happens a week after thousands of USyd staff walked off over AI encroachment into their jobs.'
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Mark Carney @mark-carney.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
On 9/11, the people of Gander stepped up. They showed the very best of Canada.
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Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
at this point: carbon removal is, at best, essentially a research project. renewable expansion is a policy project
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 07/09/2026
Days since I have been asked whether I am a PhD student: 0
static.klipy.com
Minions Cheer and Celebrate
Alt: Minions Cheer and Celebrate
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nancyforde.com @nancyfjorde.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
And here I thought Brexit made no scents at all...
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 06/09/2026
The smell of Brexit is waiting in a passport queue. (Other Brexit smells are available.)
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Shiv Ramdas Mens Rice Activist @nameshiv.bsky.social · 04/09/2024
4 yrs ago today, a family member managed a truly spectacular own goal, splintered his domestic bliss, & in the process, united the world for a day. On popular request, I shall now recreate the livetweet thread from that day So gather around children, for this is the tale of The Rice Truck Saga
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Emily Hunt @emily.space · 04/09/2026
One of the worst design aspects of Twitter - which Bluesky has, too - is the ability for anyone to become the Main Character of the day. If your take is disliked by a certain subset of users, it will be elevated to 100-1000× your usual reach (!!!) for a public shaming session. I think that's bad!
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 04/09/2026
Critical watching... youtu.be/vVX-PrBRtTY?...
youtu.be
Gall--Peters Projection
YouTube video by UsefulClips
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 03/09/2026
So... this whole article is a pile of shit, and the argument is a rage-bait/dog whistle. I have some quite personal stakes in this, as a CRC… with a learning disability 😬. As Usher articulates - use of the h-index as the sole predicator of academic quality - is bullshit.
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 03/09/2026
So... this whole article is a pile of shit, and the argument is a rage-bait/dog whistle. I have some quite personal stakes in this, as a CRC… with a learning disability 😬. As Usher articulates - use of the h-index as the sole predicator of academic quality - is bullshit.
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 01/09/2026
The Spectator should stay in the bin.
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
The richest man owns X. The second and fourth richest men control Google. The third richest man owns The Washington Post. The sixth richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. And now the seventh richest could soon take over both Paramount and Warner Bros. See the problem here?
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 01/09/2026
Also - I adore how fellow Canadians strugglebus with "Worcestershire"
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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 31/08/2026
macabre = “muh-KAHB” Worcestershire = “WOOSS-ter-sheer” omnipotent = “ahm-NI-puh-tunt” reticent = “RET-uh-sunt” epitome = “ih-PIT-uh-mee” myriad = "MEER-ee-ud" Never make fun of someone if they mispronounce a word. It means they learned it by reading.
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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Parliament returns from summer recess today, and the second debate in the House (13:00-13:30) is about the STFC funding cuts to fundamental physics & astro! I'll be watching on parliament TV and live-posting any gems, so you don't have to (you're welcome). 🍿: www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 31/08/2026
Oh - that's what he's been working on... (This is a niche #ChemSky post...)
A photo of the film cover for "Lee Cronin's The Mummy"
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 31/08/2026
Oh - that's what he's been working on... (This is a niche #ChemSky post...)
A photo of the film cover for "Lee Cronin's The Mummy"
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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 31/08/2026
So I normally fly Air Canada... Today I am not, and there are a lot of children who could be called Tabatha and Tarquin…
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