iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Martin Smith

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Burnham ally warns against ‘formulaic’ R&D devolution. Jim O’Neill says some mayoral authorities lack capacity to handle funding, ahead of white paper. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Burnham ally warns against ‘formulaic’ R&D devolution - Research Professional News

Jim O’Neill says some mayoral authorities lack capacity to handle funding, ahead of white paper

011

Reposted by Martin Smith

Michael Salmon @michaelsalmon0.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

And now the Digital and Technology Committee is itself no more, no doubt to the interest of @martinrsmith.bsky.social www.researchagenda.news/articles/sci...

researchagenda.news

Science committee to go back to its old remit

Changes to parliamentary and cabinet committees following government reorganisation

113

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Indeed - and more broadly looks like Cabinet Committees aren’t in fashion in general. Huge relief that the Commons S&T ctte will return - never guaranteed.

101

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

You have an excuse now to get lessons funded as professional development! Thanks for the article and your knowledge of obscure things

010

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Same instruments and music - so you’d describe us as a brass band despite the name. And plenty of brass coloured instruments too. Pretty rare to see silver plated trombones, for example. Some people say there’s a tone difference, but that would be extremely subtle

110

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

It’s just the name. Back in the day, silver plated instruments used to be more expensive, so if you were an ‘all silver band’ that was a boast that you’d won enough prize money to afford it. No price difference now so the name is historical (and more common to own your own instrument now)

110

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

C’mon @dkernohan.bsky.social, what do you play? Is there enough of us to put together a science policy scratch band at Whit Friday?

100

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Of course I’m dying for you to ask, but I’ll answer anyway. Euphonium in Patcham Silver Band in Brighton (celebrating its 80th anniversary this year)

Screen shot from the Argus newspaper in Brighton - article celebrating the band’s anniversary with photos of players in uniform holding their instruments

230

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Delighted to discover that the Science Minister is a fellow brass band player, and much amused by @dkernohan.bsky.social’s REF analogy here. For the uninitiated - this is indeed a strange world of competition and transfer markets. But so is brass banding…

130

Reposted by Martin Smith

David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

I endorse this. Also: write a proper report, don't just send out a press release promising one (looking at you, Taxpayers Alliance!)

011

Reposted by Martin Smith

vincentholst.bsky.social @vincentholst.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

In 2023, @nature.com published 'Papers and patents are becoming less disruptive over time', receiving world-wide media attention. Our Matters Arising, published after a 32 month delay (more on that soon), shows that the reported decline can largely be attributed to dataset artefacts. 🧵

The average CD_5 index per year for Web of Science. The original Park et al. decline (top curve) becomes essentially flat (bottom curve) when removing papers with CD_5=1. Those papers largely correspond to dataset artefacts.

9352173

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Solar panel readings show a bit of drop off at the right time (but not any real pick up afterwards as they’re facing east, and the sun dips behind a big hill)

010

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Pattern through the leaves of a bush

Shadow eclipse picture with lots of little crescents of light overlapping each other against a cream coloured wall

130

Reposted by Martin Smith

Bethany Black @bethanyblack.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Solar eclipse coming up so here’s one of my favourite maps

Top is a map of the US with “Google search volume for “eyes hurt” April 3 to April 10 2024” with a hot line running from Texas north east through to Maine. The bottom map shows the path of the total solar eclipse which runs in a lone from Texas through to Maine

252112127

Reposted by Martin Smith

Christopher Smith @christophersmith.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

I no longer use X/Twitter, so here I am to support @stianwestlake.bsky.social who has written well on @ukri.org 's strategy I believe his argument is correct: a science funder must fund both curiosity driven and applied research, and that will demand difficult choices 🧵 x.com/stianwestlak...

1219

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

So. Farewell then July Thirty-one opportunities To do the things We needed to do Before August But now your days Are truly Numbered

001

Reposted by Martin Smith

John Williams @johnhuww.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Trump’s systematic assault on science “By attempting to politicise scientific research today, the current administration risks hampering US leadership in the technologies of tomorrow.” giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

giftarticle.ft.com

Trump’s systematic assault on science

The government is politicising funding for basic research

059

Reposted by Martin Smith

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

'Universities were central to our DSIT comms strategy; we probably did more ministerial visits to higher education institutions than any other type of organisation....This is about to change.' 1/3

wonkhe.com

How to work with the department formerly known as DSIT

Former DSIT director of communications Abigail Morris explains what Whitehall's latest reshuffle means for universities Former DSIT director of communications Abigail Morris explains what Whitehall's ...

195

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Excellent meta news for all research professionals

121

Reposted by Martin Smith

Robin Bisson @robinbisson.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Update #2 The Labour business relations team (part of Labour HQ) have said McDonald is the science minister Somewhat bizarrely, DBT won't confirm Nonetheless, seems pretty nailed on... Story updated: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Chris McDonald to be UK science minister, Labour HQ says - Research Professional News

MP appointed to new business and science department has industrial research background

121

Reposted by Martin Smith

Robin Bisson @robinbisson.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Since Patrick Vallance resigned on Monday the question has been who will replace him as science minister It looks like the answer is Chris McDonald He has the chops: - chemical engineering degree from Cambridge - CEO of materials research institute - industry adviser to unis - Fellow of RAEng

researchprofessionalnews.com

Chris McDonald in frame to be UK science minister - Research Professional News

MP appointed to new business and science department has industrial research background

011

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

I see - that makes sense. I’d pictured the prompt for new shoes as being ‘getting uncomfortable and skanky’, which would be less of an issue on the other side, but hadn’t pictured *falling apart* as a thing that would happen much faster than that

100

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Interesting! Thank you for sharing. Maybe the original poster meant the other way round then. I think I’d assumed that sweat would be worse somehow

100

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

I interpreted the “19 right and one left” as being that the one on the prosthetic limb doesn’t wear out as quickly (although presumably you’d want them to match). But no idea if that’s true or not.

200

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Beauty and the Beast is a tale as old as time, I gather

010

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

But would he play well on the right wing too? It’s a risk

000

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Eyebrows raised as new PM appoints Dan Burn to Defence. Big appointment, can definitely fill his predecessor’s shoes, but we can’t just park the bus for three years, Etc

110

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

See also a Q in the Lords today hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2026-0...

hansard.parliament.uk

010

Reposted by Martin Smith

Chris Hewson @chrishewson.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Chagos with Ed Milliband! [Am I doing this right?]

211680331

Reposted by Martin Smith

Giles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

There's gonna be a new PM. What he needs is an op-ed telling him what to do, of which there's no doubt a lamentable absence. Here's the time-hallowed method for creating one: 1. Set out the problem cleanly, as if the PM had literally no idea that growth, the cost of living and deficit matter. 1/

1229276

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

O’Neill: we need to “ensure there is more investment going into R&D and risk‑taking with new ideas, both regionally and nationally”. “If we’re serious about growth—especially regional growth and national competitiveness—R&D cannot remain the first line item chopped whenever the budget is tight.”

111

Reposted by Martin Smith

David Roberts @volts.wtf · 14/07/2026

An amazing quote from Lindsey Graham in this Atlantic story. It really captures an essential truth about politics that too few people ever really come to terms with. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

14353961168

Reposted by Martin Smith

Philip Lewis @pslewis.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

There are 4️⃣ roles open in my team at @britishacademy.bsky.social Please do share with those you think may be interested. A new Deputy Head of Global Strategy, Policy & Engagement focused on global research and innovation policy closing on 28 July: www.prospect-us.co.uk/job/195324-d...

prospect-us.co.uk

Deputy Head of Global Strategy, Policy & Engagement - Prospectus Recruitment Agency

Prospectus is delighted to be supporting The British Academy – the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences - in seeking a Deputy Head of Global Strategy, Policy & Engagement. The pos...

1310

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

I’m less concerned about one individual and their attempts (for whom scrutiny will continue) and more nervous about it becoming more normal that a government votes to block an election (or at least adding to the powers and precedents it already has here). Also not convinced it’s tactically smart

000

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

I’d say two wrongs don’t make a right. If he’s re-elected then scrutiny can continue. Very much supportive of parliamentary scrutiny - but ideally without creating additional precedent of government/majority powers in doing so. In my mind, that’s the most pro-parliament combo

310

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

I could be convinced, but it feels instinctively uncomfortable. Perhaps the best counterargument is the deterrent effect on misusing by-elections - and aligning with the whole crown appointment route reinforcing the idea that resigning is not a trivial thing

100

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

On the other hand, a little bit of administrative foot-dragging on progressing the crown appointment seems like normal shenanigans

000

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

I’m not sure I like the idea of a majority govt voting down a smaller party moving a writ for an election in a non-govt seat. Govts already control GE timings and by-elections for ‘their own’ seats. Yes, procedurally they could block but it feels uncomfortable IMO.

300

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Interesting edge case example of a debate on this from 2009 re a vacancy left by a Speaker, where Labour are arguing that they get to decide when to move the writ and want to delay (Speaker was ex Lab MP) and so they vote down an attempt from others to move it. hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2009...

hansard.parliament.uk

Issue of Writ - Hansard - UK Parliament

Hansard record of the item : 'Issue of Writ' on Tuesday 21 July 2009.

010

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

I think Nicola’s right that while it’s procedurally possible for HoC to vote it down when Reform move the writ, it’s tactically unwise Also an uncomfortable precedent for a majority gvt to do that. Parties do tactically delay when it’s ‘their’ seat, but majority blocking others is another level IMO

210

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Trip to the beach today near Brighton included sharing the sea with a seal

Choppy seawater, a seal’s head is sticking up from the waves

010

Reposted by Martin Smith

Dr Naomi Scott @drnaomiscott.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

A lot of media coverage of the ‘AI’ reading of the Herculaneum scrolls really fails to understand what’s happened here. There’s no language processing happening, the AI/ML is not trained on a corpus of texts or language. It can detect ink to see shapes. HUMAN EXPERTS are then transcribing the text.

A screenshot from here: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-02-07-inside-herculaneum-scroll-seen-first-time-almost-2000-years

It explains that the machine learning involves only the detection of ink

382497942

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Have I mentioned I play in a brass band? Patcham Silver Band celebrated its 80th anniversary this weekend with a concert attended by our local MP Sian Berry. The Argus have written up here with a nice article www.theargus.co.uk/news/2622509...

theargus.co.uk

Band celebrates eight decades of playing with special event

Patcham Silver Band marked its 80th anniversary with the event, highlighting its legacy and lasting impact on generations of musicians

010

Reposted by Martin Smith

Daniel Benneworth-Gray @danielgray.com · 29/03/2026

imagine having so much authority that you get to tell people to belay things

29310

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Mattias Björnmalm, Cesaer: “Research is not procurement. Breakthroughs come from bringing together the best people, ideas, infrastructures and data across borders. Excellence depends on openness to trusted partners, with research security frameworks used to manage risk intelligently."

000

Reposted by Martin Smith

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

EU urged to avoid ‘preference’ rule hampering openness of FP10. Next R&I programme should not include new restrictions for associated countries, university leaders say. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

researchprofessionalnews.com

EU urged to avoid ‘preference’ rule hampering openness of FP10 - Research Professional News

Next R&I programme should not include new restrictions for associated countries, university leaders say

022