Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 29/08/2026Twenty-seventh book of 2026 finished on a wet Bank Holiday Saturday! 000
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 15/08/2026Twenty-sixth book of 2026 finished - gloriously depressing novella of alienation and emptiness…though I did learn what a Hartwig chessboard is… 000
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 14/08/2026Twenty-fifth book of 2026 finished - a great ending to a fabulously readable trilogy 000
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 14/08/2026A controversial Alzheimer’s surgery is said to reverse symptoms — here’s what scientists know www.nature.com/articles/d41...nature.comA controversial Alzheimer’s surgery is said to reverse symptoms — here’s what scientists knowJaw-dropping patient videos and miraculous testimonials ignited a frenzy in China over a technique that aims to improve drainage from the brain. Now it is entering trials worldwide. 000
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 14/08/2026A controversial Alzheimer’s surgery is said to reverse symptoms — here’s what scientists know www.nature.com/articles/d41...nature.comA controversial Alzheimer’s surgery is said to reverse symptoms — here’s what scientists knowJaw-dropping patient videos and miraculous testimonials ignited a frenzy in China over a technique that aims to improve drainage from the brain. Now it is entering trials worldwide. 000
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 12/08/2026Twenty-fourth book of 2026 finished - great (French) revenge story with ingenious plot, second in the trilogy. On to the third! 010
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 09/08/2026Twenty-third book of 2026 finished (can you tell I’m on vacation?) - wow, what a plot twist. And lyrical on the beauty of oceans and sea creatures. A great read. 000
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 07/08/2026Twenty-second book of 2026 finished - an exceptionally readable translation, and just perfect if you’re on vacation in Corfu! 010
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 06/08/2026Twenty-first book of 2026 finished - a fascinating read on many different levels 010
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 04/08/2026Twentieth book of 2026 finished - extremely readable, perfect first book for the family vacation! 000
Reposted by Geraint ReesResearch on Research Institute (RoRI) @rorinstitute.bsky.social · 30/07/2026Churn, not crisis, for UK science | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... Editorial just out by @profgeraintrees.bsky.social & RoRI’s @jameswilsdon.bsky.socialscience.orgChurn, not crisis, for UK scienceWhen Andy Burnham became the United Kingdom’s prime minister last week, among his first acts was to abolish the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), folding it into a new supermin... 011
Reposted by Geraint ReesJames Wilsdon @jameswilsdon.bsky.social · 30/07/2026Churn, not crisis, for UK science @profgeraintrees.bsky.social & I have written the editorial in this week’s @science.org, reflecting on early moves by the Burnham government + scope for US-UK cooperation on scale-up finance & AI for science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... @rorinstitute.bsky.social 074
Reposted by Geraint ReesJames Wilsdon @jameswilsdon.bsky.social · 22/07/2026DSIT is dead, but UK science will be fine. Keep your eyes on the AI prize. A few thoughts by me @theconversation.com on the reorganisation of Whitehall science theconversation.com/what-the-sud... @ersatzben.com @hetanshah.bsky.social @rorinstitute.bsky.social @profgeraintrees.bsky.socialtheconversation.comWhat the sudden demise of the UK’s department of science means for the future of researchIf we want to be reminded what real damage to a science system looks like, we only need to glance across the Atlantic. 084
Reposted by Geraint ReesHetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 11/07/2026Really interesting on how far we can engineer serendipity for science - eg in how buildings are designed. ‘“Just placing people from different disciplines together is often insufficient,” Krauss said. Researchers needed a common problem, not just a common space.’ observer.co.uk/news/science...observer.co.ukThe science of serendipity | The ObserverChance encounters have been behind some of science’s greatest discoveries, from penicillin to gene-editing tools. Could we create more? 3227
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 11/07/2026Nineteenth book of 2026 finished - very interesting analysis of military history and applicability of some of the lessons learnt to leadership more generally. 020
Reposted by Geraint ReesResearch on Research Institute (RoRI) @rorinstitute.bsky.social · 29/06/2026RoRI’s @jameswilsdon.bsky.social and @profgeraintrees.bsky.social warn that autonomous AI agents pose an existential threat to research funding by driving grant application costs to zero. They argue assessment must urgently shift away from AI-optimized text to what technology cannot simulate.youtube.comLERU Talks - AI and research grants: is the system doomed to collapse?YouTube video by The League of European Research Universities (LERU) 173
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 26/06/2026Delighted to have signed this double degree programme between @ucl.ac.uk and @tohoku_univ marking another step forwards for our strategic partnership www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/news/univ...tohoku.ac.jpTrust and Friendship Underpin Landmark Tohoku University-UCL Double Degree ProgrammeThe double degree agreement in disaster science is the first between Tohoku University and a British institution. 010
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Eighteenth book of 2026 finished (can you tell I just came off a very long flight HND-LHR!) - this is a deeply human and moving read, full of important ideas. Highly recommended. 010
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Seventeenth book of 2026 finished - great graphic novel retelling of the classic 020
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 16/06/2026Sixteenth book of 2026 finished - a terrific story of the rise of the machines… 000
Reposted by Geraint ReesUCL News @uclnews.bsky.social · 04/06/2026India is poised to lead the next wave of healthcare AI innovation, writes @profgeraintrees.bsky.social in ET Edge Insights. Alongside complementary UK–India collaboration, this creates a unique opportunity to shape inclusive AI for global health #UCLandIndia etedge-insights.com/industry/hea...etedge-insights.comWhy the next wave of healthcare AI breakthroughs may come from India - ET Edge InsightsIndia’s healthcare challenges, talent, and scale are driving the next wave of AI innovation in global healthcare. 021
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 31/05/2026Fifteenth book of 2025 finished. Just wonderful. 000
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 09/05/2026Fourteenth book of 2026 finished. A cracking read and highly relevant to the state of the world today… 010
Reposted by Geraint ReesUCL Global Engagement @ucl-global.bsky.social · 08/05/2026@ucl.ac.uk met with the University of Cape Town to discuss strengthening and scaling our strategic partnership, with leadership discussions identifying new opportunities for collaboration #UCLandAfrica #UCLHealth @uct-fhs-research.bsky.social @profgeraintrees.bsky.social @iiabubakar.bsky.social 021
Reposted by Geraint ReesJames Wilsdon @jameswilsdon.bsky.social · 06/05/2026‘AI-assisted grants: prioritize fairness with excellence.’ Thoughtful editorial in @nature.com sparked by the article @profgeraintrees.bsky.social & I wrote last week, plus ongoing debates at ERC about how to cope with volume/demand spikes www.nature.com/articles/d41... @rorinstitute.bsky.social 273
Reposted by Geraint ReesUCL Global Engagement @ucl-global.bsky.social · 06/05/2026In Johannesburg, Prof @profgeraintrees.bsky.social met Prof Brando Okolo, Head of Science, Technology and Innovation at AUDA‑NEPAD. Discussions focused on the African Union’s STISA 2034, including priorities in entrepreneurship, emerging technologies and capacity strengthening. #UCLandAfrica 031
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 02/05/2026Thirteenth book of 2026 finished. Absolutely fascinating. And a bit depressing. 000
Reposted by Geraint ReesJames Wilsdon @jameswilsdon.bsky.social · 27/04/2026Could agentic AI topple grant-funding systems? New article in @nature.com by @profgeraintrees.bsky.social & me, with data from 12 funders showing a 57% increase in grant applications since 2022 (& the launch of LLMs) rdcu.be/ffApn @rorinstitute.bsky.social @magdalenaskipper.bsky.social 21818
Reposted by Geraint ReesResearch on Research Institute (RoRI) @rorinstitute.bsky.social · 27/04/2026Is research funding facing an "agentic" collapse? In @nature.com today, RoRI’s @jameswilsdon.bsky.social & @profgeraintrees.bsky.social warn that AI agents are overwhelming a system built for a pre-AI world. We need AI-native funding, not unenforceable bans. Read the piece: tinyurl.com/mtxpcf7k 162
Reposted by Geraint ReesJohn Williams @johnhuww.bsky.social · 27/04/2026“Critics, meanwhile, have said Palantir’s tools are less capable than some existing systems and argue that British companies have for decades brought data together to improve patient care.” An objective independent review of the evidence is needed! giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...giftarticle.ft.comThe tensions behind Palantir’s efforts to transform English healthcareSenior NHS staff divided on practical benefits of US company’s ‘not terrible, not revolutionary’ software 111
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 23/04/2026Delighted to share this piece where I highlight the crucial role of research-intensive universities like UCL in cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship in the UK... Universities are still where British entrepreneurship is born www.lbc.co.uk/article/univ...lbc.co.ukUniversities are still where British entrepreneurship is born | LBCAny campaign for enterprise needs to recognise that universities are more than spinout factories, writes Professor Geraint Rees 011
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 11/04/2026Twelfth book of 2026 finished - what a read! The reviews aren’t wrong - it’s a masterpiece 000
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 07/04/2026Eleventh book of 2026 finished. A beautiful, lyrical read and a great counterpoint to my recent diet of techno-utopian and science fiction books. There’s more to life than AI… 000
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 06/04/2026Tenth book of 2026 finished - a really great read, and I was lucky enough to be there for some of it! Very thought provoking. 000
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 28/03/2026Ninth book of 2026 finished - didn’t enjoy this as much as I had hoped… 010
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 20/03/2026Eighth book of 2026 finished - a little disappointed given the rave reviews. Strong on diagnosis, weak on policy prescription… 120
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 19/03/2026Seventh book of 2026 finished - slowly progressing the series! 010
Reposted by Geraint ReesA Reader of the FT @a-reader-ft.bsky.social · 15/03/2026Silence is not golden when it comes to science and AI-The stakes are considerable. Science has been humanity’s most reliable engine of long-term prosperity, but its productivity depends on… www.ft.com/content/0c63... @profgeraintrees.bsky.social @financialtimes.comft.comSilence is not golden when it comes to science and AIThe scope of scientific inquiry is contracting as research focuses on data-rich problems 111
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 17/03/2026Sixth book of 2026 finished - gritty crime noir set in the city I’m just departing… 000
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 15/03/2026Fifth book of 2026 finished. A little bit long…. 001
Reposted by Geraint ReesCathy Abbott @cathyabbott.bsky.social · 13/03/2026Oh joy- mandatory in person interviews for applicants who get through all the (massive) initial hurdles. That's not going to have any EDI implications, is it, though I am sure it will help with demand management 😱 www.ukri.org/news/mrc-cur...ukri.orgMRC curiosity-driven research reopens with new approachThe Medical Research Council (MRC) unpauses curiosity driven research funding and improves the funding process. 3136
Reposted by Geraint ReesUta Staiger @ukstaiger.bsky.social · 12/03/2026Excellent by @profgeraintrees.bsky.social. 021
Reposted by Geraint ReesUCL News @uclnews.bsky.social · 10/03/2026How can universities prepare students for a rapidly changing world? In an interview with India's BW Education, UCL's @profgeraintrees.bsky.social reflects on research led teaching, interdisciplinarity, and how AI-ready curricula will shape the future of education www.bweducation.com/article/univ...bweducation.comUniversities Must Put Research At The Heart Of Learning - BW EducationAs universities worldwide navigate rapid technological change and rising expectations around employability and societal impact, Professor Geraint Rees, Vice Provost (Research, Innovation & Global ... 021
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 19/02/2026Third book of 2026 finished - a really interesting read about how knowledge diffuses over time and space 000
Geraint Rees @profgeraintrees.bsky.social · 19/02/2026Third book of 2026 finished - a really interesting read about how knowledge diffuses over time and space 000
Reposted by Geraint ReesJohn Williams @johnhuww.bsky.social · 16/02/2026hard policy choices will only get harder “Like many other countries, the UK confronts insoluble long-term challenges: it has inescapable obligations that impose painful trade-offs” Neither the public nor the politician are prepared to make tough choices! giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...giftarticle.ft.comStudent loans show that hard policy choices will only get harderThe debate over university funding is a good example of the intractable challenges facing the UK government 101
Reposted by Geraint ReesUCL Global Engagement @ucl-global.bsky.social · 04/02/2026Brussels last night: alongside @profgeraintrees.bsky.social, the @ucl.ac.uk delegation reconnected with alumni and took steps towards re-establishing a more formal UCL alumni group in the city. With #UCL200 approaching, it felt like an early celebration of our global community. #UCLEurope 011
Reposted by Geraint ReesUCL Global Engagement @ucl-global.bsky.social · 04/02/2026@profgeraintrees.bsky.social met partners at @univparissaclay.bsky.social, with a Letter of Intent signed to deepen doctoral collaboration. Discussions included a PhD co-supervision pathway building on work with @gustaveroussy.fr. #UCLEurope #WorldCancerDay ⬇️ucl.ac.ukUCL and Université Paris-Saclay strengthen partnership to accelerate breakthrough in cancer researchUCL and Université Paris-Saclay expanded discussions on doctoral training and research collaboration during a UCL senior delegation visit to mainland Europe this week, at a meeting hosted at CentraleS... 001