Sign in

Ruth Francis

@roobina.bsky.social
208 followers 352 following 27 posts

Science communication professional, freelance, feminist. Diving, swimming, cycling. she/her

PostsRepliesMedia
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
I enjoyed looking into this. What can we do about the growing challenges around research integrity?
110
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
I quite enjoyed digging into this topic. Peer review: Can AI help with reviewer overload and research integrity? 🧐
010
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Scholarly Futures @scholarlyfutures.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Lots of predictions out there about the year ahead, so we asked AIs what they thought would happen in scholarly communications in 2026. AI predicts more AI! Do you agree? open.substack.com/pub/scholarl... @roobina.bsky.social @sarahgreaves18.bsky.social @jontreadway.bsky.social @grnr25.bsky.social
A brutalist building with an unlit neon sign saying 'the future' with blue sky behind it. A white caption reads: What to expect in scholarly communications in 2026
Or what AI believes could occur...
Scholarly Futures 
Scholarlyfutures.substack.com
011
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Scholarly Futures @scholarlyfutures.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Latest post by @jontreadway.bsky.social explores what the shortlist and winners of the Vesalius Innovation Award say about changes in the research workflow system. open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
White text on a red background on the top half of the image. The bottom half is a light bulb. Text reads: Innovation with receipts. What can we infer from the winners of The Vesalius Innovation Award about developments in the research workflow and ecosystem over the six years since the annual award was first given?
021
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Another interesting post from my colleague @sarahgreaves18.bsky.social @scholarlyfutures.bsky.social This week on AI and it's impact on Publish, Read, Curate as a model.
000
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Scholarly Futures @scholarlyfutures.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
How much further can consolidation go in scholarly publishing, and could winds of change blow in from elsewhere to reshape the market, perhaps even ‘disrupt’ the way things are done? Latest by @roobina.bsky.social 👇 open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
open.substack.com
The last large acquisition before big tech brings big change?
The recent announcement that OUP is acquiring Karger heralds yet more consolidation in an industry where there have been growing concerns about market concentration, monetisation and monopolies.
011
Reposted by Ruth Francis
M a r c u s 🏳️‍🌈🇧🇧 @marcusjdl.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Broadcaster and writer Afua Hirsch explaining how Tim Davie the now former BBC Director-General looked her in the eye and said Black staff supporting anti-racism “breached impartiality” www.instagram.com/reel/DQ4fxa6...
10215132
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Scholarly Futures @scholarlyfutures.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
To round off the week, we bring this quick update on research security, since our post on Tuesday. Written by @roobina.bsky.social about an announcement from the @ec.europa.eu and a report by @scienceeurope.org open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
A neon sign on a modern street. White text over the top of the image reads: Quick updates on research security. News from the European Commission and Science Europe.
032
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
This is very sad. It has been widely listened to and trusted around the world. Terrible news.
010
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Gaia Vince @wanderinggaia.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Another one bites the dust. When I expressed my professional concerns at issues in the science unit and where it was headed, I was quickly terminated. Public service broadcasters have a remit; we should hold them to it
39134
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
My first post for @scholarlyfutures.bsky.social takes a look at what's happening with research security and where it rubs up against open science and open data.
030
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Scholarly Futures @scholarlyfutures.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
What might it mean to publish research with no human in the loop? @jontreadway.bsky.social post investigates four possible avenues and explores which seem more likely: open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
White text over an image of a large building at night with a neon 1st sign. Text reads: AI-first publishing - what would it look like and when might we see it? What might it mean to publish research with no human in the loop? Digital-first publishing offers some parallels, but the AI transition will likely be different and deeper.
033
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Scholarly Futures @scholarlyfutures.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
The arrival of AI and the speed it is changing our working lives is astonishing. @sarahgreaves18.bsky.social investigates the adoption of AI tools into academic publisher workflows, attitudes towards them & lessons from book publishing. open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
Viewed over the shoulder of a lady looking at a phone with LLM and a logo on the screen
011
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Phill Jones, PhD @phillbjones.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
A new substack from @jontreadway.bsky.social @roobina.bsky.social Sarah Greaves and @pgarner.bsky.social I've already subscribed and you should too. scholarlyfutures.substack.com/p/launch-of-...
scholarlyfutures.substack.com
Launch of Scholarly Futures
Join us as we try to work out which futures are worth discussing
031
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Jon Treadway @jontreadway.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
This is a new thing that I’m trying out for a few months with some very smart people. We would love it if you would come along, tell us what you think and say hi.
031
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
A new space to consider the various directions that scholarly comms, research practices and academic publishing are traveling, by me, @sarahgreaves18.bsky.social @jontreadway.bsky.social & @grnr25.bsky.social Welcome post below, first proper post tomorrow... Enjoy 😊
022
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Lovely article here by Helen Pilcher in @theguardian.com about how animals communicate and how reductive we can be when we think about how animals communicate. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Dogs name toys while elephants name each other. Animal language is more complex than we imagine | Helen Pilcher
If we really want to grasp what animals are ‘saying’, we need to understand their communication on their terms, not ours, says science writer Helen Pilcher
020
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 01/10/2025
NEW: London has achieved the historic milestone of meeting the legal limits for nitrogen dioxide for the first time in 2024 - 184 years earlier than experts predicted.
Blue sky with clouds and text reading “Mayor of London. Great news. London has met legal air quality limits 184 years earlier than predicted.”
224651
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
This. Just this. "If ever you’re in need as I was may you have an island of strangers like I had." Thank you Michael Rosen ❤️ www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
My island of strangers: a poem | Michael Rosen
The prime minister warns that immigration could turn Britain into an ‘island of strangers’. Author and poet Michael Rosen responds
020
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Reuters Institute @reutersinstitute.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Today we launched a report on UK journalists: who they are, how they work and what they think. Edited by @neilthurman.bsky.social @imkehenkel.bsky.social Sina Thäsler-Kordonouri & @richardfletcher.bsky.social, it's based on a 2023 representative survey 📱Read it buff.ly/gIBRL1f 🧵Findings in thread
22110
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
'Disrupted bedtimes and difficulty getting them ready on time in the morning added additional stress to family life.' Ruth Ogden @ljmuofficial.bsky.social on stress of changing clocks. My 4yo, 9pm last night, jumping on the bed shouting: It's my time to shine!! www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Changing your clock? Scientists are only just beginning to understand what this does to us | Ruth Ogden
Our research in October showed that ‘falling back’ had a negative impact on women, especially mothers. Do we need to shift the way we think about time, asks professor of the psychology of time Ruth Og...
020
Reposted by Ruth Francis
stempra.bsky.social @stempra.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
It's likely most of us are still digesting everything we learned at Stempra's Press Officer Training Day yesterday - so we'll keep this update quick and cheerful. We partnered with KMGS Photography to immortalise the day, and the photos are IN ✨ Happy Friday, and happy faces at #POTD2025
133
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
If you're at #potd2025 do grab yourselves a photo in the break! We look forward to seeing your happy faces! @stempra.bsky.social
A woman and a man pose in a photo frame for Stempra press officer training day 2025
151
Reposted by Ruth Francis
stempra.bsky.social @stempra.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Here we are, just about to begin - remember to tag your #POTD2025 posts!
053
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
🚨Texas measles outbreak nears 100 cases, w/16 hospitalizations. Officials suspect it's spilled just across the border to New Mexico. Low vax rates+undetected infections mean it will grow. “This is going to get a lot worse before it gets better” My latest kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org
Texas Measles Outbreak Nears 100 Cases, Raising Concerns About Undetected Spread - KFF Health News
Health officials expect a measles outbreak in West Texas to exceed 100 cases because of low vaccination rates and undetected infections. Vaccine misinformation and new laws may make such situations mo...
3269197
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
In 2019 Nigel Farage's Brexit Party voted against plans to tackle Russian propaganda, calling claims of Russian interference "scare stories" One of his MEPs was Nathan Gill, who has just been accused in court of taking bribes in exchange for defending Russia in the European Parliament
5619991006
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Tom Ulrich (he/him) @scribblertom.com · 24/02/2025
We're still taking applications for the @broadinstitute.org #scicomm internship! The deadline is *THIS FRIDAY* (2/28) at 11:59pm ET. Don't delay!
023
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Absolutely fascinating article about attempts to regrow an extinct native tree to Rapa Nui, and how understanding trees' relationship with soil could be helping... In @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘The last plant left’: can Rapa Nui’s extinct tree be resurrected?
Seeds from the last toromiro, unique to remote Easter Island, were taken away in the 1960s. Now, after a crucial discovery gave hope for its survival, it is making a return
000
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Lewis Goodall @lewisgoodall.com · 18/02/2025
Pretty disturbed by some of the Kremlin framing on the Trump talks being bought by parts of the media worldwide. It’s as if the genesis of the war is entirely forgotten. This isn’t a conflict which needs mediation. It was an unprovoked act of aggression. It could end tomorrow if Putin just withdrew.
682616663
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
A meat industry lobbying group has written to Trump to push for rollback on environmental regulations, worker protections and food safety. Urgh. Full article @sentientmedia.org by @ninaelkadi.com sentientmedia.org/meat-industr...
sentientmedia.org
Meat Industry Group Asks Trump to Deregulate Meatpacking and Factory Farms
Amid a deregulatory blitz, trade group pushes for rollback on environmental regulations, worker protections and food safety.
000
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Snowdrops, crocuses and 3.5 minutes of daylight gained each day. Spring is for winners 🌼🌱
020
Reposted by Ruth Francis
PortiaMcGonagal @portiamcgonagal.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Monday thought:
602442858025
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Mind @mind.org.uk · 29/01/2025
Just a lil reminder today 🩵
A soft, pink watercolor circle labeled “Your Life,” with a small dot near its edge labeled “this moment.”
1142599
Reposted by Ruth Francis
James Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Really interesting new targets and strategy from Lidl to push more plant-based diets. www.businessgreen.com/news/4399691...
businessgreen.com
Lidl and WWF join forces to promote plant-based and sustainable diets
Lidl aims to increase proportion of plant-based foods sold by 20 per cent by 2030, as it seeks to align with Planetary Health Diet guidelines by 2050
2124
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Nature's news team is conducting a survey to see whether Bluesky has replaced X for scientists. Details and poll here 👇 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Has Bluesky replaced X for scientists? Take Nature’s poll
The research community has flocked to the social-media platform Bluesky. Tell us about your experience.
000
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Very interesting. Finland teaches children and adults to spot disinformation online as part of its national media literacy policy. Report from @news.rte.ie www.rte.ie/news/europe/... 🤔
rte.ie
How Finnish youth learn to spot disinformation
Finland is consistently ranked as Europe's most media literate country and the skills needed to spot online hoaxes are on the school curriculum, amidst a boom of misinformation and disinformation camp...
021
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
Thanks to Brockwell Lido for keeping me sane this year. Lovely Xmas eve dip today. @brockwelllido.bsky.social
Brockwell lido under a grey, cloudy sky
052
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Adam Sharp @adamcsharp.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Roses are red Change is good for the sole
Headline that reads "Shoe Zone has named Terry Boot as its next finance boss after predecessor Peter Foot walked away from the role"
24516120
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Festive morning Serpentine swim today with some fabulous ladies. Just a couple of laps, but a good old natter and we'll be feeling the endorphins for a long time today 🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🤩
Swimmers by a lake, smiling in festive hats.
010
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Tim Mathews @timmathews.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Here are my book recommendations for the new year: Read the books you already bought.
4746481858
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
I love cycling and have cycle commuted in London for over 20 years. It does feel to have gotten safer and our bike lanes are much better than they were. I wish cyclists felt more of a sense of community and less a sense of competition with each other though.
010
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Hakugard @hakugard.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
That is ridiculous! So Thames water has been allowed to borrow money to pay dividends using profits manufactured from shirking its duties as a supplier, and now when the music has stopped it's customers and the taxpayer are going to pick up the bill. Truly an outrageous mess.
1227
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 09/12/2024
ABBA Voyage is proving to be more than just a show—it's an economic powerhouse, bringing millions to Stratford and boosting jobs. A shining example of how our support for culture and creativity drives growth across London.
standard.co.uk
Abba Voyage gives £1.4bn economic boost - and may stay in London 'forever'
Executive producer Michael Bolingbroke said the Swedish pop group ‘chose the UK when they could have gone anywhere else’
1123938
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
This would be an excellent opportunity for the right person. Deadline is 16 Dec. I do think @petescarbs.bsky.social should log into LinkedIn and post there though...
110
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
Just flew American to Dallas and for the first time they had dairy free milk on the plane. The tea was still godawful, but a shift away from cow is a step in the right direction. There is also oat milk in the hotel. Amazing for Texas.
A waffle in the shape of Texas on a white paper plate.
000
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Well that was a bracing swim. Thank goodness the sun was out! #brockwelllido @brockwelllido.bsky.social
011
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Carol Vorderman @carolvorders.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
"Water firms stopped from using customer money for bonuses" About bloomin time too 👍🏼💙 www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Ofwat rules out customers paying £195,000 Thames Water boss bonus
The regulator uses new powers to prevent bonuses being funded from customer bills.
21662951070
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Bruce Daisley @handle.invalid · 21/11/2024
Prescott was vocal on how social media had allowed him to stop the press spreading lies about him without challenge. It felt like such a hopeful time. www.theguardian.com/politics/201...
theguardian.com
Life is tweet, says John Prescott, as Twitter reaches 10m milestone
Former deputy prime minister says UK tweeters have finally helped to make press barons accountable
1499
Ruth Francis @roobina.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Morning, I'm Ruth, a scicomm strategist, publicist and writer. Also a swimmer. I've been loitering on here for about six months but now it's getting busy I thought I'd say hi.
020