iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

My unit removed several joint degrees because we felt the programmes were not working for students. The latest changes are mainly driven by "management" (interpret scare quotes as you will). It is a challenge to tell, unless you are in a unit, if changes are housekeeping or true loss of a subject.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that (I'm in a different college). The website suggests a degree survives: MA Ancient and Medieval History. Across the university, degree programmes and individual courses are meant to have minimum numbers, and anything falling below the threshold is in danger.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

What is happening across these departments is very depressing. But, for context, anything with an "and" is a joint degree. So Chinese is still a degree, as is Russian Studies. This shouldn't be conflated with the true loss of a subject (i.e. Celtic, Portuguese, Persian Studies, Medieval History etc)

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Henning @geohenning.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

A new video emerged which seems to show a surface rupture in Yatsushiro, Japan following the M6.8 earthquake in July! Exact location of the video would be 32°30'04.0"N 130°38'29.9"E. Absolutely wild. Only the second ever video of a surface rupture forming after the 2025 Myanmar video! ⚒️🧪 #geology

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

One of the "fun" things about AI code assistance the ease with which it lies. "In our tests on synthetic quadratics and large rasters this yields stable, finite coefficient maps (no float‐limit blow‐ups) and still runs in O(N log N)." Friends, I can guarantee it has run precisely 0 tests.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

I am bizarrely tempted to keep it on to see how cringeworthy the suggestions are. A bit like the reason why anyone scrolls through their linkedin feed.

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Hugh Pumphrey @hughpumphrey.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

This is a really important read for people who have got excited about "vibe coding" and especially so for academics who think that LLMs solve the problem of how to teach students how to program.

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Chris Townsend @christownsend.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

Just back from a few days in the Glen Affric area with @tonyswilderness . Beautiful colours, beautiful light. #glenaffric #scottishhighlands

A walker climbing a path out of a forest with many trees in golden auitumn colours wiuth hills in the distance and a cloudy sky.

A Scottish glen with a river winding through it and mountains rising above lit by bright autumn sunlight.

A view from a hillside across a loch to distant mountains, all light by a low autumn sun and under a cloud-streaked blue sky.

Birch trees with golden autumn leaves in the foreground with green pines behind them then shadowed mountains in the background under a blue sky with white clouds.

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Qiusheng Wu @giswqs.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

🚀 The OBS Zoom-to-Mouse Bug on Linux… FINALLY Solved! 🎉 👉 Watch the full breakdown and solution here: youtu.be/relTN31l0Zo Hopefully this helps fellow OBS users and educators who’ve been struggling with the same problem. #OBSStudio #Linux #OpenSource

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Joe Mason @moreorloess.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Geomorphology in the Brandon Sandhills/Assiniboine River area of Manitoba: Crosscutting past and present meandering channels, gullied slumps on terrace scarps, and great examples of spring sapping (R image is closeup of L). HRDEM from Natural Resources Canada via @opentopography.org. More to follow.

Hillshade image of a stream floodplain with terraces on either side. There are multiple cross-cutting meandering channels on the floodplain. Along the terrace scarps there many irregular "steps" indicating recent slumping, There are also complex features with multiple rounded alcoves eroded into the terrace by spring sapping. A few dunes are visible.

A close-up of the left-hand image showing areas of slumping and spring sapping. Small gullies are visible in the alcoves produced by spring sapping.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

It seems quite reasonable to insist on a few million for 50 metres of embankment and a bridge to maintain 3m width, when the alternative (Orchard Brae) is a route that is much, much, much worse for operation of the trams and £320M more expensive

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

The original plans ("tramline 1b") had the entire Roseburn section as double track, apart from under one bridge. @robbieainsworth.bsky.social seems to have saved the drawings. The single track has removed pinch points under bridges. The two problematic (<3m) sections have engineering solutions (££)

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

Yes, the way they have presented the documents is *very* frustrating. The most contentious bit is the Roseburn Path, the alternative route via Orchard Brae is £330m more expensive (almost double), and many people just want to know if the path will remain. I think yes, but why make us guess?

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

On a different document in the consultation package they are proposing a path that is 3m wide across Roseburn Terrace Bridge. www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/fi...

Design drawings for a new bridge at Roseburn Terrace with two tram tracks and an active travel path that is 4000 mm wide

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Patrick Monahan @pattymo.com · 14/08/2025

This is a masterpiece. Simply excellent www.instagram.com/reel/DMVGMIC...

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James Franklin @franklinjamesl.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Here's what I get for the same 1966-2024 historical period, using 12-h motions from the best tracks. Erin's estimated 20-kt speed earlier today would rank 12th.

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OpenTopography @opentopography.org · 23/07/2025

OpenTopography is excited to announce a major expansion to its international data catalog with the addition of the High Resolution Digital Elevation Model from Natural Resources Canada. This 1-meter resolution dataset is ideal for a wide range of applications. opentopography.org/news/opentop...

Map showing extent of data coverage, primarily over southern Canada

A hillshade colored by elevation of downtown Toronto draped on Google Earth imagery.

A three panel figure of a section of the Athabasca River in Alberta. Figure A is the Digital Surface Model which includes buildings, trees and other structures. Figure B is the Digital Terrain Model and is a bare-earth representation of the topography. Figure C is the Canopy Height Model (CHM) which is the difference between the DSM and the DTM.

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Ben Dolphin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❄️⛰🌲 @countrysideben.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

New bus service from Dundee to Aberdeen starting, via Braemar. I really hope this is successful as we get soooo many folk emerge from the Lairig Ghru at Linn o Dee, asking when the buses south are 😉 www.ember.to/news/#new-du...

ember.to

News

Find out what's new at Ember

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

The Blatten disaster could have been so much worse. Anyone know what data the Swiss government is using to inform evacuation orders? Seismics? Radar? Pixel tracking? GPS? @geoluca.bsky.social @subfossilguy.bsky.social @davepetley.bsky.social

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Luca Malatesta @geoluca.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Helicopter view published by Pomona Media (🔗 below) shows the lake building up by the end of the day. 5 m3/s is a lot of water. youtu.be/R0YlCNDW2l4?...

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Melaine Le Roy @subfossilguy.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

SPEECHLESS BEFORE / AFTER #BLATTEN The magnitude of destruction after the 3:24 pm collapse of Birch Glacier is immense! 😱 All the forest has been razed and the ice/wood/debris dammed the Lonza river 🌊 Some buildings of Blatten are buried 🏠 📷 Pomona

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

You know you have been in a field a long time when you can tell who wrote the paper just from the colourmap in the figures.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

University management news: "During the session, committee convener D Ross MSP revealed that the university's recovery plan document sent to trade unions included the number of job losses in its password. Prof O'Neill replied: "I'm surprised at that, I didn't know that." www.bbc.com/news/article...

bbc.com

Dundee University insolvency 'a real possibility'

Senior management give evidence over the university's £35m financial deficit to MSPs.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

It is fun when your code spits out something psychedelic

A red and blue bit of abstract art. You can vaguely make out something that looks like a channel network in the blues.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Hi Roeland, I think you were already in there? But you are definitely in the pack now.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

We know this will be upsetting to many colleagues, if you are struggling please see our Staff Wellbeing Sharepoint

A screengrab of Kier Starmer with the closed caption "there's a famous slogan in the United Kingdom"

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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

When I worked in UK academia I recall hearing of a Japanese man who was baffled at how Britain had decided to run its universities like firms. “Why? Your universities are excellent and your firms are terrible.”

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

I acknowledge your post but am reluctant to "like" it. We received an email today saying we need to cut £140M from the university budget, a number which appears to have been conjured out of thin air.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Hey British academics! While we await the latest job cut email, lets look at our pension (or those of us in USS). The Financial Times had a nice plot about Local Government Pension Schemes. The worst one (by far) lost 18.3% for a yr to March 2023. Awful!! Lets have a look at the performance of USS 😱

Plot from the Financial Times (https://www.ft.com/content/87c321ab-e5ac-4a1d-a637-c1f7befcc1cb) showing performance of Local Government Pension schemes for the 12 months to March 2023. The worst performing scheme was a closed Environment Agency scheme that lost 18.3% The next worst lost 10%.

Image from the USS 2023 annual report (https://www.uss.co.uk/-/media/project/ussmainsite/files/about-us/report-and-accounts/uss-report-and-accounts-2023.pdf?rev=ad96ac2875264986bc7386ce1f82f108&hash=5A67B41B27A7B876F0BF0CF7A853FC0D). In the 12 months to March 31 2023, USS income builder (the defined benefit part of the scheme) lost 18%.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Don't worry, there is a link to the staff wellbeing hub.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Have you considered that the email was in response to your post?

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Delighted to announce that I convinced a student not to use a pie chart today.

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Declan Valters @decvalts.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Six weeks left to apply for this super-cool fully-funded PhD studentship developing flood forecasting models for HPC; supervised by Mark Bull @epcc.bsky.social, Maggie Creed at Glasgow Uni, @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social, and myself at the British Geological Survey.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

I'm quite pleased with this effort.

Image from the book Grove Karl Gilbert, A Great Engine of Research
By Stephen J. Pyne. Image shows an engraving of Gilbert working at Lake Bonneville in Utah. One can see the old lake bed as well as hills in the distance.

An oil painting of Lake Bonneville with hills in the background. Painting by Simon M Mudd. Hills and lake bed are in various yellow, red and brown hues, with a blue sky.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

I was driving through Los Angeles and they did a radio bit explaining Boxing Day. The host said "it is mainly celebrated in Australia". 😫😢🇬🇧

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

Enjoy some photos of Joshua Tree.

Split rock (a granite rock formation that has a large, uh, split rock) at Joshua Tree national Park.

Sunrise over rock formations at Joshua Tree

The face of the photographer in front of rock formations at Joshua tree

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

My son said "Japanese food is just uncooked British food" and now I'm concerned he runs a rage-bait social media account.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

I'm not sure what the numbers are in England for home vs international students, but at Edinburgh around a quarter of the students are Scotland domiciled, from which the university derives 1/20th of its tuition income.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

5 points to you sir. I was walking through this village, minding my own business, and a man stopped me and said "are you from the University?" Bewildered, I said "I work at a university." He said: "You should spend more time studying God."

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

5 points to whomever can identify my current position.

A stunning bronze sculpture of a man holding a microphone and bagpipes. I cannot reveal the name of this person or it would make the quiz too easy

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

The medal for best shorts and socks combo goes to...

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Fiona Clubb @drfionaclubb.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Our new paper in discussion in @egu-esurf.bsky.social publishes the results of Scotland's Big Sediment Survey - a citizen science project to document the grain size of Scottish rivers led by Anya Towers during her PhD. Find out more here: egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/20...

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

My river network template is working to my satisfaction. All you need is an @opentopography.bsky.social account and a web browser. You can scroll through the notebook to see how to update location, your name, comment, sizes, etc. Have fun! github.com/LSDtopotools...

Image of a river network surrounding the Dadu River, China. Image includes two basemaps. Image generated using a template written by Simon Mudd using lsdtopotools and lsdviztools.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

I'm experimenting with an (almost) fully automated notebook for making channel network images.

A channel network map of mountains to the east of Taskhent. Includes a regional map and a globe to see where the site is.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Well, I took the liberty of rounding up. Thanks for posting the chart so the overall numbers are clear.

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Simon Mudd @simonmariusmudd.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

"home domicile" means Scottish students. About 1/4 of the university's students are Scottish, from which it derives 1/20 of its tuition income.

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