Sign in

Andrew J. Kavanagh

@stpkav.bsky.social
111 followers 135 following 138 posts

Space plasma physicist. Radar botherer. "Verbose and not overly fascinating"

PostsRepliesMedia
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 11h
Just saw a LinkedIn post about the active sun causing problems for satellites in low earth orbit. Something I know a bit about. But it was the comments. Oh lord the comments. A place for professionals clearly does not mean a place for wise, considered opinions.
000
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
That is probably fair, but we're there not other smaller scale impacts (NERC had some delays though maybe in outcomes rather than calls)?
101
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Hiatus on some grant calls for some councils last year?
110
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I feel your pain. Very similar story for me.
010
Reposted by Andrew J. Kavanagh
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Government to unveil £8bn space strategy. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
researchprofessionalnews.com
Government to unveil £8bn space strategy - Research Professional News
Bist earmarks money until 2030 for intelligence, military tracking tech, communications and astronomy research
011
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
'legitimate' has become the new 'literally'
000
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Am on annual leave next week. Forecast for our holiday location has predominantly rain for most days... Sigh.
100
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I don't want to put it off. Donned my raincoat, which was clearly an error on my part as the universe decided that was too far and the skies cleared again. We continue to have hope...
000
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Tis the future, already arrived.
000
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I was hit by three drops of rain in Cambridge this morning. Hoping for more!
110
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Of course there is another set who having been told not to do it, will almost certainly do it because no one tells them what to do.
000
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
All those moaning about the government alert, please remember that people are idiots and idiotic stuff without thinking it through. I include myself in that set.
100
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
You visiting Yorkshire? Oh sorry, dark, not grim. My bad.
110
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
I enjoyed the 1999 total eclipse. The sense of totality was amazing, seeing the shadow race across the landscape. It was also where I first started getting to know the person who would become my best friend and wife. So, you know, special.
000
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
I am an oddity as a space physicist, I can't bring myself to get excited about seeing the eclipse later. I hope everyone enjoys it but for me watching, meh. That said I am really looking forward to seeing some of the ionospheric data that will be taken as the solar ionisation reduces.
100
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Good timing on your part 😁
010
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Have you interacted with Fusion at all?
100
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Heathrow makes small boat crossings look attractive.
010
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
I wear several hats at work. One I don't get to wear as often as I would like is to do with our Antarctic space weather instrumentation. Today I am on my way to the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Open Science Conference to talk about what we do in Antarctica and what we have to offer.
010
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
We have regular staff briefings in UKRI but it is impressed upon us that these are confidential and not to be shared. That said I think all of the information available is on the UKRI website, though in terms of how aspects of the programmes will operate I don't think much is known yet.
010
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
That's bucket 2, targeted science in support of industrial strategy plus a few other bits. The heads of the research councils are the SROs for each of the areas in there, which I think was a mistake. Better to spread the load and have independent SROs (allowing RC heads to focus on their main jobs)
111
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Excellent thread. Was very annoyed when I saw @thenewsagents.co.uk post with @lewisgoodall.com comment. I really hope he reads Christina's thread.
0388
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
It is raining in my little part of Cambridgeshire. It has been coming down quite hard for over an hour. It's bizarre how happy this is making me.
000
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
I cannot see the 'this looks like performative bs' button.
000
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
It was once suggested that private firms were better placed to fund close to commercial R&D, leaving government to fund science with long term and often obscure or unknown outcomes.
000
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
If the UK government wishes to make science more efficient and open up money to support strategic areas, they could start by looking at the spending and procurement rules imposed on labs.
010
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Heh, think I went to school with him back on the edge of Merseyside.
000
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
'naza'.
100
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Well I agree it not the 'raz' but it is the 'rass'. I get similar when people say 'baz' for BAS. I like it to sound like the brewery.
400
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
SCAR went wobbly earlier as well. Attendees were mailed and told their presentations had been made oral. Even people who already had orals.
010
Reposted by Andrew J. Kavanagh
Chris Scott @profchrisscott.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Our new @solarstormwatch citizen science project launched today! Can you spare time to help us identify times when the skies in the Arctic are clear? You will see beautiful #aurora and will help us to improve our #spaceweather research. www.zooniverse.org/projects/lep...
zooniverse.org
Clear Skies - Kiruna | Zooniverse - People-powered research
Can you tell us when the skies are clear? You may even see an aurora!
2147
Reposted by Andrew J. Kavanagh
British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 01/07/2026
Congratulations to Prof. Pete Convey, terrestrial ecologist at British Antarctic Survey, awarded the 2026 SCAR Medal for Excellence in Antarctic Research! 🎉 SCAR awards this medal annually for significant contributions to Antarctic research. #PolarScience #Antarctica 🧵1/2
A scientist wearing a black coat and blue hat with a camera around his neck on the deck of a ship with Antarctic mountains in the background.
1355
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Excellent summary by m'colleague. I run some kit at Rothera and it is bizarre that in recent years one of the things I am increasingly worrying about is water ingress to the electronics building due to rain. Rain! Not snow, rain!
000
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Watching all the comparisons between this summer and the summer of 1976 is really triggering as its a constant reminder that I am turning 50 this year and my fixed-at-13 year old brain does not need this stress!!!
000
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
I want to repost this again as Jim really hits the nail on the head. There were dark times for STP in the late 2000s, but the community has gone on to thrive. Not least because sensible heads in NERC saw the worth of the field.
010
Reposted by Andrew J. Kavanagh
Prof Jim Wild @jim-wild.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Talk about a week of contrasts. Started on the couch watching myself talk space weather on the BBC. Ended it writing a pretty frank response to UKRI’s budget cuts. Tomorrow I’m heading down to Parliament to see if I can get some MPs to help stop history repeating itself. Some reflections here 👇
linkedin.com
#spaceweather #spacescience #ukscience #astronomy #researchfunding #publicpolicy #highereducation | Jim Wild
History repeating: why UKRI must not write off fundamental science (again) I’ve been reflecting on these two TV appearances, almost 20 years apart. The week started on a high. I was proud to be inc...
151
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Ah man, you drive a Mercedes? You always came across so well. 😉
110
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Wife and I just having that same conversation
000
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
While the X-ray imaging of the magnetopause will be fascinating it is hard to convey the sheer brilliance of entering a time where we will once again have full auroral oval imaging. This is sooo important for a vast array of space weather studies and has been missing since 2005!
010
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
It's unfair to blame British trains. You should know that all you need to do is give yourself at least a 12 hour buffer and you have somewhere in the region of of 15% chance of getting there just a couple of minute late.
020
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Yet again I recognise this viewpoint is hardly helpful in dealing with a system that is both squeezed and bursting at the seams.
100
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Mentoring and support is essential but for some time is a big factor: they are running out of it, and that can outweigh the advice. And does internal advice on quality match outcomes? Hard to track the evidence. Direct experience of the application process gives the best feedback to the individual
110
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
I get very uncomfortable about any sort of demand management around fellowships. These, more than grants, are about the individuals and their chances to build a career. That happenstance and circumstance of location should become a built in factor is not good. I know this does not solve the problem.
100
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Riots have started over less. Must be topsy -turvy world. DB were right on schedule.
000
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
I had sausages instead of schnitzel for a proper meal (no schnitzel either this week). But no late night sausage from the stand. Also no sachertorte, but considering I hate that stuff, that is a win!
100
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Got a midweek cold. Kicked me for a day and a bit (initially thought it was hayfever), then it receded.
010
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Arrived back in the UK following a hectic week at #EGU26. Those in the know will be shocked to discover that I did not have a single kebab from the Schwedenplatz kiosk. Nor a currywurst.
240
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
My poster at #EGU26 showing initial observations from the first dedicated observational campaign of the NERC highlight topic DRIIVE (Drivers and Impacts of Ionospheric Variability with EISCAT-3D).
Top of a poster showing the title 'ionospheric variability at high latitudes measured by incoherent scatter radar'
030
Andrew J. Kavanagh @stpkav.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
It is lovely to return to Vienna for #EGU26. There is a large contingent from BAS here including several members of the Space Weather and Atmosphere team.
A busy hall with large video screens and exhibition stalls at EGU
030