iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Thanks Katjana, and some of it came about from the thought provoking and kind chats we had on my visit (already two years ago…) so double thanks!

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Thanks Konstantin, and I feel like I’ll be learning a great deal from yours too (as standard, of course!)

Thanks Nick! Hope to see you around this term, too (and certainly via the public opinion crowd)

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Thanks Marta, and it makes me very glad to know there are likeminded folks like you who also care about dataviz in similar ways 👍🏽

Thanks as always Maria, and great seeing you at EPOP, too!

Thanks Jake, and I’ll definitely want to keep in touch on exactly this question.

Many thanks Peter! We missed you at EPOP but I’m sure there will be future times to cross paths.

Thank you Nina, and also for the helpful comments even at a 09.00 EPOP slot!

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Many thanks Pavlos, and I enjoyed (finally!) being able to chat in person at EPOP. Hope to see more of the video work you presented in the future, too.

Thanks Ralph! And it was great seeing you (even if too briefly) at EPOP.

I’ve used the advice to anticipate the endpoint of a figure and (visually and rhetorically) build up to it a lot, especially when my I know my audience has different levels of quant training. And, helps with teaching too!

Will Allen @williamlallen.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Have sent in my #MI ballot for the November US midterms. Several important races and proposals including a Senate seat contested by @abdulelsayed.bsky.social (incidentally an Oxford DPhil grad), House seat #MI08, and state-wide proposals on a constitutional convention and campaign finance reform.

Holding a white envelope in front of a red postbox with the purple stamp and blue air mail label visible. ‘Official absentee ballot’ is written on the envelope, along with the address of the Essexville City Clerk.

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Will Allen @williamlallen.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Congrats and great to see this line of work of yours growing!

Complete transparency about rejections, because normalizing that is on-brand for me: I had been working my way through the ERC, British Academy, and Leverhulme Trust for both different and related projects. I hope to share a piece later this year about what I've learned through those experiences.

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More than anything, I've felt relieved this one worked out, especially in the contexts of higher ed and funding which we all know about. It makes me even more determined to use my FLF to help pay forward opportunities I've been lucky to have. If your work relates to VISUALIZER aims, get in touch.

VISUALIZER objectives:
1. Identifies forms of data and visualization that citizens see, using computational and AI-assisted analysis of policy and media content.

2. Assesses visualization as a way to inform people on major issues, using panel surveys with embedded experiments across Europe and the Americas.

3. Develops understanding of how and why visualization matters, using survey experiments examining the power of benchmarking and forecasting.

VISUALIZER objectives, continued:
4. Generates and shares evidence-based visualization practices, through workshops and conferences with policymakers, journalists, creatives, and designers around the world.

5. Builds capacity for meaningful engagement with the visual and creative arts, by knowledge exchange with and through the galleries, libraries, and museum sector that uses visualization.

6. Supports and advocates for the next generation of researchers by providing high-quality early-career opportunities that develop professional skills and leadership abilities

And, I'm excited to establish and grow a team that exemplifies how to do excellent science in humane and supportive ways. Stay tuned for pretty sweet job opportunities in @sotonpolitics.bsky.social involving computational social science, panel surveys, and experiments across Europe and the Americas!

I'm particularly grateful because it will allow me to continue building bridges across the social and behavioural sciences, the creative arts and humanities, and the computer and earth sciences. As someone who hasn't quite fit conventional disciplinary boxes, this kind of role is where I'm happiest.

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Will Allen @williamlallen.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

It's been quite the ride, with lots of supporters: I've received a @ukri.org Future Leaders Fellowship to examine how data visualization matters for what people know, think, and want on climate change, migration, and economic development and inequality. For details, see www.visualizer.org.uk #flf

visualizer.org.uk

VISUALIZER

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Come along this morning to see me flap about in front of charts…and also talk about some research on whether dataviz changes minds on refugees 😉

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Reposted by Will Allen

Vanessa Cheng-Matsuno @vchengm.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

WIPS – Women in Political Science will begin its online writing sessions next Friday 25 September. Would you like to join? We are a small, informal network for early-career women in permanent or tenure-track positions that work in politics, broadly defined (interdisciplinary is welcome!) 1/4

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Will Allen @williamlallen.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Focaccia two ways: roasted garlic and rosemary, and Korean-style with kimchi and green onion #poliskybakes

A golden loaf of fluffy focaccia with green sprigs of rosemary across the top

A fluffy loaf of focaccia with bright red kimchi and green spring onion across the top

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Will Allen @williamlallen.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I'll be at @psaepop.bsky.social #epop2026 next week, and still have an offer of a few coffee chats on me for anyone wanting to talk about job markets, publishing, grant applications, or research connections. Or just say hi if we pass each other!

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Will Allen @williamlallen.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Not at #ecprgc26 this year, but I'd be curious to see a short thread of what comes out of this!

Will Allen @williamlallen.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The call for @migrationjrnl.bsky.social Special Issue proposals is open, deadline 1 November with results in January 2027. Particularly consider applying if you've recently held a workshop/conference, or are part of a network/consortium. academic.oup.com/migration/pa...

academic.oup.com

2026 Call for Special Issue Proposals

Deadline: 1 November 2026 Migration Studies is now accepting Special Issue proposals. The journal typically publishes one call for special issues per year. To

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My JRF at @magdalenoxford.bsky.social was formative, giving me time to develop "the next project" in a supportive place. If you have a nagging feeling "Oxford isn't for folks like me," even more reason to apply: it's ideas that matter, and there are all sorts of people who want the best for you.

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Impacts on policy, practice, and public understanding are nice to briefly mention where you and your project could genuinely make them happen. @magdalenoxford.bsky.social has great convening power, too. But contributions to scholarship are much more important for this scheme, at least in my view.

Use other parts of the application (writing samples, short answer biographical/CV questions) to amplify why you and your project are original and will likely impact your field, and possibly beyond it where that's credible. The sample(s) should be scholarly, like job-market papers or diss chapters.

These are evaluated by academics in your discipline (but maybe not your specific subfield, like public opinion or migration in my case) and outside it--especially at interview stage: STEM, humanities, and social science fellows asked me questions. Help them see why your project and approach matters.

Tips based on my admittedly limited view after having one in political science from 2018-20: explain why your project addresses a meaningful problem for your field, and why you specifically are best-placed to make that happen. But make it understandable to experts beyond your field (no jargon).

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Job Vacancies - Magdalen College

The @magdalenoxford.bsky.social junior research fellowships are now open, including for politics. Due 15 Oct. 3 years of 100% research time to those who submit their PhD between July 2025-Oct 2027. Comes with good ECR pay, relatively generous support funds. www.magd.ox.ac.uk/job-vacancie...

magd.ox.ac.uk

Magdalen College is one of the oldest, largest, and most beautiful colleges in Oxford – it is a wonderful place to work. You can explore and apply for current vacancies on our recruitment website via ...

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Will Allen @williamlallen.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Thanks Pavlos - hope to catch you in Liverpool for EPOP!

Will Allen @williamlallen.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

An accredited leadership development program for early-career researchers from the @britishacademy.bsky.social, with travel covered plus contributions to childcare costs.

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It's interesting that past awardees have been based outside the US. (Though I think the website should list titles for everyone for accuracy and fairness!) I'll take that as further motivation to continue widening and deepening the reach of our discipline in more inclusive and global directions.

I was particularly touched by how the committee highlighted the bridge-building quality of my research, as I was a musician and visual artist who came relatively late to political science but still uses these perspectives in my work.

This includes collaborators and former students who I still learn a lot from, and kind mentors (including @sblinder.bsky.social @tsourapas.bsky.social) who have shared lots of time and know-how over the years.

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