That was the first series of Traitors I’ve seen. My main takeaway - I could not cope being a traitor.

Avanti West Coast if you try to use their WiFi: #celebritytraitors

Maybe its time for my background X wing to retire 👀 www.lego.com/en-gb/produc...

No trains today just 6 hours straight in my colourful little spaceship. First up is Impact through Engagement exploring how research can create demonstrable change beyond academic. Then diving into the world of Social Media for reseachers.

A very drunk Glasgow man just affectionately headbutted me on the chest as a goodbye. That’s new. Like a new level of fist bump.

Even the runners are wearing more than me. I’m from the fast frozen north, this is still summer weather down here.

Bounding cheerfully off the sleeper after many wonderful hours of excellent sleep. Definitely ready for a busy day.

Millions of trek fans shrug in unison

As often as I get the sleeper, having a train dinner is pretty rare. Hello from the dining car.

Yup. On that train again. 🚂

When Big Manni burst on to the TikTok scene I loved his informal style, doing his experiments in his garden. But I’m increasingly concerned about showcasing bad practise to huge audiences. Pouring and stirring sulfuric acid without googles?! 😱 With a big audience comes a big responsibility.

Why did no one tell me the Evita palladium cast recording was out 😱

I have resumed shipping pins to the US again. Order 4 or 5 to get free delivery, so buddy up and save some dollars. proudscience.etsy.com

Covid boosted. I wish it wasn’t £100 a pop but having had covid wipe me out 4 times already I need all the help I can get.

Whoever is trying to get into my insta account- stop being weird. Obvs I have an unguessable passwords and 2FA. A reminder to the rest of you to have a password manager and to keep your accounts as secure as possible.

If you are curious as to why, as a salsa dancer, I hate what strictly does to it… They turn it into a pantomime of a dance, prioritising performance over dance content. They do a minimum of salsa steps, which kills the distinctive movement. There are too many lifts, tricks and solo work.

I survived watching Alex Kingston do a strictly salsa. I have loved Alex and Salsa most of my life and was very nervous for them combining. She did well. She was over scored a little, but I breath a sigh of relief that two of my favourite things survived their encounter. 😅

Look how cute my tshirt is though 🎃

Just came across the “bean soup theory” & feel resonance. Someone shared a bean soup recipe online & people commented ‘I don’t like beans’ & ‘can I substitute the beans’. It’s now become a byword for individualism & the self-centred internet. Not everything is about you. Bean soup 🥣

Normal people: that’s a big leaf Me, a Star Trek fan: watch me seduce the rebels of Nimbus III

These Scottish greens are absurdly huge. Living my Uhura fantasy while I make dinner.

Lost a game of nap roulette, where you emerge feeling worse than you went in 🙃

Have a ticket to the Pandorica Doctor Who convention in Bristol next weekend. But I might give it a pass. Been travelling a bit too much lately.

Someone is grinding their own coffee beans in my workshop. That new.

Was not prepared for my workshop participants arriving dressed up. Currently presenting to an angel, a devil, a clown, pigeon and zombie.

Does anyone speak Boomer? My mother’s tech support request makes zero sense to me.

Your move Parliament 👀

Worlds sleepiest zombie off to Edinburgh for the day to talk all things public engagement. Not the “tell people about your work” engagement. The new research outputs, better research outputs, 4 star REF impact case study type engagement.

Christmas is officially declared in Scotland. The Snowman is back on the Bru bottles 🎄🎄

Last night Karen and Arthur sent their love to @gallycab.bsky.social. Look what i spy 👀 Arthur is wearing a pride dugga doo! These are a very endangered species. There are only a couple left on my Etsy. I don’t know how it occurred. But I always suspect @scotthandcock1984.bsky.social involvement

My #DoctorWho Christmas idea… The Doctor is regenerating, but something has gone wrong. A new face cannot be found. A confused body that has seen so many regenerations looks back and remembers the faces that have meant the most in the past - companions. Their body lurches from companion to companion

Voting Reform in low immigration areas is not surprising. It’s never been truly about immigration. It’s a scared populace staring down the barrel of change & lower living standards opening the door for politicians to use Fear of Other as a means of control & leverage.

Not one to gush, but honestly, @qedcon.org is something special. The last ever #QEDCon ends to a thundering standing ovation. It’s such a thoughtful event put together with such heart. I first attended about 12 years ago and am so happy I got to contribute to the last two events. Thanks ❤️

Listening to a heartbreaking talk by Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips on Ayurvedic, an alternative medicine system used in India which has grown to have a veneer of legitimacy with research institutes, PhDs & colleges. All why using deeply dangerous and exploitative treatments. #QEDCon

Whole room are on their feet as the organising team of @qedcon.org are giving an Outstanding Contribution award for this amazing event that that they have created with love and professionalism. So much love for #QEDCon.

This year, the Rusty Razor winner for worst promoter of pseudoscience goes to… Reform UK. They spread misinformation. Parroting the concerns of USA on autism and paracetamol; denying climate change while taking money from fossil fuel.

Subhadra Das on the main stage of @qedcon.org sharing powerful, uncomfortable and important truths as she explores Race Science and Other Lies That Made the West.

There is a mini jamie merch stall. I feel very fancy 🥰

Another hobbit hotel.

Click through the Major Event Timeline. Has to be seen to be believed. Forever staggered by the levels to which this administration stoops. I think. I hope. This would be unlawful in the UK.

On my way to QED for the last time 🥲 I adore QED because it is so thoughtfully planned, incredibly welcoming & the talks are top tier. I’m sharing how to influence & shape policy. Looking forward to geeking out on Parliamentary process with @lizzicollinge.bsky.social & @louisevthompson.bsky.social

Had an interesting session today. Some students weren’t receptive to my ideas and, in effect, tried to bully me with hostile questions. I’ll let you imagine how that worked out for them.

Today’s training (public engagement in St Andrews) has a twist. The client was my external PhD examiner. Revenge arc? Redemption arc? Either way he’ll meet a very different person today

On Instagram New Scientist has posted a reel of me debunking cat fart videos. It’s doing numbers and I made a terrible mistake, I not only read the comments - I engaged. You can see my Sisyphus-like struggle over on their page. www.instagram.com/reel/DP_ysVa...

Serving pure autumn vibes in Durham today showing researchers how to plan for policy engagement. How to get your questions asked in Parliament; have your work featured in briefings; being on advisory councils and much much more. My most fact packed an immediately actionable course.

How does Westminster work and how can universities feed into the system? 40 reseachers in Durham are about to discover (if I stop taking selfies with the scenery they will)

Catching up with week 4 of Strictly, it’s making me desperately missing dancing. I’ll never have the capacity to teach again but must make the effort to get back to the dance floor. I wimped out this weekend actually, originally I was supposed to be dancing at New Scientist Live 🙈

Do you think he got a PhD just so he wasn’t a Mr Mann.

Interesting (to me and probably only me) that in the UK the monarch can remove Prince/Princess titles but not Duke/Duchess. But parliament have the opposite power.

Good morning sleepy Glasgow, serving Victorian excess. This week you can find me in: Glasgow, Durham, St Andrews, Newcastle & Manchester. I’ll be helping folk give fantastic talks and pairing with an MP to talk evidence informed policy.