Robert Jenrick complaining that the country is broken is like Fred West complaining that his patio is uneven.

We did a thing! A depressingly-necessary message. Chemists, do as much as you can to support teachers and schools, or the student pipeline dries up and departments close. With @sci-drscott.bsky.social and colleagues. doi.org/10.1038/s415...

One year since I posted this. One year since everybody treated it like a joke. One year of watching my back. Tell me: have you seen much of Harry Styles this past year? Tim Davie's gone a bit quiet too, hasn't he?

Just watched the new Knives Out and I think it's really important you know that the scene in the Seminary's Gym is filmed in the same place Rick Astley filmed the music video for Never Gonna Give You Up. I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.

Watching THE GREEN KNIGHT again

They missed a trick not calling a rival parcel service "Prometheus" with the slogan "We'll make sure your de-livering happens every day!"

Merry Christmas one and all! As always, here's Picard letting it snow and making it so. youtu.be/oiSn2JuDQSc?...

Starting tomorrow- join us for the ultimate organic reaction bracket #ReactionRunoff hosted by the ACS Organic Division @organicdivision.org Round 1 from Dec 10-11 and new rounds every 2 days #ChemSky #ChemChat #AmplifyOrganic

Benzene ring hiding in the Lego!

Explore our case studies on making chemistry workspaces more accessible for disabled scientists. As part of our Disability-Inclusive Laboratories in the Chemical Sciences report, the library offers 29 examples to inspire change. Read the case studies & share your own: https://rsc.li/486SU67 #ChemSky

Chemistry should work for everyone. However too many chemists still face avoidable physical & cultural barriers every day The @rsc.org NEW report shares lived experiences & solutions for accessible labs #ChemSky Let’s build science for everyone #InclusiveLabsRSC Read the report rsc.li/4ijV3yN

I know it's my fault for not maintaining separation of accounts, but half the time I play D&D as "Dr Patrick Thomson, Strathclyde (he/his)" and half the time I'm in work meetings as "Grognog Bloodpuncher" and honestly it works better both ways.

They're also responsible for one of the best emails I've ever received, when the college office sent out a plea for sightings of Professor Biscuit while conveniently forgetting to mention that he was a cat...(I won't comment on how often a similar email might have gone out about human Professors...)

I am delighted and surprised, or as surprised as you can be when you remember putting in the paperwork!

"Not impacting the student experience" my arse. The IAD, like any Academic Development, compounds investment in the student experience by making researchers marginally less shit at teaching. They're also how I ended up in my current career. thetab.com/2025/10/31/e...

Oh GREAT, the one transformation that our introductory organic teaching says we can't easily do in one step.

We’re just innocent men

Higher Ed in 2025 is opening your mailbox to see that your institution has sent you: 1. A Center for Teaching and Learning call to integrate AI into your classroom; and 2. An Office of Academic Integrity email encouraging you to crack down on students who use AI to cheat.

Rest in peace to Jane Goodall, whose tireless advocacy for primates has brought us closer than ever to the Planet of the Apes becoming a terrifying reality

Heartfelt thanks to the Scottish parliament for keeping its political disasters on a level I can actually tolerate.

Right. My students working two part time jobs and/or having an hour and a half commute to uni because they have to live at home due to the cost of student accommodation lack drive and vigour. Sure thing, Peter. The UK Govt still haven't a clue about the realities of universities today.

Me, begrudgingly dressing for academic processions: www.instagram.com/reel/DNwz2nH...

Congratulations to all the shows that won Emmys, they sound cool, I’ll definitely check them out when I’m done watching 500 episodes of Antiques Roadshow

Yes! I've been saying this for years, AI can at best be an accelerator for expertise; using it without any is utter folly. Teach it critically, to graduates.

Outstanding news that should be shared.

Wonderful #vicephec25, as always!

Update: I am on the way to Liverpool and I did not do the shirt thing.

If anyone's heading over/up/down to @vicephec.bsky.social next week, check out the presentation by Strathclyde student sgchem.bsky.social , who used TikTok to punch up our prelabs! Previously of the YouTube Paper fame, with @lemackz.bsky.social royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...

We did an open-access thing! Prelabs, what instructors (you) typically do in them, and what y'all think about them! Now with added "Outwith". pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/... with @edinburghchem.bsky.social colleagues Ben and Mairi, @chemistryncl.bsky.social Cristina, and @annajkirkham.bsky.social !

For those arriving for satellite activities, #ViCEPHEC25 is just two weeks away. If you haven't already, this is another great opportunity to follow the conference starter pack. Get in touch if you'd like to be added to this - it is a work in progress. go.bsky.app/FffPieC

We are fitting our own kitchen (not the royal we! Marrying an engineer has some benefits) and I actually used Duct Tape to Tape up a Duct and I've never been more devastated to realise I was previously stupid.

Seriously considering printing up a custom shirt for @vicephec.bsky.social that just says "Do your SFHEA already", figure I'll probably end up Orient Expressed by about 25% of the delegates.

The @advancehe.bsky.social awards are out - congrats to new chemistry #NationalTeachingFellow @drkevinmorgan.bsky.social ! And recognition for @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social "We are Chemistry" team in the #CATE.

With the decline of paper money and the "I'll have you know it's legal tender" conversation, us Scots need a new friction to export, so once again I find myself saying "it's a real word, albeit rarely used outwith Scotland"

In about ten years time, any universities depending on international students from China is going to start seeing this come through as well.

So pleased that Taskmaster has added "Jason Mantzoukas, chaotic good" to the pantheon of positive male role models in media (alongside the entirety of the Fellowship, ofc). No longer am I forced to choose between a natural sprinter and a vegetable thief.

As well as the official @vicephec.bsky.social satellites, if anyone's around early and likes weird underground tourism, I'm going t'Williamson Tunnels at 11am. Maybe a few spaces left? williamsontunnels.com/visit-the-tu... Inspired by the truly wild writeup here: www.reddit.com/r/HobbyDrama...

Happy Benzday! Year! Something.

Two weeks until abstract submissions for #ViCEPHEC25 close on Friday May 9th! Available formats: Talks, Lightning Talks, Workshops, Posters, Lab Sessions. Email [email protected] if you need to ask questions before submitting through the portal. forms.microsoft.com/Pages/Respon...

Can’t wait to get into the lab today and test out our latest Eco burner

Yes! I've been comparing AI to a calculator for years. Why do we still learn maths the hard way? "A.I.’s most revolutionary potential is helping experts apply their expertise better and faster. But for that to work, there has to be experts."

Teaching lab chemist types, 100% cotton or polycotton blend for teaching-specific lab coats? I'm aware of the flammability profiles, but I have a feeling that it's not a trivial decision due to durability, splash permeation, and low/no use of flame in UG teaching.

Join us Wednesday 19 March at 8pm GMT for #LTHEchat to discuss integrating study skills into the curriculum led by Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel @drckt.bsky.social and Emily Nordmann @emilynordmann.bsky.social lthechat.com/2025/03/16/l...

Good day for nanotechnologists, who will be able to find a use for all those incredibly tiny violins. What did they expect to happen?

When British racists elected a swivel-eyed moron that tanked the economy, a lettuce took care of it within a few months. Curious to see how it pans out over the pond.

It's the most wonderful time of the year [introductory aromatics for year 2, with a demonstration that doubles as lunch afterwards]

I very much hope the Royal Society make some kind of public statement about the issues raised in Kit's important thread. I had some recent personal success relating to the RS but I won't be able to give it any publicity until they clarify their position.

Look what arrived! A certain @rsc.org book by @drjohnodonoghue.bsky.social