Something new from me. The Chris Adams symposium prompted me to think the role of virtual laboratories in chemistry and I have been slowly thinking it through since. It turns out that there is a lot to do. Sharing as a preprint and really welcome comments while I work it up. osf.io/preprints/ed...

National Archives (UK) running 3 events on Irish history this month. Yes pleeeeze www.eventbrite.com/cc/finding-i...

Sometimes it is hard being a chemist and a gardener

Sometimes this is a very difficult country to live in

One of the fascinating if depressing things about “the literature” is the extent to which people cite other work that completely misrepresents what the cited article says. And that’s going to get so much worse with AI “insights”.

Happy Putting those Aspirations for Completing Tasks Back On Ice For Another Year Day to all who celebrate. 🙌

You *can* have it all.

**New blog post** A reflection on how moving city made me less productive this year. www.michaeloneill.org/blog-1/2025/8/18/the-academic-productivity-cost-of-moving

It's 4 years since everything upended, and having this month just finished the first year in my new role, I am (over)sharing some reflections. Short version: all is well :D michaelseery.com/reflecting-o...

Paging the #CompChemSky and #iTeachChem communities: Could you please help my MSc student with an education project, exploring how gen AI shapes the way we think, solve problems, and build confidence.

I've spent a bit of time thinking and writing about GRC CERP; how it came together, and how it came to be. Thank you to everyone who played a part and the many messages since. It's long, so a main take away message, it is: *conference organisers should always have a "meal with speakers" system*.

First day//last day of GRC CERP. Who needs sleep?!.Thanks so much to Erin Saitta for photos.

Was an amazing week - thanks for presentation and bringing *all* the gang from Texas 🤣 They made an enormous contribution to the meeting.

What an amazing week! Thank you everyone who made it so special. This was a career highlight that will be tough to beat. #GRCCERP #MoonAgents

#GRCCERP begins! Setting off on journey with a view of Westbury White Horse from the train (through very murky window).

At Trinity last night for book launch of 300 years of Trinity. Launched by Peter Boyle (who turned to history when he retired - role model ❤️); met up with JMK; and a talk from Peter Morris on history of chemistry lab.

RIP Edmund White. As a very confused young adult I somehow came across his work and it was a lightbulb. A world I never thought I could connect with, but was a comfort to know it existed. Some lovely tributes www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...

We are organising a one-day symposium in memory of Chris Adams, here in Bristol Chemistry on 27th June 2025, from 10 am. Details, programme and registration form here: cjasymposium.blogs.bristol.ac.uk Please register by the end of this week if you plan to come for dinner.

Are you attending GRC CERP this summer? If so, I have made a short presentation giving an overview of the conference, the flow of the week, and my top tips for attendees...! www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrok...

As a lifelong academic I’m here for it.

Trolls

Are you attending GRC CERP this summer? If so, I have made a short presentation giving an overview of the conference, the flow of the week, and my top tips for attendees...! www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrok...

For Trinity Chemistry alumni (and interested others) Book launch of "Trinity College Dublin - 300 years of Chemistry" in Dublin on 30th June with a talk from Peter Morris on the history of the chemistry laboratory. What's not to love?!

God I hope the answer is yes 🤞 (it was, but only because of a few extra hundred thousand details not mention in headline)

The finalised programme for Methods in Chemistry Education Research #MICER25 at @edinburghnapier.bsky.social micerportal.wordpress.com #chemsky #chemedresearch

A cryptic clue for chemists

Had a great day yesterday at #CLEAR25 symposium - really excellent talks. Loved hearing about @burrowscer.bsky.social phenomenongraphy work describing student perspectives in project-based labs, and Jianye Wei on inquiry in Chinese context. I've added my slides here: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/guac2...

Looking forward to it!

I finally made a headline! Lovely article on the launch summit of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for University Science Education last week. use.ku.dk/news/news-20...

Recording of @aud2526.bsky.social presentation "Signing to Know: Unlocking chemistry concepts" from symposium in her honour last week is now on @cerg.bsky.social YouTube channel. Thanks to Dr Helen Pain for her warm introduction to Audrey and the symposium youtu.be/9cWN4oD39kw

A really inspiring symposium today. Lots to take away from it. I loved the chemical considerations involved in making new signs and the student generated videos were amazing! Thanks to presenters, interpreters, & Dr Helen Pain for officially opening proceedings! rsccerg.wordpress.com/2025/02/10/t...

Among a chorus of pandering plaudits for Francis, Mary McAleese cuts through the crap and says it as it is www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Fantastic story (and also v. jealous) Amazing how many sliding doors there are on everyone's journey. In another world I would have discovered conservation science and perhaps gone on that path.

Methods in Chemistry Education Research speaker announcement: Dr Nicola Kiernan, Head of Chemistry and STEM co-ordinator at the High School of Dundee will be leading a workshop exploring the use of video for analysing gestures. www.linkedin.com/posts/colin-... #chatchemistry #chemedresearch

Back to work today after a week off. Was it something I said?!

Six years after being elected to chair the meeting (thanks COVID), and quite a few professional twists and turns later, I am feeling quite emotional about *finally* publishing the 2025 Gordon Research Conference on 'Chemistry Education Research and Practice' programme online. It'll be a cracker!

#MICER25 update: Prof. Paul Ashwin will be leading a workshop on the use of interview data and phenomenography. MICER takes place at @edinburghnapier.bsky.social on Wednesday 21 May 2025. Details at micerportal.wordpress.com #ChemEd #ITeachChem #ChemEdResearch #ChemSky

Hi friends! Have you ever used the CHemistry Instrument Review and Assessment Library (CHIRAL) chiral.chemedx.org? We want to hear your feedback! Please drop your thoughts in our quick CHIRAL feedback survey: portlandstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Learn about and feedback on this amazing education research resource rsccerg.wordpress.com/2025/04/03/c...

This article says everything I want to say about AI hype in a much clearer way than I ever could. Excellent work.

In a parallel universe this is the conference that I could be attending 😭 When people say they don’t know what they’d do if they won the lottery, I do! I know what I’d do…!

Am hiring! If you know anyone who might want to lead institutional approaches to digital pedagogy and practice either let me know or send them this link. @bnuni.bsky.social an exciting place to be right now! jobs.bucks.ac.uk/vacancy/seni... #DigitalPedagogy #DigitalEducation

Wasn’t sure what to expect but ended up being unexpectedly sweet www.nytimes.com/2025/03/23/o...

Watching ‘Adolescence’ (slowly, as I can only take so much at the moment). Will be forever glad I grew up in an era without internet and smartphone. Yes I am old now.

Register for Methods in Chemistry Education Research (MICER) at micerportal.wordpress.com #chatchemistry #ChemEdResearch

I do want to cry. A programme with a specific and valuable offering is no longer deemed viable. Having seen elsewhere the transformational power of these types of programmes, it’s such a travesty.

The fantastic documentary “Housewife of the Year” reviewed in NYT “…we, too, will be making documentaries looking back, incredulous at what we lived through, what we allowed, what we assumed was normal.”

Hero…! “I was 16, gay and bullied for it. Then my father wrote to the Guardian”

Latest obsession and I’m slowly getting better Minute Cryptic - 4 March 2025 "Siesta: mid-morning to twelve" (5) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 2 under par

My favourite show has taken on my favourite topic