So sad to hear about Sam Neill. My favourite film was a bit niche, but I feel like it is a classic for astronomers/sci-fi lovers: Event Horizon. My husband and I still quote this film to each other. 'We don't need eyes where we're going.'

"You're still punk rock" I whisper to myself as I put a pot roast in the oven.

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." #AnneFrank

So, today I finally submitted my PhD thesis on using quantitative (diffusion) MRI to understand white matter in children with brain tumours! ⚛️🧠🧲🧑‍🔬🧪 Now, I just have to do the viva (defense) in a couple of months. *gulp* 😱😅 Wish me luck.

++BREAKING++ Leading climate scientists in the UK have written to senior editors in broadcast media - and OFCOM and IPSO: "To express our concern about recent media coverage of extreme weather, climate change and net-zero and to urge you…to inform public audiences of the scientific links"

As a matter of urgency, if you are a British citizen or resident, then please sign!

Completely agree, but cats do not help with reading, they help with distraction. 😅🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛📚

Live footage of a solar eclipse.

After 2.5 months in the new postdoctoral role, I gave my first research talk this morning! Productive Monday morning, discussing all things diffusion MRI in paediatric brain tumours patients. 🧠⚛️🧲🧑‍🔬🧪

Keep going - EDM 240 is up to 120 MPs now! It takes 30 seconds to fill out the form that Trans+ Solidarity Alliance have set up, which will email your MP to ask them to sign EDM 240 and reject the Labour bathroom ban Code of Practice from the EHRC. Also, check if your MP has signed below!

For Pride Month, if you do anything, then do this. It takes 30 seconds to write to your MP with this template and easy form.

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Today, I wrote to MPs and Committees in the UK to express my concern about the UK bathroom ban that will affect transgender and gender non-conforming people. I encourage any UK resident or citizen to write to their MP to urge them to reject the EHRC guidance.

The photo my husband sent me when I working a little late in the office. Send help. #BlackCat #BlackCats #Help

This is so amazing! 🖌️🎨🐰

Toronto is looking particularly lovely tonight! ❤️🇨🇦🌃✨ #Canada #Toronto #Spring #Night #NightWalks

"...the UK government has broken the social contract and betrayed LGBTQ+ people. They must now stop pretending to be powerless, reclaim the sovereignty of Parliament and legislate to restore equality legislation to a sound footing, or face a toxic legacy..." transactual.org.uk/blog/2026/05...

I've been so sad to read about Labour's bathroom ban today in the UK. To all of my trans+ siblings, please know that I will always support you, defend you, fight for you, stand by you, and speak up for you. Even from abroad, I will be writing more letters to politicians. You are all in my thoughts.

What did I learn in this morning’s #ISMRM2026 plenary? Manhattan has more MRI machines that all of Africa. MRI should be accessible to everyone. One of the ways we can do this is by developing cheaper, ultra low field MRI.

Come see my digital poster this afternoon at #ISMRM2026 - Row E Poster 1 at 4.10PM - on using diffusion MRI to examine microstructural changes in optic pathway glioma patients over time and to investigate if diffusion imaging can be used to predict future visual decline! ⚛️🧑‍🔬🧠👁️🧲🧪

First day of research talks at #ISMRM2026! Really proud of one of my students I co-supervised - Xinyu Tian - who got a talk (!!!) on her MSc work on transfer learning-based segmentation of optic pathway gliomas with incomplete MRI data! And she got an ISMRM award! 🧠⚛️🧑‍🔬🧪

ISMRM 2026 in Cape Town: Education Day today! I'm so ready to have a review of MR physics and imaging, paediatric neuro-oncology, and MR analysis! 🧲🧑‍🔬⚛️🧠🩻🧪

Currently in Cape Town for the #ISMRM 🧲⚛️ meeting (starting tomorrow)! I was in a cafe, doing some work, and my first thought was...why is the Sun moving backwards across the sky? For a moment, I forgot I was in the Southern Hemisphere and was facing north, not south! 😅🫨🌞 I blame the jet lag. 🧑‍🔬🧪

I'm one month into a research fellowship at @sickkidsto.bsky.social, working on MRI/ML in paediatric brain tumours. Yesterday, I observed my first ever brain surgery! It was exciting to see how MRI is used to visualise white matter and help guide the surgeon. Here's me coming out of the OR! 🧠🧑‍🔬🧪🧲⚛️

Well, it was snowing, sleeting, freezing rain, and hailing all yesterday afternoon. What city have I moved to, I thought it was April! 🫣❄️🌧️🌷 #Canada #Toronto #April

Hermes has figured out how to open the cabinets and now likes to chill with the coffee cups. #Caturday #cats #blackcats 🐈‍⬛

Just came across 'bran magnetic resonance imaging' in a paper, and now I can't stop thinking about doing MRI scans of breakfast cereal. 🧲🧠🥣🧪

One of my favourite things about being a scientist is the ability to ask questions, and the comfort of knowing I don't have all of the answers. 1/4 🧑‍🔬⚛️🧠🩻✨🔭🧲🧪

Starting to feel like a pin cushion after all of my tests and vaccinations to start my new postdoc! TB negative (x2) and chicken pox immune! 🏥💉💉😷💉🐥

I've been quiet this past month because my thesis has turned into quite the hill to climb. But I'm still steadily chipping away at it! T-minus 3 weeks to go before we set off to Toronto! 🧠⚛️🧑‍🔬🩻🧑‍💻🧪 #PhDLife #PhDThesis #Academia #MedicalPhysics

I asked ChatGPT to make a cartoon of me at work based on our past conversations. First, it made a picture of a man (because only men can be scientists?). Then, after describing what I looked like, it made this. Where do I find a little brain friend to sit on my shoulder?! 🧑‍🔬🧲🧠⚛️🧪

Happy to announce I accepted a #postdoc at SickKids Hospital in Toronto for Spring 2026! I'll be continuing my work on paediatric brain tumours (MRI). Things feel more real now that we've booked our flights (including for our cats) and sold our flat! 😱⚛️🧲🧠🧑‍🔬🧪🎉 Now...I must finish my thesis! 😅 #PhD

My husband shrank his jumper in the washing machine....so now I have a new jumper! Best day. 😂

Just as I get back to work to have a break from socialising, I catch whatever lurgy has been plaguing London for the past few months. 🫠🤧 Come on, this data isn't going to analyse itself! 😅😭

It has been a lovely Christmas and New Year, but I've been travelling and attending so many social events that I'm now looking forward to going back to work on Monday so I can have a break from socialising. 😅😵‍💫🧑‍🔬🧑‍💻🧪 #introvert #introvertproblems

Nearly finished my thesis, submitted another paper, had some postdoc interviews in various countries, and even got a job offer...... I've accepted the offer, but not ready to announce the postdoc just yet until I have a few more details sorted. Soon! 🤫⚛️🧠🩻🧲🧑‍🔬🧪 (But we will be moving in 2026! 🤞)

Nebula The second pic is the night of the Blood Moon. High cloud created an intriguing and unique scene. This night turned into something quite special - it turned into my first book! - #BloodMoon #Eclipse, #NewZealand - "Look with your eyes. See with your Soul." #EastCoastKin #FullMoon #BestOf

Happy Solstice everyone! Here is to the longest night of the year! ✨🌚🌃

Okay, so it was an instant desk rejection. 😅 But within a week, I submitted it somewhere else. They are now 'assigning for review'. Hopefully, we'll have better luck this time! Come on Paper #3! 🧑‍🔬🧲⚛️🧠🩻🧪

So these two creatures managed to fish a cookie out of a box, lick the cookie, decide they didn't like the cookie, and then leave it on the counter for us to discover this morning. What weird little guys. #cats #blackcats

Io Saturnalia to all who celebrate! If you don't know how to celebrate, I wrote a blog post five years ago about how the holiday was celebrated in ancient Rome for your enjoyment. talesoftimesforgotten.com/2020/12/18/h...

It certainly feels like a dark and stormy winter day in London. A gothic Christmas. 🦇🎄⛈️

TFW you teach an undergraduate how to use SSH. 😂⚛️🧑‍🔬🧠🩻🧲🧪

Badenoch then says she was ‘traumatised’ by having to wear a mask during COVID. The lack of knowledge and care of public health never ceases to amaze me. If you are feeling unwell and have to travel or go to work, then it takes little effort to pop on a mask. 😷

It’s #Caturday! Hermes and Hades are mad because we decorated the flat for Christmas. They hid on their favourite top shelf. 🎄🌲⛄️❄️☃️🎅🤦‍♀️🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛ #blackcats #cat #london

Forgot the title of Blade Runner, so I proceeded to describe the film as ‘Oh the one with Han Solo where it rains all the time and he shacks up with the robot in the end.’ 😅🤦‍♀️ My husband laughed for a solid minute and then described me as ‘Malcolm Tucker trying to think of the name for Star Wars.’

We don’t talk about this enough in academia, but I had a desk rejection for the paper I submitted a couple of weeks ago. 😓 So, I’ve resubmitted paper #3 of my PhD to a journal with (hopefully) a better fit! 🤞

The December full moon (sometimes called the Cold Moon) was looking spectacular last night in Bloomsbury. I managed snap this photo just before I left my office. #london #moon #fullmoon 🌕

Don’t forget to look up

won't you celebrate with me.

Submitted Paper #3 of my PhD! Finger's crossed it doesn't have an instant desk rejection. 😅 #PhD #PhDLife #Science #MRI 🧑‍🔬🧲⚛️🧠🩻🧪