Dr Beth
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drbeth.bsky.social
Dr Beth
@drbeth.bsky.social
4.4K followers 1.6K following 2.4K posts
The librarian formerly known (on twitter) as @Phdgeek. Into nerdy stuff, open research, EDI campaigning, powerlifting and climbing. 🏳️‍🌈
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drbeth.bsky.social
Dr Beth @drbeth.bsky.social · Nov 19
So I did a bit of a search around and these are the past and present Francis Crick Institute folks that I could find.

I can't guarantee they're talking about science, but if they are, you know it's going to be cool science 😉

FYI - @thecrick.bsky.social

go.bsky.app/2tMmrSY
drbeth.bsky.social
This is our Christmas Eve too! Although in an effort to stay awake for Midnight Mass we did also watch some Christmas University Challenge.
barnabyedwards.bsky.social Barnaby Edwards @barnabyedwards.bsky.social · 2d
Really looking forward to tonight. We follow the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóð, literally 'Christmas book flood'. Rather than watching regrettable repeats on TV, you give each other a book and then settle down with a nice hot chocolate to read them. It's fab! 📚

adventures.is/blog/iceland...
Iceland Christmas Eve Tradition | Arctic Adventures
Discover Jólabókaflóð: Iceland's unique Christmas tradition of book gifting. Learn about its history and how it reflects Iceland's love for reading!
adventures.is
December 25, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Reposted by Dr Beth
kai-arzheimer.com
Festive classic #AcademicChatter #TwistedDoodles
December 25, 2025 at 12:10 PM
drbeth.bsky.social
Loving Sweet Chiming Bells on the radio Christmas morning. Merry Christmas from Sheffield!
@bbcradio2bot.bsky.social
December 25, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Dr Beth
austen1stdrafts.bsky.social
Happy publication anniversary to Northanger Abbey! Celebrate by accusing your crush’s dad of murder.
December 20, 2025 at 8:05 PM
drbeth.bsky.social
One of the good ones.
robinince.bsky.social Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 14d
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 8:03 AM
drbeth.bsky.social
I've been learning all about archives for work recently, so am obviously completely drawn to the UCL Archives MA. Always want to be doing another degree.

Of course I can't afford it and can't afford to not be working FT.

But its a nice dream.
warmaiden.bsky.social Dr. Colleen S. Harris 💙📚 #booksky #libraries #spoonie @warmaiden.bsky.social · 16d
Up late, sick, of course I'm looking at what I'd need to do to get a BA in Art. Or an MA in Sociology. Or maybe an MS in Criminal Justice?
December 11, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Reposted by Dr Beth
matthewcobb.bsky.social
For reasons that are too complicated to explain, I am reminded of Adam Stuart Smith’s 2005 paper “Are Jaffa Cakes Really Biscuits?”. Here’s his cladogram (it says they aren’t): Full paper here: plesiosauria.com/pdf/smith_20...
Cladogram showing Jaffa Cakes as pseudobiscuits.
December 10, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Reposted by Dr Beth
fci-library.bsky.social
The Crash Course lectures at the @crick.ac.uk are a really great introduction to a biomedical subject.

Check out this one by @kathaschmack.bsky.social talking about psychosis and the research that her lab is doing.
kathaschmack.bsky.social Katharina Schmack @kathaschmack.bsky.social · 16d
Ready for a crash course in psychosis?

My recent public lecture is now on YouTube! I explain what psychosis is, what we are doing about it in the lab, and what the future may hold.

Watch & share👇

youtu.be/EUb3_5ecatU
A Crash Course in Psychosis – with Katharina Schmack
YouTube video by The Francis Crick Institute
youtu.be
December 10, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Reposted by Dr Beth
fci-library.bsky.social
The library is on tour today, lending books in the atrium for the Christmas break.

We've built ourselves a Christmas tree and a Snowman. What do you think? 🎄⛄️
Books piled up to look like a snowman Books piled up to look like a Christmas tree A library book popular stall with books on the table and a backboard with posters.
December 10, 2025 at 12:03 PM
drbeth.bsky.social
I've never really liked Calibri as a business font. But I will now be using it exclusively.
hab3261.bsky.social Hazel B. | Meme Resister | Albertan @hab3261.bsky.social · 17d
Sometimes headlines are too funny, you just have to make an infographic. 🇺🇸 A font coup is underway: Times New Roman is back, ousting Calibri for being "too woke." 🤯 Font choices are officially a matter of national security.

Will this font war spill into Canada? 🇨🇦 #FontWars #DEI #StateDepartment
“Infographic titled ‘USA Font Coup: Times New Roman Overthrows Calibri.’ The design presents a satirical look at the 2025 U.S. State Department decision to replace Calibri with Times New Roman. The layout is a clean two-column split on a light gray background, with both sides using the same color scheme for neutrality. The left column is labeled ‘Times New Roman’ and displays a paragraph written in Times New Roman explaining its origins as a classic serif typeface created for the Times of London in 1932, commonly associated with books, reports, and traditional professional documents. The right column is labeled ‘Calibri’ and shows a paragraph written in Calibri, describing it as a modern sans-serif typeface optimized for digital screens and originally adopted by the State Department for accessibility. A thin vertical line separates the two columns. Both paragraphs use the same text color to highlight the visual differences between the fonts themselves rather than color. At the bottom is a humorous footer that reads: ‘Based on real 2025 U.S. headlines about the State Department replacing Calibri with Times New Roman — yes, this actually became news. Also, this footer is proudly written in the dangerously modern sans-serif font Avenir Next LT Pro in #333333, which would definitely not be approved by Washington right now.’ The overall tone is playful and gently mocks the exaggerated political drama surrounding a simple font change.”
December 10, 2025 at 10:09 AM
drbeth.bsky.social
Want to read my book but don't have access to a library that has it? 50% off means this might be the time to buy it 😉

www.facetpublishing.co.uk/page/detail/...
December 10, 2025 at 10:02 AM
drbeth.bsky.social
I was writing a sentence when I had to go to a meeting so stopped abruptly. I came back to this:

"Simply conducting research for the joy of disco isn’t enough in 21st century academia"

I suspect I was writing discovery 😂 Maybe I should just leave it and check people are reading.
December 10, 2025 at 9:44 AM
drbeth.bsky.social
Well it's a good job I don't want to go at the moment anyway!
clarajeffery.bsky.social Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 17d
This is INSANE www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/t...

and these are our closest allies!
Travelers visiting the United States from countries like Britain, France, Germany and South Korea could soon have to undergo a review of up to five years of their social media history, according to a proposal filed on Tuesday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The change would affect visitors eligible for the visa waiver program, which allows people from 42 countries to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa as long as they first obtain electronic travel authorization. In a document filed on Tuesday in the Federal Register, C.B.P. said it plans to ask applicants for a long list of personal data including social media, email addresses from the last decade, and the names, birth dates, places of residence and birthplaces of parents, spouses, siblings and children. Under the current system, applicants from visa waiver countries must enroll in the Electronic System for Travel Authorization program. They pay $40 and submit an email address, home address, phone number and emergency contact information. The authorization is good for two years.
December 10, 2025 at 5:59 AM
drbeth.bsky.social
We've just set up an official library account for the Crick Library & Information Services team - which means I won't have to use this account to promote when we've done something cool!

Do follow 😉
fci-library.bsky.social Francis Crick Institute Library & Information Services @fci-library.bsky.social · 18d
The Francis Crick Institute Library & Information Services team has landed on bluesky!

Follow us to see what's going on 😀📚🔬
December 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM
drbeth.bsky.social
I'll give the answer I always give - Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
brenttoderian.bsky.social Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 20d
What’s your favourite movie that YOU KNOW is fantastic, and you couldn’t care less if movie snobs would say it “isn’t real cinema?”
December 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
drbeth.bsky.social
What about carpenters? Any room at the inn for them?

Happy Christmas everyone, I can't really describe how much I loathe this government.
jonkingh.bsky.social Jonathan Kingham @jonkingh.bsky.social · 20d
This is so disgusting.
December 7, 2025 at 2:17 PM
drbeth.bsky.social
This is absolutely the kind of content aim looking for to distracted me between sets in the gym. Moar of this sort of thing!
dbellingradt.bsky.social Daniel Bellingradt @dbellingradt.bsky.social · 21d
What looks like an alien starship visiting a small country estate in eighteenth-century Germany is in fact, *checks notes* a giant pomelo. So nothing to see here, #skystorians
A giant pomelo over a country estate. The image is part of a book about famous citrus fruits of Nuremberg (VD18 14760916).
December 6, 2025 at 10:40 AM
drbeth.bsky.social
Totally agree with Paul.

However I am annoyed with the BBC for using a photo with another excellent scientist and not naming her.

So it's Lucy Collinson, Head of the Electron Microscopy STP @em-stp.bsky.social at @crick.ac.uk
elisafadda.bsky.social Elisa Fadda @elisafadda.bsky.social · 21d
"Why do we put hurdles in the way of the people that are actually going to drive our economy? It makes zero sense."

Prof Sir Paul Nurse, Nobel prize winning scientist, says the UK's scientific future is being put at risk

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Top UK scientist says research visa restrictions endanger economy
Prof Sir Paul Nurse says the UK is
www.bbc.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Reposted by Dr Beth
elisafadda.bsky.social
"Why do we put hurdles in the way of the people that are actually going to drive our economy? It makes zero sense."

Prof Sir Paul Nurse, Nobel prize winning scientist, says the UK's scientific future is being put at risk

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Top UK scientist says research visa restrictions endanger economy
Prof Sir Paul Nurse says the UK is
www.bbc.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 7:34 AM
drbeth.bsky.social
Did you know it's nomination time for Royal Society medals? royalsociety.org/medals-and-p...
And did you also know that there's 1 for EDI & for scientific communication?

One of my proudest moments was being awarded the Athena prize for the LGBTQ+STEMinar. So if you think you deserve it, get on it.
Medals and awards | Royal Society
The Royal Society’s prestigious medals and awards programme recognises and celebrates outstanding contributions to science from individuals and teams.
royalsociety.org
December 4, 2025 at 11:52 AM
drbeth.bsky.social
I love this approach to working with Dewey Decimal. We shouldn't feel bound by a legacy system that doesn't work for us.

www.libfocus.com/2025/12/how-...

#library
How Maynooth University Library is thinking beyond the Dewey Decimal System to help students
This guest post is by Ashley Burke who is a Library Assistant based in Engagement and Information Services in Maynooth University Library. A...
www.libfocus.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Reposted by Dr Beth
mattlibrarian.bsky.social
ICE Goons were out in force today
Holy Family they took away
Shepherds chased over hill and dale
Three wise men are awaiting bail
The stable left in quite a state
His manger smashed, as was the gate!
December 3, 2025 at 7:56 PM
drbeth.bsky.social
I was described today as the library conference version of the comedian you see on all the panel shows. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not 😂

At least I wasn't actually speaking at today's one.
December 3, 2025 at 7:24 PM
drbeth.bsky.social
Glad to see that my #spotifywrapped still pretty much defies categorisation. A nice mix of classical/choral, country music and musicals.
Spotify wrapped top artists : Mandela, Piranha Lambert, Sutton Foster, Jessie Mueller, Academy of st Martin in the fields.
December 3, 2025 at 4:24 PM
drbeth.bsky.social
Mark Hughes from Cardiff finishing the day talking about AI in libraries.

Discourse currently is a bit of a bin fire and also very much a marmite polarisation situation.

Hard to cut through the noise.

#UKSGForum2025
December 3, 2025 at 3:45 PM