Claire Murray
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drclairemurray.com
Claire Murray
@drclairemurray.com
Irish scientist living in Berlin. Loves tea, travelling and the science. Occasional #Gaeilgeoir. Opinions mine. She/Her

https://drclairemurray.com/
Reposted by Claire Murray
This is one for all the #WomeninSTEM. If you are happy to, could you share some of the more awkward and unusual questions you have been asked? The ones your male colleagues would never be asked.

I'm running an event @helmholtz.de with the awesome Michelle Browne for #IDWAGIS
January 19, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Reposted by Claire Murray
Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for modern GPS technology, has died. She was 95.
Dr. Gladys West, Mathematician Whose Work Made GPS Possible, Dies at 95
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for modern GPS technology, has died. She passed away
thezebra.org
January 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Bumping this into the Bluesky science feed, because I always forget to add the 🧪. However, I know there are plenty of Women in STEM there who might want to share their questions!
This is one for all the #WomeninSTEM. If you are happy to, could you share some of the more awkward and unusual questions you have been asked? The ones your male colleagues would never be asked.

I'm running an event @helmholtz.de with the awesome Michelle Browne for #IDWAGIS
January 19, 2026 at 1:54 PM
This is one for all the #WomeninSTEM. If you are happy to, could you share some of the more awkward and unusual questions you have been asked? The ones your male colleagues would never be asked.

I'm running an event @helmholtz.de with the awesome Michelle Browne for #IDWAGIS
January 19, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Reposted by Claire Murray
US ICE agents have been using tear gas on protestors in Minneapolis. There's been plenty of tear gas misinformation flying around on social media; here's a summary of the chemistry and the best way to get rid of it (TLDR: water): www.compoundchem.com/2020/06/09/t...

#ChemSky 🧪
January 16, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Reposted by Claire Murray
Funny that this argument hasn't washed with them when children's rights groups are telling them age-gating social media access is a bad idea. But now...

I've been saying from the start that age-gating is a cop out on regulating platforms properly. Feeling validated (and furious, frankly).
My word.

The Taoiseach, in China, says "platforms can be misused and abused or they can be used for positive reasons as well..." and says that should be considered carefully "before jumping to conclusions" on whether it's appropriate for the Government to be on X.
January 8, 2026 at 9:42 AM
2026 has started with some of my favourite things: A long forest walk, baking (tea cakes!), letter writing and the promise of some excitement later in the year when I take part in a linotype print class at my local community college.

Here's wishing the same joy and hope for you!
January 5, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Claire Murray
Exciting news! You can still enter #WikiScience until December 15th! Upload your images documenting science to Wikimedia Commons to win prizes! 🌒

Enter now: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons...

Anthony’s astro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
December 5, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The letter writer in me is extremely jealous of Canadian stamps!!!
Canada is releasing a set of stamps celebrating the nation's graphic novelists.

These stamps feature Kate Beaton, Jimmy Beaulieu, Guy Delisle, Julie Doucet, Bryan Lee O’Malley and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, alongside some of their famous works.
November 24, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Reposted by Claire Murray
There’s still time to enter #WikiScience 2025!📸 🌋

Passionate about science? Work in a lab? Did you manage to spot the Northern Lights last week? Wiki Science is calling you!

The photo contest is open until Nov 3, lots of prizes to be won!

🌍 Upload here: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons...
November 21, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by Claire Murray
Reminder: Every time you shop at an independent bookstore, Jeff Bezos loses a little bit of power.
November 12, 2025 at 8:54 PM
This sounds like a delightful challenge. There's a lot on at the moment but let's see what I can read in November!
I am trying something in November. National novel-reading month, basically. It is the PERFECT month for reading (at least in the Western hemisphere).

naomialderman.substack.com/p/november-i...
November is for reading
or: a month of sheer luxurious intellectual pleasure
naomialderman.substack.com
November 2, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Reposted by Claire Murray
From finding a "universal language" in science, to comedy, conferences and following her passion, Prof Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu @ucllifesciences.bsky.social tells BBC World Service about her fascinating path to becoming a pioneer of pharmaceutical nanoscience and champion for race equality
Outlook - One suitcase, three kids: a broke scientist pursues a dream - BBC Sounds
Once a homeless single mum, Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu is now a nanomedicine pioneer
www.bbc.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Claire Murray
On National Poetry Day, the greatest poem I have ever read
October 2, 2025 at 8:41 AM
One of my favourite things in the world is sitting down to write a letter. It starts with so much possibility and elements of theatre (selecting the pen/paper, considering the story to tell) and then slowly centres on the person you write to. Given I upgraded to wax seals, the final act is 🔥 too.
Be a handwritten love letter in a world full of Snapchats.
September 25, 2025 at 11:31 AM
This prefix caused much entertainment when we did 'Project M'. No, no I did not name a project after myself. It is M FOR THE THOUSAND SAMPLES!!!

Speaking of which, our school and teacher scientists are AWESOME and you can read about our work @crystengcomm.rsc.org 🧪
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
July 15, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Dodgy/Predatory conferences get a direct delete in my inbox, but they do get a special side eye for being in such exciting places that I have not been to. A beautiful island in Greece! Japan! Singapore!

They know full well the only reason we would even consider going is because of the location 🧪.
June 16, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Reposted by Claire Murray
Happy Pride month, all! Way back in 2018 I made these galaxy pride flags. They were shared many thousands of times, featured on Vice, and even made their way onto book covers and into video games.

Here are the original ones I created (in no particular order!) so Bluesky can have them too. 💙
June 3, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by Claire Murray
10 years ago, Ireland voted YES. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
A landslide 62% stood for love, dignity, and equality, making us the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by vote 🌈
Marking that moment with #WikiLovesPride
🌈10 days to go til the photo contest that documents queer life
tinyurl.com/msx48sbx
10 Years Since YES – Is Breá le Vicí Bród 2025 - Wikimedia Community Ireland
10 years ago, Ireland said YES. In May 2015, over 1.2 million people voted to make love equal. With a landslide result, Ireland became the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by p...
tinyurl.com
May 22, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Claire Murray
Today is #IDAHOBIT2025. The theme this year is "The Power of Communities". Here it is in Irish:
May 17, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Today's protest is an important one. Berliners are out on the streets supporting the classification of the right wing party AFD as extremist by the German spy agency BfV. Here's to democracy and to inclusion that unite us rather than divide us 💚 #AFDVerbot
May 11, 2025 at 2:52 PM
This was today's absolute highlight from the #DarkRooms. Called 'Tentacle' by @ausgangstudio.bsky.social, it's a reflection on whether the technology that now drives us brings us further away from being human. The combined light and sound installation was incredible, and I spent ages watching it.
May 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I can't buy all the beautiful things I want to, but we have a small rotating gallery with A3 prints/paintings and smaller that I joyfully buy things for. The rotations are one of my favourite things to do and can align with seasons but also with my mood or feelings! Art is wonderful and so important
I had an art budget for a couple of years. Ended up running out of wall space after 2 years.

Even dropped a couple hundred on someone set up outside the Metro station.

I recommend everyone setup an art budget. It allows you to quiet the voice that says "I can't afford it."
May 4, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Claire Murray
I’m glad so many people have found my “capybara method” for how to write alt text and image descriptions helpful! However, I know conflicting access needs exist and not everyone can write their own #AltText, so here’s an ongoing thread of tools that can help. Inclusion in thread ≠ endorsement
November 29, 2024 at 6:25 PM
Reposted by Claire Murray
We want everyone in the chemical sciences community to feel welcome, supported and valued, so we're sad to see some people seize on yesterday's supreme court ruling with anti-trans messages. Today, we're highlighting our resources on allyship for trans colleagues and friends
rsc.li/4j6lojs
LGBT+ toolkit
This kit provides the tools for everyone to take part in positive change: employers, colleagues, and LGBT+ individuals.
rsc.li
April 17, 2025 at 9:07 AM