Jonathan Sanderson
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jjsanderson.bsky.social
Jonathan Sanderson
@jjsanderson.bsky.social
1.7K followers 380 following 880 posts
Family roboticist/STEM engagement academic/digital tinkerer/film maker/general-purpose geek. Enthusiastic about (but not necessarily good at): bicycles, photography, sustainability, kites, parenting. Newcastle, UK.
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jjsanderson.bsky.social
The New Agents’ story on deportation flights from Minneapolis is utterly chilling. overcast.fm/+AA9hL63fPFE
A year of Trump: terror, territory and tariffs — The News Agents
We bring you a special report today of the ‘dark flights’ that are deporting hundreds of people - the vast majority of them here legally - in shackles from Minnesota to Texas detention centres.There i...
overcast.fm
January 20, 2026 at 11:45 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Feeling a bit glum of late, so this is timely. 😀
head-in-the-clouds.bsky.social Head In The Clouds @head-in-the-clouds.bsky.social · 5d
We didn’t get any footage yesterday @alomshaha.bsky.social but this was our effort last year!
#ITeachPhysics
🍎
January 20, 2026 at 8:51 AM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Oh! Very much enjoyed Sir Roland’s generosity, sense and humour when our paths crossed, and his enthusiasm for Tyndall.

Saddened by this.
stsucl.bsky.social UCL Science and Technology Studies (STS) @stsucl.bsky.social · 8d
Sir Roland Jackson 9th Bart (1954-2026)

It is with great sadness that we report the sudden and unexpected death of Roland Jackson whilst climbing on Helvellyn on 10 January 2026.
https://bit.ly/4jK8CbC
January 16, 2026 at 5:26 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Apt retort to Sir Paul Nurse’s recent comment that “There’s many bad people around, but they have made scientific advances.”
profrachelgan.bsky.social Prof Rachel Oliver @profrachelgan.bsky.social · 13d
Following coverage over the weekend of Sir Paul Nurse's comments that suggested that the only reason that a Fellow should be expelled from @royalsociety.org is scientific misconduct, I have written to him to explain the risks such an attitude poses of increasing sexual harassment in STEM.
Dear Sir Paul, Re: Royal Society Code of Conduct I am sure that many scientists have written to you about the specific question of Elon Musk’s Fellowship and whether, under the Royal Society’s Code of Conduct, his retaining that Fellowship is appropriate. I will not rehash these issues. Instead, as a female scientist with extensive experience of activities aiming to increase equality, diversity and inclusion in the engineering and physical sciences sector, I am writing to you (in a personal capacity) to ask you to reconsider the statements you have recently made in this context to the UK press about the Royal Society’s Code of Conduct and how it is applied. A 2018 report from the joint National Academies of the United States of America, concluded that “sexual harassment is common in academic science, engineering, and medicine” and that “greater than 50 percent of women faculty and staff and 20–50 percent of women students encounter or experience sexually harassing conduct in academia”. This report described codes of conduct that make clear that sexual harassment is unethical and will not be tolerated as a “powerful incentive for change”. The authors also noted that sexual harassment can have significant and damaging effects on the integrity of research. In my own praxis, I have found that clear and consistently-implemented codes of conduct that address these issues make female scientists and engineers safer, and allow them to focus more effectively on their research. For codes of conduct to have such a positive effect, it is vital that sanctions for actions which transgress the code are meaningful and substantial. I was hence aghast to realise that in an interview with the Financial Times published on 9/1/26, you appear to have suggested that the Royal Society “should only expel fellows if their science proved “faulty or fraudulent or highly defective””. Moreover, in a further interview with the Guardian on 11/1/26 you suggested that the code “may need to be looked at again”, with the implication that your aim would be to remove the option of sanctions on Fellows for reasons not strictly related to faults or defects in their research. I suggest that changing the Royal Society’s code of conduct so that the likelihood of serious sanctions for sexual harassment is reduced, would directly endanger women who interact with the Royal Society at events or otherwise, and would provide a licence to harass to the already powerful people on whom the Society bestows fellowship. The implications of your words - that under your leadership the only infringements of the code which are likely to receive the sanction of the Fellowship being removed are those related to research misconduct - already risk empowering harassers. You stated, in the Financial Times interview, that “there’s many bad people around, but they have made scientific advances”. Given this awareness of the possibility of bad actors in our scientific community, it is wholly irresponsible to suggest that the Royal Society would not act to sanction these people if they harass more vulnerable scientists. I am hence writing to request that you retract any suggestion that the Society’s Code of Conduct should be changed so that the only reason a Fellow might be sanctioned by the removal of their Fellowship is “faulty or fraudulent or highly defective” research. This action is necessary to safeguard female scientists, a requirement placed on the Society by safeguarding legislation and UK statutory guidance. Yours sincerely, Professor Rachel A. Oliver.
January 12, 2026 at 12:58 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Things I haven’t done for too long, no. 126 in a long series:

- listened to Unsquare Dance, Dave Brubeck
- cooked a fish stew
- cleaned a bicycle
January 11, 2026 at 7:10 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Trying to reverify academic status: "Please upload an image to help us understand why you're located so far from campus."

OK, firstly: you've geolocated my university in entirely the wrong city. Secondly: what? You want a photo of my home office? I… what?
January 9, 2026 at 5:21 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
True story: none of my first-year CS students this year admitted to having heard of Douglas Adams.

This, as much as any of the other shit around at the moment, gives me cause for concern for our future.
jjsanderson.bsky.social Jonathan Sanderson @jjsanderson.bsky.social · 23d
We are, after all, Golgafrinchans.
January 1, 2026 at 3:37 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Unpacking boxes. FFS. #iykyk #makerfaireuk
Four small laser cut rabbits in a hand, over a cardboard box.
January 1, 2026 at 10:19 AM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Oh. Chances of this working? Verrrrrry close to zero. Besides, if I can even find my Jaz drive… it clicked. Sigh.
A 1Gb Iomega Jaz cartridge, labelled ‘Softwindows95’ and ‘BeOS PR2’.
December 30, 2025 at 12:59 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Fedex: "Delivery of your parcel is impacted by: our inability to distinguish 'Deeside' from 'Teeside.' Again."
December 15, 2025 at 9:52 AM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Dead Ringers’ Nigel Farage at Hogwarts sketch is… direct. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... starts at 7:53.
Dead Ringers - Christmas Specials 2025 - Dead Ringers Christmas: Ep 1. Farage Goes to School, The Snowman v Keir, and Alan Carr: Special Negotiator - BBC Sounds
The Dead Ringers team are back to train their vocal firepower on the week’s news.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 14, 2025 at 9:25 AM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Respect to whoever put All Along The Watchtower in the Peace on Earth festive playlist on Apple Music.
December 6, 2025 at 5:37 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
I really hope a fly-on-the-wall documentary team are shadowing Your Party. Could be the best comedy of the year.
November 29, 2025 at 2:08 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Very interesting thread. I’d have to say that I don’t spot quite the same problems from my vantage point. Some challenges, absolutely, but not to this extent. Attendance patterns are… interesting, though in our case there are several issues to unpack.
jesbattis.bsky.social Jes Battis @jesbattis.bsky.social · Nov 28
An issue we're seeing at all levels of university is that many students are simply refusing to do *anything*. They aren't reading the syllabus, aren't following assignment guidelines, aren't engaging with material, ignoring deadlines. And this might seem like old news, but it truly has ramped up.
November 29, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Sanderson
bantshireuni.bsky.social
We’re proud that a Bantshire student ambassador is on placement at the OBR today.
November 26, 2025 at 12:40 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Discovered why I couldn’t find the stick blender. I’d put it away in the fridge. Obviously.
November 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Yelland on Today doubling down on his “it was a coup” view. Oof. The BBC is infuriating but essential, and we all know how hollow the ‘leftie BBC’ clamour rings when Reform has been so heavily platformed for so long.
rhiggitt.bsky.social Rebekah Higgitt @rhiggitt.bsky.social · Nov 10
The BBC has always been remarkable in reporting on itself, and this contains some remarkable accusations about the BBC Board (with other, 'balancing', viewpoints). I wonder if its journalists will be able to continue to do this king of thing
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Katie Razzall: A seismic moment that shows rift at top of BBC
There may be more to this than meets the eye, says the BBC's culture and media editor.
www.bbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:07 AM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
This week’s “46% in error” figure is already ten times larger than last week’s. Based on our experience, it’s likely to be a wild underestimate of the final figure - there must be many, many cases which are still live. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
HMRC trial of child benefit crackdown wrongly suspected fraud in 46% of cases
Exclusive: Almost half of families flagged as emigrants based on Home Office travel data were still living in UK
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:07 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Still up there amongst ‘most interesting systems I’ve used’. I must dust mine off and get it working again.
newtontalk.bsky.social NewtonTalk @newtontalk.bsky.social · Nov 7
Twenty eight years ago today, Apple released the #MessagePad 2100, the last device created for the Newton platform. It would be discontinued less than four months later, along with all remaining Newton development.

#AppleNewton
#RetroComputing
#LiveFastDieYoung

everymac.com/systems/appl...
Apple Newton MessagePad 2100 Specs: EveryMac.com
A complete guide of Every Mac and MacOS-Compatible in the world, with detailed technical, configuration, and pricing information.
everymac.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:59 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
There is, one suspects, quite a lot carefully hinted at between the lines here.
November 6, 2025 at 7:45 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Collected this with @nustem.bsky.social colleagues last night, at the @iop.org awards dinner. Woop Woop! Very proud to add my name to the list of recipients, several of whom I worked with back in my formative days or have known since. Inspirations all.

Blog post & links: nustem.uk/blog/news/20...
The 2025 Institute of Physics Kelvin Gold Medal, in a presentation box, in my hand.
November 6, 2025 at 2:56 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
My comfortable contentment that Windows has largely settled down in recent years and become vaguely stable has been utterly shattered by an Asus ROG Ally. Great device, love ‘portable Game Pass,’ but connecting/disconnecting monitors and input devices carries ~1 in 3 chance of total freak-out. Sigh.
November 1, 2025 at 10:29 AM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
The voting system is pretty good, the recommended candidate list looks reasonable, and giving the chair your proxy votes against the ‘Restore Trust’ (🤢)-backed insurance motion, which is frankly unhinged.

Takes seconds. Please vote.
ottoenglish.bsky.social Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · Oct 31
If you're a member of the National Trust remember to vote for council members by midnight tonight.

Use the Quick Vote option.

Entryist pressure group Reform Trust is trying to seize control. Stop them

Voting is quick and easy if your membership card is at hand

secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/nt25/...
Log In
Welcome to the National Trust 2025 voting website, hosted by independent voting service provider Civica Election Services.
secure.cesvotes.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:33 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Ghost biscuits! Made with my kids, just now.

Thanks @robives.bsky.social for the cookie cutter download. 👻👍
Overhead view of a cooling rack covered in spooky ghost biscuits. The biscuits are slightly singed around the edges. All ghosts look like that, right? Prove me wrong.
October 31, 2025 at 4:28 PM
jjsanderson.bsky.social
Bug of the year for me: this Word document, on my iPad, won’t let me type the last ‘e’ in ‘developed.’ Letter either side: fine. Any other word: fine. But ‘developed’? Nope. ‘Developd,’ every time.

Happens with both the Magic and software keyboards.

Whu-what?!
October 28, 2025 at 5:31 PM