Dr Lucy Stewart
@lcsnz.bsky.social
Fan of weird microbes, Pākehā nō Pōneke, dilettante crafter, co-President @nzscientists.bsky.social. All opinions my own etcetera.
ORCID: 0000-0001-7352-3329
ORCID: 0000-0001-7352-3329
I haven't been in a while but famously the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (*the* international geosciences conference) used to have their website fall over on submission date every year due to overload, despite opening for abstracts months before.
February 13, 2026 at 2:55 AM
I haven't been in a while but famously the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (*the* international geosciences conference) used to have their website fall over on submission date every year due to overload, despite opening for abstracts months before.
There was a big uncritical NYT piece about a woman claiming to be making huge money pumping out romance 'novels' with AI (footage not found), and it has generally been the topic of some scorn
February 13, 2026 at 2:32 AM
There was a big uncritical NYT piece about a woman claiming to be making huge money pumping out romance 'novels' with AI (footage not found), and it has generally been the topic of some scorn
oh boy you have not kept up with the current discourse around romance novels and AI, have you
February 13, 2026 at 2:04 AM
oh boy you have not kept up with the current discourse around romance novels and AI, have you
I'm in a book group that reads pop science books and this describes us, basically - 3/4 of the group have some sort of professional connection to science, I think everybody has a university degree, multiple PhDs, etc. Not anything like a 'general' audience.
February 12, 2026 at 2:41 AM
I'm in a book group that reads pop science books and this describes us, basically - 3/4 of the group have some sort of professional connection to science, I think everybody has a university degree, multiple PhDs, etc. Not anything like a 'general' audience.
Well I’m wondering if some of the complaints are people in the gardens, is the thing
February 12, 2026 at 12:10 AM
Well I’m wondering if some of the complaints are people in the gardens, is the thing
I can say from experience that a dog continually barking at you through a fence while you try to garden (allegedly a relaxing activity) is *extremely* annoying and 'dogs just do that' does not really feel like an explanation. I can't imagine the dogs are having a good time either.
February 11, 2026 at 10:57 PM
I can say from experience that a dog continually barking at you through a fence while you try to garden (allegedly a relaxing activity) is *extremely* annoying and 'dogs just do that' does not really feel like an explanation. I can't imagine the dogs are having a good time either.
a significant line for me was the one about how their property backs on to community gardens and the dogs bark at users of the gardens. I can see that getting pretty tedious for people.
February 11, 2026 at 10:28 PM
a significant line for me was the one about how their property backs on to community gardens and the dogs bark at users of the gardens. I can see that getting pretty tedious for people.
I have had a number of compliments from male strangers which have made my day over the years and all of them have been about specific aspects of my outfit - 'I love those boots', 'that's a beautiful dress', etc. Totally doable!
February 11, 2026 at 3:04 AM
I have had a number of compliments from male strangers which have made my day over the years and all of them have been about specific aspects of my outfit - 'I love those boots', 'that's a beautiful dress', etc. Totally doable!
Reposted by Dr Lucy Stewart
Want to work with a dynamic team helping connect scientists with the media? Applications close at 5pm tomorrow (12 Feb).
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/01/27/w...
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/01/27/w...
We're hiring: Kaimanaaki Pāpāho | Media Advisor role
The Science Media Centre (SMC) is looking for a media advisor to join our dedicated team working to improve the reach, relevance and accuracy of news media reporting on science and related topics in…
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz
February 10, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Want to work with a dynamic team helping connect scientists with the media? Applications close at 5pm tomorrow (12 Feb).
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/01/27/w...
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/01/27/w...
Reposted by Dr Lucy Stewart
Righto. I've read the papers released by MBIE on the LNG analysis. This will be a longish thread on my thoughts, which I'll add to progressively. Docs are here. 🧵 1/-
Document library | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
A filtered search to all the documents stored on the MBIE website.
www.mbie.govt.nz
February 10, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Righto. I've read the papers released by MBIE on the LNG analysis. This will be a longish thread on my thoughts, which I'll add to progressively. Docs are here. 🧵 1/-
Reposted by Dr Lucy Stewart
Yes, I did mean domestic solar rather than farms.
February 9, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Yes, I did mean domestic solar rather than farms.
You could increase our national research spend by ~25% for an entire government term for this much money
Given all the really important shit that this government says we "can't afford" it's amazing what they manage to find money for.
'Strategic energy security asset': Govt reveals plans for $1b LNG import facility
Luxon warned New Zealand is experiencing swiftly declining gas supply.
www.nzherald.co.nz
February 9, 2026 at 7:51 AM
You could increase our national research spend by ~25% for an entire government term for this much money
We definitely need some calculations about how many solar panels + batteries the same amount could pay for
February 9, 2026 at 3:27 AM
We definitely need some calculations about how many solar panels + batteries the same amount could pay for
Reposted by Dr Lucy Stewart
Moa Point wastewater plant shuts down – Expert Reaction
Moa Point wastewater plant shuts down - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre
An equipment failure at the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant last Wednesday sent raw sewage into the sea directly off Wellington's south coast. Since Thursday night, the untreated wastewater has...
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz
February 8, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Moa Point wastewater plant shuts down – Expert Reaction
Poe's law in full action
February 8, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Poe's law in full action
Reposted by Dr Lucy Stewart
You can't beat Wellington on a bike day. Let's celebrate. Join us at Queen's Wharf for Go By Bike Day tomorrow 7.30-9am. www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/go-by-b... @cyclewgtn.bsky.social @cyclingactionnz.bsky.social
February 8, 2026 at 7:34 PM
You can't beat Wellington on a bike day. Let's celebrate. Join us at Queen's Wharf for Go By Bike Day tomorrow 7.30-9am. www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/go-by-b... @cyclewgtn.bsky.social @cyclingactionnz.bsky.social
1) everybody having human rights means *everybody*, even this guy 2) colour me exceptionally skeptical that he has been treated in such a way as to genuinely render his conviction unlawful, but that's what we have the Court of Appeal for I guess 3) who's funding the appeal?
February 8, 2026 at 7:36 PM
1) everybody having human rights means *everybody*, even this guy 2) colour me exceptionally skeptical that he has been treated in such a way as to genuinely render his conviction unlawful, but that's what we have the Court of Appeal for I guess 3) who's funding the appeal?
Mmm I’m not sure but hebes are definitely enthusiastic self-seeders all over our property
February 6, 2026 at 7:29 AM
Mmm I’m not sure but hebes are definitely enthusiastic self-seeders all over our property
Quite probably! That's why you can't be asking for heads to roll in the middle of the crisis.
February 4, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Quite probably! That's why you can't be asking for heads to roll in the middle of the crisis.
Rags, sheets I also re-use to test clothing patterns
February 4, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Rags, sheets I also re-use to test clothing patterns
This is genuinely the kind of thing where you need a no-blame investigation in order to really understand what happened and why and make sure it can never happen again. If at the end of that it turns out that specific people Absolutely Fucked Up, the question is still why that was *possible*.
February 4, 2026 at 10:22 PM
This is genuinely the kind of thing where you need a no-blame investigation in order to really understand what happened and why and make sure it can never happen again. If at the end of that it turns out that specific people Absolutely Fucked Up, the question is still why that was *possible*.
Dr Michael Cullen's PhD was in social and economic history, with a MA thesis on poverty in 19thC London, but otherwise the misogyny here is very real and drives me bonkers (and his arguably relevant qualification is rarely or ever discussed - only his actions.)
The “Nicola Willis only has a BA in English lit“ crowd are feeding the same misogyny as “Nicky No Boats”. Cullen had an MA, Bill English an Honours degree in English lit, Robertson a BA and Joyce a BSc in zoology. These dudes educational background is same or even less suited but barely mentioned.
February 4, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Dr Michael Cullen's PhD was in social and economic history, with a MA thesis on poverty in 19thC London, but otherwise the misogyny here is very real and drives me bonkers (and his arguably relevant qualification is rarely or ever discussed - only his actions.)
locally there is SUCH a waiting list for sperm donors, if you just want to Spread Your Genes then go for it my dudes
February 4, 2026 at 7:53 AM
locally there is SUCH a waiting list for sperm donors, if you just want to Spread Your Genes then go for it my dudes
easy solution: we ONLY elect female prime ministers for another century until we achieve statistical significance
February 4, 2026 at 7:02 AM
easy solution: we ONLY elect female prime ministers for another century until we achieve statistical significance