Matt Williamson
@mattdoesscience.bsky.social
🌌 Owner of www.TaysidePlanetarium.co.uk
🎓 Presentation Skills trainer
with @dyellowlees.bsky.social
He/Him - Trans Rights Are Human Rights - 🏳️⚧️Ally
🎓 Presentation Skills trainer
with @dyellowlees.bsky.social
He/Him - Trans Rights Are Human Rights - 🏳️⚧️Ally
Reposted by Matt Williamson
Do you organise talks at your uni? Please keep an eye on the tech!
Keep those mic batteries charged. Get in early & turn on projectors, lower the screens. HDMI cables are quite fragile, so tell your IT people if they’re bust.
You don’t want your speakers to arrive and be stumped by tech issues.
Keep those mic batteries charged. Get in early & turn on projectors, lower the screens. HDMI cables are quite fragile, so tell your IT people if they’re bust.
You don’t want your speakers to arrive and be stumped by tech issues.
February 17, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Do you organise talks at your uni? Please keep an eye on the tech!
Keep those mic batteries charged. Get in early & turn on projectors, lower the screens. HDMI cables are quite fragile, so tell your IT people if they’re bust.
You don’t want your speakers to arrive and be stumped by tech issues.
Keep those mic batteries charged. Get in early & turn on projectors, lower the screens. HDMI cables are quite fragile, so tell your IT people if they’re bust.
You don’t want your speakers to arrive and be stumped by tech issues.
Reposted by Matt Williamson
Splendid. No notes.
I propose to make universal the old policy of the Blackfriars conference at the American Shakespeare Center:
If you do not end your paper on time, you will be forced to exit, pursued by a bear. Literally, a bear will come take your paper from you.
If you do not end your paper on time, you will be forced to exit, pursued by a bear. Literally, a bear will come take your paper from you.
February 16, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Splendid. No notes.
Reposted by Matt Williamson
And both of them wearing the badges I designed for LGBT+ History Month! 🏳️🌈💚
February 14, 2026 at 8:22 PM
And both of them wearing the badges I designed for LGBT+ History Month! 🏳️🌈💚
Reposted by Matt Williamson
Matt Ridley, a whole career of being dangerously wrong about everything
February 14, 2026 at 6:27 AM
Matt Ridley, a whole career of being dangerously wrong about everything
Reposted by Matt Williamson
February 14, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Matt Williamson
This is incredibly cool. Thanks @zackpolanski.bsky.social for wearing one of my designs to celebrate queer scientists and innovators!
February 13, 2026 at 8:19 PM
This is incredibly cool. Thanks @zackpolanski.bsky.social for wearing one of my designs to celebrate queer scientists and innovators!
Reposted by Matt Williamson
Remember: the slides are for the audience, not for you the presenter.
If you’re putting stuff on your slides to help you remember what’s next, try another way.
Presenter view in PPT lets you have notes for each slide, or cue cards work too, but best of all, learn the talk.
#Academia #PHDChat
If you’re putting stuff on your slides to help you remember what’s next, try another way.
Presenter view in PPT lets you have notes for each slide, or cue cards work too, but best of all, learn the talk.
#Academia #PHDChat
February 12, 2026 at 8:14 AM
Reposted by Matt Williamson
BIG Event 2026 Registration is Open Now!
Join us at the National STEM Learning Centre 15-17 July for top quality skills sharing, networking and our famous Best Demo competition!
Early bird tickets and our bursary scheme are now open, with early bird closing 31 March!
www.big.uk.com/BIGEvent2026
Join us at the National STEM Learning Centre 15-17 July for top quality skills sharing, networking and our famous Best Demo competition!
Early bird tickets and our bursary scheme are now open, with early bird closing 31 March!
www.big.uk.com/BIGEvent2026
February 10, 2026 at 9:17 AM
BIG Event 2026 Registration is Open Now!
Join us at the National STEM Learning Centre 15-17 July for top quality skills sharing, networking and our famous Best Demo competition!
Early bird tickets and our bursary scheme are now open, with early bird closing 31 March!
www.big.uk.com/BIGEvent2026
Join us at the National STEM Learning Centre 15-17 July for top quality skills sharing, networking and our famous Best Demo competition!
Early bird tickets and our bursary scheme are now open, with early bird closing 31 March!
www.big.uk.com/BIGEvent2026
Reposted by Matt Williamson
BIG Event Registration launches tomorrow!
We're so delighted to share that the BIG Event will go on sale tomorrow, with Early Bird tickets, and the Bursary scheme, launching at 10am GMT.
This is the cheapest way to attend, so mark your diaries, and book ASAP!
www.big.uk.com/BIGEvent2026
We're so delighted to share that the BIG Event will go on sale tomorrow, with Early Bird tickets, and the Bursary scheme, launching at 10am GMT.
This is the cheapest way to attend, so mark your diaries, and book ASAP!
www.big.uk.com/BIGEvent2026
February 9, 2026 at 1:05 PM
BIG Event Registration launches tomorrow!
We're so delighted to share that the BIG Event will go on sale tomorrow, with Early Bird tickets, and the Bursary scheme, launching at 10am GMT.
This is the cheapest way to attend, so mark your diaries, and book ASAP!
www.big.uk.com/BIGEvent2026
We're so delighted to share that the BIG Event will go on sale tomorrow, with Early Bird tickets, and the Bursary scheme, launching at 10am GMT.
This is the cheapest way to attend, so mark your diaries, and book ASAP!
www.big.uk.com/BIGEvent2026
Reposted by Matt Williamson
The best presenters have found their own style. It's not about being the perfect. The goal is an engaged audience, & there's a load of ways to achieve this.
One person's talk may rely on skills that you don't use much, and vice versa. We all have our own skill set.
#Academia #PHDChat #Presentations
One person's talk may rely on skills that you don't use much, and vice versa. We all have our own skill set.
#Academia #PHDChat #Presentations
February 3, 2026 at 7:23 AM
The best presenters have found their own style. It's not about being the perfect. The goal is an engaged audience, & there's a load of ways to achieve this.
One person's talk may rely on skills that you don't use much, and vice versa. We all have our own skill set.
#Academia #PHDChat #Presentations
One person's talk may rely on skills that you don't use much, and vice versa. We all have our own skill set.
#Academia #PHDChat #Presentations
Come on daylight! Been trying to picture this out in my head since October. This is a fab graph.
A quick reminder of what #BigFebruary is about…
Thanks to the magic of the cosmos, we start gaining daylight much faster in Feb than in Jan. Over 20 mins a week - setting us up for Spring.
This chart is by @neilrkaye.bsky.social and is one of my all time favourites.
Thanks to the magic of the cosmos, we start gaining daylight much faster in Feb than in Jan. Over 20 mins a week - setting us up for Spring.
This chart is by @neilrkaye.bsky.social and is one of my all time favourites.
February 1, 2026 at 10:16 AM
Come on daylight! Been trying to picture this out in my head since October. This is a fab graph.
Reposted by Matt Williamson
Excellent, funny and depressing thread!
I think I might take one of these "under 20 minutes" AI skills courses the UK Govt. seems very keen on everyone doing and live-post it here... Maybe we can all learn something together! The press release sends me to aiskillshub.org.uk/aiskillsboost/ - let's go and see!
AI Skills Boost - AI Skills Hub
aiskillshub.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Excellent, funny and depressing thread!
Reposted by Matt Williamson
What can PhD researchers learn from a ceilidh? 🕺📚
From Gay Gordons to Strip the Willow, guest blogger Joshua MacRae dances through history, academia, and Burns Night reflections.
Take the floor—read the full blog: sgsahblog.com/2026/01/27/d...
From Gay Gordons to Strip the Willow, guest blogger Joshua MacRae dances through history, academia, and Burns Night reflections.
Take the floor—read the full blog: sgsahblog.com/2026/01/27/d...
Take the Floor: A PhD Researcher’s Guide to the Ceilidh
Following the SGSAH Year 1 Residential in Stirling—and Burns Night—guest blogger Joshua MacRae leaps through the history of cèilidh dancing, his personal favourite dances, and what academics can le…
sgsahblog.com
January 28, 2026 at 11:00 AM
What can PhD researchers learn from a ceilidh? 🕺📚
From Gay Gordons to Strip the Willow, guest blogger Joshua MacRae dances through history, academia, and Burns Night reflections.
Take the floor—read the full blog: sgsahblog.com/2026/01/27/d...
From Gay Gordons to Strip the Willow, guest blogger Joshua MacRae dances through history, academia, and Burns Night reflections.
Take the floor—read the full blog: sgsahblog.com/2026/01/27/d...
Reposted by Matt Williamson
Spotted in Dundee.
January 28, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Spotted in Dundee.
Reposted by Matt Williamson
Tailor your talk to the audience – this is a must
You can’t give the same talk to primary school kids that you would to folks in your research specialism. And it goes for every different audience in between.
Ask yourself who are they?
What do they know already?
How do they feel about the content?
You can’t give the same talk to primary school kids that you would to folks in your research specialism. And it goes for every different audience in between.
Ask yourself who are they?
What do they know already?
How do they feel about the content?
January 27, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Tailor your talk to the audience – this is a must
You can’t give the same talk to primary school kids that you would to folks in your research specialism. And it goes for every different audience in between.
Ask yourself who are they?
What do they know already?
How do they feel about the content?
You can’t give the same talk to primary school kids that you would to folks in your research specialism. And it goes for every different audience in between.
Ask yourself who are they?
What do they know already?
How do they feel about the content?
Reposted by Matt Williamson
There's still time to grab a ticket for the @big-stem-network.bsky.social #LittleEvent26 next week for early career #SciComm folks!
Lots of great sessions including an overview of the sector from me & @acescicomm.bsky.social
Find the fulll programme online www.big.uk.com/event-6410615
Lots of great sessions including an overview of the sector from me & @acescicomm.bsky.social
Find the fulll programme online www.big.uk.com/event-6410615
January 21, 2026 at 12:18 PM
There's still time to grab a ticket for the @big-stem-network.bsky.social #LittleEvent26 next week for early career #SciComm folks!
Lots of great sessions including an overview of the sector from me & @acescicomm.bsky.social
Find the fulll programme online www.big.uk.com/event-6410615
Lots of great sessions including an overview of the sector from me & @acescicomm.bsky.social
Find the fulll programme online www.big.uk.com/event-6410615
There was a brief moment last nigtlht seeing the aurora from Dundee, at least until the cloud set in completely.
January 20, 2026 at 10:35 AM
There was a brief moment last nigtlht seeing the aurora from Dundee, at least until the cloud set in completely.
Reposted by Matt Williamson
More aurora tonight at Loch Calder, far north of Scotland
January 19, 2026 at 11:16 PM
More aurora tonight at Loch Calder, far north of Scotland
Reposted by Matt Williamson
Just off the 🏴radio after a lovely #Artemis-II return to the moon chat with @ollopa11.bsky.social! Leo taught me that the Orion capsule is the first moon-mission with a toilet-cubicle on board! The 1970s Apollo astronauts were afforded no such dignity😳 🛰️
ℹ️: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/artemis...
ℹ️: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/artemis...
From what they'll eat to how they'll poop. Inside the Artemis II crew's mission to the Moon | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
What life will be like for the Artemis II crew, from sleeping and eating to exercising, keeping clean and going to the toilet.
www.skyatnightmagazine.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Just off the 🏴radio after a lovely #Artemis-II return to the moon chat with @ollopa11.bsky.social! Leo taught me that the Orion capsule is the first moon-mission with a toilet-cubicle on board! The 1970s Apollo astronauts were afforded no such dignity😳 🛰️
ℹ️: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/artemis...
ℹ️: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/artemis...
Reposted by Matt Williamson
🚨 Aurora alert! 🚨
A geomagnetic storm is expected over the next 48 hours due to the expected arrival of a coronal mass ejection that left the Sun on 18th January.
View the full forecast:
geomag.bgs.ac.uk/data_service...
📷 Aurora borealis over Aviemore - credit: J Orsi
A geomagnetic storm is expected over the next 48 hours due to the expected arrival of a coronal mass ejection that left the Sun on 18th January.
View the full forecast:
geomag.bgs.ac.uk/data_service...
📷 Aurora borealis over Aviemore - credit: J Orsi
January 19, 2026 at 9:12 PM
🚨 Aurora alert! 🚨
A geomagnetic storm is expected over the next 48 hours due to the expected arrival of a coronal mass ejection that left the Sun on 18th January.
View the full forecast:
geomag.bgs.ac.uk/data_service...
📷 Aurora borealis over Aviemore - credit: J Orsi
A geomagnetic storm is expected over the next 48 hours due to the expected arrival of a coronal mass ejection that left the Sun on 18th January.
View the full forecast:
geomag.bgs.ac.uk/data_service...
📷 Aurora borealis over Aviemore - credit: J Orsi
Reposted by Matt Williamson
Through examples and guided activities, this workshop will help you think outside the box, experiment with new formats, and develop ideas that make your science more engaging, original, and impactful.
Last chance to book!
www.big.uk.com/thelittleevent
#LittleEvent26
2 of 2
Last chance to book!
www.big.uk.com/thelittleevent
#LittleEvent26
2 of 2
BIG STEM Communicators Network - The Little Event
www.big.uk.com
January 16, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Through examples and guided activities, this workshop will help you think outside the box, experiment with new formats, and develop ideas that make your science more engaging, original, and impactful.
Last chance to book!
www.big.uk.com/thelittleevent
#LittleEvent26
2 of 2
Last chance to book!
www.big.uk.com/thelittleevent
#LittleEvent26
2 of 2
Reposted by Matt Williamson
🥳 Major milestone for the 🏴Scottish Dark Sky Observatory: architectural designs are now public and isn't she a beauty! Two 5m 🔭domes, observing deck, solar-panelled planetarium, exhibition area & cafe.
Fingers crossed that planning permission gets approved!
ℹ️: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
📷: arpl
Fingers crossed that planning permission gets approved!
ℹ️: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
📷: arpl
January 11, 2026 at 9:51 AM
🥳 Major milestone for the 🏴Scottish Dark Sky Observatory: architectural designs are now public and isn't she a beauty! Two 5m 🔭domes, observing deck, solar-panelled planetarium, exhibition area & cafe.
Fingers crossed that planning permission gets approved!
ℹ️: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
📷: arpl
Fingers crossed that planning permission gets approved!
ℹ️: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
📷: arpl
Reposted by Matt Williamson
I've been sitting on this for over a month...but given how cross I am with @royalsociety.org at their ongoing inaction over #Elon #Musk I thought I'd share this.
They invited me to serve on their Public Engagement Committee; I could have been more eloquent, but I had to give a firm "no"...
They invited me to serve on their Public Engagement Committee; I could have been more eloquent, but I had to give a firm "no"...
January 9, 2026 at 6:30 PM
I've been sitting on this for over a month...but given how cross I am with @royalsociety.org at their ongoing inaction over #Elon #Musk I thought I'd share this.
They invited me to serve on their Public Engagement Committee; I could have been more eloquent, but I had to give a firm "no"...
They invited me to serve on their Public Engagement Committee; I could have been more eloquent, but I had to give a firm "no"...
Reposted by Matt Williamson
Elizabeth is a member of the BIG Exec Committee, is a highly accomplished marine biologist & runs a massively successful YouTube channel.
Her session will explore how to embed video in to your communications, with plenty of top tips to take away!
Book your place now!
www.big.uk.com/event-6410615
Her session will explore how to embed video in to your communications, with plenty of top tips to take away!
Book your place now!
www.big.uk.com/event-6410615
BIG STEM Communicators Network - The Little Event 2026 - Online
www.big.uk.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Elizabeth is a member of the BIG Exec Committee, is a highly accomplished marine biologist & runs a massively successful YouTube channel.
Her session will explore how to embed video in to your communications, with plenty of top tips to take away!
Book your place now!
www.big.uk.com/event-6410615
Her session will explore how to embed video in to your communications, with plenty of top tips to take away!
Book your place now!
www.big.uk.com/event-6410615
Reposted by Matt Williamson
It's not long now until the Little Event 2026, our training session for people who are new to STEM communication
It takes place on the 29/31 January via Zoom, and we're so excited to share that @marinemumbles.bsky.social will be one of our speakers!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl94...
It takes place on the 29/31 January via Zoom, and we're so excited to share that @marinemumbles.bsky.social will be one of our speakers!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl94...
Track all the Nature you see in 2026! (nature journaling page ideas)
YouTube video by MarineMumbles
www.youtube.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:46 PM
It's not long now until the Little Event 2026, our training session for people who are new to STEM communication
It takes place on the 29/31 January via Zoom, and we're so excited to share that @marinemumbles.bsky.social will be one of our speakers!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl94...
It takes place on the 29/31 January via Zoom, and we're so excited to share that @marinemumbles.bsky.social will be one of our speakers!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl94...