Dr Moira Nicolson
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moiranics.bsky.social
Dr Moira Nicolson
@moiranics.bsky.social
3.2K followers 820 following 140 posts
#SocialScientist and Public #Climate Comms and Engagement

Honorary Research Fellow @UCL

*Sharing research and views in a personal capacity*
Posts Replies Media Videos
moiranics.bsky.social
I appear to be biologically immune to reality tv. Maybe someone should study me and create a vaccine.
stephenkb.bsky.social Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 2d
The interesting thing about the Traitors now it is a mature franchise is that everyone involved is playing it as a game to the point that they can't edit out the meta-gaming anymore.
siwilkins.bsky.social Si Wilkins @siwilkins.bsky.social · 2d
It feels like Traitors needs a Nick from Destination X, someone who'll say "I've known this person for 5 minutes. Them supposedly acting weird is at least as likely to be the strange contrived situation we've all volunteered for as it is them being a traitor"
January 3, 2026 at 3:25 PM
moiranics.bsky.social
Why do we call people data scientists if all science is data driven? Feels like a weird corporate thing to me.
January 3, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
isoutar.bsky.social
Conventional aviation fuel watch out, SAF is coming for you!
ryankatzrosene.bsky.social Ryan Katz-Rosene, PhD @ryankatzrosene.bsky.social · 3d
I've added 2025 to this ridiculous chart
January 3, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
drpauldorfman.bsky.social
Record temperatures of almost 20C were reached in Iceland on Christmas Eve, the local meteorological office has confirmed.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Iceland has hottest Christmas Eve ever with temperature of 19.8C recorded
Meteorological office reports high temperatures across country and record measured at Seyðisfjörður in east
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
moiranics.bsky.social
I’m experimenting with ways to help people build their statistics / research skills.

Here’s my first attempt to tackle the over-reliance on single studies.

What do you think? Does it work?
Image showing two panels. On the left panel is the option to “speak to a few people yourself” using your own bespoke study. The advantage is you get to answer all the questions you want but it’s limited by being just one study. On the right hand side panel you see the option to use desk research where you can decide lots of research from hundreds or thousands of people. You get to cover many studies and many participants whilst building on knowledges generated before. The rule of thumb is - more studies are better than one unless there are none. This means that if there’s no existing evidence then a new study is likely the best approach. Three panel infographic to show options for selecting between primary and secondary research. Left hand panel shows the option for doing your own primary study. The advantage is you get to ask whatever questions you want, choose who is included in your study, and produce original research. But it’s limited because it’s only one study. The middle panel shows the option of summarising existing evidence which has the advantage of including a wider range of data types - strength comes from there being multiple studies. On the right panel it suggests that if there’s limited existing evidence then a new study would be the best option. The rule of thumb is that more studies are better than one unless there are none.
December 31, 2025 at 8:34 AM
moiranics.bsky.social
I’m experimenting with ways to help people build their statistics / research skills.

Here’s my first attempt to tackle the over-reliance on single studies.

What do you think? Does it work?
Image showing two panels. On the left panel is the option to “speak to a few people yourself” using your own bespoke study. The advantage is you get to answer all the questions you want but it’s limited by being just one study. On the right hand side panel you see the option to use desk research where you can decide lots of research from hundreds or thousands of people. You get to cover many studies and many participants whilst building on knowledges generated before. The rule of thumb is - more studies are better than one unless there are none. This means that if there’s no existing evidence then a new study is likely the best approach. Three panel infographic to show options for selecting between primary and secondary research. Left hand panel shows the option for doing your own primary study. The advantage is you get to ask whatever questions you want, choose who is included in your study, and produce original research. But it’s limited because it’s only one study. The middle panel shows the option of summarising existing evidence which has the advantage of including a wider range of data types - strength comes from there being multiple studies. On the right panel it suggests that if there’s limited existing evidence then a new study would be the best option. The rule of thumb is that more studies are better than one unless there are none.
December 31, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
moiranics.bsky.social
Why are we coding pro environmental content as left wing and not right wing? Plenty of people across both the right and left wing will identify as pro environment, even if they don’t agree on everything. Also not all conservatives will be anti abortion etc.
markjacob.bsky.social Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 7d
A Media Matters analysis this year found that 9 out of the 10 top online shows that it assessed (podcasts, streams and other long-form audio and video) are right-leaning. These types of media are increasingly important in influencing voters. 3/10 🧵
The right dominates the online media ecosystem, seeping into sports, comedy, and other supposedly nonpolitical spaces
As Americans increasingly get their news from online shows and streamers, the influence of this media ecosystem becomes more prominent — and Media Matters has found that the most popular of this conte...
www.mediamatters.org
December 29, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
moiranics.bsky.social
This sort of coding just reinforces polarisation and tribalism. There’s got to be a more objective, impartial way to do this type of analysis.
December 29, 2025 at 4:16 PM
moiranics.bsky.social
Why are we coding pro environmental content as left wing and not right wing? Plenty of people across both the right and left wing will identify as pro environment, even if they don’t agree on everything. Also not all conservatives will be anti abortion etc.
markjacob.bsky.social Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 7d
A Media Matters analysis this year found that 9 out of the 10 top online shows that it assessed (podcasts, streams and other long-form audio and video) are right-leaning. These types of media are increasingly important in influencing voters. 3/10 🧵
The right dominates the online media ecosystem, seeping into sports, comedy, and other supposedly nonpolitical spaces
As Americans increasingly get their news from online shows and streamers, the influence of this media ecosystem becomes more prominent — and Media Matters has found that the most popular of this conte...
www.mediamatters.org
December 29, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
pauldauenhauer.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Why women on LinkedIn are masquerading as men
One woman’s gender-swap experiment quadrupled her reach on the career platform, underscoring concerns about gender stereotypes and algorithmic bias.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
profjohndrury.bsky.social
Estimating the value of face coverings during the COVID-19 epidemic: a dynamic causal modelling study

New from @globalhlthtwit.bsky.social of @independentsage.bsky.social

bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/bmjp...
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com
December 27, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
drkeriwong.bsky.social
My year-end reflections on science doplomacy out today!

Thx Jon @psychmag.bsky.social for the platform to share my @ukri.org Policy Fellowship exp + what it means to be a #psychologist today!

@ioe.bsky.social
@ucl.ac.uk
@royalsociety.org
@uclpolicylab.bsky.social
@ucl-ioe-phd.bsky.social
December 23, 2025 at 8:42 AM
moiranics.bsky.social
Cute but evil
December 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
moiranics.bsky.social
Great article. As a side point, I always find it amusing to see “PhDs” used as AI benchmarks as in headlines of the form “X AI model can now outperform biology/law/neuroscience PhDs”. Does that mean they haven’t tested them against the professors or it hasn’t quite got there yet?
karenojeffrey.bsky.social Karen Jeffrey @karenojeffrey.bsky.social · 24d
It's so important to read splashy findings about the impact of AI on jobs with a critical eye 🤔

@sarahoconnorft.ft.com and John Burn-Murdoch are spot on here - highlighting issues I see in these studies time and time again.

giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... #EconSky

3 of the big ones... [1/5]
The AI Shift: How to read the news
Questions to keep in mind when you come across splashy AI stories
giftarticle.ft.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:25 PM
moiranics.bsky.social
This is so interesting- I also read years ago that one of the biggest drivers of energy usage was the invention and mass installation of central heating and AC.

So many unintended consequences from technological progress - even ones we now take for granted.
chrisbaraniuk.com Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 18d
“When AC was developed […] all the shading systems were removed. People thought, ‘We have AC, we don’t need shading anymore’ – but it’s a shame.” – designer Clément Gaillard on why shutters and awnings are still useful.

www.thereengineer.pro/p/the-big-co...
The big cover-up: ‘We should bring back old habits of shading windows’
Shutters and awnings can cool properties down, and look good, too
www.thereengineer.pro
December 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
chrisbaraniuk.com
“We have these buildings, we can’t knock ‘em down – what we could do is make them work with us,” said Reverend Annie Blyth, describing how churches and other old stone buildings could be used as refuges during heatwaves.

www.thereengineer.pro/p/churches-s...
Churches say ‘we’re cool’ as climate change supercharges heatwaves
Old stone and concrete buildings are a secret weapon in a warming world
www.thereengineer.pro
December 18, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
chrisbaraniuk.com
“It’s the forums and people online, that’s what’s made the difference to me,” @imhelenj.bsky.social told me, about her battles to sort out an inefficient heat pump. “Without that, I would still be in the dark and probably really struggling.”

www.thereengineer.pro/p/an-interne...
‘An internet stranger helped solve my heat pump puzzle’
Gadgets can monitor heat pumps and reveal their workings
www.thereengineer.pro
December 18, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
chrisbaraniuk.com
“When AC was developed […] all the shading systems were removed. People thought, ‘We have AC, we don’t need shading anymore’ – but it’s a shame.” – designer Clément Gaillard on why shutters and awnings are still useful.

www.thereengineer.pro/p/the-big-co...
The big cover-up: ‘We should bring back old habits of shading windows’
Shutters and awnings can cool properties down, and look good, too
www.thereengineer.pro
December 18, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
charliejgardner.bsky.social
I've heard academics advise their students to carefully check their reference lists after using ChatGPT, to make sure they haven't included any made-up papers

My advice is to not cite any papers you haven't actually read
December 17, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
cepeo-ucl.bsky.social
Interested in learning about the importance of university admissions in youth transitions and social mobility? 👩‍🎓📚

Join us in person for a research showcase with @adruk.bsky.social

🕕Tuesday 6th January, 10.30am-4pm
📍Department for Education, London

Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/using-ucas...
Using UCAS data to understand higher education transitions
Join us in person at the Department for Education in London to learn more about using UCAS data to better understand youth transitions
www.eventbrite.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
jayvanbavel.bsky.social
We should just use standardized test scores + grades to admit students into college.

Everything else is way too easy to game, allowing the extremely rich to dominate access to prestigious colleges. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

I've been saying this for a long time, but the data makes it clear.
December 6, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
jayvanbavel.bsky.social
A tiny minority of highly active users produce the majority of online political content, while most users consume content passively and remain largely silent.

Toxic comments are more likely to be expressed, even though most people disagree with them, creating false norms.
osf.io/preprints/so...
November 23, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
projectdrawdown.bsky.social
The Explorer is live. It’s free. And it’s built to help anyone — from investors to practitioners to community leaders — focus on the solutions that matter most.

👉 Explore today: www.drawdown.org/explorer

@globalecoguy.bsky.social

#DrawdownExplorer #ClimateSolutions #ProjectDrawdown
November 21, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
profjohndrury.bsky.social
Re-reading this review of wellbeing effects of music events for something I'm working on, and it's a key reading for my project student and crowd behaviour students this term

journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
journals.sagepub.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
moiranics.bsky.social
Free webinar led by myself & Holly Marquez on how organisations can mitigate the “hidden” risks of AI: the risks you don’t spot until it’s too late.

Join us on Monday 24th November 10am here:
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Thanks to our hosts @susanmichie.bsky.social @behaviourresuk.bsky.social
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Surfacing and Mitigating the “Hidden Risks” of AI. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Current AI safety discourse disproportionately centres on highly salient technical risks such as algorithm bias and hallucinations. While these concerns merit attention, they overlook a fundamental tr...
us02web.zoom.us
November 21, 2025 at 4:30 PM