nicky nicolson
@nickynicolson.bsky.social
๐ Software developer turned biodiversity informatics researcher: I use collaborative #OpenScience practices to build tools, analyse & mobilise natural history specimen data - at Kew & with partners worldwide. Fellow at Software Sustainability Institute.
Built a 2.5MB image classifier that runs in the browser in an evening with Claude Code.
I used a dataset I labelled in 2022 and left on @hf.co for 3 years ๐ฌ.
It finds illustrated pages in historical books. No server. No GPU.
I used a dataset I labelled in 2022 and left on @hf.co for 3 years ๐ฌ.
It finds illustrated pages in historical books. No server. No GPU.
December 19, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Reposted by nicky nicolson
Minority representation on TV causes outrage
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
October 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Minority representation on TV causes outrage
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
Reposted by nicky nicolson
Just a thought: How about we stop shaming the poor for buying things that may not be essential, and start shaming the rich for making a profit off things that are essential?
October 23, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Just a thought: How about we stop shaming the poor for buying things that may not be essential, and start shaming the rich for making a profit off things that are essential?
Reposted by nicky nicolson
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
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The official home of the Python Programming Language
www.python.org
October 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
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Reposted by nicky nicolson
I'd also like to shout out @carpentries.carpentries.org for leading the way on this, having made a similar decision earlier this year.
October 27, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I'd also like to shout out @carpentries.carpentries.org for leading the way on this, having made a similar decision earlier this year.
Reposted by nicky nicolson
Python was awarded a funding grant, funding grant asked Python foundation to remove all diversity and inclusion initiatives they have.
Python foundation said no and rejected the grant.
If you use Python, send a few dollars to the charity to keep it going. Iโm pushing a dono on behalf of ScamGuard.
Python foundation said no and rejected the grant.
If you use Python, send a few dollars to the charity to keep it going. Iโm pushing a dono on behalf of ScamGuard.
Please read our statement, share it with your networks, and support us if you can. www.python.org/sponsors/app... psfmember.org/civicrm/cont...
October 27, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Python was awarded a funding grant, funding grant asked Python foundation to remove all diversity and inclusion initiatives they have.
Python foundation said no and rejected the grant.
If you use Python, send a few dollars to the charity to keep it going. Iโm pushing a dono on behalf of ScamGuard.
Python foundation said no and rejected the grant.
If you use Python, send a few dollars to the charity to keep it going. Iโm pushing a dono on behalf of ScamGuard.
Reposted by nicky nicolson
Calling botanical researchers, the School of Natural Science at Trinity College Dublin is hiring a tenure track Assistant Professor in Plant Biodiversity and Conservation.
I know this is someone's dream job, so let me know if that is you and you want to chat!
my.corehr.com/pls/trrecrui...
I know this is someone's dream job, so let me know if that is you and you want to chat!
my.corehr.com/pls/trrecrui...
October 1, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Calling botanical researchers, the School of Natural Science at Trinity College Dublin is hiring a tenure track Assistant Professor in Plant Biodiversity and Conservation.
I know this is someone's dream job, so let me know if that is you and you want to chat!
my.corehr.com/pls/trrecrui...
I know this is someone's dream job, so let me know if that is you and you want to chat!
my.corehr.com/pls/trrecrui...
Here's your reach @turingway.bsky.social ๐supporting botanical research into the plant families that give us potatoes and coffee
@sandyknapp.bsky.social opens the #SOLRUB2025 meeting talking about how wonderful are #Solanaceae species. New dating results are coming out soon. The family is older that we thought. Almost 90 MY. She closes her presentation talking about the importance of community.
September 22, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Here's your reach @turingway.bsky.social ๐supporting botanical research into the plant families that give us potatoes and coffee
Reposted by nicky nicolson
Great closing quote from Graham Lee in this mornings Track A talk on Where do people come from?
"RSE is more than a technical discipline, its a social movement aiming to revolutionise how research engages with software." - Graham Lee
#RSECon25
"RSE is more than a technical discipline, its a social movement aiming to revolutionise how research engages with software." - Graham Lee
#RSECon25
September 10, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Great closing quote from Graham Lee in this mornings Track A talk on Where do people come from?
"RSE is more than a technical discipline, its a social movement aiming to revolutionise how research engages with software." - Graham Lee
#RSECon25
"RSE is more than a technical discipline, its a social movement aiming to revolutionise how research engages with software." - Graham Lee
#RSECon25
I don't know if "punlishing" is intentional - but its a lovely neologism ๐
July 2, 2025 at 11:16 AM
I don't know if "punlishing" is intentional - but its a lovely neologism ๐
Reposted by nicky nicolson
Itโs Mary Anningโs birthday, so time to share @katebeaton.bsky.socialโs brilliant cartoon again.
May 21, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Itโs Mary Anningโs birthday, so time to share @katebeaton.bsky.socialโs brilliant cartoon again.
Reposted by nicky nicolson
Still a few weeks to register for some hands-on training and hacking on open-source tools for analysing animal motion, whole-brain microscopy with @brainglobe.info, and big imaging data. ๐ง ๐
Aug 11-15 at @sainsburywellcome.bsky.social in London.
"Free as in beer" and travel stipends available.
Aug 11-15 at @sainsburywellcome.bsky.social in London.
"Free as in beer" and travel stipends available.
We're excited to announce the Neuroinformatics Unit Open Source Week, August 11-15 2025 in London, UK.
Bringing together researchers and developers of open-source software for training, community-building and hacking.
No cost and travel stipends available.
neuroinformatics.dev/open-softwar...
1/
Bringing together researchers and developers of open-source software for training, community-building and hacking.
No cost and travel stipends available.
neuroinformatics.dev/open-softwar...
1/
May 19, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Still a few weeks to register for some hands-on training and hacking on open-source tools for analysing animal motion, whole-brain microscopy with @brainglobe.info, and big imaging data. ๐ง ๐
Aug 11-15 at @sainsburywellcome.bsky.social in London.
"Free as in beer" and travel stipends available.
Aug 11-15 at @sainsburywellcome.bsky.social in London.
"Free as in beer" and travel stipends available.
Reposted by nicky nicolson
๐ข Registration is now open ๐ข
Join us on 7-8 October 2025 at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum for the second Festival of Hidden REF!
Explore the indicative schedule, learn more on our website or head straight to the registration page to secure your place! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-festiv...
Join us on 7-8 October 2025 at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum for the second Festival of Hidden REF!
Explore the indicative schedule, learn more on our website or head straight to the registration page to secure your place! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-festiv...
May 19, 2025 at 9:36 AM
๐ข Registration is now open ๐ข
Join us on 7-8 October 2025 at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum for the second Festival of Hidden REF!
Explore the indicative schedule, learn more on our website or head straight to the registration page to secure your place! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-festiv...
Join us on 7-8 October 2025 at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum for the second Festival of Hidden REF!
Explore the indicative schedule, learn more on our website or head straight to the registration page to secure your place! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-festiv...
Reposted by nicky nicolson
We're not "over-diagnosing", we're getting BETTER at diagnosing. That was the point of all those years of research.
And yes, more people are self-diagnosing, but that's because they are better informed. That was the whole point of raising awareness! #MentalHealth
And yes, more people are self-diagnosing, but that's because they are better informed. That was the whole point of raising awareness! #MentalHealth
March 19, 2025 at 8:29 AM
We're not "over-diagnosing", we're getting BETTER at diagnosing. That was the point of all those years of research.
And yes, more people are self-diagnosing, but that's because they are better informed. That was the whole point of raising awareness! #MentalHealth
And yes, more people are self-diagnosing, but that's because they are better informed. That was the whole point of raising awareness! #MentalHealth
Reposted by nicky nicolson
Okay, I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but BHL is an absolutely VITAL resource for ecologists and evolutionary biologists. There's no other database I'm aware of that provides digital access to species descriptions dating all the way back to the 1800s and beyond.
"A New Future for the Biodiversity Heritage Library" blog.biodiversitylibrary.org/2025/04/new-... Important changes for BHL @biodivlibrary.bsky.social which can no longer be hosted at #Smithsonian and needs a new home.
A New Future for the Biodiversity Heritage Library
The Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) is the worldโs largest open access digital library for biodiversity literature and archives. A global consortium of over 660 contributors, BHL has made more โฆ
blog.biodiversitylibrary.org
April 23, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Okay, I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but BHL is an absolutely VITAL resource for ecologists and evolutionary biologists. There's no other database I'm aware of that provides digital access to species descriptions dating all the way back to the 1800s and beyond.
Reposted by nicky nicolson
Oh no - I use BHL collections multiple times a week for my work ๐ญ itโs open access & the only place the old American Mosquito Control Association journal (Mosquito News) are kept, with a ton of work on disease vector surveillance, ecology, their pathogens, you name it. God.
In addition to EVERY-FUCKING-THING ELSE
The most vital of tools, the Biodiversity Heritage Library, is apparently homed at the Smithsonian. For obv reasons, the Smithsonian cannot retain it
For free, you can access biodiversity-related texts going back to the 1400s!
www.biodiversitylibrary.org
The most vital of tools, the Biodiversity Heritage Library, is apparently homed at the Smithsonian. For obv reasons, the Smithsonian cannot retain it
For free, you can access biodiversity-related texts going back to the 1400s!
www.biodiversitylibrary.org
April 24, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Oh no - I use BHL collections multiple times a week for my work ๐ญ itโs open access & the only place the old American Mosquito Control Association journal (Mosquito News) are kept, with a ton of work on disease vector surveillance, ecology, their pathogens, you name it. God.
Reposted by nicky nicolson
The most meaningful work of my career has been the 17.5 years I have spent with the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Now BHL faces new challenges, and seeks funding and support. Please share this message, and reach out if you can help.
#ILoveBHL
#ILoveBHL
Change is in the air for BHL! In 2026, BHL hosting will transition away from the Smithsonian, opening doors to reimagine our future. Rest assured, our 63 million pages of biodiversity knowledge remain secure and accessible.
Learn what's next for BHL โก๏ธ
Learn what's next for BHL โก๏ธ
A New Future for the Biodiversity Heritage Library
The Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) is the worldโs largest open access digital library for biodiversity literature and archives. A global consortium of over 660 contributors, BHL has made more โฆ
blog.biodiversitylibrary.org
April 23, 2025 at 2:19 AM
The most meaningful work of my career has been the 17.5 years I have spent with the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Now BHL faces new challenges, and seeks funding and support. Please share this message, and reach out if you can help.
#ILoveBHL
#ILoveBHL
Reposted by nicky nicolson
Today we celebrate the incredible biodiversity of our planet โ and the power of #OpenAccess to protect it. The Biodiversity Heritage Library makes over 62 million pages of biodiversity knowledge freely available to all. ๐ biodiversitylibrary.org
#EarthDay #EarthDay2025 #Biodiversity #BHLib
#EarthDay #EarthDay2025 #Biodiversity #BHLib
April 22, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Today we celebrate the incredible biodiversity of our planet โ and the power of #OpenAccess to protect it. The Biodiversity Heritage Library makes over 62 million pages of biodiversity knowledge freely available to all. ๐ biodiversitylibrary.org
#EarthDay #EarthDay2025 #Biodiversity #BHLib
#EarthDay #EarthDay2025 #Biodiversity #BHLib
You're a braver man than me! I'm not sure could re-read #ProphetSong
March 24, 2025 at 12:56 PM
You're a braver man than me! I'm not sure could re-read #ProphetSong
๐ฑ ...do you think that we should try to compile a dataset of extreme variations to test AI identification approaches?
March 24, 2025 at 10:59 AM
๐ฑ ...do you think that we should try to compile a dataset of extreme variations to test AI identification approaches?
Thanks! Are any of this group going to the @softwaresaved.bsky.social collaborations workshop this year? Maybe we could catch up there if so
March 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Thanks! Are any of this group going to the @softwaresaved.bsky.social collaborations workshop this year? Maybe we could catch up there if so
Reposted by nicky nicolson
Last few days to apply #Metascience post @uniofmanchester.bsky.social working with James Bird, @naubertbonn.bsky.social, Prof Andrew Stewart & me to investigate opportunities and barriers in deploying Electronic Research Notebooks (ERNs)
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
#ELN #OpenResearch
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
#ELN #OpenResearch
March 21, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Last few days to apply #Metascience post @uniofmanchester.bsky.social working with James Bird, @naubertbonn.bsky.social, Prof Andrew Stewart & me to investigate opportunities and barriers in deploying Electronic Research Notebooks (ERNs)
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
#ELN #OpenResearch
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
#ELN #OpenResearch
Good luck with your recruitment!
Is there anywhere I can read more about the ERN project? This seems pretty relevant for how working practices are evolving in taxonomy as our specimens and literature are digitised
Is there anywhere I can read more about the ERN project? This seems pretty relevant for how working practices are evolving in taxonomy as our specimens and literature are digitised
March 21, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Good luck with your recruitment!
Is there anywhere I can read more about the ERN project? This seems pretty relevant for how working practices are evolving in taxonomy as our specimens and literature are digitised
Is there anywhere I can read more about the ERN project? This seems pretty relevant for how working practices are evolving in taxonomy as our specimens and literature are digitised
Reposted by nicky nicolson
๐ฅ If you have written software, code or scripts for research purposes and are from an underrepresented group in research software, we would like to hear from you! Find out how to get involved in our inclusive RSE study at www.software.ac.uk/news/partici...
March 20, 2025 at 11:40 AM
๐ฅ If you have written software, code or scripts for research purposes and are from an underrepresented group in research software, we would like to hear from you! Find out how to get involved in our inclusive RSE study at www.software.ac.uk/news/partici...