Prof Rachel Oliver
@profrachelgan.bsky.social
Materials scientist, mum, mountain-biker.
Pinned
(Re)introducing myself: I'm a materials scientist, focused on semiconductors used for light emitting devices and power electronics. I'm also married and am mum to a lovely teenager. I am an enthusiastically incompetent mountain biker. I try to work towards a fairer, more equitable science ecosystem.
Reposted by Prof Rachel Oliver
![Cartoon by Stephen Collins for The Guardian. Script as follows:
[scene is Winston Churchill in a bbc studio, giving his 'finest hour' speech]
1
CHURCHILL:
The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us.
2
CHURCHILL:
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war.
3
CHURCHILL:
If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free
and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sun-
BBC PRESENTER:
Thank you prime minister
4
BBC PRESENTER:
Mr hitler, your response?
5
HITLER [in the studio]:
Vell zis is hysterical woke nonsense as usual from mr Churchill
6
HITLER:
What we are proposing -
CHURCHILL:
Hang on
7
HITLER:
Let me finish - what we are proposing eez a simple power-sharing arrangement -
8
CHURCHILL:
What's he doing here
BBC PRESENTER:
It's important we hear both sides of the debate
9
CHURCHILL:
This isn't a debate
You don't debate fascists
10
HITLER:
Oh here we go with ze Godwins law!
11
HITLER:
Why must you people always compare ze things you don't like to 'fascists, Nazis, Hitler'...
CHURCHILL:
Because you are a fascist Nazi Hit-
12
HITLER [standing up, saluting]:
RAUSS!
BBC PRESENTER:
*Please* Mr Churchill let him speak
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreibw4ldc3fhslbvxgy2oqrof2oys5kpgh7zu6a5f3usmx3lf4547qm@jpeg)
Finally home. Reflecting on this experience, the most worrying aspect was the total inattention of the train companies to the welfare of the people who had been stranded somewhere they never intended to go, with no workable way home. Some were elderly or very young and quite vulnerable.
After a few minor additional adventures, I am now in a train that should actually take me all the way to my intended destination. I might make it home less than 13 hours late. But at this point I'm not counting on it.
Am on a train, currently still stationary at Newcastle station. I've gotten that far twice before in the last 24 hours. Let's see if we can get any further...
November 5, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Finally home. Reflecting on this experience, the most worrying aspect was the total inattention of the train companies to the welfare of the people who had been stranded somewhere they never intended to go, with no workable way home. Some were elderly or very young and quite vulnerable.
After a few minor additional adventures, I am now in a train that should actually take me all the way to my intended destination. I might make it home less than 13 hours late. But at this point I'm not counting on it.
Am on a train, currently still stationary at Newcastle station. I've gotten that far twice before in the last 24 hours. Let's see if we can get any further...
Have now given up on getting home tonight and have found a reasonably priced hotel. I'm very lucky that I can afford to take myself somewhere safe and comfortable.
November 5, 2025 at 10:13 AM
After a few minor additional adventures, I am now in a train that should actually take me all the way to my intended destination. I might make it home less than 13 hours late. But at this point I'm not counting on it.
Am on a train, currently still stationary at Newcastle station. I've gotten that far twice before in the last 24 hours. Let's see if we can get any further...
Have now given up on getting home tonight and have found a reasonably priced hotel. I'm very lucky that I can afford to take myself somewhere safe and comfortable.
British train travel reaches a new low. Today two trains have been cancelled while I was actively sat on them. Currently stuck at Newcastle, having had no intention of coming here today. I've been here an hour and 20 minutes, and there's little prospect of getting home.
November 5, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Am on a train, currently still stationary at Newcastle station. I've gotten that far twice before in the last 24 hours. Let's see if we can get any further...
I am now up and moving and restarting my desperate quest to get home. Now to find out whether LNER will honour my ticket from yesterday...
Have now given up on getting home tonight and have found a reasonably priced hotel. I'm very lucky that I can afford to take myself somewhere safe and comfortable.
British train travel reaches a new low. Today two trains have been cancelled while I was actively sat on them. Currently stuck at Newcastle, having had no intention of coming here today. I've been here an hour and 20 minutes, and there's little prospect of getting home.
November 5, 2025 at 5:57 AM
I am now up and moving and restarting my desperate quest to get home. Now to find out whether LNER will honour my ticket from yesterday...
Have now given up on getting home tonight and have found a reasonably priced hotel. I'm very lucky that I can afford to take myself somewhere safe and comfortable.
British train travel reaches a new low. Today two trains have been cancelled while I was actively sat on them. Currently stuck at Newcastle, having had no intention of coming here today. I've been here an hour and 20 minutes, and there's little prospect of getting home.
November 4, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Have now given up on getting home tonight and have found a reasonably priced hotel. I'm very lucky that I can afford to take myself somewhere safe and comfortable.
British train travel reaches a new low. Today two trains have been cancelled while I was actively sat on them. Currently stuck at Newcastle, having had no intention of coming here today. I've been here an hour and 20 minutes, and there's little prospect of getting home.
November 4, 2025 at 7:48 PM
British train travel reaches a new low. Today two trains have been cancelled while I was actively sat on them. Currently stuck at Newcastle, having had no intention of coming here today. I've been here an hour and 20 minutes, and there's little prospect of getting home.
Apparently Prof Leyser also said that "“vulcanisation” in the R&I system was one of [UKRI's] “greatest weaknesses”." I would love someone to explainn this to me, since as far as I am concerned, vulcanisation is a way of creating cross-links between polymer chains in rubber.
Ex-UKRI head Ottoline Leyser on the REF: "We’ve made it about individuals...and that’s something we really need to break."
On volume of research: "We need to...think very hard about how effectively to do less."
By @sophieatrpn.bsky.social
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
On volume of research: "We need to...think very hard about how effectively to do less."
By @sophieatrpn.bsky.social
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
REF must ditch focus on individuals, says Ottoline Leyser - Research Professional News
Former UKRI head also echoes previous calls for universities to do less research
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Apparently Prof Leyser also said that "“vulcanisation” in the R&I system was one of [UKRI's] “greatest weaknesses”." I would love someone to explainn this to me, since as far as I am concerned, vulcanisation is a way of creating cross-links between polymer chains in rubber.
Reposted by Prof Rachel Oliver
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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Just spent an enjoyable half hour looking up under-appreciated women in my field and suggesting them as speakers for a conference. Don't worry boys, I also suggested some men...
October 27, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Just spent an enjoyable half hour looking up under-appreciated women in my field and suggesting them as speakers for a conference. Don't worry boys, I also suggested some men...
Reposted by Prof Rachel Oliver
Farage: epic grifter
October 27, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Farage: epic grifter
Increasingly the only thing I want from AI is accurate information on how to switch it off.
Another day another study showing that "AI assistants" do not work reliably for cognitive tasks.
"Largest study of its kind shows AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time – regardless of language or territory"
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
"Largest study of its kind shows AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time – regardless of language or territory"
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
Largest study of its kind shows AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time – regardless of language or territory
An intensive international study was coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and led by the BBC
www.bbc.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Increasingly the only thing I want from AI is accurate information on how to switch it off.
Just googled (at the behest of son) "What instrument does Alex Horne play?". Google AI tells me "ukulele and cornet". Next I googled "Alex Horne cornet" and Google AI tells me there is no link between Alex Horne and the cornet, and I must have mistyped my search. Sigh.
October 20, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Just googled (at the behest of son) "What instrument does Alex Horne play?". Google AI tells me "ukulele and cornet". Next I googled "Alex Horne cornet" and Google AI tells me there is no link between Alex Horne and the cornet, and I must have mistyped my search. Sigh.
Reposted by Prof Rachel Oliver
⌛Countdown is on!
Applications to join DiveIn in 2026 open in November
🥽Ready to DiveIn? Here's what awaits:
💷£4K enhanced stipend
🧠Co-create your PhD research project
🔗Interdisciplinary support
🌍Inclusive research culture
🤝Career-focused external partners
💡Express interest: www.divein.org.uk/apply/
Applications to join DiveIn in 2026 open in November
🥽Ready to DiveIn? Here's what awaits:
💷£4K enhanced stipend
🧠Co-create your PhD research project
🔗Interdisciplinary support
🌍Inclusive research culture
🤝Career-focused external partners
💡Express interest: www.divein.org.uk/apply/
October 20, 2025 at 11:32 AM
⌛Countdown is on!
Applications to join DiveIn in 2026 open in November
🥽Ready to DiveIn? Here's what awaits:
💷£4K enhanced stipend
🧠Co-create your PhD research project
🔗Interdisciplinary support
🌍Inclusive research culture
🤝Career-focused external partners
💡Express interest: www.divein.org.uk/apply/
Applications to join DiveIn in 2026 open in November
🥽Ready to DiveIn? Here's what awaits:
💷£4K enhanced stipend
🧠Co-create your PhD research project
🔗Interdisciplinary support
🌍Inclusive research culture
🤝Career-focused external partners
💡Express interest: www.divein.org.uk/apply/
Quick look at me and one of my mates at bike park women's day: youtube.com/shorts/BRtwJ...
We had such a good time!
We had such a good time!
What's the best thing about Women's Day at Bike Park Wales?
YouTube video by The Sound of Slow
youtube.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Quick look at me and one of my mates at bike park women's day: youtube.com/shorts/BRtwJ...
We had such a good time!
We had such a good time!
So, it's somehow impossible to recognize a woman with a science Nobel even if she is first author on the key research, but we should give the prize the ChatGPT?
www.dailypioneer.com/2024/columni...
www.dailypioneer.com/2024/columni...
Lol the Nobels can't even acknowledge women's contribution to discovery. But sure let's acknowledge The Machines.
October 9, 2025 at 9:14 PM
So, it's somehow impossible to recognize a woman with a science Nobel even if she is first author on the key research, but we should give the prize the ChatGPT?
www.dailypioneer.com/2024/columni...
www.dailypioneer.com/2024/columni...
Great to see someone senior like Prof Lindsay Greer talking about how big errors can accidentally arise in experimental science.
I sometimes feel Retraction Watch sees its purpose as catching out evildoers. It's good to see them reporting on retraction as part of a normal honest scientific process.
I sometimes feel Retraction Watch sees its purpose as catching out evildoers. It's good to see them reporting on retraction as part of a normal honest scientific process.
“I have given several scientific talks that included our retraction story,” Greer said of the paper, which was retracted in December 2024. “Audience reaction has been uniformly positive.”
‘Cosmic magnet’ study retracted after cleaning agent wipes away results
Electron diffraction patterns of an alloy before (left) and after (right) cleaning revealed the cleaning agent was was responsible for reflections (circle, right) reported in the original study. O.…
retractionwatch.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Great to see someone senior like Prof Lindsay Greer talking about how big errors can accidentally arise in experimental science.
I sometimes feel Retraction Watch sees its purpose as catching out evildoers. It's good to see them reporting on retraction as part of a normal honest scientific process.
I sometimes feel Retraction Watch sees its purpose as catching out evildoers. It's good to see them reporting on retraction as part of a normal honest scientific process.
Reposted by Prof Rachel Oliver
"Fundamentally, teams that better reflect our society, in all its diversity, make better business decisions and do better engineering." @profrachelgan.bsky.social reflects on the first four years of the Diversity Impact Programme, inspiring change in universities: www.raeng.org.uk/blogs/divers...
Diversity Impact Programme: four years on
Professor Rachel Oliver FREng, Chair of the Academy’s EDI Committee, reflects on the first four years of the Academy’s Diversity Impact Programme.
www.raeng.org.uk
October 8, 2025 at 10:01 AM
"Fundamentally, teams that better reflect our society, in all its diversity, make better business decisions and do better engineering." @profrachelgan.bsky.social reflects on the first four years of the Diversity Impact Programme, inspiring change in universities: www.raeng.org.uk/blogs/divers...
Reposted by Prof Rachel Oliver
A remarkable transformation in @rsc.org prizes.
30% of prizes recognise teams rather than individuals (up from 5%).
36% of prize-winners are early-career (up from 4%)
38% of prize winners are women (up from 25%)
Twice as many prizes for work outside universities.
www.rsc.org/policy-and-c...
30% of prizes recognise teams rather than individuals (up from 5%).
36% of prize-winners are early-career (up from 4%)
38% of prize winners are women (up from 25%)
Twice as many prizes for work outside universities.
www.rsc.org/policy-and-c...
Reshaping recognition: evolving how we celebrate excellence
A multi-year journey to transform our prizes
www.rsc.org
October 7, 2025 at 12:02 PM
A remarkable transformation in @rsc.org prizes.
30% of prizes recognise teams rather than individuals (up from 5%).
36% of prize-winners are early-career (up from 4%)
38% of prize winners are women (up from 25%)
Twice as many prizes for work outside universities.
www.rsc.org/policy-and-c...
30% of prizes recognise teams rather than individuals (up from 5%).
36% of prize-winners are early-career (up from 4%)
38% of prize winners are women (up from 25%)
Twice as many prizes for work outside universities.
www.rsc.org/policy-and-c...
I'm delighted to be able to support @raeng.org.uk in developing their diversity impact programme, which aims to inspire change in university engineering departments so that students from diverse backgrounds can succeed and thrive: raeng.org.uk/blogs/divers...
Diversity Impact Programme
raeng.org.uk
October 7, 2025 at 11:25 AM
I'm delighted to be able to support @raeng.org.uk in developing their diversity impact programme, which aims to inspire change in university engineering departments so that students from diverse backgrounds can succeed and thrive: raeng.org.uk/blogs/divers...
Reposted by Prof Rachel Oliver
I didn't know until we buried my mother, so probably most people here don't know: Jewish cemeteries strongly recommend that you get insurance for the headstone.
Because the cemeteries are so often desecrated, the gravestones smashed.
Because the cemeteries are so often desecrated, the gravestones smashed.
October 3, 2025 at 9:42 AM
I didn't know until we buried my mother, so probably most people here don't know: Jewish cemeteries strongly recommend that you get insurance for the headstone.
Because the cemeteries are so often desecrated, the gravestones smashed.
Because the cemeteries are so often desecrated, the gravestones smashed.
Reposted by Prof Rachel Oliver
This article manages to name her husband before it names… her.
October 3, 2025 at 11:15 AM
This article manages to name her husband before it names… her.
In the post quoted below, I am contributing to a discussion about the fact that Elon Musk has not lost his Fellowship of the Royal Society depsite the President of the RS saying that Musk's "language... threaten[s] the values that enable science to thrive and the Royal Society rejects [it]".
Perhaps they want to make it clear to the scientific community that they don't take their code of conduct seriously, so that we don't waste our time or their time reporting bad behaviour by Fellows to them?
October 2, 2025 at 4:54 PM
In the post quoted below, I am contributing to a discussion about the fact that Elon Musk has not lost his Fellowship of the Royal Society depsite the President of the RS saying that Musk's "language... threaten[s] the values that enable science to thrive and the Royal Society rejects [it]".
Does anyone have a good way of keeping track of the many sharepoint links they recieve, ranging in important from vital to pointless? I have a spreadsheet with a list, but I keep forgetting to put things in it, and it's difficult to index in a way that allows me to find what I need...
Sharepoint is shit.
It is the Ts & Cs of institutional information, used merely as a means of demonstrating that information is available if I happen to remember which of the 30k+ emails I've received this year contains the link.
It is the Ts & Cs of institutional information, used merely as a means of demonstrating that information is available if I happen to remember which of the 30k+ emails I've received this year contains the link.
October 1, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Does anyone have a good way of keeping track of the many sharepoint links they recieve, ranging in important from vital to pointless? I have a spreadsheet with a list, but I keep forgetting to put things in it, and it's difficult to index in a way that allows me to find what I need...
oooh - this looks clever, elegant and potentially useful...
🚨New Preprint: "Angular Resolution Enhancement of Electron Backscatter Diffraction Patterns" by @bmatb.expmicromech.com and @tbizh95.bsky.social
arxiv.org/abs/2509.23039
arxiv.org/abs/2509.23039
September 30, 2025 at 2:31 PM
oooh - this looks clever, elegant and potentially useful...