Ruth Francis
@roobina.bsky.social
Science communication professional, freelance, feminist. Diving, swimming, cycling. she/her
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Broadcaster and writer Afua Hirsch explaining how Tim Davie the now former BBC Director-General looked her in the eye and said Black staff supporting anti-racism “breached impartiality” www.instagram.com/reel/DQ4fxa6...
November 12, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Broadcaster and writer Afua Hirsch explaining how Tim Davie the now former BBC Director-General looked her in the eye and said Black staff supporting anti-racism “breached impartiality” www.instagram.com/reel/DQ4fxa6...
Reposted by Ruth Francis
To round off the week, we bring this quick update on research security, since our post on Tuesday. Written by @roobina.bsky.social about an announcement from the @ec.europa.eu and a report by @scienceeurope.org
open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
October 31, 2025 at 4:23 PM
To round off the week, we bring this quick update on research security, since our post on Tuesday. Written by @roobina.bsky.social about an announcement from the @ec.europa.eu and a report by @scienceeurope.org
open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
This is very sad. It has been widely listened to and trusted around the world. Terrible news.
For 61 years the #BBCWorldService has been broadcasting the latest in science via its weekly Science in Action programme. That dies in the next half hour, with this final edition, reflecting on the fall in trust in expertise driven by malign interests over recent years.
It's the end of the road for BBC Science in Action. But science itself is facing growing roadblocks. For this terminal edition of SinA I'm joined by @naomioreskes.bsky.social @drdebhoury.bsky.social @michaelemann.bsky.social & @angierasmussen.bsky.social for where now?
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
October 30, 2025 at 9:31 PM
This is very sad. It has been widely listened to and trusted around the world. Terrible news.
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Another one bites the dust. When I expressed my professional concerns at issues in the science unit and where it was headed, I was quickly terminated. Public service broadcasters have a remit; we should hold them to it
For 61 years the #BBCWorldService has been broadcasting the latest in science via its weekly Science in Action programme. That dies in the next half hour, with this final edition, reflecting on the fall in trust in expertise driven by malign interests over recent years.
It's the end of the road for BBC Science in Action. But science itself is facing growing roadblocks. For this terminal edition of SinA I'm joined by @naomioreskes.bsky.social @drdebhoury.bsky.social @michaelemann.bsky.social & @angierasmussen.bsky.social for where now?
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
October 30, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Another one bites the dust. When I expressed my professional concerns at issues in the science unit and where it was headed, I was quickly terminated. Public service broadcasters have a remit; we should hold them to it
My first post for @scholarlyfutures.bsky.social takes a look at what's happening with research security and where it rubs up against open science and open data.
This week, @roobina.bsky.social takes a look at research security and how it could create tensions with open science and open data: 👇
open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
October 28, 2025 at 12:58 PM
My first post for @scholarlyfutures.bsky.social takes a look at what's happening with research security and where it rubs up against open science and open data.
Reposted by Ruth Francis
What might it mean to publish research with no human in the loop? @jontreadway.bsky.social post investigates four possible avenues and explores which seem more likely: open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
October 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM
What might it mean to publish research with no human in the loop? @jontreadway.bsky.social post investigates four possible avenues and explores which seem more likely: open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
Reposted by Ruth Francis
The arrival of AI and the speed it is changing our working lives is astonishing. @sarahgreaves18.bsky.social investigates the adoption of AI tools into academic publisher workflows, attitudes towards them & lessons from book publishing.
open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
October 14, 2025 at 11:05 AM
The arrival of AI and the speed it is changing our working lives is astonishing. @sarahgreaves18.bsky.social investigates the adoption of AI tools into academic publisher workflows, attitudes towards them & lessons from book publishing.
open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
Reposted by Ruth Francis
A new substack from @jontreadway.bsky.social @roobina.bsky.social Sarah Greaves and @pgarner.bsky.social
I've already subscribed and you should too.
scholarlyfutures.substack.com/p/launch-of-...
I've already subscribed and you should too.
scholarlyfutures.substack.com/p/launch-of-...
Launch of Scholarly Futures
Join us as we try to work out which futures are worth discussing
scholarlyfutures.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 2:09 PM
A new substack from @jontreadway.bsky.social @roobina.bsky.social Sarah Greaves and @pgarner.bsky.social
I've already subscribed and you should too.
scholarlyfutures.substack.com/p/launch-of-...
I've already subscribed and you should too.
scholarlyfutures.substack.com/p/launch-of-...
Reposted by Ruth Francis
This is a new thing that I’m trying out for a few months with some very smart people. We would love it if you would come along, tell us what you think and say hi.
Our first post is live! In our daily lives it can be hard to find time to stop and discuss the vast changes occurring in scholarly communication, research practices and academic publishing. We wanted to make time and engage our community to gain insights. Join us! 👇
open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
October 13, 2025 at 12:47 PM
This is a new thing that I’m trying out for a few months with some very smart people. We would love it if you would come along, tell us what you think and say hi.
A new space to consider the various directions that scholarly comms, research practices and academic publishing are traveling, by me, @sarahgreaves18.bsky.social @jontreadway.bsky.social & @grnr25.bsky.social
Welcome post below, first proper post tomorrow... Enjoy 😊
Welcome post below, first proper post tomorrow... Enjoy 😊
Our first post is live! In our daily lives it can be hard to find time to stop and discuss the vast changes occurring in scholarly communication, research practices and academic publishing. We wanted to make time and engage our community to gain insights. Join us! 👇
open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
open.substack.com/pub/scholarl...
October 13, 2025 at 12:17 PM
A new space to consider the various directions that scholarly comms, research practices and academic publishing are traveling, by me, @sarahgreaves18.bsky.social @jontreadway.bsky.social & @grnr25.bsky.social
Welcome post below, first proper post tomorrow... Enjoy 😊
Welcome post below, first proper post tomorrow... Enjoy 😊
Lovely article here by Helen Pilcher in @theguardian.com about how animals communicate and how reductive we can be when we think about how animals communicate.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Dogs name toys while elephants name each other. Animal language is more complex than we imagine | Helen Pilcher
If we really want to grasp what animals are ‘saying’, we need to understand their communication on their terms, not ours, says science writer Helen Pilcher
www.theguardian.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Lovely article here by Helen Pilcher in @theguardian.com about how animals communicate and how reductive we can be when we think about how animals communicate.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Ruth Francis
NEW: London has achieved the historic milestone of meeting the legal limits for nitrogen dioxide for the first time in 2024 - 184 years earlier than experts predicted.
October 1, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEW: London has achieved the historic milestone of meeting the legal limits for nitrogen dioxide for the first time in 2024 - 184 years earlier than experts predicted.
This. Just this.
"If ever you’re in need as I was
may you have an island of strangers
like I had."
Thank you Michael Rosen ❤️
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
"If ever you’re in need as I was
may you have an island of strangers
like I had."
Thank you Michael Rosen ❤️
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My island of strangers: a poem | Michael Rosen
The prime minister warns that immigration could turn Britain into an ‘island of strangers’. Author and poet Michael Rosen responds
www.theguardian.com
May 18, 2025 at 11:42 AM
This. Just this.
"If ever you’re in need as I was
may you have an island of strangers
like I had."
Thank you Michael Rosen ❤️
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
"If ever you’re in need as I was
may you have an island of strangers
like I had."
Thank you Michael Rosen ❤️
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Today we launched a report on UK journalists: who they are, how they work and what they think. Edited by @neilthurman.bsky.social @imkehenkel.bsky.social Sina Thäsler-Kordonouri & @richardfletcher.bsky.social, it's based on a 2023 representative survey
📱Read it
buff.ly/gIBRL1f
🧵Findings in thread
📱Read it
buff.ly/gIBRL1f
🧵Findings in thread
April 23, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Today we launched a report on UK journalists: who they are, how they work and what they think. Edited by @neilthurman.bsky.social @imkehenkel.bsky.social Sina Thäsler-Kordonouri & @richardfletcher.bsky.social, it's based on a 2023 representative survey
📱Read it
buff.ly/gIBRL1f
🧵Findings in thread
📱Read it
buff.ly/gIBRL1f
🧵Findings in thread
'Disrupted bedtimes and difficulty getting them ready on time in the morning added additional stress to family life.' Ruth Ogden @ljmuofficial.bsky.social on stress of changing clocks.
My 4yo, 9pm last night, jumping on the bed shouting: It's my time to shine!!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My 4yo, 9pm last night, jumping on the bed shouting: It's my time to shine!!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Changing your clock? Scientists are only just beginning to understand what this does to us | Ruth Ogden
Our research in October showed that ‘falling back’ had a negative impact on women, especially mothers. Do we need to shift the way we think about time, asks professor of the psychology of time Ruth Og...
www.theguardian.com
April 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
'Disrupted bedtimes and difficulty getting them ready on time in the morning added additional stress to family life.' Ruth Ogden @ljmuofficial.bsky.social on stress of changing clocks.
My 4yo, 9pm last night, jumping on the bed shouting: It's my time to shine!!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My 4yo, 9pm last night, jumping on the bed shouting: It's my time to shine!!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Ruth Francis
It's likely most of us are still digesting everything we learned at Stempra's Press Officer Training Day yesterday - so we'll keep this update quick and cheerful. We partnered with KMGS Photography to immortalise the day, and the photos are IN ✨
Happy Friday, and happy faces at #POTD2025
Happy Friday, and happy faces at #POTD2025
March 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
It's likely most of us are still digesting everything we learned at Stempra's Press Officer Training Day yesterday - so we'll keep this update quick and cheerful. We partnered with KMGS Photography to immortalise the day, and the photos are IN ✨
Happy Friday, and happy faces at #POTD2025
Happy Friday, and happy faces at #POTD2025
If you're at #potd2025 do grab yourselves a photo in the break! We look forward to seeing your happy faces! @stempra.bsky.social
March 6, 2025 at 11:41 AM
If you're at #potd2025 do grab yourselves a photo in the break! We look forward to seeing your happy faces! @stempra.bsky.social
Reposted by Ruth Francis
🚨Texas measles outbreak nears 100 cases, w/16 hospitalizations. Officials suspect it's spilled just across the border to New Mexico.
Low vax rates+undetected infections mean it will grow.
“This is going to get a lot worse before it gets better”
My latest kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Low vax rates+undetected infections mean it will grow.
“This is going to get a lot worse before it gets better”
My latest kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Texas Measles Outbreak Nears 100 Cases, Raising Concerns About Undetected Spread - KFF Health News
Health officials expect a measles outbreak in West Texas to exceed 100 cases because of low vaccination rates and undetected infections. Vaccine misinformation and new laws may make such situations mo...
kffhealthnews.org
February 21, 2025 at 4:27 PM
🚨Texas measles outbreak nears 100 cases, w/16 hospitalizations. Officials suspect it's spilled just across the border to New Mexico.
Low vax rates+undetected infections mean it will grow.
“This is going to get a lot worse before it gets better”
My latest kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Low vax rates+undetected infections mean it will grow.
“This is going to get a lot worse before it gets better”
My latest kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Ruth Francis
In 2019 Nigel Farage's Brexit Party voted against plans to tackle Russian propaganda, calling claims of Russian interference "scare stories"
One of his MEPs was Nathan Gill, who has just been accused in court of taking bribes in exchange for defending Russia in the European Parliament
One of his MEPs was Nathan Gill, who has just been accused in court of taking bribes in exchange for defending Russia in the European Parliament
February 24, 2025 at 2:32 PM
In 2019 Nigel Farage's Brexit Party voted against plans to tackle Russian propaganda, calling claims of Russian interference "scare stories"
One of his MEPs was Nathan Gill, who has just been accused in court of taking bribes in exchange for defending Russia in the European Parliament
One of his MEPs was Nathan Gill, who has just been accused in court of taking bribes in exchange for defending Russia in the European Parliament
Reposted by Ruth Francis
We're still taking applications for the @broadinstitute.org #scicomm internship! The deadline is *THIS FRIDAY* (2/28) at 11:59pm ET. Don't delay!
Are you looking for a #scicomm internship? Just so happens I *have* a scicomm internship! Apply by 2/28 to be a paid summer #intern with the @broadinstitute.org communications team! 👉 broad.io/scicommintern
#sciencecommunications #paidinternship #internship
#sciencecommunications #paidinternship #internship
Science writing and communications internship
The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard offers paid winter and summer internship in science writing and communications.
broad.io
February 24, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We're still taking applications for the @broadinstitute.org #scicomm internship! The deadline is *THIS FRIDAY* (2/28) at 11:59pm ET. Don't delay!
Absolutely fascinating article about attempts to regrow an extinct native tree to Rapa Nui, and how understanding trees' relationship with soil could be helping... In @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘The last plant left’: can Rapa Nui’s extinct tree be resurrected?
Seeds from the last toromiro, unique to remote Easter Island, were taken away in the 1960s. Now, after a crucial discovery gave hope for its survival, it is making a return
www.theguardian.com
February 23, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Absolutely fascinating article about attempts to regrow an extinct native tree to Rapa Nui, and how understanding trees' relationship with soil could be helping... In @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Ruth Francis
Pretty disturbed by some of the Kremlin framing on the Trump talks being bought by parts of the media worldwide. It’s as if the genesis of the war is entirely forgotten. This isn’t a conflict which needs mediation. It was an unprovoked act of aggression. It could end tomorrow if Putin just withdrew.
February 18, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Pretty disturbed by some of the Kremlin framing on the Trump talks being bought by parts of the media worldwide. It’s as if the genesis of the war is entirely forgotten. This isn’t a conflict which needs mediation. It was an unprovoked act of aggression. It could end tomorrow if Putin just withdrew.
A meat industry lobbying group has written to Trump to push for rollback on environmental regulations, worker protections and food safety. Urgh.
Full article @sentientmedia.org by @ninaelkadi.com
sentientmedia.org/meat-industr...
Full article @sentientmedia.org by @ninaelkadi.com
sentientmedia.org/meat-industr...
Meat Industry Group Asks Trump to Deregulate Meatpacking and Factory Farms
Amid a deregulatory blitz, trade group pushes for rollback on environmental regulations, worker protections and food safety.
sentientmedia.org
February 13, 2025 at 10:25 AM
A meat industry lobbying group has written to Trump to push for rollback on environmental regulations, worker protections and food safety. Urgh.
Full article @sentientmedia.org by @ninaelkadi.com
sentientmedia.org/meat-industr...
Full article @sentientmedia.org by @ninaelkadi.com
sentientmedia.org/meat-industr...
Snowdrops, crocuses and 3.5 minutes of daylight gained each day. Spring is for winners 🌼🌱
For some of us, dark mornings and evenings can make us feel really low. The cold, wet, and windy weather can also impact our mood ☔️
️
The good news is that we're heading towards Spring. And we’re gaining an average of 3.5 minutes of daylight per day🌞
What’s your favourite part about Spring?
️
The good news is that we're heading towards Spring. And we’re gaining an average of 3.5 minutes of daylight per day🌞
What’s your favourite part about Spring?
February 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Snowdrops, crocuses and 3.5 minutes of daylight gained each day. Spring is for winners 🌼🌱