Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
@vickiye.bsky.social
Senior Research Data Steward at UCL's Advanced Research Computing department @ucl-arc.bsky.social, sometime clinical trial conduct methodologist, palaeopathologist, archaeologist, & food historian | #DataSharing #OpenScience #HealthcareSystemsData
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
Not enough attention is being paid to the effective closure of the bulk of one of the 2 or 3 most important public archives for modern British history. A terrible own goal for the BBC as a public-service agency.
WAC wrong-headedness
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
WAC wrong-headedness - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Some of you will know that I have been very involved over the past months with attempts to reverse the wrong-headed changes to access at the BBC Written Archives Centre (above, with...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Not enough attention is being paid to the effective closure of the bulk of one of the 2 or 3 most important public archives for modern British history. A terrible own goal for the BBC as a public-service agency.
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
Yes, it would be obsolete the moment it was written. Why not just teach statistical literacy and critical source evaluation.
A new GCSE in artificial intelligence stemming from the curriculum review could date quickly, warns @aqaeducation.bsky.social chief Colin Hughes in an exclusive interview
AI qualification at risk of rapid obsolescence, warns exam chief
In an exclusive interview, AQA chief Colin Hughes warns that an AI qualification stemming from this week’s curriculum and assessment review may not have a long-term future
www.tes.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Yes, it would be obsolete the moment it was written. Why not just teach statistical literacy and critical source evaluation.
Now, that's a workshop I would totally want to attend! 😋
Sometimes academics get email notifications for conferences or workshops that, when shown only partially, sound like very different sorts of events. #academicsky
October 31, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Now, that's a workshop I would totally want to attend! 😋
That feeling when you get an email telling you you didn't get a research grant, & then you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself down, & get on with working out your next steps (sadly no individual feedback either).
(Why do they always tell you on a Friday...?)
#AcademicSky #AcademicChatter
(Why do they always tell you on a Friday...?)
#AcademicSky #AcademicChatter
October 31, 2025 at 1:05 PM
That feeling when you get an email telling you you didn't get a research grant, & then you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself down, & get on with working out your next steps (sadly no individual feedback either).
(Why do they always tell you on a Friday...?)
#AcademicSky #AcademicChatter
(Why do they always tell you on a Friday...?)
#AcademicSky #AcademicChatter
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
Matt has one final show for 2025, and it's a big 'un!
He's heading to the Cambridge Theatre in London's West End for one night only!
More than half the tickets are already gone, and we know you can sell this one out!
standupmaths.com/shows/
He's heading to the Cambridge Theatre in London's West End for one night only!
More than half the tickets are already gone, and we know you can sell this one out!
standupmaths.com/shows/
October 30, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Matt has one final show for 2025, and it's a big 'un!
He's heading to the Cambridge Theatre in London's West End for one night only!
More than half the tickets are already gone, and we know you can sell this one out!
standupmaths.com/shows/
He's heading to the Cambridge Theatre in London's West End for one night only!
More than half the tickets are already gone, and we know you can sell this one out!
standupmaths.com/shows/
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
🚀 Just launched! UCL's Grand Challenge of Transformative Technology Impact Report
Celebrating the work of researchers, innovators & partners from UCL and beyond, the report highlights how innovation can improve lives and benefit humanity.
🔗 https://bit.ly/4niclx3
Celebrating the work of researchers, innovators & partners from UCL and beyond, the report highlights how innovation can improve lives and benefit humanity.
🔗 https://bit.ly/4niclx3
Launch of the Grand Challenge of Transformative Technology Impact Report
UCL Grand Challenges has launched the Grand Challenge of Transformative Technology Impact Report, celebrating almost a decade of pioneering research and collaboration exploring how innovation and tech...
bit.ly
October 28, 2025 at 9:18 AM
🚀 Just launched! UCL's Grand Challenge of Transformative Technology Impact Report
Celebrating the work of researchers, innovators & partners from UCL and beyond, the report highlights how innovation can improve lives and benefit humanity.
🔗 https://bit.ly/4niclx3
Celebrating the work of researchers, innovators & partners from UCL and beyond, the report highlights how innovation can improve lives and benefit humanity.
🔗 https://bit.ly/4niclx3
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
📢 As one of the next round of TRMP PhD students (below) you could join me, Clare Robinson, @averoniki.bsky.social and @marionkcampbell.bsky.social to work on developing a typology of research outputs in trials methodology, based at @wiphcem.bsky.social. Details here: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
October 24, 2025 at 9:03 AM
📢 As one of the next round of TRMP PhD students (below) you could join me, Clare Robinson, @averoniki.bsky.social and @marionkcampbell.bsky.social to work on developing a typology of research outputs in trials methodology, based at @wiphcem.bsky.social. Details here: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
We’re hiring! We are recruiting for Associate Professor in the Material and Public Cultures of Science to join our Department from January 2026. For more info and to apply, please visit: http://bit.ly/48Ll8nU
Closing Date: 9th November 2025
#WeAreSTS #education #lecturer
Closing Date: 9th November 2025
#WeAreSTS #education #lecturer
October 24, 2025 at 6:30 AM
We’re hiring! We are recruiting for Associate Professor in the Material and Public Cultures of Science to join our Department from January 2026. For more info and to apply, please visit: http://bit.ly/48Ll8nU
Closing Date: 9th November 2025
#WeAreSTS #education #lecturer
Closing Date: 9th November 2025
#WeAreSTS #education #lecturer
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
This is really important. Policy driven research which then influences policy risks falling into a blinkered feedback loop.
Research should inform policy but that’s tricky if it is almost entirely driven by policy. The independence of research is key to change because if you fund only research that responds to policy (even good policy) you’re less innovative, creative & responsive to the open options of the future.
October 24, 2025 at 7:26 AM
This is really important. Policy driven research which then influences policy risks falling into a blinkered feedback loop.
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
DEBATE: "Is AI the future of health and social science?"
For those in London on 15 Dec 2025, don't miss this fun in person debate between me and David Bann sponsored by @ncrm.ac.uk!
Will the arguments change anyone's mind? 🤔
Sign up to attend IN PERSON: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/is-ai-the-...
For those in London on 15 Dec 2025, don't miss this fun in person debate between me and David Bann sponsored by @ncrm.ac.uk!
Will the arguments change anyone's mind? 🤔
Sign up to attend IN PERSON: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/is-ai-the-...
October 21, 2025 at 10:49 AM
DEBATE: "Is AI the future of health and social science?"
For those in London on 15 Dec 2025, don't miss this fun in person debate between me and David Bann sponsored by @ncrm.ac.uk!
Will the arguments change anyone's mind? 🤔
Sign up to attend IN PERSON: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/is-ai-the-...
For those in London on 15 Dec 2025, don't miss this fun in person debate between me and David Bann sponsored by @ncrm.ac.uk!
Will the arguments change anyone's mind? 🤔
Sign up to attend IN PERSON: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/is-ai-the-...
A great start to the Health Data Research UK Conference in Glasgow. Really enjoying Gerrit Meijer's presentation about the European Health Data Environment #HDRUK 🧪📊
October 15, 2025 at 10:55 AM
A great start to the Health Data Research UK Conference in Glasgow. Really enjoying Gerrit Meijer's presentation about the European Health Data Environment #HDRUK 🧪📊
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
Just because an LLM can produce a report with various figures & charts doesn't mean it is good at statistics.
Because good statistics is not about producing code.
It's about deep knowledge of study design & conduct. In my opinion, 95% of all data science problems come from poor questions & design.
Because good statistics is not about producing code.
It's about deep knowledge of study design & conduct. In my opinion, 95% of all data science problems come from poor questions & design.
Y'all. I just got ChatGPT to do everything in R for this manuscript. I mean EVERYTHING. And it's all legit and reproducible. I'm shook.
How are we mentoring our trainees in statistics now? Who needs to learn coding in R line by line, and who doesn't?
scienceforeveryone.science/statistics-i...
How are we mentoring our trainees in statistics now? Who needs to learn coding in R line by line, and who doesn't?
scienceforeveryone.science/statistics-i...
Statistics in the era of AI
How do we mentor, teach, and do stats when AI can do so much of the work?
scienceforeveryone.science
October 9, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Just because an LLM can produce a report with various figures & charts doesn't mean it is good at statistics.
Because good statistics is not about producing code.
It's about deep knowledge of study design & conduct. In my opinion, 95% of all data science problems come from poor questions & design.
Because good statistics is not about producing code.
It's about deep knowledge of study design & conduct. In my opinion, 95% of all data science problems come from poor questions & design.
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
💡 Did you know we run a free introductory training series every spring and autumn to introduce different aspects of the UK Data Service?
Our next workshop is on ethical and legal guidelines in data sharing:
📅 16 October 2025
⏰ 10:00-11:30
📍 Online
🧷
Our next workshop is on ethical and legal guidelines in data sharing:
📅 16 October 2025
⏰ 10:00-11:30
📍 Online
🧷
Ethical and legal guidelines in data sharing - UK Data Service
16 Oct 2025 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am - Data management is essential to make sure that well-organised, well-documented, high quality and shareable research data can be produced from our research…
ukdataservice.ac.uk
October 9, 2025 at 8:07 AM
💡 Did you know we run a free introductory training series every spring and autumn to introduce different aspects of the UK Data Service?
Our next workshop is on ethical and legal guidelines in data sharing:
📅 16 October 2025
⏰ 10:00-11:30
📍 Online
🧷
Our next workshop is on ethical and legal guidelines in data sharing:
📅 16 October 2025
⏰ 10:00-11:30
📍 Online
🧷
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
In case you missed it, British Library E-Theses Online Service (EThOS) update from Sept 3: https://www.bl.uk/collection/ethos
EThOS is the national database of UK doctoral theses.
EThOS is the national database of UK doctoral theses.
E-Theses Online Service (EThOS) update
EThOS (E-Theses Online Service) is the British Library’s database of UK doctoral theses.
www.bl.uk
October 4, 2025 at 3:23 PM
In case you missed it, British Library E-Theses Online Service (EThOS) update from Sept 3: https://www.bl.uk/collection/ethos
EThOS is the national database of UK doctoral theses.
EThOS is the national database of UK doctoral theses.
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
I think it’s a kofta kebab!
Would anyone like to take a guess at the word before “kebob”? Which predates OED - ms is 1660
October 3, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I think it’s a kofta kebab!
Great explanation for how a really obviously dodgy statistic was probably created. @the-independent.com really should know better than to publish this, but the newspapers are all pursuing click-bait.
i looked at the methodology for this and it is
a. sex addiction counseling group in texas did a surveymonkey and extrapolated the results to the entire us population which is the sort of research design that earns you an ff on an intro methods class (the extra f is for extra effort), and
b. p-hacked
a. sex addiction counseling group in texas did a surveymonkey and extrapolated the results to the entire us population which is the sort of research design that earns you an ff on an intro methods class (the extra f is for extra effort), and
b. p-hacked
Nearly a third of Americans have had a ‘romantic relationship’ with an AI bot, new survey says
October 3, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Great explanation for how a really obviously dodgy statistic was probably created. @the-independent.com really should know better than to publish this, but the newspapers are all pursuing click-bait.
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
Unusually comprehensive listing entry for this.
"A world class cinema - without doubt the most lavishly decorated interior of any cinema in Britain and among the most lavish in Europe." historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-...
"A world class cinema - without doubt the most lavishly decorated interior of any cinema in Britain and among the most lavish in Europe." historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-...
October 2, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Unusually comprehensive listing entry for this.
"A world class cinema - without doubt the most lavishly decorated interior of any cinema in Britain and among the most lavish in Europe." historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-...
"A world class cinema - without doubt the most lavishly decorated interior of any cinema in Britain and among the most lavish in Europe." historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-...
As someone who did a BA in the late 90s, MSc in the early 2000s, & whose 1st job was in commercial archaeology, this was hard reading. I was lucky with my 1st job & felt supported, but pay was awful & when I needed to move back to London, I couldn't stay in the profession. Still did a PhD though...!
New paper. Recording the female experience of UK archaeology 1990-2010. Anne Teather and I document how an industry EDI agenda evolved in the 1990s and was dismantled, uncovering the ramifications of that for women archaeologists over the next decade.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
#openaccess✅
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
#openaccess✅
Documenting the profession: Recording historic access and retention issues for women in UK archaeology | Archaeological Dialogues | Cambridge Core
Documenting the profession: Recording historic access and retention issues for women in UK archaeology
www.cambridge.org
September 27, 2025 at 7:10 AM
As someone who did a BA in the late 90s, MSc in the early 2000s, & whose 1st job was in commercial archaeology, this was hard reading. I was lucky with my 1st job & felt supported, but pay was awful & when I needed to move back to London, I couldn't stay in the profession. Still did a PhD though...!
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
Autumn is officially in the air, and so is copyright 🍂©️
Whatever way you are using text and images this term, UCL copyright team has a session to support you 💻
Take a look at the programme and register for a session 👉 buff.ly/o1y0g15
(Image AI-generated from Microsoft Copilot)
Whatever way you are using text and images this term, UCL copyright team has a session to support you 💻
Take a look at the programme and register for a session 👉 buff.ly/o1y0g15
(Image AI-generated from Microsoft Copilot)
September 25, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Autumn is officially in the air, and so is copyright 🍂©️
Whatever way you are using text and images this term, UCL copyright team has a session to support you 💻
Take a look at the programme and register for a session 👉 buff.ly/o1y0g15
(Image AI-generated from Microsoft Copilot)
Whatever way you are using text and images this term, UCL copyright team has a session to support you 💻
Take a look at the programme and register for a session 👉 buff.ly/o1y0g15
(Image AI-generated from Microsoft Copilot)
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
Paracetamol remains an important option to treat pain or fever in pregnant women.
Following rigorous assessment of the available scientific data, we find no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children.
Read more 👉 www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/use-...
Following rigorous assessment of the available scientific data, we find no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children.
Read more 👉 www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/use-...
Use of paracetamol during pregnancy unchanged in the EU | European Medicines Agency (EMA)
Paracetamol medicines can be used in pregnancy, in accordance with official recommendations
www.ema.europa.eu
September 23, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Paracetamol remains an important option to treat pain or fever in pregnant women.
Following rigorous assessment of the available scientific data, we find no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children.
Read more 👉 www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/use-...
Following rigorous assessment of the available scientific data, we find no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children.
Read more 👉 www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/use-...
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
History curious? You don't need to be in London (or the UK) to attend many Institute of Historical Research seminars, although if you're in Bloomsbury you'll enjoy doing so. Most are hybrid (online/in person). They're free, usually fortnightly and open to the public.
Starting this week:
Starting this week:
Events
Stay up to date with the upcoming events organised or hosted by the Institute of Historical Research
www.history.ac.uk
September 22, 2025 at 12:33 PM
History curious? You don't need to be in London (or the UK) to attend many Institute of Historical Research seminars, although if you're in Bloomsbury you'll enjoy doing so. Most are hybrid (online/in person). They're free, usually fortnightly and open to the public.
Starting this week:
Starting this week:
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
"In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limits."
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
OpenAI admits AI hallucinations are mathematically inevitable, not just engineering flaws
In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limi...
www.computerworld.com
September 21, 2025 at 12:50 PM
"In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limits."
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
House of Commons briefing: “the simplest way of improving the financial position of the UK’s higher education providers would be to raise the tuition fee cap for undergraduate students <ugh no thanks> and/or increase the amount of funding provided through teaching and research grants”. <- YES!
Higher education finances and funding in England
This briefing covers how higher education is funded, concerns about providers' financial stability, alternative funding models, and international comparisons.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
September 20, 2025 at 10:25 AM
House of Commons briefing: “the simplest way of improving the financial position of the UK’s higher education providers would be to raise the tuition fee cap for undergraduate students <ugh no thanks> and/or increase the amount of funding provided through teaching and research grants”. <- YES!
We want the media and politicians to recognise there's a large number of women who are supportive of the trans+ community. We call on them to report truthfully about the sources of violence against women and to address the systems that perpetuate harm. notinourname.org.uk/petition/not...
Not In Our Name: Women in support of the trans+ community - Not in our name
notinourname.org.uk
September 20, 2025 at 8:27 AM
We want the media and politicians to recognise there's a large number of women who are supportive of the trans+ community. We call on them to report truthfully about the sources of violence against women and to address the systems that perpetuate harm. notinourname.org.uk/petition/not...
Reposted by Dr Vicki Yorke-Edwards
The UK’s first Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) dedicated to neuromorphic (brain-inspired) computing hardware will be led at UCL with £12.8 million funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) @ukri.org @uclengineering.bsky.social
UCL to lead UK’s brain-inspired computing push with new innovation centre
The UK’s first Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) dedicated to neuromorphic (brain-inspired) computing hardware will be led at UCL with £12.8 million funding from the Engineering and Physical Scien...
www.ucl.ac.uk
September 19, 2025 at 2:53 PM
The UK’s first Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) dedicated to neuromorphic (brain-inspired) computing hardware will be led at UCL with £12.8 million funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) @ukri.org @uclengineering.bsky.social