Will Allen
@williamlallen.bsky.social
political scientist • how people engage with info, and why this matters for attitudes and policy around the world • Deputy Editor @migrationjrnl.bsky.social • UK Young Academy • dog dad • all the baking • www.wlallen.com
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Will Allen
@williamlallen.bsky.social
· Mar 14
Now with pages in @cpsjournal.bsky.social: can citizens use simple visualizations to benchmark their government's performance during crises? Turns out, yes: visually showing the UK as one of the "worst of the bunch" for COVID-19 mortalities led to more negative evaluations. doi.org/10.1177/0010...
Today Abby crossed the rainbow bridge, not unexpected with a chronic but managed condition. She had a great morning off-lead in a sunny park, then calmly fell asleep with her dads, favourite blanket, and toy. In 15+ years, Pepa swam the ocean, climbed big hills, and kept her terrier personality. 💛
February 4, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Today Abby crossed the rainbow bridge, not unexpected with a chronic but managed condition. She had a great morning off-lead in a sunny park, then calmly fell asleep with her dads, favourite blanket, and toy. In 15+ years, Pepa swam the ocean, climbed big hills, and kept her terrier personality. 💛
Reminder as #epss2026 notifications are going out - pastries for all regardless of outcome
Pre-empting @epssnet.bsky.social #epss2026 notifications that are scheduled to go out later this week, thought I'd bump a few things about conferences and acceptances/rejections to put them into perspective (mainly as reminders to myself, but might benefit other early-career folks):
February 2, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Reminder as #epss2026 notifications are going out - pastries for all regardless of outcome
Greetings from Lake Oxford, where ‘Port’ Meadow is living up to its name.
February 1, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Greetings from Lake Oxford, where ‘Port’ Meadow is living up to its name.
Vibras de fin de semana
January 31, 2026 at 7:31 AM
Vibras de fin de semana
Five things I’ve been paid for:
—repeatedly play that wedding march until the bride decides to come down the aisle
—sell stuff door to door
—fold bits of paper into passable animals
—bake things (have you seen my feed?)
—tell drunk fraternity brothers no, you probably shouldn’t jump off that roof
—repeatedly play that wedding march until the bride decides to come down the aisle
—sell stuff door to door
—fold bits of paper into passable animals
—bake things (have you seen my feed?)
—tell drunk fraternity brothers no, you probably shouldn’t jump off that roof
5 things I have been paid for:
- Baking bread just to attract people to the counter
- Tell people which side of the floppy disk is up
- Clean the cheese machine
- Figure out why 'no wifi' means 'no coffee'
- Introduce guest speakers I had never heard of before as if we were buddies (no, not you)
- Baking bread just to attract people to the counter
- Tell people which side of the floppy disk is up
- Clean the cheese machine
- Figure out why 'no wifi' means 'no coffee'
- Introduce guest speakers I had never heard of before as if we were buddies (no, not you)
5 things I have been paid for:
Making sure the person dressed up as a giant gingerbread man doesn't trip
Lighting up Jesus at an Amway convention
Telling people to turn it off & back on
Painting a forest inside a house
Adding commas
Making sure the person dressed up as a giant gingerbread man doesn't trip
Lighting up Jesus at an Amway convention
Telling people to turn it off & back on
Painting a forest inside a house
Adding commas
January 28, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Five things I’ve been paid for:
—repeatedly play that wedding march until the bride decides to come down the aisle
—sell stuff door to door
—fold bits of paper into passable animals
—bake things (have you seen my feed?)
—tell drunk fraternity brothers no, you probably shouldn’t jump off that roof
—repeatedly play that wedding march until the bride decides to come down the aisle
—sell stuff door to door
—fold bits of paper into passable animals
—bake things (have you seen my feed?)
—tell drunk fraternity brothers no, you probably shouldn’t jump off that roof
Storm? What storm?
January 28, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Storm? What storm?
As always, a thoughtful piece by @akoustov.bsky.social that echoes what @isabel-ruiz.bsky.social @mfreino.bsky.social and I conclude in our @oxrepjournal.bsky.social review on immigration: impacts vary by contexts/groups, involve trade-offs & ultimately demand better policies doi.org/10.1093/oxre...
January 27, 2026 at 5:41 PM
As always, a thoughtful piece by @akoustov.bsky.social that echoes what @isabel-ruiz.bsky.social @mfreino.bsky.social and I conclude in our @oxrepjournal.bsky.social review on immigration: impacts vary by contexts/groups, involve trade-offs & ultimately demand better policies doi.org/10.1093/oxre...
Lemon polenta cake, honey and thyme syrup #poliskybakes
January 25, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Lemon polenta cake, honey and thyme syrup #poliskybakes
Treacle-glazed ham, honey and thyme carrots, celeriac mustard mash, garlicky kale, fennel and blood orange salad #poliskycooks
January 24, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Treacle-glazed ham, honey and thyme carrots, celeriac mustard mash, garlicky kale, fennel and blood orange salad #poliskycooks
Good evening, Oxfordshire
January 16, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Good evening, Oxfordshire
I hear #ica26 @icahdq.bsky.social notifications are going out, so here’s my annual reminder to put outcomes into perspective for early-career folks (full disclosure: I didn’t apply this year).
1. In this industry, rejection is the modal outcome. #epss2026 section convenors had over 2500 submissions, far more than the 3-day event can accommodate. This is a normal situation for major conferences. bsky.app/profile/epss...
🔝 EPSS received 2,514 paper submissions, authored and co-authored by 3,572 researchers from across the community.
Selecting from such a wealth of work won’t be easy, but it promises an great conference ahead.
1/
Selecting from such a wealth of work won’t be easy, but it promises an great conference ahead.
1/
January 15, 2026 at 6:55 AM
I hear #ica26 @icahdq.bsky.social notifications are going out, so here’s my annual reminder to put outcomes into perspective for early-career folks (full disclosure: I didn’t apply this year).
My ‘nice pastry for rejection’ rule is keeping my local posh bakery in business well into the new year. #academicsky #polisky
January 13, 2026 at 6:16 PM
My ‘nice pastry for rejection’ rule is keeping my local posh bakery in business well into the new year. #academicsky #polisky
Turns out we’ve had our own secret traitor all along… #TheTraitors #TheTraitorsUK
January 9, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Turns out we’ve had our own secret traitor all along… #TheTraitors #TheTraitorsUK
Curious about using physical and virtual objects in your politics and IR teaching, but don’t know where to start? Join my online @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social seminar on 13 Jan! I’ll introduce how I use and adapt object-based learning for political studies education.
www.psa.ac.uk/event/tlnweb...
www.psa.ac.uk/event/tlnweb...
TLN Webinar: Using Objects to Enhance Learning in Political Science Education - Political Studies Association
TLN Webinar: ‘Using Objects to Enhance Learning in Political Science Education’ With William L Allen, University of Southampton Tuesday 13 January, 12:30pm FREE, Online Most higher education teachin...
www.psa.ac.uk
January 8, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Curious about using physical and virtual objects in your politics and IR teaching, but don’t know where to start? Join my online @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social seminar on 13 Jan! I’ll introduce how I use and adapt object-based learning for political studies education.
www.psa.ac.uk/event/tlnweb...
www.psa.ac.uk/event/tlnweb...
Rabbit mode: on standby #dogdad #jackrussell
January 8, 2026 at 8:25 AM
Rabbit mode: on standby #dogdad #jackrussell
Though it’s also very cold here in the UK at the moment, I’m looking forward to making plans for a few stints at @ddc-sdu.bsky.social in 2026. If you’re nearby and want to chat about all things visualization, data journalism, or public opinion, get in touch! Or Danish baking. Have you seen my feed!?
𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗗𝗗𝗖 𝘅 𝗧𝗿𝘆𝗴𝗙𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁!
We are thrilled to introduce the 15 (!) researchers, journalists, & policy experts from 9 countries to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: the impact of digital technologies on democratic societies.
We are thrilled to introduce the 15 (!) researchers, journalists, & policy experts from 9 countries to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: the impact of digital technologies on democratic societies.
January 5, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Though it’s also very cold here in the UK at the moment, I’m looking forward to making plans for a few stints at @ddc-sdu.bsky.social in 2026. If you’re nearby and want to chat about all things visualization, data journalism, or public opinion, get in touch! Or Danish baking. Have you seen my feed!?
Winter walks in Oxford #dogdad #jackrussell
January 4, 2026 at 11:24 AM
Winter walks in Oxford #dogdad #jackrussell
Starting 2026 as I intend to carry on. Bakewell tart: sour plum and vanilla jam, almond frangipane, shortcrust pastry #poliskybakes
January 1, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Starting 2026 as I intend to carry on. Bakewell tart: sour plum and vanilla jam, almond frangipane, shortcrust pastry #poliskybakes
Boxing Day walks in Port Meadow, Oxford #dogdad #jackrussell
December 26, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Boxing Day walks in Port Meadow, Oxford #dogdad #jackrussell
Christmas Day menu: rolled turkey breast, harissa spiced carrots, roasties, lemon and chestnut brussels sprouts, ginger and orange cranberry sauce #poliskycooks
December 25, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Christmas Day menu: rolled turkey breast, harissa spiced carrots, roasties, lemon and chestnut brussels sprouts, ginger and orange cranberry sauce #poliskycooks
Let the holiday #poliskybakes begin… Any guesses as to what these will become?
December 23, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Let the holiday #poliskybakes begin… Any guesses as to what these will become?
Pepa on tour at the Birmingham Christmas market #dogdad #jackrussell
December 21, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Pepa on tour at the Birmingham Christmas market #dogdad #jackrussell
Good morning, Oxfordshire: thanks for the avian scatterplot, too.
December 19, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Good morning, Oxfordshire: thanks for the avian scatterplot, too.
Evening, Oxfordshire
December 16, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Evening, Oxfordshire