Joe Brock
@brock-lab.bsky.social
Group leader in membrane synthetic biology at ANU, Ngunnawal country. I like cryo-EM, yeast, biosensors and riding bikes. he/him/his.
Ok ChatGPT! ....geez .....🧪
November 19, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Ok ChatGPT! ....geez .....🧪
Reposted by Joe Brock
Universities have played a central role in democracies…but then we started trying to run them like businesses…Great piece by the VC of University of Western Sydney, Prof George Williams in @thepointau.bsky.social
thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
From culture wars to AI disruption, universities face a reckoning over their role in society
High fees, student dissatisfaction and repeated governance issues dominating the headlines have fuelled an intense political climate for universities. Well before President Donald Trump was re-elected...
thepoint.com.au
November 5, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Universities have played a central role in democracies…but then we started trying to run them like businesses…Great piece by the VC of University of Western Sydney, Prof George Williams in @thepointau.bsky.social
thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
Eat more 🌱
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
October 12, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Eat more 🌱
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Joe Brock
New Australia Institute analysis reveals there is no financial crisis at the Australian National University.
Audited accounts show the ANU made a $90 million surplus in 2024 and increased the value of its net assets.
#auspol @richarddenniss.bsky.social
Audited accounts show the ANU made a $90 million surplus in 2024 and increased the value of its net assets.
#auspol @richarddenniss.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 2:54 AM
New Australia Institute analysis reveals there is no financial crisis at the Australian National University.
Audited accounts show the ANU made a $90 million surplus in 2024 and increased the value of its net assets.
#auspol @richarddenniss.bsky.social
Audited accounts show the ANU made a $90 million surplus in 2024 and increased the value of its net assets.
#auspol @richarddenniss.bsky.social
Reposted by Joe Brock
There is no organisation called antifa, it's an idea. What Trump is doing is trying to criminalise *anyone* who opposes fascist regimes, like his.
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/...
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/...
Trump to designate anti-fascist Antifa movement a ‘major terrorist’ group
US President Trump describes group as a ‘dangerous, radical left disaster’ as well as a ‘major terrorist organisation’.
www.aljazeera.com
September 18, 2025 at 8:51 AM
There is no organisation called antifa, it's an idea. What Trump is doing is trying to criminalise *anyone* who opposes fascist regimes, like his.
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/...
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/...
Reposted by Joe Brock
This moment is a chance to rebuild ANU into a democratic, accountable and thriving institution that has the trust and confidence of its community once again.
It must not be wasted.
It must not be wasted.
September 11, 2025 at 2:07 AM
This moment is a chance to rebuild ANU into a democratic, accountable and thriving institution that has the trust and confidence of its community once again.
It must not be wasted.
It must not be wasted.
Reposted by Joe Brock
Happy to report our enzyme found a home! rdcu.be/eaGXG New kid on the block P450 O-demethylase SyoA-the specificity of a monooxygenase with the simplicity of catalysis driven by peroxide. Retrofit your P450 with this active site chemistry today! #lignin #syringol Out today in Nature Communications.
February 21, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Happy to report our enzyme found a home! rdcu.be/eaGXG New kid on the block P450 O-demethylase SyoA-the specificity of a monooxygenase with the simplicity of catalysis driven by peroxide. Retrofit your P450 with this active site chemistry today! #lignin #syringol Out today in Nature Communications.
Reposted by Joe Brock
You’ve been badly misled over COVID origins theconversation.com/how-conspira...
How conspiracy theories about COVID’s origins are hampering our ability to prevent the next pandemic
The COVID pandemic likely began when the virus jumped from animals to humans, and didn’t start in a lab. But false narratives continue to circulate.
theconversation.com
July 29, 2025 at 8:53 PM
You’ve been badly misled over COVID origins theconversation.com/how-conspira...
Reposted by Joe Brock
It's impossible to look away from those starving children. Free Gaza! Free Palestine, now! Stop this unspeakably horrific genocide!
July 24, 2025 at 10:51 PM
It's impossible to look away from those starving children. Free Gaza! Free Palestine, now! Stop this unspeakably horrific genocide!
Reposted by Joe Brock
ANU cuts are impacting an innumerable amount of people. Here are just some of their stories. www.shoesofanu.com
July 21, 2025 at 7:40 AM
ANU cuts are impacting an innumerable amount of people. Here are just some of their stories. www.shoesofanu.com
Reposted by Joe Brock
"This Cannot Be Fixed With Better Consulting
The fundamental problem is that corporate transformation methodology is incompatible with democratic institutional governance"
Thoughtful analysis. Seems that the Alumni office may have new problems attracting donations from actual consultants.
The fundamental problem is that corporate transformation methodology is incompatible with democratic institutional governance"
Thoughtful analysis. Seems that the Alumni office may have new problems attracting donations from actual consultants.
"Without irony, the university would perform better if many of these senior corporate roles would make themselves redundant. They do low level admin work and meetings, and every time they try to do something justifying their salary they fuck it up."
www.reddit.com/r/Anu/commen...
www.reddit.com/r/Anu/commen...
From the Anu community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the Anu community
www.reddit.com
July 23, 2025 at 6:17 AM
"This Cannot Be Fixed With Better Consulting
The fundamental problem is that corporate transformation methodology is incompatible with democratic institutional governance"
Thoughtful analysis. Seems that the Alumni office may have new problems attracting donations from actual consultants.
The fundamental problem is that corporate transformation methodology is incompatible with democratic institutional governance"
Thoughtful analysis. Seems that the Alumni office may have new problems attracting donations from actual consultants.
Reposted by Joe Brock
It’s absolutely critical that the Albanese govt holds firm against the attacks on the PBS by US pharma. That includes protecting generics.
Affordable medicines are key to our universal health system.
Affordable medicines are key to our universal health system.
July 4, 2025 at 1:52 AM
It’s absolutely critical that the Albanese govt holds firm against the attacks on the PBS by US pharma. That includes protecting generics.
Affordable medicines are key to our universal health system.
Affordable medicines are key to our universal health system.
Reposted by Joe Brock
On 29 May, 530 ANU staff sent this open letter to ANU’s executive and council members. In it, we raise serious concerns about the justifications for and consequences of proposed cuts and redundancies.
The letter remains open for further signatures.
forms.gle/SmuBaMz6PPGT...
The letter remains open for further signatures.
forms.gle/SmuBaMz6PPGT...
Open letter: Staff call on the ANU executive to stop these unnecessary cuts
Fact sheet on 'Renew ANU so far': https://shorturl.at/iYVjc
Open Letter PDF for print with QR codes to sign: https://shorturl.at/5KYs3
For updates:
Subscribe to OurANU Substack: https://substack.com...
forms.gle
May 29, 2025 at 8:35 AM
On 29 May, 530 ANU staff sent this open letter to ANU’s executive and council members. In it, we raise serious concerns about the justifications for and consequences of proposed cuts and redundancies.
The letter remains open for further signatures.
forms.gle/SmuBaMz6PPGT...
The letter remains open for further signatures.
forms.gle/SmuBaMz6PPGT...
Reposted by Joe Brock
From the first page alone: executive travel at ANU over one-year would pay for NINETY FIVE entry-level lecturers.
ESSENTIAL reading for anyone involved in Oz unis. *Especially voting parents* ACU, ANU and UOW case studies. Appalling stats but they are ‘typical not extraordinary’: go get em @joshuablackjb.bsky.social @australiainstitute.org.au australiainstitute.org.au/report/elect...
Elective spending at Australian universities - The Australia Institute
Universities spend vast sums on consultants, advertising, and travel. Reducing these expenses could have prevented the deep cuts that some of these same universities have made to their staff and cours...
australiainstitute.org.au
April 29, 2025 at 11:11 PM
From the first page alone: executive travel at ANU over one-year would pay for NINETY FIVE entry-level lecturers.
A rare bright spot of 😂 in these dark times: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY1i...
Silicon Valley hackers replaced crosswalk audio with fake Musk, Zuckerberg, and Trump audio.
YouTube video by Brut America
www.youtube.com
April 29, 2025 at 2:39 AM
A rare bright spot of 😂 in these dark times: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY1i...
Reposted by Joe Brock
Send us your papers celebrating yeasts!
The deadline for submissions to the special issue "Yeast in Microbiomes" has been extended to 15th July. We accept manuscripts exploring yeast diversity, interactions, and adaptations in diverse host environments. Hurry up and don't miss this opportunity!!!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal...
Yeast Call for Papers: Yeast in Microbiomes
Yeast is a microbiology journal for research in the rapidly moving field of yeast biology. We publish the most significant developments in unicellular fungi.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
April 25, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Send us your papers celebrating yeasts!
Reposted by Joe Brock
Excellent opportunity available for a motivated #postdoc to join @kellythd-nguyen.bsky.social’s group investigating the roles of histones in regulating telomerase using a multi-disciplinary approach.
More details: www.nature.com/naturecareer...
Apply by 04 MAY
#PostdocJobs #ScienceJobs
More details: www.nature.com/naturecareer...
Apply by 04 MAY
#PostdocJobs #ScienceJobs
April 16, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Excellent opportunity available for a motivated #postdoc to join @kellythd-nguyen.bsky.social’s group investigating the roles of histones in regulating telomerase using a multi-disciplinary approach.
More details: www.nature.com/naturecareer...
Apply by 04 MAY
#PostdocJobs #ScienceJobs
More details: www.nature.com/naturecareer...
Apply by 04 MAY
#PostdocJobs #ScienceJobs
Reposted by Joe Brock
🦑 This baby is COLOSSAL! 🦑
First confirmed live observation of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, in its natural habitat. Filmed at about 600m near the South Sandwich Islands during the #SouthSandwichIslands expedition. youtu.be/lzPoG9H8Hlo
First confirmed live observation of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, in its natural habitat. Filmed at about 600m near the South Sandwich Islands during the #SouthSandwichIslands expedition. youtu.be/lzPoG9H8Hlo
Colossal Squid, 1st Live Observation | Searching for New Species in the South Sandwich Islands
YouTube video by Schmidt Ocean
youtu.be
April 15, 2025 at 8:01 PM
🦑 This baby is COLOSSAL! 🦑
First confirmed live observation of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, in its natural habitat. Filmed at about 600m near the South Sandwich Islands during the #SouthSandwichIslands expedition. youtu.be/lzPoG9H8Hlo
First confirmed live observation of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, in its natural habitat. Filmed at about 600m near the South Sandwich Islands during the #SouthSandwichIslands expedition. youtu.be/lzPoG9H8Hlo
Reposted by Joe Brock
Gene synthesis is often the most expensive part of protein engineering with generative models.
Happy to have played a small part in this work, where Chase developed a method for precision library construction at scale, with per-gene costs as low as $1.50.
@philromero.bsky.social
Happy to have played a small part in this work, where Chase developed a method for precision library construction at scale, with per-gene costs as low as $1.50.
@philromero.bsky.social
March 24, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Gene synthesis is often the most expensive part of protein engineering with generative models.
Happy to have played a small part in this work, where Chase developed a method for precision library construction at scale, with per-gene costs as low as $1.50.
@philromero.bsky.social
Happy to have played a small part in this work, where Chase developed a method for precision library construction at scale, with per-gene costs as low as $1.50.
@philromero.bsky.social
March 27, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Reposted by Joe Brock
Animal name of the day:
Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis
(I fought autocorrect and I won)
🧪⚒️
Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis
(I fought autocorrect and I won)
🧪⚒️
Some like it hot!
Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis, as you might guess from its name, lives around hydrothermal vents. The water there gets hot, but these octopuses can survive in water as hot as 91°C.
They are also quite small, with a mantle length of less than 6 cm!
Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis, as you might guess from its name, lives around hydrothermal vents. The water there gets hot, but these octopuses can survive in water as hot as 91°C.
They are also quite small, with a mantle length of less than 6 cm!
March 19, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Animal name of the day:
Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis
(I fought autocorrect and I won)
🧪⚒️
Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis
(I fought autocorrect and I won)
🧪⚒️
Reposted by Joe Brock
🧪
March 8, 2025 at 4:06 AM
🧪
Reposted by Joe Brock
Meat consumption was proposed as a driver of brain size increase in human evolution because hunting and meat-eating are manly activities. But the science says something different!🏺🧪
…about an hour ago, yes? No. 🧪 #palaeo cosmosmagazine.com/history/pala...
When did human ancestors start eating meat regularly? The answer may be in ancient teeth
Ancient tooth enamel may explain when human ancestors start eating meat regularly? The answer may upend beliefs about how we got our brains.
cosmosmagazine.com
March 5, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Meat consumption was proposed as a driver of brain size increase in human evolution because hunting and meat-eating are manly activities. But the science says something different!🏺🧪
Reposted by Joe Brock
Here is the mollusc tree. (We fixed it, you're welcome.) 😇 @sgn.one @oceanspecies.bsky.social @kmkocot.bsky.social
@squamiferum.bsky.social www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@squamiferum.bsky.social www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
February 27, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Here is the mollusc tree. (We fixed it, you're welcome.) 😇 @sgn.one @oceanspecies.bsky.social @kmkocot.bsky.social
@squamiferum.bsky.social www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@squamiferum.bsky.social www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...