Ian Brooks
@ianmbrooks.bsky.social
Scientist (polar climate processes, ocean-atmosphere interactions), academic (grumpy), artist/printmaker (landscape etchings...mostly), tired.
inkwyrm.com | https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/see/staff/1178/professor-ian-brooks
inkwyrm.com | https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/see/staff/1178/professor-ian-brooks
Reposted by Ian Brooks
When Tommy Robinson is celebrating your policies it is time to take a long hard look in the mirror and then quit politics forever.
Not everyone is unhappy about the Government's descent into anti-refugee politics
November 16, 2025 at 10:01 AM
When Tommy Robinson is celebrating your policies it is time to take a long hard look in the mirror and then quit politics forever.
This one's off to the Yorkshire Artist's Winter Show at the Saltaire Gallery, Nov 20 - Feb 22.
Mount MacArthur, aquatint etching, 30.5x28.5 cm, edition of 15.
Named for British yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur, the peak lies at the head of the Heaney Glacier on the island of South Georgia.
Mount MacArthur, aquatint etching, 30.5x28.5 cm, edition of 15.
Named for British yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur, the peak lies at the head of the Heaney Glacier on the island of South Georgia.
November 16, 2025 at 11:33 AM
This one's off to the Yorkshire Artist's Winter Show at the Saltaire Gallery, Nov 20 - Feb 22.
Mount MacArthur, aquatint etching, 30.5x28.5 cm, edition of 15.
Named for British yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur, the peak lies at the head of the Heaney Glacier on the island of South Georgia.
Mount MacArthur, aquatint etching, 30.5x28.5 cm, edition of 15.
Named for British yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur, the peak lies at the head of the Heaney Glacier on the island of South Georgia.
Reposted by Ian Brooks
NOAA cut funding to the Alaska Earthquake Center, directed by my friend Mike West. As a result, seismic monitoring by nine stations in Alaska tracking tsunami-causing earthquakes will go offline by the end of the month. This endangers people in Alaska, Hawaiʻi, and other parts of the Pacific.
This lab is key for tracking deadly waves. Its sensors are about to go offline.
After NOAA cut funding to the lab that’s been monitoring seismic activity for more than 25 years, nine stations tracking tsunami-causing earthquakes for the agency will go offline by the end of the mo...
www.washingtonpost.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:24 PM
NOAA cut funding to the Alaska Earthquake Center, directed by my friend Mike West. As a result, seismic monitoring by nine stations in Alaska tracking tsunami-causing earthquakes will go offline by the end of the month. This endangers people in Alaska, Hawaiʻi, and other parts of the Pacific.
New etching - "Looking Back To Stanbury" - 13x14 cm, edition of 15. Haworth moor covered in snow. No 1/15 is framed up and heading to the Zillah Bell Gallery for their winter exhibition.
November 1, 2025 at 4:13 PM
New etching - "Looking Back To Stanbury" - 13x14 cm, edition of 15. Haworth moor covered in snow. No 1/15 is framed up and heading to the Zillah Bell Gallery for their winter exhibition.
Reposted by Ian Brooks
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
October 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Reposted by Ian Brooks
UK immigration policy directly undermines its R&D policy. Joined up government? This incoherent policy soup is a shambles.
NEW from me:
Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent.
That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀
Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent.
That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀
October 31, 2025 at 3:30 PM
UK immigration policy directly undermines its R&D policy. Joined up government? This incoherent policy soup is a shambles.
Reposted by Ian Brooks
Unconscionable that a non-violent advocate for climate justice gets a jail sentence when the perpetrators of the climate crisis and fossil fuel executives get raises and promotions.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US climate activists condemn 18-month jail term for nonviolent art museum protester
‘It’s hard to fathom how a peaceful protester can receive more prison time than many of the insurrectionists,’ said one researcher, of Timothy Martin’s sentence
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Unconscionable that a non-violent advocate for climate justice gets a jail sentence when the perpetrators of the climate crisis and fossil fuel executives get raises and promotions.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Ian Brooks
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
Reposted by Ian Brooks
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.
October 30, 2025 at 8:20 PM
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.
One of those days...when a tiny little detail in some data processing code that hasn't mattered in 20 years or so suddenly does, and what I thought was a quick job isn't.
*rolls sleeves up, stares at old code...makes tea*
*rolls sleeves up, stares at old code...makes tea*
October 29, 2025 at 1:33 PM
One of those days...when a tiny little detail in some data processing code that hasn't mattered in 20 years or so suddenly does, and what I thought was a quick job isn't.
*rolls sleeves up, stares at old code...makes tea*
*rolls sleeves up, stares at old code...makes tea*
Reposted by Ian Brooks
If you fancy a bit of ocean in your life this Friday, come to the Royal Festival Hall for this FREE talk on the ocean by Liz Bonnin & me, followed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra playing a whole evening of ocean music (that bit isn't free). Tickets & more info here: lpo.org.uk/event/harmon...
October 28, 2025 at 8:29 PM
If you fancy a bit of ocean in your life this Friday, come to the Royal Festival Hall for this FREE talk on the ocean by Liz Bonnin & me, followed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra playing a whole evening of ocean music (that bit isn't free). Tickets & more info here: lpo.org.uk/event/harmon...
Reposted by Ian Brooks
Very pleased to report that my wood engraving "Oak" has been selected for the 88th annual exhibition of the Society of Wood Engravers. The exhibition will tour the UK in 2026, starting at the Bankside Gallery, London in February.
October 28, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Very pleased to report that my wood engraving "Oak" has been selected for the 88th annual exhibition of the Society of Wood Engravers. The exhibition will tour the UK in 2026, starting at the Bankside Gallery, London in February.
And on the subject of exhibitions, if you're in London, I highly recommend going to see Emma Stibbon's show 'Melting Ice, Rising Tides' at the Cristea Roberts Gallery cristearoberts.com/exhibitions/...
The large-scale ink/watercolour drawings are incredible.
The large-scale ink/watercolour drawings are incredible.
Emma Stibbon | Melting Ice | Rising Tides
cristearoberts.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:17 AM
And on the subject of exhibitions, if you're in London, I highly recommend going to see Emma Stibbon's show 'Melting Ice, Rising Tides' at the Cristea Roberts Gallery cristearoberts.com/exhibitions/...
The large-scale ink/watercolour drawings are incredible.
The large-scale ink/watercolour drawings are incredible.
Exhibition news (2): 'Krymleskuten' (bottom right) will be in the ING Discerning Eye exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London, Nov 14-23
www.mallgalleries.org.uk/exhibitions-...
www.mallgalleries.org.uk/exhibitions-...
October 28, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Exhibition news (2): 'Krymleskuten' (bottom right) will be in the ING Discerning Eye exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London, Nov 14-23
www.mallgalleries.org.uk/exhibitions-...
www.mallgalleries.org.uk/exhibitions-...
Random bits of exhibition news. (1) 'Henriksen Buttress' (left below) is currently on show in the Landscape Open exhibition at Salisbury Museum, until January 25.
salisburymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/lan...
salisburymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/lan...
October 28, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Random bits of exhibition news. (1) 'Henriksen Buttress' (left below) is currently on show in the Landscape Open exhibition at Salisbury Museum, until January 25.
salisburymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/lan...
salisburymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/lan...
Reposted by Ian Brooks
Yes, we've been watching the changes for several years, and predicted the break-up. This follows similar disintegration of the Thwaites Glacier Tongue to the west of the TEIS.
tc.copernicus.org/articles/16/...
tc.copernicus.org/articles/16/...
Rapid fragmentation of Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf
Abstract. Ice shelves play a key role in the dynamics of marine ice sheets by
buttressing grounded ice and limiting rates of ice flux to the oceans. In
response to recent climatic and oceanic change, ...
tc.copernicus.org
October 28, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Yes, we've been watching the changes for several years, and predicted the break-up. This follows similar disintegration of the Thwaites Glacier Tongue to the west of the TEIS.
tc.copernicus.org/articles/16/...
tc.copernicus.org/articles/16/...
Reposted by Ian Brooks
A great way to fight back against AI taking away work from creatives is to buy art by actual humans.
(Reply to this post with your own art/website etc. But only if you’re an organic life-form).
www.worldofmoose.com
(Reply to this post with your own art/website etc. But only if you’re an organic life-form).
www.worldofmoose.com
Website of artist, cartoonist & tweeter Moose Allain
Welcome to the website of artist, cartoonist and prolific tweeter Moose Allain. Please fell free to have a poke about.
www.worldofmoose.com
March 28, 2025 at 7:50 AM
A great way to fight back against AI taking away work from creatives is to buy art by actual humans.
(Reply to this post with your own art/website etc. But only if you’re an organic life-form).
www.worldofmoose.com
(Reply to this post with your own art/website etc. But only if you’re an organic life-form).
www.worldofmoose.com
Reposted by Ian Brooks
The platform exposing exactly how much copyrighted art is used by AI tools
The platform exposing exactly how much copyrighted art is used by AI tools
From 007 to Elsa, Vermillio claims it can trace percentage of AI-generated image drawn from pre-existing material
www.theguardian.com
October 18, 2025 at 3:49 PM
The platform exposing exactly how much copyrighted art is used by AI tools
Reposted by Ian Brooks
This joint statement calls for action - from policymakers, AI firms, and the public.
What can you do to support?
👉 Scroll through our summary
📣 Share this post
📝 Write to your MP
🔗 Read the full statement here:
What can you do to support?
👉 Scroll through our summary
📣 Share this post
📝 Write to your MP
🔗 Read the full statement here:
Leading creator organisations issue a joint statement calling for transparency, fairness and respect for visual creators’ rights in the age of artificial intelligence - DACS
DACS, AOP, AOI and PICSEL release a joint statement concerning copyright, AI and artists rights.
www.dacs.org.uk
October 16, 2025 at 11:02 AM
This joint statement calls for action - from policymakers, AI firms, and the public.
What can you do to support?
👉 Scroll through our summary
📣 Share this post
📝 Write to your MP
🔗 Read the full statement here:
What can you do to support?
👉 Scroll through our summary
📣 Share this post
📝 Write to your MP
🔗 Read the full statement here:
Reposted by Ian Brooks
Today, security support for Windows 10 ends, rendering up to 400 million computers unsecure to use in the largest case of premature, planned obsolescence to date.
Latest blog from Ugo Vallauri, co-director @therestartproject.org, on why this is such a big issue and what's being done to solve it:
Latest blog from Ugo Vallauri, co-director @therestartproject.org, on why this is such a big issue and what's being done to solve it:
The end of support for Windows 10 is creating an e-waste disaster
This post is by Ugo Vallauri, co-director, at the Restart Project.
buff.ly
October 14, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Today, security support for Windows 10 ends, rendering up to 400 million computers unsecure to use in the largest case of premature, planned obsolescence to date.
Latest blog from Ugo Vallauri, co-director @therestartproject.org, on why this is such a big issue and what's being done to solve it:
Latest blog from Ugo Vallauri, co-director @therestartproject.org, on why this is such a big issue and what's being done to solve it:
Reposted by Ian Brooks
Private equity takeover of US hospitals led to rise in patient deaths.
Cuts to staffing/investment; high debt, profiteering; worse patient outcomes.
More deaths in nursing homes, increased post-operative complications
Why is UK Govt handing the NHS to PE? Why no investigation of the impact of PE?
Cuts to staffing/investment; high debt, profiteering; worse patient outcomes.
More deaths in nursing homes, increased post-operative complications
Why is UK Govt handing the NHS to PE? Why no investigation of the impact of PE?
Private equity takeover of hospitals led to rise in Medicare emergency patient deaths, says study
Study found seven more deaths per 10,000 patients in private equity hospitals’ versus non-private equity hospitals
www.theguardian.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Private equity takeover of US hospitals led to rise in patient deaths.
Cuts to staffing/investment; high debt, profiteering; worse patient outcomes.
More deaths in nursing homes, increased post-operative complications
Why is UK Govt handing the NHS to PE? Why no investigation of the impact of PE?
Cuts to staffing/investment; high debt, profiteering; worse patient outcomes.
More deaths in nursing homes, increased post-operative complications
Why is UK Govt handing the NHS to PE? Why no investigation of the impact of PE?
Reposted by Ian Brooks
I've been rewatching the Twilight Zone and I'm up to episode 25 and frankly as wonderful as it is, not one of the episodes is as creepy as what's going on in the White House.
October 14, 2025 at 5:00 AM
I've been rewatching the Twilight Zone and I'm up to episode 25 and frankly as wonderful as it is, not one of the episodes is as creepy as what's going on in the White House.
Reposted by Ian Brooks
To be effective, protest must be noisy, obstructive, annoying. No longer is this allowed. Now the last attribute of effective dissent – persistence – is also to be banned. But the moment protest ceases to be effective is the moment democracy dies. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Here’s what you need to know about Starmer’s illiberal protest curbs: they would have killed the Labour party at birth | George Monbiot
The rights we enjoy in the UK, and the movement the PM purports to lead, were built on protest. Those rights are in dire peril, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:40 AM
To be effective, protest must be noisy, obstructive, annoying. No longer is this allowed. Now the last attribute of effective dissent – persistence – is also to be banned. But the moment protest ceases to be effective is the moment democracy dies. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Ian Brooks
This week's net.wars, "Software is still forever", laments the amount of ewaste about to be produced by the end of Windows 10, and notes new developments in age verification under the Online Safety Act: netwars.pelicancrossing.net/2025/10/10/s...
Software is still forever
On October 14, a few months after the tenth anniversary of its launch, Microsoft will end support for Windows 10. That is, Microsoft will no longer issue featur
netwars.pelicancrossing.net
October 10, 2025 at 11:08 AM
This week's net.wars, "Software is still forever", laments the amount of ewaste about to be produced by the end of Windows 10, and notes new developments in age verification under the Online Safety Act: netwars.pelicancrossing.net/2025/10/10/s...
Reposted by Ian Brooks
And making theft illegal would “kill” the thieving industry. Good. Make theft illegal again.
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 11:45 AM
And making theft illegal would “kill” the thieving industry. Good. Make theft illegal again.