Kirsty Grainger
@kirstygrainger.bsky.social
By day: enabler of research & cheerleader of people. By night: sweary embroidery, speedcubing, books, parkrun. University of Bath (ex-UKRI). She/her
Reposted by Kirsty Grainger
I created a quiz for the work festive gathering, to be left on tables for folk to fill in. It means anyone with a low social battery can come along & do a quiz in company without the drain of small talk. If you want to download a copy it's here:
anotherwayoflookingatit.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/c...
anotherwayoflookingatit.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/c...
Christmas Quiz
RIS Christmas Quiz 2025Download I’ve pulled together a quiz that has three Christmas themed rounds and one music themed round. The quiz is designed to be filled in rather than read out loud. …
anotherwayoflookingatit.wordpress.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:04 AM
I created a quiz for the work festive gathering, to be left on tables for folk to fill in. It means anyone with a low social battery can come along & do a quiz in company without the drain of small talk. If you want to download a copy it's here:
anotherwayoflookingatit.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/c...
anotherwayoflookingatit.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/c...
Cheeky Tuesday night gig in Bristol with the fam. We're not the only ones to have brought the teenagers.... they are collectively working hard to drop the average age of the crowd.
December 16, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Cheeky Tuesday night gig in Bristol with the fam. We're not the only ones to have brought the teenagers.... they are collectively working hard to drop the average age of the crowd.
I created a quiz for the work festive gathering, to be left on tables for folk to fill in. It means anyone with a low social battery can come along & do a quiz in company without the drain of small talk. If you want to download a copy it's here:
anotherwayoflookingatit.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/c...
anotherwayoflookingatit.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/c...
Christmas Quiz
RIS Christmas Quiz 2025Download I’ve pulled together a quiz that has three Christmas themed rounds and one music themed round. The quiz is designed to be filled in rather than read out loud. …
anotherwayoflookingatit.wordpress.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:04 AM
I created a quiz for the work festive gathering, to be left on tables for folk to fill in. It means anyone with a low social battery can come along & do a quiz in company without the drain of small talk. If you want to download a copy it's here:
anotherwayoflookingatit.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/c...
anotherwayoflookingatit.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/c...
Reposted by Kirsty Grainger
National Record for my lad. Moving to 4th fastest in the world for Megaminx average - you get five solves and it's the average time, excluding your fastest and slowest. His world record was for the fastest single time but the average time is the one everyone wants! #proud #speedcubing
December 13, 2025 at 8:20 PM
National Record for my lad. Moving to 4th fastest in the world for Megaminx average - you get five solves and it's the average time, excluding your fastest and slowest. His world record was for the fastest single time but the average time is the one everyone wants! #proud #speedcubing
National Record for my lad. Moving to 4th fastest in the world for Megaminx average - you get five solves and it's the average time, excluding your fastest and slowest. His world record was for the fastest single time but the average time is the one everyone wants! #proud #speedcubing
December 13, 2025 at 8:20 PM
National Record for my lad. Moving to 4th fastest in the world for Megaminx average - you get five solves and it's the average time, excluding your fastest and slowest. His world record was for the fastest single time but the average time is the one everyone wants! #proud #speedcubing
Twice this week I've heard the word "choiceful" coming from UKRI. I don't think I've ever heard this word used before this week!
The subculture of language and how it spreads in the public sector/civil service would make an interesting study!
The subculture of language and how it spreads in the public sector/civil service would make an interesting study!
STFC leadership braces staff for more job losses.
Around 80 employees to depart under first voluntary exit scheme, research council confirms, with more likely to come.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Around 80 employees to depart under first voluntary exit scheme, research council confirms, with more likely to come.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
December 12, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Twice this week I've heard the word "choiceful" coming from UKRI. I don't think I've ever heard this word used before this week!
The subculture of language and how it spreads in the public sector/civil service would make an interesting study!
The subculture of language and how it spreads in the public sector/civil service would make an interesting study!
Leaders at @ukri.org should be seriously looking at the lottery first idea. 68% lower economic costs, increase in diversity of award holders and well received.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Lottery before peer review is associated with increased female representation and reduced estimated economic cost in a German funding line - Nature Communications
The authors show evidence from a German funding line that a lottery-first approach followed by peer review is accompanied by increased female representation both at the submission stage and among fund...
www.nature.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Leaders at @ukri.org should be seriously looking at the lottery first idea. 68% lower economic costs, increase in diversity of award holders and well received.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Dear Brain - please stop trying to put things off 'until the new year' otherwise January is going to be hellish. Yours sincerely, me.
December 9, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Dear Brain - please stop trying to put things off 'until the new year' otherwise January is going to be hellish. Yours sincerely, me.
Reading this brought Swindon to mind. Wiltshire is a county with no Uni. The Research Council HQs located together in Swindon was bringing level 8 qualified folk (doctoral) to a place without a Uni. This has been majorly eroded with the intro of @ukri.org and the switch of the defacto HQ to London.
NEW on Wonkhe: Seventeen years after its hopeful launch, Southend’s university campus is closing. Jim Dickinson examines what this tells us about the failure of place-based planning in UK higher education buff.ly/iiV7wVe
December 7, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Reading this brought Swindon to mind. Wiltshire is a county with no Uni. The Research Council HQs located together in Swindon was bringing level 8 qualified folk (doctoral) to a place without a Uni. This has been majorly eroded with the intro of @ukri.org and the switch of the defacto HQ to London.
Home made vouchers have become a cheap and a "not buying more stuff we don't need" way of gifting in our household. There is a glorious creativity in it. Today's birthday offered a chance for big brother to give little brother (both teenagers) his favourite birthday gift. The gift of noise 🤣
December 7, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Home made vouchers have become a cheap and a "not buying more stuff we don't need" way of gifting in our household. There is a glorious creativity in it. Today's birthday offered a chance for big brother to give little brother (both teenagers) his favourite birthday gift. The gift of noise 🤣
I have *lots* of thoughts on this but have been sidetracked by the horrific AI generated images on the research project's website.
sites.google.com/sheffield.ac...
THE HANDS!
sites.google.com/sheffield.ac...
THE HANDS!
December 4, 2025 at 9:21 PM
I have *lots* of thoughts on this but have been sidetracked by the horrific AI generated images on the research project's website.
sites.google.com/sheffield.ac...
THE HANDS!
sites.google.com/sheffield.ac...
THE HANDS!
Today I have been "actually ill" ™️ not in the under the weather kind of way but in the if I try and do anything for more than five minutes then I need to recover with a nap. Yet my brain keeps trying to do stuff because I'm too conditioned into being productive. It sucks.
December 3, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Today I have been "actually ill" ™️ not in the under the weather kind of way but in the if I try and do anything for more than five minutes then I need to recover with a nap. Yet my brain keeps trying to do stuff because I'm too conditioned into being productive. It sucks.
Have just had a really really great coaching session (paid for through work). Some proper 'a-ha' moments. If you've been thinking about getting coaching but not got round to it yet, this is your prompt to actually go do it!
December 1, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Have just had a really really great coaching session (paid for through work). Some proper 'a-ha' moments. If you've been thinking about getting coaching but not got round to it yet, this is your prompt to actually go do it!
Can anyone point me to the legal case @paulnightingale.bsky.social refers to. Would love to know the details of this. Gap in my knowledge! Thanks.
There was a legal case in 1983 where the judge said the process for giving out money wasn't up to scratch - bunch of buffers in a room making arbitrary decisions. Culture judgements will be worse.
Easy to do.. Just switch out culture for a statement on how the department supports the IS
Easy to do.. Just switch out culture for a statement on how the department supports the IS
November 30, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Can anyone point me to the legal case @paulnightingale.bsky.social refers to. Would love to know the details of this. Gap in my knowledge! Thanks.
#Parkrun update: home course. Very different scenes here compared to this time yesterday. Glorious crisp and sunny morning to marshall junior parkrun.
November 30, 2025 at 9:12 AM
#Parkrun update: home course. Very different scenes here compared to this time yesterday. Glorious crisp and sunny morning to marshall junior parkrun.
Hard disagree here. Mainly because we wondered whether it would work for French toast (eggy bread) and it really really does. Posh Christmas french toast is a delight!
November 30, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Hard disagree here. Mainly because we wondered whether it would work for French toast (eggy bread) and it really really does. Posh Christmas french toast is a delight!
November 29, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Wetleg
The Longpigs
The Divine Comedy
Mew
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Wetleg
The Longpigs
The Divine Comedy
Mew
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Metallica
Steps
Levellers
Mastodon
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Metallica
Steps
Levellers
Mastodon
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen.
Grace Petrie
The Wildhearts
The Tragically Hip
Barenaked Ladies
Cake
Grace Petrie
The Wildhearts
The Tragically Hip
Barenaked Ladies
Cake
November 29, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Wetleg
The Longpigs
The Divine Comedy
Mew
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Wetleg
The Longpigs
The Divine Comedy
Mew
Oh this is such a glorious watch. Thanks for recommending @cash4questions.bsky.social and oh oh oh @volcanojenni.bsky.social @davidpyle.bsky.social your game appears in episode six. I clapped with glee when I realised it was indeed Volcano Top Trumps 🥰
Go watch.
Go watch.
Quick TV recommendation for anyone looking for something warm, slow, gentle, and wise:
Leonard and Hungry Paul.
"A gentle, meandering tale of friendship, board games and finding your way in the world"
You'll know from the trailer if this is one for you, which is handy.
Leonard and Hungry Paul.
"A gentle, meandering tale of friendship, board games and finding your way in the world"
You'll know from the trailer if this is one for you, which is handy.
Leonard and Hungry Paul
Quiet lives, big hearts. A gentle, meandering tale of friendship, board games and finding your way in the world. Starring Alex Lawther, Laurie Kynaston and Jamie-Lee O’Donnell.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Oh this is such a glorious watch. Thanks for recommending @cash4questions.bsky.social and oh oh oh @volcanojenni.bsky.social @davidpyle.bsky.social your game appears in episode six. I clapped with glee when I realised it was indeed Volcano Top Trumps 🥰
Go watch.
Go watch.
Reposted by Kirsty Grainger
I'm not sure if you are not involved in the system you will understand the gravity of what being in 'supported accommodation' or 'limited day-to-day adult involvement' means.
Before I give some anonymised examples of my experience of working with young people as a volunteer in this system 1/n
Before I give some anonymised examples of my experience of working with young people as a volunteer in this system 1/n
New gov stats show 10,800 teens in care are in supported accommodation, often with limited day-to-day adult involvement.
For @bigissue.com, @nuffieldfjo.bsky.social's @lisaharker.bsky.social builds on her feature for our Grown Up? programme and examines the impact of these living arrangements.
For @bigissue.com, @nuffieldfjo.bsky.social's @lisaharker.bsky.social builds on her feature for our Grown Up? programme and examines the impact of these living arrangements.
Shocking number of children in care live without consistent love of an adult
Lisa Harker of the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, analyses figures on supported accommodation and what they mean for children in care.
www.bigissue.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I'm not sure if you are not involved in the system you will understand the gravity of what being in 'supported accommodation' or 'limited day-to-day adult involvement' means.
Before I give some anonymised examples of my experience of working with young people as a volunteer in this system 1/n
Before I give some anonymised examples of my experience of working with young people as a volunteer in this system 1/n
I'm not sure if you are not involved in the system you will understand the gravity of what being in 'supported accommodation' or 'limited day-to-day adult involvement' means.
Before I give some anonymised examples of my experience of working with young people as a volunteer in this system 1/n
Before I give some anonymised examples of my experience of working with young people as a volunteer in this system 1/n
New gov stats show 10,800 teens in care are in supported accommodation, often with limited day-to-day adult involvement.
For @bigissue.com, @nuffieldfjo.bsky.social's @lisaharker.bsky.social builds on her feature for our Grown Up? programme and examines the impact of these living arrangements.
For @bigissue.com, @nuffieldfjo.bsky.social's @lisaharker.bsky.social builds on her feature for our Grown Up? programme and examines the impact of these living arrangements.
Shocking number of children in care live without consistent love of an adult
Lisa Harker of the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, analyses figures on supported accommodation and what they mean for children in care.
www.bigissue.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I'm not sure if you are not involved in the system you will understand the gravity of what being in 'supported accommodation' or 'limited day-to-day adult involvement' means.
Before I give some anonymised examples of my experience of working with young people as a volunteer in this system 1/n
Before I give some anonymised examples of my experience of working with young people as a volunteer in this system 1/n
I have first hand experience of this as a independent visitor volunteer to young people in care. The abandonment of children in supported accommodation is something we should be utterly ashamed of as a nation. Good to see his urgent issue being highlighted by the @nuffieldfoundation.org .
New gov stats show 10,800 teens in care are in supported accommodation, often with limited day-to-day adult involvement.
For @bigissue.com, @nuffieldfjo.bsky.social's @lisaharker.bsky.social builds on her feature for our Grown Up? programme and examines the impact of these living arrangements.
For @bigissue.com, @nuffieldfjo.bsky.social's @lisaharker.bsky.social builds on her feature for our Grown Up? programme and examines the impact of these living arrangements.
Shocking number of children in care live without consistent love of an adult
Lisa Harker of the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, analyses figures on supported accommodation and what they mean for children in care.
www.bigissue.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:48 AM
I have first hand experience of this as a independent visitor volunteer to young people in care. The abandonment of children in supported accommodation is something we should be utterly ashamed of as a nation. Good to see his urgent issue being highlighted by the @nuffieldfoundation.org .
Reposted by Kirsty Grainger
“If you went back a million minutes, you would be back to January 2024. If you go back a billion minutes, you are in the Roman empire. That’s the difference between a million and a billion.”
"You can agree or disagree with him, but Polanski does not pretend to be something he is not.
He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.
Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.
Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Zack Polanski: ‘People will have to find some other way to hurt me’ | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
“If you went back a million minutes, you would be back to January 2024. If you go back a billion minutes, you are in the Roman empire. That’s the difference between a million and a billion.”
Parkrun update: home course. There is a special community feeling of huddling in the rain ahead of parkrun! One brave sole stood in the rain rather than under the shelter... 🦖
November 22, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Parkrun update: home course. There is a special community feeling of huddling in the rain ahead of parkrun! One brave sole stood in the rain rather than under the shelter... 🦖
Cannot listen to the narrative that the government/Boris Johnson provided the "drive" that ensured the UK rolled out the first COVID vaccine. I call bullshit. Utter bullshit. That credit goes to colleagues at the MRC and Oxford. Who probably feel that they can't call bullshit publicly.
November 21, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Cannot listen to the narrative that the government/Boris Johnson provided the "drive" that ensured the UK rolled out the first COVID vaccine. I call bullshit. Utter bullshit. That credit goes to colleagues at the MRC and Oxford. Who probably feel that they can't call bullshit publicly.