Mark Pritchard
@markgpritchard.bsky.social
Curious about the world, and more specifically about communicable disease dynamics.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1726-8989
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1726-8989
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
If you have an emergency phone you don't want someone to find out about, please be aware that this is happening soon.
The UK government will conduct a national test of the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7 September at 3pm.
Compatible mobile phones and tablets will receive an alert, which will sound like a loud siren and vibrate.
Find out more (Easy Read, BSL, audio) prepare.campaign.gov.uk/emergency-al...
Compatible mobile phones and tablets will receive an alert, which will sound like a loud siren and vibrate.
Find out more (Easy Read, BSL, audio) prepare.campaign.gov.uk/emergency-al...
Emergency Alerts Campaign Resources - Prepare
The UK government will be carrying out a national test of the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7 September at 3pm. We would greatly appreciate your support in raising awareness of the test across the...
prepare.campaign.gov.uk
August 26, 2025 at 9:11 AM
If you have an emergency phone you don't want someone to find out about, please be aware that this is happening soon.
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
Protests as newborn removed from Greenlandic mother after ‘parenting competence’ tests
Protests as newborn removed from Greenlandic mother after ‘parenting competence’ tests
Danish authorities take one-hour-old infant despite law banning the tests on people with Greenlandic backgrounds
A Greenlandic mother’s one-hour-old baby was removed from her by Danish authorities after she underwent “parenting competence” tests – despite a new law banning the use of the controversial psychometric assessments on people with Greenlandic backgrounds.
Ivana Nikoline Brønlund, who was born in Nuuk to Greenlandic parents and has played for the Greenlandic handball team, gave birth to her daughter, Aviaja-Luuna, on 11 August in a hospital in Hvidovre, near Copenhagen, where she lives with her family. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
August 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Protests as newborn removed from Greenlandic mother after ‘parenting competence’ tests
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
NEW PREPRINT
Explainable AI refers to an extremely popular group of approaches that aim to open "black box" AI models. But what can we see when we open the black AI box? We use Galit Shmueli's framework (to describe, predict or explain) to evaluate
arxiv.org/abs/2508.05753
Explainable AI refers to an extremely popular group of approaches that aim to open "black box" AI models. But what can we see when we open the black AI box? We use Galit Shmueli's framework (to describe, predict or explain) to evaluate
arxiv.org/abs/2508.05753
August 11, 2025 at 6:53 AM
NEW PREPRINT
Explainable AI refers to an extremely popular group of approaches that aim to open "black box" AI models. But what can we see when we open the black AI box? We use Galit Shmueli's framework (to describe, predict or explain) to evaluate
arxiv.org/abs/2508.05753
Explainable AI refers to an extremely popular group of approaches that aim to open "black box" AI models. But what can we see when we open the black AI box? We use Galit Shmueli's framework (to describe, predict or explain) to evaluate
arxiv.org/abs/2508.05753
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
AI replicates, magnifies and perpetuates the biases already active in our health system and society www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
AI tools used by English councils downplay women’s health issues, study finds
Exclusive: LSE research finds risk of gender bias in care decisions made based on AI summaries of case notes
www.theguardian.com
August 11, 2025 at 5:42 AM
AI replicates, magnifies and perpetuates the biases already active in our health system and society www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
Chris Hinchliffe (MP for NE Herts) was suspended from Labour for tabling an amendment to protect the ecologically unique chalk streams in his constituency - with other Labour MPs branding him the 'Hedgehog Hezbollah'.
The last days of Stalin had a healthier political culture than the Labour Party.
The last days of Stalin had a healthier political culture than the Labour Party.
‘It’s all a game’ to some politicians, says Labour MP suspended for rebellion over planning bill
Chris Hinchliff says language used is indicative of ‘private schoolboy drinking club’ culture within government
www.theguardian.com
July 25, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Chris Hinchliffe (MP for NE Herts) was suspended from Labour for tabling an amendment to protect the ecologically unique chalk streams in his constituency - with other Labour MPs branding him the 'Hedgehog Hezbollah'.
The last days of Stalin had a healthier political culture than the Labour Party.
The last days of Stalin had a healthier political culture than the Labour Party.
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
Gannets are such beautiful birds, with their soft creamy feathers and bright blue eye patches. They form lifelong pairs, raising and protecting the young together
Acrylics on board
9.8″ x 9.8″ (25 x 25 cm)
#SciArt #animalart #birdart #animalpainting #birdpainting #wildlifeart
Acrylics on board
9.8″ x 9.8″ (25 x 25 cm)
#SciArt #animalart #birdart #animalpainting #birdpainting #wildlifeart
January 27, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Gannets are such beautiful birds, with their soft creamy feathers and bright blue eye patches. They form lifelong pairs, raising and protecting the young together
Acrylics on board
9.8″ x 9.8″ (25 x 25 cm)
#SciArt #animalart #birdart #animalpainting #birdpainting #wildlifeart
Acrylics on board
9.8″ x 9.8″ (25 x 25 cm)
#SciArt #animalart #birdart #animalpainting #birdpainting #wildlifeart
These stripes show a clear trend. This is 174 years’ of climate in Birmingham. (The website also has versions as bar charts that allow finer comparison between years.) #ShowYourStripes @uniofreading.bsky.social
showyourstripes.info/s
showyourstripes.info/s
June 21, 2025 at 9:41 PM
These stripes show a clear trend. This is 174 years’ of climate in Birmingham. (The website also has versions as bar charts that allow finer comparison between years.) #ShowYourStripes @uniofreading.bsky.social
showyourstripes.info/s
showyourstripes.info/s
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
Thinking of a hero I knew and admired.
June 7, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Thinking of a hero I knew and admired.
The fairly consistent lesson I’m learning from the Birdle game is that birds are bigger than I think they are.
Birdle 🇬🇧 29/05/2025
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
birdle.co.uk
Birdle 🇬🇧 29/05/2025
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
birdle.co.uk
Birdle United Kingdom
Play and guess today's Birdle in 5 guesses. Learn about a new British bird every day.
birdle.co.uk
May 29, 2025 at 7:34 AM
The fairly consistent lesson I’m learning from the Birdle game is that birds are bigger than I think they are.
Birdle 🇬🇧 29/05/2025
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
birdle.co.uk
Birdle 🇬🇧 29/05/2025
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
birdle.co.uk
Losing a pregnancy is horribly traumatic. The idea of compunding that by seizing women’s phones and searching their private messages and health apps is grotesque observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Police could search homes and phones after pregnancy loss | The Observer
New national guidance suggests officers look for menstrual tracking apps or abortion drugs
observer.co.uk
May 19, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Losing a pregnancy is horribly traumatic. The idea of compunding that by seizing women’s phones and searching their private messages and health apps is grotesque observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
I wrote an op-ed for @lbc.co.uk about Labour's immigration white paper today & how chasing Nigel Farage will take them nowhere
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Keir Starmer’s ‘island of strangers’ immigration warning is a xenophobic dog whistle
Sir Keir Starmer is blowing a dog whistle, warning that we are at risk of becoming an ‘island of strangers’ because of immigration.
www.lbc.co.uk
May 12, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I wrote an op-ed for @lbc.co.uk about Labour's immigration white paper today & how chasing Nigel Farage will take them nowhere
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
Emma and I had a brilliant time exploring different artists' work at for Oxfordshire Artweeks.
It is such a fantastic festival, I really recommend going along.
Here's a very helpful map where you can browse by day of week and art type:
www.artweeks.org/festival/map
/1
It is such a fantastic festival, I really recommend going along.
Here's a very helpful map where you can browse by day of week and art type:
www.artweeks.org/festival/map
/1
May 11, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Emma and I had a brilliant time exploring different artists' work at for Oxfordshire Artweeks.
It is such a fantastic festival, I really recommend going along.
Here's a very helpful map where you can browse by day of week and art type:
www.artweeks.org/festival/map
/1
It is such a fantastic festival, I really recommend going along.
Here's a very helpful map where you can browse by day of week and art type:
www.artweeks.org/festival/map
/1
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
Absolute bonkers. Labour have taken leave of its senses. The social care sector is on its arse already due to a lack of capacity.
No flow to social care sector = No NHS activity.
No flow to social care sector = No NHS activity.
BREAKING: “We will be closing the care worker visa for overseas recruitment” - Home Secretary Yvette Cooper
Don’t we have a desperate shortage of care workers?
Don’t we have a desperate shortage of care workers?
May 11, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Absolute bonkers. Labour have taken leave of its senses. The social care sector is on its arse already due to a lack of capacity.
No flow to social care sector = No NHS activity.
No flow to social care sector = No NHS activity.
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
Watching a murder mystery where birdwatchers have murdered each other, possibly over who can see the Rare Bird Du Jour. What these shows get wrong is that 99.9% of birders, if you express even the slightest interest, will drag you over hill and dale to SHOW you the bird.
May 11, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Watching a murder mystery where birdwatchers have murdered each other, possibly over who can see the Rare Bird Du Jour. What these shows get wrong is that 99.9% of birders, if you express even the slightest interest, will drag you over hill and dale to SHOW you the bird.
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
Exactly. An obsessed minority are gleefully going after a tiny minority group and viciously going after anyone else who tries to speak up. We all have a duty to stand up to these bigots.
“I genuinely believe most people just want to let people be themselves. All they’re doing is making a tiny portion of society who have a really tough time anyway have an even tougher time.”
David Tennant on trans rights.
💜
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
David Tennant on trans rights.
💜
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
David Tennant on sex scenes, Doctor Who and his run-in with Kemi Badenoch: ‘The trans debate has become unnecessarily cruel’
As part of a Bafta TV special, the nominated actor talks about playing a dastardly lord in the small screen adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals, and whether he’d return to the Tardis
www.theguardian.com
May 10, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Exactly. An obsessed minority are gleefully going after a tiny minority group and viciously going after anyone else who tries to speak up. We all have a duty to stand up to these bigots.
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
The Children’s Commissioner has today published a report sharing children's views on assisted dying. Children will be affected by law change. It is important to listen to their views. t.co/9YtA0TBfmN
https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/resource/childrens-views-on-assisted-dying/
t.co
May 7, 2025 at 9:05 PM
The Children’s Commissioner has today published a report sharing children's views on assisted dying. Children will be affected by law change. It is important to listen to their views. t.co/9YtA0TBfmN
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
Come and work with us! Postdoctoral research job to look at methods for working with early pandemic "First Few X" datasets in resource-limited contexts. Please consider applying if of interest and circulate around your networks.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
Research Associate in Mathematical Epidemiology :Manchester
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk
May 6, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Come and work with us! Postdoctoral research job to look at methods for working with early pandemic "First Few X" datasets in resource-limited contexts. Please consider applying if of interest and circulate around your networks.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
This is very good.
Some stats:
Infantry made up 15% of the Army in NW Europe in 44-45 but suffered 70% of casualties.
The 7 Brit infantry divisions in Normandy suffered 75% casualties by the end of August.
A junior infantry officer had a 1 in 10 chance of making it from June 44 to May 45 unscathed.
Some stats:
Infantry made up 15% of the Army in NW Europe in 44-45 but suffered 70% of casualties.
The 7 Brit infantry divisions in Normandy suffered 75% casualties by the end of August.
A junior infantry officer had a 1 in 10 chance of making it from June 44 to May 45 unscathed.
The journey from D-Day to VE Day was long and brutal for British soldiers.
Here are some of the stories of those who “made it through alright”, and of some who fell at the very last.
Joy and heartbreak on the European war’s last day
www.thetimes.com/article/d5f5...
Here are some of the stories of those who “made it through alright”, and of some who fell at the very last.
Joy and heartbreak on the European war’s last day
www.thetimes.com/article/d5f5...
Joy and heartbreak on the European war’s last day
Even as millions celebrated Victory in Europe the casualties kept coming — and many troops faced transfer to the war against Japan
www.thetimes.com
May 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
This is very good.
Some stats:
Infantry made up 15% of the Army in NW Europe in 44-45 but suffered 70% of casualties.
The 7 Brit infantry divisions in Normandy suffered 75% casualties by the end of August.
A junior infantry officer had a 1 in 10 chance of making it from June 44 to May 45 unscathed.
Some stats:
Infantry made up 15% of the Army in NW Europe in 44-45 but suffered 70% of casualties.
The 7 Brit infantry divisions in Normandy suffered 75% casualties by the end of August.
A junior infantry officer had a 1 in 10 chance of making it from June 44 to May 45 unscathed.
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
🐸 Studying can be tough—even Kermit struggles sometimes!
If you're feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone.
Oxford Nightline is here to listen to students from @ox.ac.uk and Oxford Brookes every night of term, 8pm–8am.
Call 01865 270270 or message: oxfordnightline.org/talk
If you're feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone.
Oxford Nightline is here to listen to students from @ox.ac.uk and Oxford Brookes every night of term, 8pm–8am.
Call 01865 270270 or message: oxfordnightline.org/talk
May 2, 2025 at 9:54 AM
🐸 Studying can be tough—even Kermit struggles sometimes!
If you're feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone.
Oxford Nightline is here to listen to students from @ox.ac.uk and Oxford Brookes every night of term, 8pm–8am.
Call 01865 270270 or message: oxfordnightline.org/talk
If you're feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone.
Oxford Nightline is here to listen to students from @ox.ac.uk and Oxford Brookes every night of term, 8pm–8am.
Call 01865 270270 or message: oxfordnightline.org/talk
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
Today is the anniversary of my HIV diagnosis.
I was 30.
Many of my friends had died of AIDS.
I was told I had about 20 years to live - that was 27 years ago.
I take one pill a day which stops me from getting ill - it also means I can’t pass HIV on during sex.
HIV has changed, tell everyone.
I was 30.
Many of my friends had died of AIDS.
I was told I had about 20 years to live - that was 27 years ago.
I take one pill a day which stops me from getting ill - it also means I can’t pass HIV on during sex.
HIV has changed, tell everyone.
April 30, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Today is the anniversary of my HIV diagnosis.
I was 30.
Many of my friends had died of AIDS.
I was told I had about 20 years to live - that was 27 years ago.
I take one pill a day which stops me from getting ill - it also means I can’t pass HIV on during sex.
HIV has changed, tell everyone.
I was 30.
Many of my friends had died of AIDS.
I was told I had about 20 years to live - that was 27 years ago.
I take one pill a day which stops me from getting ill - it also means I can’t pass HIV on during sex.
HIV has changed, tell everyone.
Reposted by Mark Pritchard
Helping people support their loved ones in dying. First aid is crucial; so is ‘last aid’.
April 29, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Helping people support their loved ones in dying. First aid is crucial; so is ‘last aid’.
So they shouldn’t mind being fined 0.06% of their turnover a million times or so
April 17, 2025 at 7:25 AM
So they shouldn’t mind being fined 0.06% of their turnover a million times or so