Martin Smith
@martinrsmith.bsky.social
Head of Policy Lab, Wellcome. Science policy things, puns, cats
Players from Patcham Silver Band supporting the Salvation Army today in Brighton for Remembrance Sunday.
Bram (in the SA hat) has played the Last Post here since 1967
Bram (in the SA hat) has played the Last Post here since 1967
November 9, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Players from Patcham Silver Band supporting the Salvation Army today in Brighton for Remembrance Sunday.
Bram (in the SA hat) has played the Last Post here since 1967
Bram (in the SA hat) has played the Last Post here since 1967
Fat toast for jam?
November 9, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Fat toast for jam?
A strong statement from The Sainsbury Laboratory on what this all adds up to
September 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
A strong statement from The Sainsbury Laboratory on what this all adds up to
Some fascinating details below the surface - university/insitute attempts to offer interest free loans to help researchers cover upfront visa costs and up being stymied (two different case studies in screenshots)
September 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Some fascinating details below the surface - university/insitute attempts to offer interest free loans to help researchers cover upfront visa costs and up being stymied (two different case studies in screenshots)
September 5, 2025 at 5:13 PM
‘The global partner of choice’ - will it catch on?
From DSIT’s twitter feed, maybe that has now started… 🤞🏻
From DSIT’s twitter feed, maybe that has now started… 🤞🏻
September 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
‘The global partner of choice’ - will it catch on?
From DSIT’s twitter feed, maybe that has now started… 🤞🏻
From DSIT’s twitter feed, maybe that has now started… 🤞🏻
This shit is Branäs
B-R-A-N-Ä-S
B-R-A-N-Ä-S
August 31, 2025 at 1:06 PM
This shit is Branäs
B-R-A-N-Ä-S
B-R-A-N-Ä-S
Arrived at 1987’s best train station (large station category)
August 18, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Arrived at 1987’s best train station (large station category)
Strength in science can help the UK find its place in a changing world.
Wellcome has published a new report on how the UK can be the global partner of choice for R&D, and why investing in science supports diplomacy and security as well as economic growth.
Wellcome has published a new report on how the UK can be the global partner of choice for R&D, and why investing in science supports diplomacy and security as well as economic growth.
July 15, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Strength in science can help the UK find its place in a changing world.
Wellcome has published a new report on how the UK can be the global partner of choice for R&D, and why investing in science supports diplomacy and security as well as economic growth.
Wellcome has published a new report on how the UK can be the global partner of choice for R&D, and why investing in science supports diplomacy and security as well as economic growth.
Some more info in the Industrial Strategy doc - the £54m Global Talent Fund is over 5 years and will support around 10 researchers and their teams.
The taskforce will provide a 'conceirge service' to facilitate a 'smooth and soft landing'.
The taskforce will provide a 'conceirge service' to facilitate a 'smooth and soft landing'.
June 23, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Some more info in the Industrial Strategy doc - the £54m Global Talent Fund is over 5 years and will support around 10 researchers and their teams.
The taskforce will provide a 'conceirge service' to facilitate a 'smooth and soft landing'.
The taskforce will provide a 'conceirge service' to facilitate a 'smooth and soft landing'.
Weekend announcement of a new ✨Global Talent Taskforce✨, reporting to the PM and Chancellor, to identify and approach top research talent and help people to relocate to the UK
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
June 23, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Weekend announcement of a new ✨Global Talent Taskforce✨, reporting to the PM and Chancellor, to identify and approach top research talent and help people to relocate to the UK
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
It's Spending Review day!
The Chancellor has announced £86bn for research over the next four years
A big number, particularly in the economic context...
...but it also amounts to a reduction in ambition.
Here's why 🎞
The Chancellor has announced £86bn for research over the next four years
A big number, particularly in the economic context...
...but it also amounts to a reduction in ambition.
Here's why 🎞
June 11, 2025 at 4:44 PM
It's Spending Review day!
The Chancellor has announced £86bn for research over the next four years
A big number, particularly in the economic context...
...but it also amounts to a reduction in ambition.
Here's why 🎞
The Chancellor has announced £86bn for research over the next four years
A big number, particularly in the economic context...
...but it also amounts to a reduction in ambition.
Here's why 🎞
An honour to attend a Royal Garden Party today at Buckingham Palace - a brass band, tea and cake, and beautiful weather. Many thanks to DSIT for nominating me.
May 20, 2025 at 6:25 PM
An honour to attend a Royal Garden Party today at Buckingham Palace - a brass band, tea and cake, and beautiful weather. Many thanks to DSIT for nominating me.
Just another normal Wednesday at Wellcome…
On the right here is Guido, the Chilean Blue Eagle who gently discourages pigeons from nesting on the building.
On the right here is Guido, the Chilean Blue Eagle who gently discourages pigeons from nesting on the building.
May 14, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Just another normal Wednesday at Wellcome…
On the right here is Guido, the Chilean Blue Eagle who gently discourages pigeons from nesting on the building.
On the right here is Guido, the Chilean Blue Eagle who gently discourages pigeons from nesting on the building.
April 7, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Many happy memories
March 27, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Many happy memories
New Elsevier report on the performance of UK research.
The UK is a hub for international collaboration:
- More than half of UK research publications are with an international partner - 3x global average
- These publications are more highly cited
elsevier.shorthandstories.com/uk-research-...
The UK is a hub for international collaboration:
- More than half of UK research publications are with an international partner - 3x global average
- These publications are more highly cited
elsevier.shorthandstories.com/uk-research-...
March 7, 2025 at 2:33 PM
New Elsevier report on the performance of UK research.
The UK is a hub for international collaboration:
- More than half of UK research publications are with an international partner - 3x global average
- These publications are more highly cited
elsevier.shorthandstories.com/uk-research-...
The UK is a hub for international collaboration:
- More than half of UK research publications are with an international partner - 3x global average
- These publications are more highly cited
elsevier.shorthandstories.com/uk-research-...
A pleasure to chair a discussion at Wellcome with Ben Bleasdale today from @sciencecampaign.bsky.social.
Ben told us about CaSE’s work exploring whether R&D matters to the public.
There’s some sobering stuff here - particularly that young people are the most skeptical whether R&D benefits them.
Ben told us about CaSE’s work exploring whether R&D matters to the public.
There’s some sobering stuff here - particularly that young people are the most skeptical whether R&D benefits them.
February 20, 2025 at 4:05 PM
A pleasure to chair a discussion at Wellcome with Ben Bleasdale today from @sciencecampaign.bsky.social.
Ben told us about CaSE’s work exploring whether R&D matters to the public.
There’s some sobering stuff here - particularly that young people are the most skeptical whether R&D benefits them.
Ben told us about CaSE’s work exploring whether R&D matters to the public.
There’s some sobering stuff here - particularly that young people are the most skeptical whether R&D benefits them.
If I fits, I sits
January 31, 2025 at 6:16 PM
If I fits, I sits
My colleague baked SDG gingerbread for the office!
Tag yourself - which would you eat first?
Tag yourself - which would you eat first?
December 3, 2024 at 1:31 PM
My colleague baked SDG gingerbread for the office!
Tag yourself - which would you eat first?
Tag yourself - which would you eat first?
I did it, and it was great
November 15, 2024 at 11:49 AM
I did it, and it was great
Final two members will be appointed on Monday
October 24, 2024 at 6:42 AM
Final two members will be appointed on Monday
