Kateryna Yablochkova
yablochkova.bsky.social
Kateryna Yablochkova
@yablochkova.bsky.social
Associate professor, physics department, Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv

Raman & FTIR spectroscopy, STEM education, running, occasional machine learning and beer brewing
Reposted by Kateryna Yablochkova
Every machine in a Hospital that diagnoses your body without cutting you open is based on a principle of Physics, discovered by a Physicist who had no interest in Medicine.

If you think the world doesn’t need Basic Science, or that somehow Science has failed you, think again.
June 17, 2025 at 11:22 AM
A bit late on the "vegetative electron microscopy" meme, but hey, it's the end of the semester, so it's also "vegetative Raman spectroscopy" and "vegetative responses to Reviewer 2" season. :)))
May 15, 2025 at 5:30 AM
That day when I have to showcase the lecture and a colleague who I know is a) more knowledgable on the topic and b) younger than me decides to attend unexpectingly. I could really use less cortisol in my life :))
May 13, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Commence the "Sunday long run is non-negotiable" vs "But the ballistic attack, and i didn't sleep that well, and the whole being kind to oneself" inner monologue!
April 6, 2025 at 5:21 AM
"It must be one of the most dangerous book clubs in the world."
Ukraine’s clandestine book club defies Russia’s push to rewrite history
Risking discovery and even prison, teenage readers meet in secret to discuss texts that Putin’s troops are trying to erase
www.theguardian.com
March 23, 2025 at 7:16 PM
A bit unexpected to see "speckle pattern", "vodka", and "Python" in a single paper :)))
spie.org SPIE @spie.org · Mar 13

Bye-bye breathalyzers? Research published #SPIE_JBO reports a real-time optical approach for estimating alcohol consumption: www.spiedigitallibra...

#optics #photonics
March 13, 2025 at 6:33 PM
One of the reasons for profs. Haroche's and Krasz's visit was to present the joint appeal of 100+ Nobel laureates in which they call for the confiscation of all russia's sanctioned state assets which can then be used for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

You can read the appeal below.
Nobel laureates’ joint appeal for transfer of Russian sanctioned state assets for Ukraine’s recovery and compensation
As of 24 February 2025, the unlawful war of aggression waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine WILL mark THE END OF ITS sad third anniversary, and will be entering its fourth year. The fight...
www.pravda.com.ua
March 7, 2025 at 3:37 PM
It was a pleasure and an honour to moderate the "100 years of quantum physics" event with Nobel prize laureates, Prof. Haroche and Prof. Krausz, that took place this Tuesday in the shelter of Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv.
March 7, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Reposted by Kateryna Yablochkova
Instead of using ChatGPT, why not just get a family member to lie to you while they set fire to a tree?
March 5, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Kateryna Yablochkova
Lots of folks are asking what they can do to be helpful in this moment. I like the short list of action items that @choosedemocracy.bsky.social lists on their site. Democratic civil society is about being stronger together. Any effective strategy flows from that. choosedemocracy.us/what-can-i-do/
What can I do to fight this coup?
If you look, there are people resisting at every level. Blockades of freeways. American Bar Association urging an end to...
choosedemocracy.us
February 21, 2025 at 3:01 AM
and now the russians are targeting the Sarcophagus (the structure protecting the remains of Chernobyl nuclear power station from radiation leaks). Happy Valentine's Day y'all
⚡️ Chornobyl Nuclear Plant shelter damaged in Russian drone strike.

"Russia continues to expand its army and shows no change in its deranged, anti-human state rhetoric," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Chornobyl Nuclear Plant shelter damaged in Russian drone strike
"Russia continues to expand its army and shows no change in its deranged, anti-human state rhetoric," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
kyivindependent.com
February 14, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Ukrainian tip #2574: "Mr Tambourine Man" is a great song to sing in a bathroom while sheltering there from an early morning ballistic attack on your city.
February 12, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Чим відрізняється помиральна яма у блюскаї від звичайної п.я. соціальних мереж? У ній, судячи з моєї стрічки/діскавер фіду, міститься значно більше книжок.
February 4, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Back from a seminar "Incorporating AI into university STEM curriculum", and got so. many. feels.

On one hand it was absolutely amazing to see the main auditorium packed (because u know, covid, then war) and the audience so visibly engaged.

On the other: i really can't stand the technobro vibe.
January 31, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Me today
January 28, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Reposted by Kateryna Yablochkova
January 25, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Geronimo!

Let's get this spring semester (party) started!
January 20, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Recently, I came across the web-based, interactive, & #opensource Optical Simulation tool #OPTICO 🔬 that allows students to virtually play around with mirrors, lenses, etc. 🚀 - You should try it out #openscience #openeducation #optics #photonics #microscopy 👉 www.optico.app/en/start-en/
January 18, 2025 at 1:49 PM
*enthusiastically nods in support of the rethink*
nature.com Nature @nature.com · Jan 16
A drive to increase university participation in military research is gaining pace across Europe — and meeting resistance.

https://go.nature.com/3PA83
mx
Will Europe ramp up defence research? War prompts major rethink
Nations consider increasing universities’ involvement in military research.
go.nature.com
January 16, 2025 at 12:53 PM
A crazy outreach idea, absolutely not cost-effective, but it got stuck in my head: a CSI-like real life mystery!
With like some invisible fluorescent ink, comparing diffent kinds of sand under SEM and collecting the Raman spectrum of idunnowhatever. And running down the corridors.
a close up of a man 's face with the word csi on the bottom
ALT: a close up of a man 's face with the word csi on the bottom
media.tenor.com
January 15, 2025 at 6:23 PM
A lot of materials we study can be described as a "solid matrix X filled with liquid Y". As I was writing a recommendation letter with AI today I realized it has an opposite structure: a watery matrix of AI pleasantries filled with actual solid facts about the student. :)
January 13, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Reposted by Kateryna Yablochkova
“(A) surprising finding was the positive relationship of generative AI usage with procrastination and self-reported memory loss – and negative relationship between generative AI usage and academic performance.” #EduSky #AcademicSky #ITeachPhysics
ChatGPT linked to declining academic performance and memory loss in new study
New research uncovers a concerning trend: while ChatGPT might aid students under academic pressure, its excessive use is linked to procrastination, memory loss, and poorer grades, highlighting a negat...
www.psypost.org
January 10, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Made this account for purely high-brow academic reasons ("I am pleased to announce our newest paper in this Q1 journal"), but the first post is going to be photo of the jelly lenses for a planned school outreach event.

(idea from J. Donnelly's "Exploring Light: Investigations for Optics Education")
January 11, 2025 at 2:55 PM