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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 25m

That's lovely! I think I liked the bunch of rescued plants the best, but those dahlias are fantastic

Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 30m

I really worry about how little people know about AI and seem to be responding reactively not proactively. I can't say I'm an expert but I know there's an awful lot of nonsense being promised, often to perpetuate inequalities and harms, not make meaningful change. I'd be interested in your take.

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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 32m

Our contribution was part of a much bigger effort with people walking across the UK from 4pm today to raise over £12,000 for the Miscarriage Association. We're very proud to have been a part of this.

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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 35m

It's a very reasonable worry, although not sure if Indy researchers are cause for concern as much as many other factors?

Mainly our goal in writing that piece was to highlight how many researchers can't participate because funding councils act as if the only research that happens lies within unis

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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 37m

And you - what a beautiful arrangement - from the garden I'm guessing?

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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 40m

And - amazingly - within five minutes of me posting this your donations took us over our funding target.

Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. You are superstars!

It's made #BabyLossAwarenessWeek a lot easier to bear this year 🦋🦋🦋

Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 49m

We did it! Small Son and I started at 4pm this afternoon and walked just over 4 miles to raise money for The Miscarriage Association. We're just off our £500 target so if you could help with a final donation for a very good cause we'd be delighted.
www.justgiving.com/page/p-boynt...

Small Son points to the start and end points of our 4 mile walk, shown on a notice board that highlights the route of the coastal walk we took this afternoon. Behind him is the harbour mouth, where the tide is going out.

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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 49m

We did it! Small Son and I started at 4pm this afternoon and walked just over 4 miles to raise money for The Miscarriage Association. We're just off our £500 target so if you could help with a final donation for a very good cause we'd be delighted.
www.justgiving.com/page/p-boynt...

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Reposted by Petra Boynton

Brendan Cantwell @cantb.bsky.social · 18h

I missed this yesterday: the AAU has come out against the compact. I am pleasantly surprised. I think it makes it pretty hard for any university to accept the deal now, with a possible exception of Texas. www.aau.edu/newsroom/pre...

We have significant concerns, however, about any compact or policy that could damage or depart from our nations competitive merit base system for research grant funding. That system has been the foundation for science and and innovation for decades. Since World War II that special partnership among the federal government, industry, and research universities has fueled tremendous growth in our economy and educated the next generation of highly skilled American workforce contributed to the health of our people and made our nation more safe and secure.

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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 7h

Thank you! That's really kind and much appreciated ❤️

Reposted by Petra Boynton

Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 8h

Only a few hours to go before Small Son and I set off on our 4 mile fundraising walk in aid of The Miscarriage Association.

We're nearly at our target of £500 thanks to your generous donations, but if you can help us reach our goal today that would be wonderful!

www.justgiving.com/page/p-boynt...

Miscarriage Association's Memory Walk 2025

Help Petra Boynton raise money to support The Miscarriage Association

www.justgiving.com

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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 8h

Only a few hours to go before Small Son and I set off on our 4 mile fundraising walk in aid of The Miscarriage Association.

We're nearly at our target of £500 thanks to your generous donations, but if you can help us reach our goal today that would be wonderful!

www.justgiving.com/page/p-boynt...

Miscarriage Association's Memory Walk 2025

Help Petra Boynton raise money to support The Miscarriage Association

www.justgiving.com

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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 8h

It's a term that refers to someone in a research role who's not employed by a university. So they may be undertaking research in not-for profit and for-profit sectors. Some will be working as consultants or freelancers, others may be employed full time in a research role but not within a uni.

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Reposted by Petra Boynton

dag @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 2d

This is a timely, excellent and important report on how "arms length" bodies in UK are vulnerable to political manipulation.

Kudos @chrischirp.bsky.social and @martinmckee.bsky.social for putting this together.

Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 3d

🧵🚨

The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.

Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

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UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation

Seven in ten Britons say it is important for top scientific institutions to be independent in exclusive new polling.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 2d

If you're from a discipline that's unfamiliar with qualitative research, or methods like questionnaires, it may seem easy to use them, but it's not.

Working with methodological experts will reduce research waste and mean you actually get useful answers to the things you want to know about.

Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 2d

Quick #ResearchTip

Want to use a method you're unfamiliar with? Work with colleagues who know the method (and underlying theories) well

This ensures your research question suits the chosen method (and participants). And you have help to use the method, then be able to interpret and report results

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Reposted by Petra Boynton

Trussell @trusselluk.bsky.social · 2d

Over HALF of people turning to food banks are struggling with a mental health problem.

Worrying about money isn't just numbers. It's the sleepless nights, stress and emotional toll that comes with facing hardship.

#WorldMentalHealthDay

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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 2d

More information here www.wired.com/story/mark-b...

And given it's #WorldMentalHealthDay it's another reminder that threats have always been there, but things have significantly shifted and universities are doing noone any good by their lack of attention, protection and strategic planning on this.

He Wrote a Book About Antifa. Death Threats Are Driving Him Out of the US

Rutgers historian Mark Bray is trying to flee to Spain after after an online campaign from far-right influencers was followed by death threats. He was turned back at the airport on his first attempt.

www.wired.com

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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 2d

When we speak about safety in research/academia this is a key example, but often universities (and those who work there) remain in denial or poorly informed about how serious things can be for targeted staff and students.

A useful thread explaining things very clearly.

Lauren MacIvor Thompson @lmacthompson1.bsky.social · 2d

I am writing this because it has swiftly become crystal clear to me that many people have no idea what is happening or how this works. Here is a thread for non-academics to put into context what just happened to Dr. Mark Bray, a fellow historian.

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Reposted by Petra Boynton

Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 3d

But did we avoid dismantling core functions of the federal government? No.

But did we avoid killing millions of people by destroying USAID? Also no.

But did we at least avoid violating all kinds of federal laws & the constitution by letting random guys off the streets do this? Alas, also no.

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 3d

Did DOGE save us $2 trillion?

“Not even close. .. Total spending excluding interest rose $220 billion, or 4%, for the entire fiscal year.” 🤡

@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/economy/tari...

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Reposted by Petra Boynton

Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 2d

MIT Rejects the Compact!
I am so proud.
"The document also includes principles with which we disagree, including those that would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution. And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief ...

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Reposted by Petra Boynton

Nadine Batchelor-Hunt @nadinebh.bsky.social · 2d

+/ I am a prime example of somebody with quite significant mental health/neurodiversity issues who can work with certain adjustments, the right medication and medical support

And I’m sick to the back teeth of seeing people mock others like me because they don’t have a voice or are easy targets

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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 2d

Podcast: How to Cover Science Under Trump undark.org/2025/10/08/p... via @undark.org

Podcast: How to Cover Science Under Trump

Our hosts talk to Undark’s editor-in-chief about the current moment in science and science journalism.

undark.org

Reposted by Petra Boynton

Dr Laura Sangha @lsangha.bsky.social · 3d

Many congratulations to my colleagues in the Forms of Labour project team on the publication of their new monograph! 🗃️👏🎉

Brilliantly, The Experience of Work in #EarlyModern England is available open access:

www.cambridge.org/core/books/e...

news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-h...

A woman’s place was not in the home: New book challenges assumptions about women’s work in early modern history

New research has revealed that women played a fundamental role in the development of England’s national economy before 1700. Far from being the unpaid homemakers and housewives of traditional historic...

news.exeter.ac.uk

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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 2d

50 things universities are still getting wrong on safety and wellbeing.

For #WorldMentalHealthDay

Let's not stick with descriptions of problems, however, what solutions or examples of good practice do you have to tackle items on this list?

#AcademicSky

www.linkedin.com/pulse/fifty-...

Fifty things that universities are still getting wrong on safety and wellbeing.

1. Despite an increase in awareness around mental health, student and staff safety and wellbeing is still not a priority for universities across teaching, research, and pastoral care.

www.linkedin.com

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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 2d

And, having attended multiple #WorldMentalHealthDay events this month (with more to follow) it's crucial to remember descriptions of problems alongside sharing stories and experiences are reassuring and the START of awareness raising but are not the entirety of activism or action.

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