Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

aCivilSapper

@acivilsapper.bsky.social

580 followers 850 following 120 posts

Typically eclectic career for a Royal Engineer... Fellow of the Institutions of Civil & Royal Engineers | lead military designers | #STEM Ambassador | #MadeByDyslexia | #ArmyLGBT+ Network 🏳️‍🌈 (he & him).

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

aCivilSapper @acivilsapper.bsky.social · Dec 26

Sappers don’t bake cakes, but if we did… oh, seems we do. After a break for an overseas tour, this year the now locally traditional Christmas Day visiting offering transfers from one app to another…

Italian Christmas Pudding Cake, decorated with pistachio and pomegranate seeds, amongst the debris of a Christmas Day kitchen.

aCivilSapper @acivilsapper.bsky.social · 29d

‘The Iron People’. For all the focus on drones this fascinating podcast highlights the importance of railways in logistics, and therefore indirectly of engineering, engineers and technicians, for national resilience and wartime defence.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t... #STEM

The story of Ukraine's heroic 'Iron People'

Podcast Episode · The General & the Journalist · 27/08/2025 · 33m

podcasts.apple.com

Reposted by aCivilSapper

X2Y @xtwoy.bsky.social · Sep 4

In the 70s, Exxon’s own research confirmed climate change was real. Instead of warning the world, Exxon spent decades killing regulations and funding climate denial.

1 31 76

aCivilSapper @acivilsapper.bsky.social · Sep 1

Beef and horseradish in mini Yorkshire puddings, washed down with Pimm’s.

1 2

aCivilSapper @acivilsapper.bsky.social · Aug 18

“…our job really, is to do ourselves out of a job…” great aim from Royal Navy Servicewomen’s Network. When the Army LGBTQ+ Network was taking off this was an often quoted aim. When that may be will vary network by network, but it should always be an inclusion network’s aim.

Changing the Tide - with Fran Crowsley-Allen & Kim Wyche

Podcast Episode · The Culture Colonel · 22/07/2025 · 35m

podcasts.apple.com

Reposted by aCivilSapper

Albert Pinto @70sbachchan.bsky.social · May 20

Western politicians love the excuse “Why should we invest in renewables when China isn’t doing anything?”
adamtooze.substack.com/p/chartbook-...

Well, this is what China is upto:
China installing wind & solar equivalent of 5 nuclear plants per week
globalenergymonitor.org/report/china...

5 81 160

aCivilSapper @acivilsapper.bsky.social · Aug 1

“An energy revolution is underway… though it’s unfolded in ways slow enough and technical enough for most people not to notice…” Interesting op-ed given recent announcement that over 50% of UK generation in 2024 was renewables. #STEM

The renewable energy revolution is a feat of technology | Rebecca Solnit

An energy revolution is underway in this century, though most people have not noticed it

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by aCivilSapper

Ralph Janik @ralphjanik.com · Jul 26

“a global first where a migration pathway is explicitly tied to climate change and sea level rise”

www.livescience.com/planet-earth...

Tuvalu residents prepare for world’s first planned migration of an entire nation — and climate change is to blame

A first-of-its-kind lottery for residents of Tuvalu who want to move to Australia due to climate change threats is closing today, with more than 5,000 applications received.

www.livescience.com

15 70

aCivilSapper @acivilsapper.bsky.social · Jul 26

Whilst most nations debate if they can afford adaptation or if they need to mitigate climate change, the island nation Tuvalu has negotiated a plan to relocate their entire country to Australia in the coming years! I wonder how many nations will eventually have to follow suit. 🇹🇻

WIRED @wired.com · Jul 25

The Pacific island nation of Tuvalu could be submerged in 25 years due to rising sea levels, so a plan is being implemented to relocate its population to Australia. www.wired.com/story/the-fi...

The First Planned Migration of an Entire Country Is Underway

The Pacific island nation of Tuvalu could be submerged in 25 years due to rising sea levels, so a plan is being implemented to relocate its population to Australia.

www.wired.com

1 2

Reposted by aCivilSapper

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · Jul 14

There are now 65 countries where homosexuality remains a criminal offence, punishable in some by the death penalty.

List of 65 countries where homosexuality is illegal

Homosexuality is no longer as widely criminalized as it used to be, but a total of 65 nations still have laws against homosexuality.

76crimes.com

8 29 75

Reposted by aCivilSapper

LGBTQ Nation @lgbtqnation.com · Jul 9

LGBTQ+ staffers are allegedly worried about being out at work even though their boss is gay for the first time ever.

LGBTQ+ person who worked for first gay Treasury secretary speaks out about worsening conditions

LGBTQ+ staffers are allegedly worried about being out at work even though their boss is gay for the first time ever.

buff.ly

2 6

Reposted by aCivilSapper

PRIDE.COM @pride.com · Jun 26

Gay soldiers secretly fell madly in love in the ‘70s, now their story has the internet in tears

Their 50-year-long love story is going viral on TikTok and is exactly what we need during Pride Month! bit.ly/4eokehQ

3 5

Reposted by aCivilSapper

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · Jun 29

The US is falling behind when it comes to clean energy investment.

This is about to get worse: With the hugely damaging 'Big Beautiful Bill' the US will shoot itself in the foot driving down investment in the lowest cost energy sources and driving up consumer bills.

6 50 150

Reposted by aCivilSapper

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Jun 28

Tens of thousands defy Hungary’s ban on Pride in protest against Orbán

Crackdown on Pride is part of effort to curb democratic freedoms ahead of a hotly-contested election next year Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Budapest in defiance of the Hungarian government’s ban on Pride, heeding a call by the city’s mayor to “come calmly and boldly to stand together for freedom, dignity and equal rights”. Jubilant crowds packed into the city’s streets on Saturday, waving Pride flags and signs that mocked the country’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, as their peaceful procession inched forward at a snail’s pace. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

16 200 1K

aCivilSapper @acivilsapper.bsky.social · Jun 27

Interesting to see a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering appointed as Chief of the Defence Staff, the UK’s most senior military officer. A engineer Nimrod, Harrier, and Tornado engineer who’s served in various capability development staff roles.
@raeng.org.uk
www.gov.uk/government/n...

Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton KCB ADC FREng appointed new Chief of the Defence Staff

His Majesty The King has approved the appointment of Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton KCB ADC FREng to take over from Admiral Sir Tony Radakin KCB ADC as the next Chief of the Defence Staff, with e...

www.gov.uk

Reposted by aCivilSapper

Born to Engineer @borntoengineer.bsky.social · Jun 19

Engineers, remember: every design decision has a ripple effect. Let's make ripples that promote sustainability and inclusivity. #EngineeringRipples

1 1

aCivilSapper @acivilsapper.bsky.social · Jun 13

Powerful talk between BFBS’ Culture Colonel and Dougie Morgan about serving in the Army before, and after the ban was lifted. Dougie served as Vice Chair of the Army LGBT+ Network before leaving and now supports veterans with @fightingwithpride.bsky.social.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Hiding in Uniform - with Dougie Morgan

Podcast Episode · The Culture Colonel · 10/06/2025 · 39m

podcasts.apple.com

Reposted by aCivilSapper

Outsports @outsports.com · May 26

Trailblazer: When gay Sailor was outed, he found his Navy buddies had his back - www.outsports.com/2025/5/26/24...

1 9

aCivilSapper @acivilsapper.bsky.social · May 26

That reminds me, must buy an Aston Martin… one day.

aCivilSapper @acivilsapper.bsky.social · May 25

After a few years abroad it’s satisfying to rejoin the Great British Bank Holiday tradition of lining cars up in fields…
#CountryShows

Card lines up in a field at a country fair.

Reposted by aCivilSapper

Military.com @militarydotcom.bsky.social · May 19

I'm the Wife of a Trans Service Member. Here's How Our Life Has Been Upended in 4 Months www.military.com/spouse/2025/...

I'm the Wife of a Trans Service Member. Here's How Our Life Has Been Upended in 4 Months

My family planned our future around the military. What happens when new leadership suddenly forces you out?

www.military.com

1 3 7

aCivilSapper @acivilsapper.bsky.social · May 22

Born #OTD 1902; Major Denis Rake MC. Performing as a Drag Queen in enemy held territory, whilst undercover as an SOE wireless operator, is very… British. If you want a study of courage you’ll not find in most histories, his biography and modest, funny and eye-opening autobiography are worth a read.

Covers of ‘Shoot Stars’ the biography, and ‘Rake’s Progress’ the autobiography of Major Dennis Rake MC.

aCivilSapper @acivilsapper.bsky.social · May 18

Love a repurposed building, but constraining apartments within the redundant frames of gas holders is extra.
#ThisIsEngineering #STEM

Apartment building built within the redundant frames that were built to support gas holders in London.

Reposted by aCivilSapper

PinkNews @pinknews.bsky.social · May 10

#VEDay 80: It took the world less than a century to forget what World War II was fought for

VE Day 80: The world took less than a century to forget what WW2 was fought for

VE Day 80: Amelia Hansford writes that the UK needs to use VE Day as a chance to remember how the Nazis rose to power.

www.thepinknews.com

16 39

aCivilSapper @acivilsapper.bsky.social · May 10

Awfully dusty in here…
Great production of a powerful and innovative show at the Royal Concert Hall. Always worth catching when in town.

Photo of the programme for the touring National Theatre production of War Horse.

aCivilSapper @acivilsapper.bsky.social · May 8

Having seen oil & gas giants step back from renewables recently it will be interesting to see how they repurpose their core competencies in energy transition. Is geothermal better aligned to their skill sets than wind and solar? #EnergyTransition
#ClimateChange
#STEM

Is Geothermal The Future For Oil & Gas? Ep207: Jamie Beard

Podcast Episode · Cleaning Up: Leadership in an Age of Climate Change · 07/05/2025 · 45m

podcasts.apple.com