Alex Lipp
@alexlipp.github.io
Lecturer in Earth Sciences @es-ucl.bsky.social | Interested in rivers, mud, mountains, pollution, carbon cycling, quantitative methods, open science | alexlipp.github.io | www.sewagemap.co.uk | he/him | 🌍 🌱 🏔 🧗♂️ 🏕 🏃♂️
OTOH the environment agency *is* massively under-resourced so not totally their fault, *but* this defence is totally inappropriate… You’re an arm of the State, it’s right and good to be subject to criticism and you need to respond to it better than “uwu don’t be so mean” 🙄
November 15, 2025 at 4:45 PM
OTOH the environment agency *is* massively under-resourced so not totally their fault, *but* this defence is totally inappropriate… You’re an arm of the State, it’s right and good to be subject to criticism and you need to respond to it better than “uwu don’t be so mean” 🙄
Reposted by Alex Lipp
Many people believe that the way to attract people to the geosciences is via logical, utilitarian returns on an undergraduate degree.
But left unexplored is the power of the field's inherent irrational, cosmic horror to command attention.
It's 2nd only to astronomy in that, & much more immediate.
But left unexplored is the power of the field's inherent irrational, cosmic horror to command attention.
It's 2nd only to astronomy in that, & much more immediate.
November 12, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Many people believe that the way to attract people to the geosciences is via logical, utilitarian returns on an undergraduate degree.
But left unexplored is the power of the field's inherent irrational, cosmic horror to command attention.
It's 2nd only to astronomy in that, & much more immediate.
But left unexplored is the power of the field's inherent irrational, cosmic horror to command attention.
It's 2nd only to astronomy in that, & much more immediate.
Another research institute opting for “short lived AI start-up chic” in their (no doubt vastly expensive) rebranding I see
Our Planet. Decoded.
UKCEH makes sense of environmental complexity to power decisions that shape a better future.
We don’t just examine our planet, we decode it – working out how to build a better tomorrow.
🎞️ youtu.be/s9fBwN5-kxM
#UKCEH #EnvironmentalScience 🧪
UKCEH makes sense of environmental complexity to power decisions that shape a better future.
We don’t just examine our planet, we decode it – working out how to build a better tomorrow.
🎞️ youtu.be/s9fBwN5-kxM
#UKCEH #EnvironmentalScience 🧪
Introducing UKCEH. Our Planet. Decoded.
YouTube video by UKCEH
youtu.be
October 16, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Another research institute opting for “short lived AI start-up chic” in their (no doubt vastly expensive) rebranding I see
Stunning conditions (and enthusiastic students!) for the first few days of the @es-ucl.bsky.social mapping course in North West Scotland! ☀️ ⛰️ ⚒️🏴 🗺️ #fieldworkfriday
September 5, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Stunning conditions (and enthusiastic students!) for the first few days of the @es-ucl.bsky.social mapping course in North West Scotland! ☀️ ⛰️ ⚒️🏴 🗺️ #fieldworkfriday
Neat idea from psephology that might be useful for geological ternary plots too. Similar to the 4 component solid solution of garnet.
At next week's RSS conference I'll be presenting a poster (a first for me...it's about time!)
"Tetraplot displays of UK General Election results" shows how to graph GE 2024 vote shares across 4 parties in a useful way.
Full PDF poster at:
github.com/DavidFirth/t...
"Tetraplot displays of UK General Election results" shows how to graph GE 2024 vote shares across 4 parties in a useful way.
Full PDF poster at:
github.com/DavidFirth/t...
August 26, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Neat idea from psephology that might be useful for geological ternary plots too. Similar to the 4 component solid solution of garnet.
Given that universities/gov are savaged in the media even for increasing fees with inflation, is there anything meaningfully lost from advocating for a one-off step change back to an inflation adjusted £9k (~£13k)?
On news that the government is likely to keep tuition fees rising with inflation here's my post from a few months ago on why that won't be enough to save the sector by itself.
samf.substack.com/p/on-the-bri...
samf.substack.com/p/on-the-bri...
On the Brink
Universities are in serious financial trouble - what can be done about it?
samf.substack.com
August 15, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Given that universities/gov are savaged in the media even for increasing fees with inflation, is there anything meaningfully lost from advocating for a one-off step change back to an inflation adjusted £9k (~£13k)?
Me to students: "Keep field notebooks legible, and only write down the most relevant information".
My own notebooks:
My own notebooks:
August 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Me to students: "Keep field notebooks legible, and only write down the most relevant information".
My own notebooks:
My own notebooks:
Shocked to hear that Stream, which has given Esri huge sums of bill payer money to create an extremely basic API, has won an award from…. Esri! Trebles all round…
August 5, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Shocked to hear that Stream, which has given Esri huge sums of bill payer money to create an extremely basic API, has won an award from…. Esri! Trebles all round…
eartharxiv.org/repository/v...
In our new preprint we describe in detail the software & workflows behind www.SewageMap.co.uk! One for the open environmental data nerds out there :) 💩 🧑💻 🏞️
In our new preprint we describe in detail the software & workflows behind www.SewageMap.co.uk! One for the open environmental data nerds out there :) 💩 🧑💻 🏞️
July 31, 2025 at 6:41 AM
eartharxiv.org/repository/v...
In our new preprint we describe in detail the software & workflows behind www.SewageMap.co.uk! One for the open environmental data nerds out there :) 💩 🧑💻 🏞️
In our new preprint we describe in detail the software & workflows behind www.SewageMap.co.uk! One for the open environmental data nerds out there :) 💩 🧑💻 🏞️
Related reminder that the student loan repayment threshold for current students is now *£25000*... i.e., if you now graduate and get *any full time job* you will be paying back your loan. (www.gov.uk/repaying-you...)
A reminder that an annual salary on minimum wage is now £25,396.80
💼 Job spotlight of the week:
Curator, Second World War and Mid Twentieth-Century Conflict at the Imperial War Museum, London (FT, £31-34k, Permanent)
imperialwarmuseums.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G...
Curator, Second World War and Mid Twentieth-Century Conflict at the Imperial War Museum, London (FT, £31-34k, Permanent)
imperialwarmuseums.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G...
July 14, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Related reminder that the student loan repayment threshold for current students is now *£25000*... i.e., if you now graduate and get *any full time job* you will be paying back your loan. (www.gov.uk/repaying-you...)
Reposted by Alex Lipp
Shamelessly replugging this from two years ago. We would never look at the proportion of, say, schools, that don't turn out literate pupils and go 'oh well, probably those kids were better off out of it'. We shouldn't view the short tail of bad courses and/or outcomes any differently:
July 2, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Shamelessly replugging this from two years ago. We would never look at the proportion of, say, schools, that don't turn out literate pupils and go 'oh well, probably those kids were better off out of it'. We shouldn't view the short tail of bad courses and/or outcomes any differently:
Putting together a NERC proposal and somewhat baffled by what NERC mean when they want a Summary to be suitable for "opinion-formers". Who are these people and how am I meant to write for them?!
June 4, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Putting together a NERC proposal and somewhat baffled by what NERC mean when they want a Summary to be suitable for "opinion-formers". Who are these people and how am I meant to write for them?!
Reposted by Alex Lipp
We are offering a full-time permanent academic post at Lecturer level (Grade 8) in UCL Earth Sciences. Research areas include the climate crisis, hydrogeology, sustainable resources, the energy transition, natural hazards, and planetary science.
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
UCL – University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
www.ucl.ac.uk
June 3, 2025 at 7:31 PM
We are offering a full-time permanent academic post at Lecturer level (Grade 8) in UCL Earth Sciences. Research areas include the climate crisis, hydrogeology, sustainable resources, the energy transition, natural hazards, and planetary science.
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
We at @es-ucl.bsky.social are hiring a Lecturer! Research area is broadly defined within the climate crisis, hydrogeology, sustainable resources, the energy transition, natural hazards, and planetary science.
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
UCL – University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
www.ucl.ac.uk
June 2, 2025 at 10:28 AM
We at @es-ucl.bsky.social are hiring a Lecturer! Research area is broadly defined within the climate crisis, hydrogeology, sustainable resources, the energy transition, natural hazards, and planetary science.
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
Total ignorance here that Universities *already offer* vocational training. The whole point of the 92 reforms was to give these vocational courses at polytechnics the same level of accreditation as academic degrees...
Certain Blue Labour backbenchers seem happy to publicly attack higher education, saying Britain needs vocational roles instead.
But what did they choose for themselves? Elite higher education, of course.
www.theneweuropean.co.uk/james-ball-i...
But what did they choose for themselves? Elite higher education, of course.
www.theneweuropean.co.uk/james-ball-i...
May 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Total ignorance here that Universities *already offer* vocational training. The whole point of the 92 reforms was to give these vocational courses at polytechnics the same level of accreditation as academic degrees...
My favourite fact about crushing rocks is that it uses up **1%** of all global energy usage…
Grinding up rocks is the current craze in CO₂ removal.
Investors pile into rocks to absorb carbon emissions
‘Enhanced weathering’ draws backers including Microsoft, Musk and JPMorgan
www.ft.com
May 28, 2025 at 9:13 PM
My favourite fact about crushing rocks is that it uses up **1%** of all global energy usage…
Really excellent news, and should never have been doubt. The original protest on Dartmoor was a hugely moving event and has sparked a new wave of R2R movement ⛰️ 🏕️ 🌱
May 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Really excellent news, and should never have been doubt. The original protest on Dartmoor was a hugely moving event and has sparked a new wave of R2R movement ⛰️ 🏕️ 🌱
Reposted by Alex Lipp
New Job! Please repost!
We have a NERC funded PDRA position here @oxuniearthsci.bsky.social, 2 yrs, on modelling cryosphere change and hydrochemistry
#models, #carbon, #permafrost, #deglaciation
Come join our friendly team!
Apply by 11/06, any Qs get in touch!
my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
We have a NERC funded PDRA position here @oxuniearthsci.bsky.social, 2 yrs, on modelling cryosphere change and hydrochemistry
#models, #carbon, #permafrost, #deglaciation
Come join our friendly team!
Apply by 11/06, any Qs get in touch!
my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
May 15, 2025 at 9:30 AM
New Job! Please repost!
We have a NERC funded PDRA position here @oxuniearthsci.bsky.social, 2 yrs, on modelling cryosphere change and hydrochemistry
#models, #carbon, #permafrost, #deglaciation
Come join our friendly team!
Apply by 11/06, any Qs get in touch!
my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
We have a NERC funded PDRA position here @oxuniearthsci.bsky.social, 2 yrs, on modelling cryosphere change and hydrochemistry
#models, #carbon, #permafrost, #deglaciation
Come join our friendly team!
Apply by 11/06, any Qs get in touch!
my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
I really question how useful this type of reporting is in practice. The question to ask is "Is This A Big Number?" and I just don't think we have enough years worth of data (3 years tops) to work out if 4m is, or is not, a big number...
I really question how useful this type of reporting is in practice. The question to ask is "Is This A Big Number?" and I just don't think we have enough years worth of data (3 years tops) to work out if 4m is, or is not, a big number...
Nearly 4m hours of raw sewage dumped in England’s waters last year
Duration of spills by water companies up on previous year, in data described by environment secretary as ‘disgraceful’
www.theguardian.com
March 27, 2025 at 11:09 AM
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
I really question how useful this type of reporting is in practice. The question to ask is "Is This A Big Number?" and I just don't think we have enough years worth of data (3 years tops) to work out if 4m is, or is not, a big number...
I really question how useful this type of reporting is in practice. The question to ask is "Is This A Big Number?" and I just don't think we have enough years worth of data (3 years tops) to work out if 4m is, or is not, a big number...
Reposted by Alex Lipp
Does the UK state have a vendetta against universities?
'UK research council leaders are bracing for cuts to quality-related (QR) research funding of up to £100 million a year ahead of next week’s Spring Statement – a move likely to lead to a fresh round of redundancies at UK universities.' 1/3
Job fears grow as Research England models £100 million QR cut
Loss of almost 8 per cent of mainstream quality-related funding feared amid concerns that Spring Statement will deepen sector funding crisis
www.timeshighereducation.com
March 19, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Does the UK state have a vendetta against universities?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The new government policy on bathing water status seems to be taking direct inspiration from the survivorship bias meme, for some reason?!?
The new government policy on bathing water status seems to be taking direct inspiration from the survivorship bias meme, for some reason?!?
March 12, 2025 at 9:39 AM
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The new government policy on bathing water status seems to be taking direct inspiration from the survivorship bias meme, for some reason?!?
The new government policy on bathing water status seems to be taking direct inspiration from the survivorship bias meme, for some reason?!?
Reposted by Alex Lipp
"The intersection of science and politics is both inescapable and of vital importance. Scientists possess unique expertise that is crucial for informed policymaking and societal progress. Embracing political engagement allows scientist" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Elon Musk is a proven danger to good science, but the Royal Society won’t say so. That’s why I resigned | Kit Yates
It is vital to act, and I urge colleagues to do so. How can we stand by and laud this man while he undermines scientific integrity? asks academic and author Kit Yates
www.theguardian.com
March 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM
"The intersection of science and politics is both inescapable and of vital importance. Scientists possess unique expertise that is crucial for informed policymaking and societal progress. Embracing political engagement allows scientist" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Alex Lipp
In this ancient Assyrian letter, astronomers complain that they can’t do their jobs or teach astronomy “because of the ilku-duty”, a type of taxation in the form of labour.
“we cannot keep the watch of the king, and the pupils do not learn the scribal craft” cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/33...
“we cannot keep the watch of the king, and the pupils do not learn the scribal craft” cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/33...
February 9, 2025 at 1:55 PM
In this ancient Assyrian letter, astronomers complain that they can’t do their jobs or teach astronomy “because of the ilku-duty”, a type of taxation in the form of labour.
“we cannot keep the watch of the king, and the pupils do not learn the scribal craft” cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/33...
“we cannot keep the watch of the king, and the pupils do not learn the scribal craft” cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/33...
Question for #hydrology #dataviz and #webdev folks… has anyone seen a visualisation like the below from earth.nullschool.net (by @cambecc.bsky.social)
but for river discharge not wind speed?? Sure I saw something similar previously but now can’t remember where!
but for river discharge not wind speed?? Sure I saw something similar previously but now can’t remember where!
February 10, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Question for #hydrology #dataviz and #webdev folks… has anyone seen a visualisation like the below from earth.nullschool.net (by @cambecc.bsky.social)
but for river discharge not wind speed?? Sure I saw something similar previously but now can’t remember where!
but for river discharge not wind speed?? Sure I saw something similar previously but now can’t remember where!
