Anna Sharman
@annasharmanrd.bsky.social
Researcher developer at a UK independent research organisation. Former director of Cofactor. Interested in #ResearcherDevelopment #ResearchCulture #AcademicCareers #Inclusion #Conferencing #Biology #OpenScience #Neurodiversity
Reposted by Anna Sharman
If we knew what we were going to find by doing cutting-edge research, it wouldn't be cutting-edge research.
If you want "research" outcomes to be a sure thing, you stop doing actual research & start stealing other people's results & commercialising them. But that will annoy them.
If you want "research" outcomes to be a sure thing, you stop doing actual research & start stealing other people's results & commercialising them. But that will annoy them.
The other problem with this is that research is a type of spread bet/lottery. You do lots of it and hope some of it pans out. If we had a perfect way of selecting which small bits of science and scholarship we "need", we'd have solved the funding problem. But we don't know this.
'Science minister Patrick Vallance has rejected concerns that focusing on “doing fewer things better” in research will lead to funding being concentrated in larger research-intensive universities from the Russell Group.' 1/3
November 26, 2025 at 10:34 AM
If we knew what we were going to find by doing cutting-edge research, it wouldn't be cutting-edge research.
If you want "research" outcomes to be a sure thing, you stop doing actual research & start stealing other people's results & commercialising them. But that will annoy them.
If you want "research" outcomes to be a sure thing, you stop doing actual research & start stealing other people's results & commercialising them. But that will annoy them.
A great conference in London in February for anyone interested or involved in communicating research. I enjoyed many times and helped out on the advisory board for a couple of years
#R2RConf Early Bird Ends This Week!
EB discount is available during November. Plus attractive rates for academics, librarians & others who work in universities. Early registration is risk-free, with full refund available until end of January.
r2rconf.com/r2r-conferen...
EB discount is available during November. Plus attractive rates for academics, librarians & others who work in universities. Early registration is risk-free, with full refund available until end of January.
r2rconf.com/r2r-conferen...
Conference Programme
R2R 2026 Conference Programme The full Programme for 2026 Conference is listed below; the timetable will be set out in November, and the Lightning Talks will be announced in January. The programme …
r2rconf.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:31 AM
A great conference in London in February for anyone interested or involved in communicating research. I enjoyed many times and helped out on the advisory board for a couple of years
Reposted by Anna Sharman
The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford
November 19, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford
Reposted by Anna Sharman
I took this photo less than 10 years after the deer fence behind was erected. Before it went up, the land behind was just grass, exactly like the foreground where he sheep are.
*Nothing* was planted here.
"It's not rocket science" is an understatement.
🌍
*Nothing* was planted here.
"It's not rocket science" is an understatement.
🌍
March 29, 2025 at 6:47 AM
I took this photo less than 10 years after the deer fence behind was erected. Before it went up, the land behind was just grass, exactly like the foreground where he sheep are.
*Nothing* was planted here.
"It's not rocket science" is an understatement.
🌍
*Nothing* was planted here.
"It's not rocket science" is an understatement.
🌍
Reposted by Anna Sharman
Still fuming they are using the Lovelace name to give themselves licence to bring together five dudes to discuss the future of the UK’s research system #AdaWashing
November 11, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Still fuming they are using the Lovelace name to give themselves licence to bring together five dudes to discuss the future of the UK’s research system #AdaWashing
Reposted by Anna Sharman
Just been invited to the launch event of a report considering the 'future of the UK's research system' where they will be considering the creation of disruption labs named after Ada Lovelace and the report will be introduced by a panel of five men
November 11, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Just been invited to the launch event of a report considering the 'future of the UK's research system' where they will be considering the creation of disruption labs named after Ada Lovelace and the report will be introduced by a panel of five men
Reposted by Anna Sharman
Getting Rosalind Franklin’s story right is crucial, because she has become a role model for women going into science
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Getting Rosalind Franklin’s story right is crucial, because she has become a role model for women going into science
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Anna Sharman
A spectacular sketch of what can happen to academics when they need to feel important.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:42 AM
A spectacular sketch of what can happen to academics when they need to feel important.
Reposted by Anna Sharman
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Reposted by Anna Sharman
Worth checking although if you’re in the UK most of these options are only available to toggle on if you give up your personal info or find a work around. Please remember UK audiences might not see your posts or be able to see DMs!
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
November 7, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Worth checking although if you’re in the UK most of these options are only available to toggle on if you give up your personal info or find a work around. Please remember UK audiences might not see your posts or be able to see DMs!
Reposted by Anna Sharman
Today, our article "The entities enabling scientific fraud at scale are large, resilient, and growing rapidly" is finally published in PNAS. I hope that it proves to be a wake-up-call for the whole scientific community.
reeserichardson.blog/2025/08/04/a...
reeserichardson.blog/2025/08/04/a...
A do-or-die moment for the scientific enterprise
Reflecting on our paper “The entities enabling scientific fraud at scale are large, resilient, and growing rapidly”
reeserichardson.blog
August 4, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Today, our article "The entities enabling scientific fraud at scale are large, resilient, and growing rapidly" is finally published in PNAS. I hope that it proves to be a wake-up-call for the whole scientific community.
reeserichardson.blog/2025/08/04/a...
reeserichardson.blog/2025/08/04/a...
Reposted by Anna Sharman
Thanks for this nice shout out for the #PublicationFactsLabel developed by @pkp.sfu.ca
@alicemeadows.bsky.social discussed how misinformation has many sources and when voices or info are missing from public debates, by self of external censorship, we all lose. She also talked about an experimental possible way to increase transparency in some of these process with "Publication Facts"
November 7, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Thanks for this nice shout out for the #PublicationFactsLabel developed by @pkp.sfu.ca
Reposted by Anna Sharman
Supporting Narrative CVs? Dr Elizabeth Adams has some ides for you. "Research professional staff are key collaborators...supporting researchers to successfully turn their complex and twisty career paths into compelling narratives."
theauditorium.blog/2025/11/04/i...
theauditorium.blog/2025/11/04/i...
It takes a village: supporting researchers to weave narratives that shine
By Dr Elizabeth Adams, Independent Coach and Research Culture Consultant at Scafell Coaching. In an earlier auditorium post, UofG Research Culture Manager Rachel Herries shared advice for Supe…
theauditorium.blog
November 6, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Supporting Narrative CVs? Dr Elizabeth Adams has some ides for you. "Research professional staff are key collaborators...supporting researchers to successfully turn their complex and twisty career paths into compelling narratives."
theauditorium.blog/2025/11/04/i...
theauditorium.blog/2025/11/04/i...
Reposted by Anna Sharman
Last week we held the 2nd @blackinplantsci.bsky.social conference in Leeds, full of 🌱science, 🌸art, African crops, careers & mentorship and talent. Highlight was seeing the impacts of our Research Excellence Awards & Studentships. So proud to honour and promote the excellence in our community 💓
October 29, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Last week we held the 2nd @blackinplantsci.bsky.social conference in Leeds, full of 🌱science, 🌸art, African crops, careers & mentorship and talent. Highlight was seeing the impacts of our Research Excellence Awards & Studentships. So proud to honour and promote the excellence in our community 💓
Reposted by Anna Sharman
In praise of fundamental research
Our editorial this week argues that I n these financially straitened times, funders must recognize that great discoveries often arise from work that was looking for something completely different
🧪
@nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Our editorial this week argues that I n these financially straitened times, funders must recognize that great discoveries often arise from work that was looking for something completely different
🧪
@nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
From MRI to Ozempic: breakthroughs that show why fundamental research must be protected
In these financially straitened times, funders must recognize that great discoveries often arise from work that was looking for something completely different.
www.nature.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:53 PM
In praise of fundamental research
Our editorial this week argues that I n these financially straitened times, funders must recognize that great discoveries often arise from work that was looking for something completely different
🧪
@nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Our editorial this week argues that I n these financially straitened times, funders must recognize that great discoveries often arise from work that was looking for something completely different
🧪
@nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Anna Sharman
This is something I have thought about a lot over the last couple of years, especially since 2022.
The Great Pullback: Why Academic Social Media’s Fragmentation Matters
@scholarlykitchen.bsky.social
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/10/29/g...
1/12
The Great Pullback: Why Academic Social Media’s Fragmentation Matters
@scholarlykitchen.bsky.social
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/10/29/g...
1/12
Guest Post — The Great Pullback: Why Academic Social Media’s Fragmentation Matters - The Scholarly Kitchen
Today's guest bloggers share insights into the fragmented, tiring, and uncertain digital landscape for academics, and evidence that a shift is underway — with implications for scholarly communication ...
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org
October 30, 2025 at 12:56 PM
This is something I have thought about a lot over the last couple of years, especially since 2022.
The Great Pullback: Why Academic Social Media’s Fragmentation Matters
@scholarlykitchen.bsky.social
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/10/29/g...
1/12
The Great Pullback: Why Academic Social Media’s Fragmentation Matters
@scholarlykitchen.bsky.social
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/10/29/g...
1/12
Reposted by Anna Sharman
I keep seeing AI in libraries as being split into two groups:
Grp 1 - ignores it, doesn't understand it, gets left behind.
Grp 2 - understands it, onboard with using it, librarian of the future.
How about a 3rd group that understands it but bc of that thinks most writing/library uses are rubbish?
Grp 1 - ignores it, doesn't understand it, gets left behind.
Grp 2 - understands it, onboard with using it, librarian of the future.
How about a 3rd group that understands it but bc of that thinks most writing/library uses are rubbish?
October 30, 2025 at 12:42 PM
I keep seeing AI in libraries as being split into two groups:
Grp 1 - ignores it, doesn't understand it, gets left behind.
Grp 2 - understands it, onboard with using it, librarian of the future.
How about a 3rd group that understands it but bc of that thinks most writing/library uses are rubbish?
Grp 1 - ignores it, doesn't understand it, gets left behind.
Grp 2 - understands it, onboard with using it, librarian of the future.
How about a 3rd group that understands it but bc of that thinks most writing/library uses are rubbish?
Reposted by Anna Sharman
DIVERSITY of assessment and reforming evaluation being discussed at @unesco.org "Open Science: From the UNESCO Recommendation to Reality in Asia and the Pacific - Session 1” An excellent slide
October 30, 2025 at 4:20 AM
DIVERSITY of assessment and reforming evaluation being discussed at @unesco.org "Open Science: From the UNESCO Recommendation to Reality in Asia and the Pacific - Session 1” An excellent slide
Reposted by Anna Sharman
I’ve never been fond of the phrase ‘career planning.’ I spoke to Julie Gould for @natureportfolio.nature.com Nature Careers Podcast about why this is, including the ‘keep/ lose/add’ framework I use to help researchers with their next steps:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Keep, lose, add: a checklist for plotting your next career move in science
Julie Gould learns of a career-planning framework that can help pinpoint what you love about your current role, and how that can influence future job moves.
www.nature.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I’ve never been fond of the phrase ‘career planning.’ I spoke to Julie Gould for @natureportfolio.nature.com Nature Careers Podcast about why this is, including the ‘keep/ lose/add’ framework I use to help researchers with their next steps:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Anna Sharman
We are pleased to announce the publication of our STEMM sector-wide survey
The report highlights our findings & suggests recommendations. Now available to download here carersinstemm.co.uk
Please share especially w/ institutions, funders & allies
@laurawolz.bsky.social @carterlj.bsky.social
The report highlights our findings & suggests recommendations. Now available to download here carersinstemm.co.uk
Please share especially w/ institutions, funders & allies
@laurawolz.bsky.social @carterlj.bsky.social
September 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
We are pleased to announce the publication of our STEMM sector-wide survey
The report highlights our findings & suggests recommendations. Now available to download here carersinstemm.co.uk
Please share especially w/ institutions, funders & allies
@laurawolz.bsky.social @carterlj.bsky.social
The report highlights our findings & suggests recommendations. Now available to download here carersinstemm.co.uk
Please share especially w/ institutions, funders & allies
@laurawolz.bsky.social @carterlj.bsky.social
Reposted by Anna Sharman
New Post: Neurodiverse leadership is a quality issue for universities, not a side project www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/10/20/n...
October 20, 2025 at 6:02 AM
New Post: Neurodiverse leadership is a quality issue for universities, not a side project www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/10/20/n...
An important report for UK arms-length bodies
really pleased to be able to write about our latest report on strengthening the resilience of our public bodies for LSE!
Written with @martinmckee.bsky.social .
Report here
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
blog here
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
Written with @martinmckee.bsky.social .
Report here
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
blog here
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
October 20, 2025 at 6:38 PM
An important report for UK arms-length bodies
Reposted by Anna Sharman
This is a big issue in Medicine, but its also a big issue elsewhere. The shove all the Internet just into a box approach to training data just allows AI to exaggerate existing biases 😟
New blog post (never a paywall): "The Default Body: AI, biased health data, and the illusion of objectivity." Medicine's idea of a “universal body” was never universal. It was male, and now AI is learning from that legacy. Bias doesn’t disappear in data; it scales. jgcarpenter.com/blog.html?bl...
October 20, 2025 at 5:45 AM
This is a big issue in Medicine, but its also a big issue elsewhere. The shove all the Internet just into a box approach to training data just allows AI to exaggerate existing biases 😟
Reposted by Anna Sharman
“Positive action funds like REDI matter… but they are not substitutes for structural reform.”
💡 Soo has written a bold and timely reflection on our REDI Fund at Leeds, not just what we did, but why it matters now more than ever ‼️🔥
📰 Read the full piece here and join the conversation:
💡 Soo has written a bold and timely reflection on our REDI Fund at Leeds, not just what we did, but why it matters now more than ever ‼️🔥
📰 Read the full piece here and join the conversation:
Equity In Research Communities – Resisting The Backlash | Research Culture at Leeds
researchculture.leeds.ac.uk
October 17, 2025 at 11:26 AM
“Positive action funds like REDI matter… but they are not substitutes for structural reform.”
💡 Soo has written a bold and timely reflection on our REDI Fund at Leeds, not just what we did, but why it matters now more than ever ‼️🔥
📰 Read the full piece here and join the conversation:
💡 Soo has written a bold and timely reflection on our REDI Fund at Leeds, not just what we did, but why it matters now more than ever ‼️🔥
📰 Read the full piece here and join the conversation:
Reposted by Anna Sharman
Really amazing initiative from @odedrechavi.bsky.social & Co at @qedscience.bsky.social: an AI tool to critically evaluate your work & get constructive feedback to help you assess/improve it. Read the whole 🧵fo details & website link 👏👍👇
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT📣: I haven’t been this excited to be part of something new in 15 years… Thrilled to reveal the passion project I’ve been working on for the past year and a half!🙀🥳 (thread 👇)
October 15, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Really amazing initiative from @odedrechavi.bsky.social & Co at @qedscience.bsky.social: an AI tool to critically evaluate your work & get constructive feedback to help you assess/improve it. Read the whole 🧵fo details & website link 👏👍👇