Prof Ben Britton
@bmatb.expmicromech.com
Dyslexic atomic sorcerer @ UBC, Vancouver 🍁 (he/him & 🏳️🌈). 🐕 dad.
Materials and Manufacturing Engineering (🔬⚛️), Clean Tech, Academic Governance (UBC Senate & Faculty Assoc.), EDI.
Leads @expmicromech.com.
Has too many hills to die on. Views own.
Materials and Manufacturing Engineering (🔬⚛️), Clean Tech, Academic Governance (UBC Senate & Faculty Assoc.), EDI.
Leads @expmicromech.com.
Has too many hills to die on. Views own.
Pinned
Prof Ben Britton
@bmatb.expmicromech.com
· Oct 24
Scheduling Matters — UBC Senate
The UBC Vancouver Senate is currently considering the timing of its main meetings, following a motion from the Agenda Committee and…
bmatb.medium.com
A brief blog piece that supports the proposal to move the #UBC Senate Meetings to a 4-6.30pm (currently 6-8.30pm).
bmatb.medium.com/scheduling-m...
bmatb.medium.com/scheduling-m...
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Student feedback for instructors/lecturers can be helpful…except when it’s demonstrably not. Discuss.
UBC has released their SEI - which is nominally titled the "student experience of instruction", but was formally titled "student evaluation of instruction".
I am on the record, via the Senate, stating that I don't like how we do this - and I find the process quite damaging.
1/
I am on the record, via the Senate, stating that I don't like how we do this - and I find the process quite damaging.
1/
January 13, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Student feedback for instructors/lecturers can be helpful…except when it’s demonstrably not. Discuss.
UBC has released their SEI - which is nominally titled the "student experience of instruction", but was formally titled "student evaluation of instruction".
I am on the record, via the Senate, stating that I don't like how we do this - and I find the process quite damaging.
1/
I am on the record, via the Senate, stating that I don't like how we do this - and I find the process quite damaging.
1/
January 13, 2026 at 8:40 PM
UBC has released their SEI - which is nominally titled the "student experience of instruction", but was formally titled "student evaluation of instruction".
I am on the record, via the Senate, stating that I don't like how we do this - and I find the process quite damaging.
1/
I am on the record, via the Senate, stating that I don't like how we do this - and I find the process quite damaging.
1/
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
If you're a politician in Canada and still using X, you haven't been paying attention - or you care more about monetization than morals.
@maxfawcett.bsky.social lays it out with crayons why you shouldn't be there. No matter which party you rep.
#Canada
www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/12/o...
@maxfawcett.bsky.social lays it out with crayons why you shouldn't be there. No matter which party you rep.
#Canada
www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/12/o...
Twitter is a litmus test for Canada
With Twitter, the medium really is the message — one that should be clearly unacceptable for our elected officials and political leaders.
www.nationalobserver.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:28 PM
If you're a politician in Canada and still using X, you haven't been paying attention - or you care more about monetization than morals.
@maxfawcett.bsky.social lays it out with crayons why you shouldn't be there. No matter which party you rep.
#Canada
www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/12/o...
@maxfawcett.bsky.social lays it out with crayons why you shouldn't be there. No matter which party you rep.
#Canada
www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/12/o...
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
I wish someone would do a similar poll in Canada. I think you would get the same result, and it might spur the federal government into doing something.
#Canpoli #Cdnpoli
#Canpoli #Cdnpoli
Has there ever been any poll showing the public this united? yougov.co.uk/technology/a...
January 13, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
We now live in a world where lies from authorities have become the norm, and its tough to navigate. At UNC we're currently navigating a new rule from the State BOG mandating that all syllabi be public information. This raises many concerns but my current issue is a set of lies we were told 1/n
January 13, 2026 at 12:38 PM
We now live in a world where lies from authorities have become the norm, and its tough to navigate. At UNC we're currently navigating a new rule from the State BOG mandating that all syllabi be public information. This raises many concerns but my current issue is a set of lies we were told 1/n
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Oh look, more evidence of MDPI and Frontiers being troublesome publishers that you should avoid.
We've got ISSUES. Literally.
We scraped >100k special issues & over 1 million articles to bring you a PISS-poor paper. We quantify just how many excess papers are published by guest editors abusing special issues to boost their CVs. How bad is it & what can we do?
arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
A 🧵 1/n
We scraped >100k special issues & over 1 million articles to bring you a PISS-poor paper. We quantify just how many excess papers are published by guest editors abusing special issues to boost their CVs. How bad is it & what can we do?
arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
A 🧵 1/n
January 13, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Oh look, more evidence of MDPI and Frontiers being troublesome publishers that you should avoid.
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Thread 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
Many fellows of the @royalsociety.org (FRS) are incredibly good scientists with a wide reach.
Yet, as the society, & the president of the society, react and engage in public discussions of at least one fellow and their conduct, the "brand" and relevance of the society continues to be at risk.
1/
Yet, as the society, & the president of the society, react and engage in public discussions of at least one fellow and their conduct, the "brand" and relevance of the society continues to be at risk.
1/
January 12, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Thread 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Many fellows of the @royalsociety.org (FRS) are incredibly good scientists with a wide reach.
Yet, as the society, & the president of the society, react and engage in public discussions of at least one fellow and their conduct, the "brand" and relevance of the society continues to be at risk.
1/
Yet, as the society, & the president of the society, react and engage in public discussions of at least one fellow and their conduct, the "brand" and relevance of the society continues to be at risk.
1/
January 12, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Many fellows of the @royalsociety.org (FRS) are incredibly good scientists with a wide reach.
Yet, as the society, & the president of the society, react and engage in public discussions of at least one fellow and their conduct, the "brand" and relevance of the society continues to be at risk.
1/
Yet, as the society, & the president of the society, react and engage in public discussions of at least one fellow and their conduct, the "brand" and relevance of the society continues to be at risk.
1/
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
For Canadian scholars, the reality is bleak .
Ottawa is dangling money for American researchers, but what about our own? #academicsky #neuroskyence #psychscisky
Ottawa is dangling money for American researchers, but what about our own? #academicsky #neuroskyence #psychscisky
January 12, 2026 at 11:29 AM
For Canadian scholars, the reality is bleak .
Ottawa is dangling money for American researchers, but what about our own? #academicsky #neuroskyence #psychscisky
Ottawa is dangling money for American researchers, but what about our own? #academicsky #neuroskyence #psychscisky
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Not wrong there. @royalsociety.org is risking brand damage by steadfastly refusing to deal with the shitty behaviour of one of their fellows.
Many fellows of the @royalsociety.org (FRS) are incredibly good scientists with a wide reach.
Yet, as the society, & the president of the society, react and engage in public discussions of at least one fellow and their conduct, the "brand" and relevance of the society continues to be at risk.
1/
Yet, as the society, & the president of the society, react and engage in public discussions of at least one fellow and their conduct, the "brand" and relevance of the society continues to be at risk.
1/
January 12, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Not wrong there. @royalsociety.org is risking brand damage by steadfastly refusing to deal with the shitty behaviour of one of their fellows.
Many fellows of the @royalsociety.org (FRS) are incredibly good scientists with a wide reach.
Yet, as the society, & the president of the society, react and engage in public discussions of at least one fellow and their conduct, the "brand" and relevance of the society continues to be at risk.
1/
Yet, as the society, & the president of the society, react and engage in public discussions of at least one fellow and their conduct, the "brand" and relevance of the society continues to be at risk.
1/
January 12, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Many fellows of the @royalsociety.org (FRS) are incredibly good scientists with a wide reach.
Yet, as the society, & the president of the society, react and engage in public discussions of at least one fellow and their conduct, the "brand" and relevance of the society continues to be at risk.
1/
Yet, as the society, & the president of the society, react and engage in public discussions of at least one fellow and their conduct, the "brand" and relevance of the society continues to be at risk.
1/
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Following coverage over the weekend of Sir Paul Nurse's comments that suggested that the only reason that a Fellow should be expelled from @royalsociety.org is scientific misconduct, I have written to him to explain the risks such an attitude poses of increasing sexual harassment in STEM.
January 12, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Following coverage over the weekend of Sir Paul Nurse's comments that suggested that the only reason that a Fellow should be expelled from @royalsociety.org is scientific misconduct, I have written to him to explain the risks such an attitude poses of increasing sexual harassment in STEM.
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
““We don’t do hard luck stories,” sniffed one academic. “Oxford doesn’t do remedial education,” complained another…”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
No, private schools aren’t victims of ‘reverse discrimination’ – and Cambridge should know better | Lee Elliot Major
Trinity Hall’s plan to target elite schools sends the message that privilege equals talent, when the reality is that poorer students are already on the back foot, says professor of social mobility at ...
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:44 PM
““We don’t do hard luck stories,” sniffed one academic. “Oxford doesn’t do remedial education,” complained another…”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
I'll just leave this stat here.
Only four people in the UK have formally complained about a trans woman entering a “single-sex” facility, an eye-opening report has revealed.
A report published by advocacy group TransLucent found that only four official complaints were documented across 382 public bodies since 2022.
1/2
A report published by advocacy group TransLucent found that only four official complaints were documented across 382 public bodies since 2022.
1/2
January 9, 2026 at 1:45 PM
I'll just leave this stat here.
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Section 5(1)(f) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 (as amended) makes it a criminal offence to knowingly facilitate the production or distribution of sexualised images of children. The problem here isn't the law - it's the political willingnesss to enforce it against X.
My word. (Again.)
Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan: "At the end of the day, it's the choice of a person to make these images... technology is moving so fast... even if the law is changed there's no doubt about... the advances are far faster than law is able to respond..."
Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan: "At the end of the day, it's the choice of a person to make these images... technology is moving so fast... even if the law is changed there's no doubt about... the advances are far faster than law is able to respond..."
January 8, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Section 5(1)(f) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 (as amended) makes it a criminal offence to knowingly facilitate the production or distribution of sexualised images of children. The problem here isn't the law - it's the political willingnesss to enforce it against X.
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Let's talk about generative AI, contaminated information, and rhubarb.
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
January 6, 2026 at 3:07 AM
Let's talk about generative AI, contaminated information, and rhubarb.
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Explore creative Science Commutation with me and @newscientist.com on Wed 14th Jan.
Hundreds of you have already signed up to this packed #scicomm masterclass, and this is your final chance to grab a free place!
Sign up below and do please share. 🧪
www.newscientist.com/science-even...
Hundreds of you have already signed up to this packed #scicomm masterclass, and this is your final chance to grab a free place!
Sign up below and do please share. 🧪
www.newscientist.com/science-even...
Creative sci-com: from stand to stage
Join acclaimed science communicator Jamie Gallagher, and the team behind New Scientist Live, to explore how creativity can transform the way we share scientific concepts. This session offers invaluabl...
www.newscientist.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Explore creative Science Commutation with me and @newscientist.com on Wed 14th Jan.
Hundreds of you have already signed up to this packed #scicomm masterclass, and this is your final chance to grab a free place!
Sign up below and do please share. 🧪
www.newscientist.com/science-even...
Hundreds of you have already signed up to this packed #scicomm masterclass, and this is your final chance to grab a free place!
Sign up below and do please share. 🧪
www.newscientist.com/science-even...
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Representation matters, but representation is not power.
If your diversity efforts stop at panels and photos, you are performing diversity, not building it.
If your diversity efforts stop at panels and photos, you are performing diversity, not building it.
January 4, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Representation matters, but representation is not power.
If your diversity efforts stop at panels and photos, you are performing diversity, not building it.
If your diversity efforts stop at panels and photos, you are performing diversity, not building it.
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
No woman I know in academia would be surprised by this, but its good to see it documented like this, I guess.
Experimental evidence that students are more likely to contest grades when they are delivered by an evaluator with a female-sounding name.
"These findings suggest that women in evaluative positions face disproportionate resistance when delivering negative assessments."
"These findings suggest that women in evaluative positions face disproportionate resistance when delivering negative assessments."
December 26, 2025 at 12:38 PM
No woman I know in academia would be surprised by this, but its good to see it documented like this, I guess.
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
“This bill... creates an incredibly dangerous precedent far beyond the specific care at issue, criminalizing care based on ideology and placing Washington politicians between families and their doctors." -Mike Zamore, ACLU
Today House Republicans voted 216-211 to pass MTG’s bill to criminalize gender-affirming care for minors nationwide, marking the first time a national ban on care for trans youth has reached — and passed — the House floor.
www.huffpost.com/entry/marjor...
www.huffpost.com/entry/marjor...
Marjorie Taylor Greene's Bill Punishing Doctors And Parents Clears House Floor
If passed, the bill would punish doctors and parents who provide or consent to a minor receiving gender-affirming care.
www.huffpost.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:50 AM
“This bill... creates an incredibly dangerous precedent far beyond the specific care at issue, criminalizing care based on ideology and placing Washington politicians between families and their doctors." -Mike Zamore, ACLU
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Neurotypicals said: “That guy being a bit of a tosser? Probably on the spectrum.”
“Everything we don’t like is on the spectrum” decide neurotypicals
Neurotypicals have helpfully decided that everything they dislike must be “on the spectrum,” it has been announced. Neurotypicals said: “That guy being a bit of a tosser? Probably on the spectrum.”…
thedailytism.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Neurotypicals said: “That guy being a bit of a tosser? Probably on the spectrum.”
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
"‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock Intl Criminal Court judge out of daily life. Canadian judge Kimberly Prost is unable to use credit cards or access everyday services (Uber, Alexa, Ticketmaster...) in what she calls an attack on the independence of the judiciary." www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock International Criminal Court judge out of daily life
Canadian judge Kimberly Prost is unable to use credit cards, transfer money or book everyday services in what she calls an attack on the independence of the judiciary
www.irishtimes.com
December 13, 2025 at 2:18 PM
"‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock Intl Criminal Court judge out of daily life. Canadian judge Kimberly Prost is unable to use credit cards or access everyday services (Uber, Alexa, Ticketmaster...) in what she calls an attack on the independence of the judiciary." www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
A new paper from the group - where we demonstrate & explain how you can extract samples from a bulk material, and perform 3D crystallographic analysis to help understand the material structure
#ElectronMicroscopy #Microscopy 🧪🔬
#ElectronMicroscopy #Microscopy 🧪🔬
New paper: "Large volume ‘chunk’ lift out for 3D tomographic analysis using analytical plasma focussed ion beam – scanning electron microscopy" by Ruth Birch, Shuheng Li, Sharang Sharang, Warren J. Poole, and @bmatb.expmicromech.com
doi.org/10.1016/j.mi...
doi.org/10.1016/j.mi...
January 2, 2026 at 4:17 PM
A new paper from the group - where we demonstrate & explain how you can extract samples from a bulk material, and perform 3D crystallographic analysis to help understand the material structure
#ElectronMicroscopy #Microscopy 🧪🔬
#ElectronMicroscopy #Microscopy 🧪🔬
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Many people have not been invited at all. I’ve talked to a substantial number of Black speakers who have seen bookings plummet, who have been virtually frozen out from engaging in public talks on college campuses.
I'm trying to get a sense of how many (other) people were invited and then disinvited from US campuses last year. If you have a story to share, please dm. I will keep it confidential – just trying to figure out the scale of this.
January 2, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Many people have not been invited at all. I’ve talked to a substantial number of Black speakers who have seen bookings plummet, who have been virtually frozen out from engaging in public talks on college campuses.
Dearest AI, please write my next paper.
*Skips off into the sunset*
*Skips off into the sunset*
January 1, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Dearest AI, please write my next paper.
*Skips off into the sunset*
*Skips off into the sunset*