Mark Derbyshire 🎠
@mcderbyshire.bsky.social
Research project leader at Curtin University. Interested in plant breeding, agriculture, genetics, anything related to coding or mathematics. Proud dad. AI enthusiast. Downhill mountain biking, especially the jumps. (he/him)
Wow. Would be interesting to see a breakdown of what is driving this. It will be important to adhere to best practices to run programs efficiently without letting your allocated CPUs sit there twiddling their thumbs.
📃 Australia’s @nci-australia.bsky.social and Pawsey have recorded an unprecedented demand for compute time in the 2026 NCMAS allocation scheme.
More than 2.2 billion compute hours exceeded the annual NCMAS compute share on NCI's Gadi and Pawsey's Setonix by nearly 3 times.
#NCRISimpact #NCMAS
More than 2.2 billion compute hours exceeded the annual NCMAS compute share on NCI's Gadi and Pawsey's Setonix by nearly 3 times.
#NCRISimpact #NCMAS
Record Demand for Australian Supercomputing Power
Australia’s national supercomputing facilities (NCI in Canberra and Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre in Perth) record unprecedented demand.
pawsey.org.au
November 21, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Wow. Would be interesting to see a breakdown of what is driving this. It will be important to adhere to best practices to run programs efficiently without letting your allocated CPUs sit there twiddling their thumbs.
Reposted by Mark Derbyshire 🎠
📃 Australia’s @nci-australia.bsky.social and Pawsey have recorded an unprecedented demand for compute time in the 2026 NCMAS allocation scheme.
More than 2.2 billion compute hours exceeded the annual NCMAS compute share on NCI's Gadi and Pawsey's Setonix by nearly 3 times.
#NCRISimpact #NCMAS
More than 2.2 billion compute hours exceeded the annual NCMAS compute share on NCI's Gadi and Pawsey's Setonix by nearly 3 times.
#NCRISimpact #NCMAS
Record Demand for Australian Supercomputing Power
Australia’s national supercomputing facilities (NCI in Canberra and Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre in Perth) record unprecedented demand.
pawsey.org.au
November 21, 2025 at 2:52 AM
📃 Australia’s @nci-australia.bsky.social and Pawsey have recorded an unprecedented demand for compute time in the 2026 NCMAS allocation scheme.
More than 2.2 billion compute hours exceeded the annual NCMAS compute share on NCI's Gadi and Pawsey's Setonix by nearly 3 times.
#NCRISimpact #NCMAS
More than 2.2 billion compute hours exceeded the annual NCMAS compute share on NCI's Gadi and Pawsey's Setonix by nearly 3 times.
#NCRISimpact #NCMAS
What a project! Finished adding a new station to our front garden irrigation. New skills unlocked: wiring solenoids, solvent-welding PVC pipes (messily), cutting PVC pipes, and sealing with thread tape.
My 2 year old colleague left a message on our creation for future generations. 😊
My 2 year old colleague left a message on our creation for future generations. 😊
November 15, 2025 at 3:24 AM
What a project! Finished adding a new station to our front garden irrigation. New skills unlocked: wiring solenoids, solvent-welding PVC pipes (messily), cutting PVC pipes, and sealing with thread tape.
My 2 year old colleague left a message on our creation for future generations. 😊
My 2 year old colleague left a message on our creation for future generations. 😊
Exciting to see baby canola sprouting under our new drip irrigation system. Bulking some candidate #sclerotinia resistant lines.
Tap => pressure limiter 1 => timer => backflow preventer => Venturi fertiliser injector => disc filter => pressure limiter 2 => drip line.
Fertigation here we come!
Tap => pressure limiter 1 => timer => backflow preventer => Venturi fertiliser injector => disc filter => pressure limiter 2 => drip line.
Fertigation here we come!
November 7, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Exciting to see baby canola sprouting under our new drip irrigation system. Bulking some candidate #sclerotinia resistant lines.
Tap => pressure limiter 1 => timer => backflow preventer => Venturi fertiliser injector => disc filter => pressure limiter 2 => drip line.
Fertigation here we come!
Tap => pressure limiter 1 => timer => backflow preventer => Venturi fertiliser injector => disc filter => pressure limiter 2 => drip line.
Fertigation here we come!
Does anyone know what this tree is? It grew to this size in our garden in about 2 years. I think it might be a native sheoak. Amazingly, it filled in the bare patch that our sprinklers don't reach in the summer. Sadly, we may have to remove it.
November 6, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Does anyone know what this tree is? It grew to this size in our garden in about 2 years. I think it might be a native sheoak. Amazingly, it filled in the bare patch that our sprinklers don't reach in the summer. Sadly, we may have to remove it.
First manifold assemlby, including solvent-welding PVC pipes. Live in Perth long enough and you'll end up in the Bunnings irrigation aisle scratching your head...
October 22, 2025 at 12:18 PM
First manifold assemlby, including solvent-welding PVC pipes. Live in Perth long enough and you'll end up in the Bunnings irrigation aisle scratching your head...
Big reveal today! After uncovering the #sclerotinia in canola trial at @curtinuniversity.bsky.social for the first time in a week, we see exceptionally good and seemingly consistent infections! @theccdm.bsky.social @tobyenewman.bsky.social
September 26, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Big reveal today! After uncovering the #sclerotinia in canola trial at @curtinuniversity.bsky.social for the first time in a week, we see exceptionally good and seemingly consistent infections! @theccdm.bsky.social @tobyenewman.bsky.social
Saving the field trial version 2.0. First a severe storm, now an early heatwave. Not only are the plants not overheating under the covers, evaporative cooling seems to be keeping it a few degrees cooler than outside. So far, some nice #sclerotinia lesions under there, which is what we like to see!
September 22, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Saving the field trial version 2.0. First a severe storm, now an early heatwave. Not only are the plants not overheating under the covers, evaporative cooling seems to be keeping it a few degrees cooler than outside. So far, some nice #sclerotinia lesions under there, which is what we like to see!
Been on a journey recently. Chasing consistent #sclerotinia across 660 randomised canola plants in a field plot led to temporary hoop-houses for uniform misting. Worked for two days then damaged by the storm. Managed to improvise a fix better than the original. Very grateful for my wonderful team.
September 16, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Been on a journey recently. Chasing consistent #sclerotinia across 660 randomised canola plants in a field plot led to temporary hoop-houses for uniform misting. Worked for two days then damaged by the storm. Managed to improvise a fix better than the original. Very grateful for my wonderful team.
Loving the #2025ISMPMI session on cross-kingdom movement of RNAs - so many different types of RNAs on the move. So much to learn!
July 15, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Loving the #2025ISMPMI session on cross-kingdom movement of RNAs - so many different types of RNAs on the move. So much to learn!
Grateful for the opportunity to discuss our research. We've come a long way toward establishing the basics for improving sclerotinia resistance in canola. Ultimately, there's still a long way to go but many opportunities on the horizon with new methods like speed breeding and genomic prediction.
🎧 How close are we to sclerotinia-resistant canola?
Hear from @mcderbyshire.bsky.social in this GRDC podcast as he discusses the path to more resilient cultivars and reducing fungicide reliance. 🌾🛡️
🎙️ Listen: buff.ly/1AqhmBL
#GRDC #CurtinUni
Hear from @mcderbyshire.bsky.social in this GRDC podcast as he discusses the path to more resilient cultivars and reducing fungicide reliance. 🌾🛡️
🎙️ Listen: buff.ly/1AqhmBL
#GRDC #CurtinUni
June 17, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Grateful for the opportunity to discuss our research. We've come a long way toward establishing the basics for improving sclerotinia resistance in canola. Ultimately, there's still a long way to go but many opportunities on the horizon with new methods like speed breeding and genomic prediction.
Reposted by Mark Derbyshire 🎠
📣 We have a postdoc position in fungus-microbiota interactions! Apply here: jobportal.uni-koeln.de/bewerben/2197
For more details, visit: bewerbungsmanagement.uni-koeln.de/ausschreibun...
For more details, visit: bewerbungsmanagement.uni-koeln.de/ausschreibun...
bewerbungsmanagement.uni-koeln.de
June 4, 2025 at 5:34 PM
📣 We have a postdoc position in fungus-microbiota interactions! Apply here: jobportal.uni-koeln.de/bewerben/2197
For more details, visit: bewerbungsmanagement.uni-koeln.de/ausschreibun...
For more details, visit: bewerbungsmanagement.uni-koeln.de/ausschreibun...
Less practically useful than I thought it might be but turned out to be a nice read. Encouraging to see that others have their own diverse ways of dealing with their ADHD, including playing to their strengths. Upvote mental health awareness in academia, for everyone.
doi.org/10.1038/d415...
doi.org/10.1038/d415...
Scientists with ADHD speak up: when fire meets focus
Researchers with ADHD discuss its peaks and valleys and how they structure their work lives to succeed.
doi.org
June 4, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Less practically useful than I thought it might be but turned out to be a nice read. Encouraging to see that others have their own diverse ways of dealing with their ADHD, including playing to their strengths. Upvote mental health awareness in academia, for everyone.
doi.org/10.1038/d415...
doi.org/10.1038/d415...
Reposted by Mark Derbyshire 🎠
🌿 A big week for CCDM with staff & students showcasing their research at two major conferences.
📍 #BotryScleroMoni2025 (Greece): Sharing insights on Sclerotinia stem rot and Botrytis cinerea.
📍 #APPS2025 (Sydney): Presenting work on fungicide resistance, cereal tolerance & disease control. 🌾👏
📍 #BotryScleroMoni2025 (Greece): Sharing insights on Sclerotinia stem rot and Botrytis cinerea.
📍 #APPS2025 (Sydney): Presenting work on fungicide resistance, cereal tolerance & disease control. 🌾👏
June 4, 2025 at 5:30 AM
🌿 A big week for CCDM with staff & students showcasing their research at two major conferences.
📍 #BotryScleroMoni2025 (Greece): Sharing insights on Sclerotinia stem rot and Botrytis cinerea.
📍 #APPS2025 (Sydney): Presenting work on fungicide resistance, cereal tolerance & disease control. 🌾👏
📍 #BotryScleroMoni2025 (Greece): Sharing insights on Sclerotinia stem rot and Botrytis cinerea.
📍 #APPS2025 (Sydney): Presenting work on fungicide resistance, cereal tolerance & disease control. 🌾👏
Heading home from #Botryscleromoni 2025. All over so fast! Feeling inspired and ready to start exploring new ideas. Thanks to all involved for a fantastic conference!
May 30, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Heading home from #Botryscleromoni 2025. All over so fast! Feeling inspired and ready to start exploring new ideas. Thanks to all involved for a fantastic conference!
#Botryscleromoni day 2. Another great talk by Daohong Jiang, thinking outside the box. Non-infective sclerotinia strain colonised with a mycovirus as a control for... sclerotinia. May be as effective as fungicides.
May 27, 2025 at 8:13 AM
#Botryscleromoni day 2. Another great talk by Daohong Jiang, thinking outside the box. Non-infective sclerotinia strain colonised with a mycovirus as a control for... sclerotinia. May be as effective as fungicides.
#Botryscleromoni day 2. Wonderful inspiring talk from Xin Li. Two nuclei = one haploid genome in #Science (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...). Nucleus besties stick together through thick and thin.
May 26, 2025 at 7:37 AM
#Botryscleromoni day 2. Wonderful inspiring talk from Xin Li. Two nuclei = one haploid genome in #Science (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...). Nucleus besties stick together through thick and thin.
In the midst of all the crazy things happening in the world, it has been nice to have a morning stroll through sunny Melbourne. Good for the soul. Feeling lucky.
March 3, 2025 at 1:33 AM
In the midst of all the crazy things happening in the world, it has been nice to have a morning stroll through sunny Melbourne. Good for the soul. Feeling lucky.
It was a pleasure presenting today. Had some really enjoyable and insightful discussions at day one of #GRDCUpdates, and saw many great talks. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Another great talk by Mark Derbyshire at #GRDCUpdates on new breeding lines and field screening methods for developing sclerotinia stem rot resistant canola cultivars 🌾 Check out some of the key ingredients of a breeding program from Mark’s talk #GRDC #CurtinUni @mcderbyshire.bsky.social
February 24, 2025 at 12:51 PM
It was a pleasure presenting today. Had some really enjoyable and insightful discussions at day one of #GRDCUpdates, and saw many great talks. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Really looking forward to this event. Always great to see all the exciting grains R&D going on across the industry.
🎫 Have you got your tickets for the #GRDCUpdates Perth 2025?
Catch @mcderbyshire.bsky.social presenting on new breeding lines and field screening methods for developing sclerotinia stem rot resistant canola cultivars 🧬
📅 Mon 24 Feb | 🕑 4:35pm | 📍Session 11
Register here 👉 https://buff.ly/4gr7XZm
Catch @mcderbyshire.bsky.social presenting on new breeding lines and field screening methods for developing sclerotinia stem rot resistant canola cultivars 🧬
📅 Mon 24 Feb | 🕑 4:35pm | 📍Session 11
Register here 👉 https://buff.ly/4gr7XZm
February 14, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Really looking forward to this event. Always great to see all the exciting grains R&D going on across the industry.
Something oddly satisfying about learning how large language models work from Google Gemini. It's also weirdly accurate on this topic. Lots of training data online and relatively simple algebra... or emergent narcissism?
February 13, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Something oddly satisfying about learning how large language models work from Google Gemini. It's also weirdly accurate on this topic. Lots of training data online and relatively simple algebra... or emergent narcissism?
This is an important and interesting preprint: doi.org/10.1101/2024...
Any thoughts from people with neural network expertise? Papers describing these models often show plausibly that unsupervised training has learnt something about the data. Why is this no better than random for downstream tasks?
Any thoughts from people with neural network expertise? Papers describing these models often show plausibly that unsupervised training has learnt something about the data. Why is this no better than random for downstream tasks?
Genomic Foundationless Models: Pretraining Does Not Promise Performance
The success of Large Language Models has inspired the development of Genomic Foundation Models (GFMs) through similar pretraining techniques. However, the relationship between pretraining performance ...
doi.org
February 6, 2025 at 6:58 AM
This is an important and interesting preprint: doi.org/10.1101/2024...
Any thoughts from people with neural network expertise? Papers describing these models often show plausibly that unsupervised training has learnt something about the data. Why is this no better than random for downstream tasks?
Any thoughts from people with neural network expertise? Papers describing these models often show plausibly that unsupervised training has learnt something about the data. Why is this no better than random for downstream tasks?
Reposted by Mark Derbyshire 🎠
🚨Out now 🚨😎
Our latest paper published in @CommsBio led by the
@jameskhane.bsky.social lab @theccdm.bsky.social shown the ⚖️balancing act of RIP vs negative selection in generating genetic diversity in a major🌾wheat fungal pathogen!
Find out more! 👇👇👇
Our latest paper published in @CommsBio led by the
@jameskhane.bsky.social lab @theccdm.bsky.social shown the ⚖️balancing act of RIP vs negative selection in generating genetic diversity in a major🌾wheat fungal pathogen!
Find out more! 👇👇👇
🌾Pathogens are constantly evolving to outsmart crops! Our team analyzed 173 isolates of the fungus behind Stagonospora nodorum blotch🧬
They found it uses DNA mutations like RIP to diversify—while harmful mutations are filtered out🦠
📰 https://buff.ly/4jXm63B
@jameskhane.bsky.social
They found it uses DNA mutations like RIP to diversify—while harmful mutations are filtered out🦠
📰 https://buff.ly/4jXm63B
@jameskhane.bsky.social
February 4, 2025 at 5:05 AM
🚨Out now 🚨😎
Our latest paper published in @CommsBio led by the
@jameskhane.bsky.social lab @theccdm.bsky.social shown the ⚖️balancing act of RIP vs negative selection in generating genetic diversity in a major🌾wheat fungal pathogen!
Find out more! 👇👇👇
Our latest paper published in @CommsBio led by the
@jameskhane.bsky.social lab @theccdm.bsky.social shown the ⚖️balancing act of RIP vs negative selection in generating genetic diversity in a major🌾wheat fungal pathogen!
Find out more! 👇👇👇
A few years of practice later...
January 27, 2025 at 12:23 PM
A few years of practice later...
So proud to say my uncle John Hawkins got an Order of Australia medal. Arriving as a child migrant, he became an important figure in ag, taking on the Australian Wheat Board to build a key market for growers.
Full story here, requires Farm Weekly sub: www.farmweekly.com.au/story/887534...
Full story here, requires Farm Weekly sub: www.farmweekly.com.au/story/887534...
John Hawkins: 'I was a boy from out the back blocks who took on the giant'
WA agricultural industry legends awarded Australia Day OAM.
www.farmweekly.com.au
January 27, 2025 at 2:11 AM
So proud to say my uncle John Hawkins got an Order of Australia medal. Arriving as a child migrant, he became an important figure in ag, taking on the Australian Wheat Board to build a key market for growers.
Full story here, requires Farm Weekly sub: www.farmweekly.com.au/story/887534...
Full story here, requires Farm Weekly sub: www.farmweekly.com.au/story/887534...