Ruth Mottram
@ruthmottram.bsky.social
Climate scientist at DMI, Greenland, Antarctica, polar regions in general.
Dipping a toe in yet another social media site. Mostly on mastodon though @[email protected]
Blogging at sternaparadisaea.net
Dipping a toe in yet another social media site. Mostly on mastodon though @[email protected]
Blogging at sternaparadisaea.net
Pinned
Ruth Mottram
@ruthmottram.bsky.social
· Dec 12
Heading South
Tomorrow, I’m heading south, though more correctly, I’m first heading north to head south. Fieldwork in Antarctica starts next week..
sternaparadisaea.net
The first step in the ~14,500 km journey (as the crow flies) to Wasa was a taxi to the airport. The second is a flight to Oslo*.
It's masks on time.
*Yes, this #fieldwork involves *a lot* of carbon. Let's hope the data is worth it...
sternaparadisaea.net/2025/12/11/h...
It's masks on time.
*Yes, this #fieldwork involves *a lot* of carbon. Let's hope the data is worth it...
sternaparadisaea.net/2025/12/11/h...
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
13/
Across all these examples, a pattern emerges:
- Share victories ✊
- Share messy process 📣
- Document it 📒
- Build trust 🤝
- Show real-world results ✅
- Provide clear pathways ➡️
That’s how action spreads.
Across all these examples, a pattern emerges:
- Share victories ✊
- Share messy process 📣
- Document it 📒
- Build trust 🤝
- Show real-world results ✅
- Provide clear pathways ➡️
That’s how action spreads.
February 16, 2026 at 8:14 AM
13/
Across all these examples, a pattern emerges:
- Share victories ✊
- Share messy process 📣
- Document it 📒
- Build trust 🤝
- Show real-world results ✅
- Provide clear pathways ➡️
That’s how action spreads.
Across all these examples, a pattern emerges:
- Share victories ✊
- Share messy process 📣
- Document it 📒
- Build trust 🤝
- Show real-world results ✅
- Provide clear pathways ➡️
That’s how action spreads.
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
4/ Tip 1
Share victory stories
I regularly gather and share examples of #climate movement victories.
Not as “feel-good” content.
But as social proof that organising works.
They serve as examples to follow.
Here’s a recent thread collecting 12 wins from 2025:
Share victory stories
I regularly gather and share examples of #climate movement victories.
Not as “feel-good” content.
But as social proof that organising works.
They serve as examples to follow.
Here’s a recent thread collecting 12 wins from 2025:
This year has been brutal for the #climate movement.
Rollbacks, repression, & outright denial, especially in the US, have made progress feel fragile & uneven.
Which is exactly why it matters to pause & look back at what did move forward in 2025.
Here are 12 real wins 🏆, one for each month 🧵⬇️
Rollbacks, repression, & outright denial, especially in the US, have made progress feel fragile & uneven.
Which is exactly why it matters to pause & look back at what did move forward in 2025.
Here are 12 real wins 🏆, one for each month 🧵⬇️
February 16, 2026 at 8:14 AM
4/ Tip 1
Share victory stories
I regularly gather and share examples of #climate movement victories.
Not as “feel-good” content.
But as social proof that organising works.
They serve as examples to follow.
Here’s a recent thread collecting 12 wins from 2025:
Share victory stories
I regularly gather and share examples of #climate movement victories.
Not as “feel-good” content.
But as social proof that organising works.
They serve as examples to follow.
Here’s a recent thread collecting 12 wins from 2025:
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Doesn't mean not worth trying. There is a blindspot in much UK policy debate that treats intellectual and cultural life as a peripheral luxury when it can be the foundation of social cohesion and trust in the state needed to sustain hard power public willingness to mobilise for collective defence
February 16, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Doesn't mean not worth trying. There is a blindspot in much UK policy debate that treats intellectual and cultural life as a peripheral luxury when it can be the foundation of social cohesion and trust in the state needed to sustain hard power public willingness to mobilise for collective defence
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Anyway this is why they have to work so hard to keep their forcing us to give them all their shitty money for their shitty products. Because once a person tries the alternatives they are so obviously immediately superior and it is like "CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT WE USE TO DO?"
February 16, 2026 at 6:36 AM
Anyway this is why they have to work so hard to keep their forcing us to give them all their shitty money for their shitty products. Because once a person tries the alternatives they are so obviously immediately superior and it is like "CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT WE USE TO DO?"
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Adding even more cameras for a surveillance state: 'autonomous' delivery robots, and 'autonomous' taxis.
Can be combined with facial recognition, of course.
Can be combined with facial recognition, of course.
February 15, 2026 at 6:04 AM
Adding even more cameras for a surveillance state: 'autonomous' delivery robots, and 'autonomous' taxis.
Can be combined with facial recognition, of course.
Can be combined with facial recognition, of course.
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
I never really sign stuff. But this was different. It's not about trying to facilitate or block a particular party's route to power. It's about an electoral system that's unsuited to the political realities we face today and risks giving us government after government with no convincing mandate.
Over 50 Academics Warn That Voting System Is Not Fit For Multi-Party Politics
Dozens of academics have written to the government to warn that the current voting system risks producing distorted results on an 'unprecedented' s...
www.politicshome.com
February 14, 2026 at 7:25 AM
I never really sign stuff. But this was different. It's not about trying to facilitate or block a particular party's route to power. It's about an electoral system that's unsuited to the political realities we face today and risks giving us government after government with no convincing mandate.
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Der tales meget om at genindføre store bededag men ikke så meget om, at vi alle fik en lønstigning på 0,45 % som kompensation, som samtidig må rulles tilbage.
Jeg vil være ked af være tvunget til at gå ned i løn som betaling for en ekstra fridag, som ligger fast på en specifik dato.
Jeg vil være ked af være tvunget til at gå ned i løn som betaling for en ekstra fridag, som ligger fast på en specifik dato.
Ny måling lægger pres på regeringspartierne – flertal vil have helligdag tilbage
S-profil vil ikke afvise, at en genindførelse af store bededag kan komme på tale efter et valg.
nyheder.tv2.dk
February 12, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Der tales meget om at genindføre store bededag men ikke så meget om, at vi alle fik en lønstigning på 0,45 % som kompensation, som samtidig må rulles tilbage.
Jeg vil være ked af være tvunget til at gå ned i løn som betaling for en ekstra fridag, som ligger fast på en specifik dato.
Jeg vil være ked af være tvunget til at gå ned i løn som betaling for en ekstra fridag, som ligger fast på en specifik dato.
Similarly, I'm impressed with the performance of the air source heat pump in these temperatures...
Also, it's -20C and there is half a metre of fresh snow. Tell me again #EVs don't work in the winter...
(And we're in a small VW ID3).
(And we're in a small VW ID3).
One of the nice things about skiing in Norway is that the resorts are so quiet and the air so clean, partly because so many drive electric.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
February 14, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Similarly, I'm impressed with the performance of the air source heat pump in these temperatures...
Also, it's -20C and there is half a metre of fresh snow. Tell me again #EVs don't work in the winter...
(And we're in a small VW ID3).
(And we're in a small VW ID3).
One of the nice things about skiing in Norway is that the resorts are so quiet and the air so clean, partly because so many drive electric.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
February 14, 2026 at 7:31 AM
Also, it's -20C and there is half a metre of fresh snow. Tell me again #EVs don't work in the winter...
(And we're in a small VW ID3).
(And we're in a small VW ID3).
One of the nice things about skiing in Norway is that the resorts are so quiet and the air so clean, partly because so many drive electric.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
February 14, 2026 at 7:30 AM
One of the nice things about skiing in Norway is that the resorts are so quiet and the air so clean, partly because so many drive electric.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
Agree that blue sky is the new science twitter. Though I still feel like I get a lot more chat on mastodon (though not necessarily as much from other scientists). It probably helps that I'm on the fediscience server there.
STUDY: “Results show that for every reported professional benefit that scientists once gained from Twitter, scientists can now gain that benefit more effectively on Bluesky than on Twitter.”
Follow great scientists here like @michaelemann.bsky.social @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social @katharinehayhoe.com
Follow great scientists here like @michaelemann.bsky.social @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social @katharinehayhoe.com
Scientists no Longer Find Twitter Professionally Useful, and have Switched to Bluesky
Synopsis. Social media has become widely used by the scientific community for a variety of professional uses, including networking and public outreach. For
academic.oup.com
February 14, 2026 at 7:27 AM
Agree that blue sky is the new science twitter. Though I still feel like I get a lot more chat on mastodon (though not necessarily as much from other scientists). It probably helps that I'm on the fediscience server there.
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
6 observations from the first day of the Munich Security Conference 2026. Number 5 will surprise you!
…
Or number 3. Or 1. What do I know.
…
Or number 3. Or 1. What do I know.
February 13, 2026 at 10:14 PM
6 observations from the first day of the Munich Security Conference 2026. Number 5 will surprise you!
…
Or number 3. Or 1. What do I know.
…
Or number 3. Or 1. What do I know.
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
🚨🚨 "Surprise, surprise": The U.S. is reorienting its foreign funding program to export #MAGA ideology to Europe — and a growing set of far-right and conservative think tanks and political groups are lining up to take Washington’s money. 🧵 www.politico.eu/article/maga...
The MAGA-friendly European think tanks Trump wants to fund
The Heritage Foundation identified European groups for U.S. backing.
www.politico.eu
February 13, 2026 at 2:56 PM
🚨🚨 "Surprise, surprise": The U.S. is reorienting its foreign funding program to export #MAGA ideology to Europe — and a growing set of far-right and conservative think tanks and political groups are lining up to take Washington’s money. 🧵 www.politico.eu/article/maga...
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
The reason I *can* live my life as if Brexit never happened is precisely because I am a dual national and a citizen of both the UK and the EU. If I had to give up one of those citizenships, I could no longer ignore the hideous mess Brexit makes of real lives. So, yeah, I sympathise.
February 14, 2026 at 7:14 AM
The reason I *can* live my life as if Brexit never happened is precisely because I am a dual national and a citizen of both the UK and the EU. If I had to give up one of those citizenships, I could no longer ignore the hideous mess Brexit makes of real lives. So, yeah, I sympathise.
Super interesting pieceon the race between China and the US and damning on European weakness, but one can't help wondering whither the rest of the world?
I will certainly be reading the book next
danwang.co/2025-letter/...
I will certainly be reading the book next
danwang.co/2025-letter/...
2025 letter | Dan Wang
Corgis, compute, Cold War; Ecclesiastes; ties; Stendhal; humor; Pascal's Wager; deep infrastructure; Germanic obedience; Texas State Fair
danwang.co
February 13, 2026 at 7:36 AM
Super interesting pieceon the race between China and the US and damning on European weakness, but one can't help wondering whither the rest of the world?
I will certainly be reading the book next
danwang.co/2025-letter/...
I will certainly be reading the book next
danwang.co/2025-letter/...
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
A new book, “It’s on you” challenges just about everything I ever wrote about personal responsibility vs the need for systemic change. I begrudgingly admit that it makes a very strong case. lloydalter.substack.com/p/its-on-you...
It's on you: Did corporations convince us that individual actions matter?
A new book challenges just about everything I have written.
lloydalter.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:53 PM
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
In recognition of International Day of Women and Girls in Science (Feb 11), it's a great time to re-share this paper from 2010 - lots of progress and lots more room to grow. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Women in glaciology, a historical perspective | Journal of Glaciology | Cambridge Core
Women in glaciology, a historical perspective - Volume 56 Issue 200
www.cambridge.org
February 11, 2026 at 6:49 PM
In recognition of International Day of Women and Girls in Science (Feb 11), it's a great time to re-share this paper from 2010 - lots of progress and lots more room to grow. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Tillykke til Norge, i får et nyt medie på @zetland.dk modellen...
Held og lykke til Demo!
www.zetland.dk/historie/sTK...
Held og lykke til Demo!
www.zetland.dk/historie/sTK...
Heia, det lykkedes! Zetland får et søstermedie i Norge
Demos crowdfundingkampagne krydsede målstregen på 5.000 stiftende medlemmer her til morgen.
www.zetland.dk
February 12, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Tillykke til Norge, i får et nyt medie på @zetland.dk modellen...
Held og lykke til Demo!
www.zetland.dk/historie/sTK...
Held og lykke til Demo!
www.zetland.dk/historie/sTK...
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Winds of change, Zeitenwende, etc:
Europe has changed.
Poll finds clear majorities for increasing defence spending and a European nuclear deterrent.
Source ecfr.eu/publication/...
Europe has changed.
Poll finds clear majorities for increasing defence spending and a European nuclear deterrent.
Source ecfr.eu/publication/...
February 12, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Winds of change, Zeitenwende, etc:
Europe has changed.
Poll finds clear majorities for increasing defence spending and a European nuclear deterrent.
Source ecfr.eu/publication/...
Europe has changed.
Poll finds clear majorities for increasing defence spending and a European nuclear deterrent.
Source ecfr.eu/publication/...
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Resurrecting this after a challenging day:
"Here's what happened when I made my college students put away their phones." I find the links to research in this article especially useful.
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o...
"Here's what happened when I made my college students put away their phones." I find the links to research in this article especially useful.
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o...
Opinion | Here’s What Happened When I Made My College Students Put Away Their Phones
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Resurrecting this after a challenging day:
"Here's what happened when I made my college students put away their phones." I find the links to research in this article especially useful.
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o...
"Here's what happened when I made my college students put away their phones." I find the links to research in this article especially useful.
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o...
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Can confirm. The warmth is unseasonable here.
Many of us are sorely missing snow for under our skis, and didn’t help that we had a misty rain today…
www.information.dk/udland/2026/...
Many of us are sorely missing snow for under our skis, and didn’t help that we had a misty rain today…
www.information.dk/udland/2026/...
February 9, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Can confirm. The warmth is unseasonable here.
Many of us are sorely missing snow for under our skis, and didn’t help that we had a misty rain today…
www.information.dk/udland/2026/...
Many of us are sorely missing snow for under our skis, and didn’t help that we had a misty rain today…
www.information.dk/udland/2026/...
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
We are hiring a benthic ecologist at the researcher or senior researcher level 🧪🌍🦑
The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources is an excellent place to work, with friendly colleagues, support, and teaching opportunities.
naalakkersuisut.emply.net/recruitment/...
The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources is an excellent place to work, with friendly colleagues, support, and teaching opportunities.
naalakkersuisut.emply.net/recruitment/...
Researcher/Senior Researcher in Benthic Ecology at the Greenland Climate Research Center at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
The Greenland Climate Research Centre (GCRC) at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR) invites applications for a position as researcher/senior researcher within the field of marine benth...
naalakkersuisut.emply.net
February 12, 2026 at 10:51 PM
We are hiring a benthic ecologist at the researcher or senior researcher level 🧪🌍🦑
The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources is an excellent place to work, with friendly colleagues, support, and teaching opportunities.
naalakkersuisut.emply.net/recruitment/...
The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources is an excellent place to work, with friendly colleagues, support, and teaching opportunities.
naalakkersuisut.emply.net/recruitment/...
One point this @economist.com piece also misses is that China's impressive high speed trains are mostly built with German technology..
Are liberal values a luxury the West cannot afford?
www.economist.com/internationa...
Are liberal values a luxury the West cannot afford?
www.economist.com/internationa...
Are liberal values a luxury the West cannot afford?
Yes, China has impressive high-speed trains. That is no reason for the West to adopt iron-fisted rule
www.economist.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:31 PM
One point this @economist.com piece also misses is that China's impressive high speed trains are mostly built with German technology..
Are liberal values a luxury the West cannot afford?
www.economist.com/internationa...
Are liberal values a luxury the West cannot afford?
www.economist.com/internationa...
How China wants to create a ‘Polar Silk Road’ through the Arctic - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
How China wants to create a ‘Polar Silk Road’ through the Arctic
Beijing targets shipping routes and resources in far north
giftarticle.ft.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:31 PM
How China wants to create a ‘Polar Silk Road’ through the Arctic - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
How China wants to create a ‘Polar Silk Road’ through the Arctic - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
How China wants to create a ‘Polar Silk Road’ through the Arctic
Beijing targets shipping routes and resources in far north
giftarticle.ft.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:57 PM
How China wants to create a ‘Polar Silk Road’ through the Arctic - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT