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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans

@astroroyalscot.bsky.social

18K followers 810 following 2.5K posts

Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Professor of Astrophysics, Edinburgh University. Director of the German Centre for Cosmological Lensing, RUB. #LongCovid (She/her)

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · Oct 17

Lovely to wake up to so many new arrivals 🤗 It takes a bit of effort to collate your timeline & find your feeds, but it's 💯worth it!

As a welcome, here is my favourite pic of the May24 #Aurora on Portobello beach #Edinburgh, where I live with my 2 sons, 2 cats & partner (eldest child is at Uni).🔭

It's night and we're looking out over the sea to sparkly lights on the far shore. Up in the sky are curtains of colour, pinks, greens and reds (the aurora) and some stary dots in the sky.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 3h

Me and my good pal Andrew from @astronomyedinburgh.bsky.social gatecrashed a local #supermoon gathering last night with his Dobsonian🔭. Minds were blown as we looked at the lunar mare and craters through patchy holes in the cloud cover. Pop-up sidewalk astronomy at its best - loved it!

People pointing up at the stars. In the centre a reasonably large telescope looks up towards the moon.

A gathering of people lit up by the supermoon moonlight in patchy cloud

People huddled around a telescope, the moon in the sky. The astronomers red light gives the scene an eerie glow.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 12h

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 12h

On random things from childhood: this made me very happy this morning. Had to share it with someone and thought you might appreciate it too.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9G1...

Sesame Street: Happy Furry Monsters Song with R.E.M

YouTube video by Sesame Street

www.youtube.com

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 12h

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 1d

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 1d

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 1d

First supermoon of the year! Already one media question about why the full moon impacts our emotions🤷‍♀️ Luckily I've done my research👇

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · Aug 22

Most asked 🔵supermoon media Q: Why does a full moon make people crazy? Does it?🤔

Taking my🔭👸role seriously I researched! From the Sagan founded Centre for Inquiry "no causal relationship between lunar phenomena and human behaviour.. slanted media reporting"

ℹ️ skepticalinquirer.org/1986/01/the-...

This article outlines the results of a meta-analysis of 37 studies and several more recent studies that examined lunar variables and mental behaviour. Our review supports the view that there is no causal relationship between lunar phenomena and human behaviour. We also speculate on why belief in such relationships is prevalent in our society. A lack of understanding of physics, psychological biases and slanted media reporting are suggested as some possible reasons.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 1d

👌 Very nice photo and locale!!

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 1d

I love it that everyone loves a #supermoon. Tonight is the night so #DoLookUp!

Fine print: this astronomical event comes with a expectation-management disclaimer:
*The Supermoon is only 15% brighter than a normal full moon and I personally can not tell the difference 🤔
*Every moon is SUPER🔭🥳

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · Nov 16

If you've got clear skies, go outside and wave at our neighbour who is looking particularly stunning tonight. And if you have them, root out the binoculars to get a closer look at the grey maria: ~3.5 billion years ago these were seas of molten lava 🤓 #supermoon 🔭🧪

A moonlit beach with ripples in the sand. The water is reflecting the moon light with tiny fluffy clouds in the sky. In the foreground is the wooden breaker and a red metal marker with the number 2 on the top of it.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 2d

Absolutely love this! 🥰

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 3d

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 3d

💯 - it was wonderful to see the community rally around and tell the City Council just how important Mills was to them. And then even better, seeing local businesses and charitable foundations offering sponsorship and donations to help fill the funding gap. Dundee is just a great place!

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 3d

Oh Bravo! Pop-up astronomy on the streets is just fantastic isn't it - so much fun. Sending a massive high-five from Edinburgh!

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 3d

🔊Calling #Dundee! Mills, the UK's 1st public observatory, is about to turn 90! This time last year looming budget cuts threatened its closure forever, but overwhelming public support saved it🥳. Do join us for the 90th🎂birthday celebrations on the 27th Oct! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🔭

🎟️: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/professor-...

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · Dec 2

Hot-off-the-press news: this evening Dundee City Council voted to formally approve the recommendation that the Mills Observatory remains open for the public to use! Huge thanks go to Dr Gilchrist, chair of the Dundee Astronomical Society, who has worked tirelessly to secure this win 🥳🔭🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

An Aerial shot of an observatory building with a white-domed roof surrounded by a forest of Autumnal trees on top of a hill overlooking the city of Dundee.

Credit: https://www.dundeeculture.com/post/everything-you-need-to-know-about-mills-observatory-s-reopening

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 3d

She was a cute one, that’s for sure 🥰

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 4d

What cuteness 🥰

And yes, what would we do without the most amazing and supportive Dads. The report looks a little at single parents and I am just in total awe of them 💪

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 4d

You can also join one of the three report launch events where the team will be sharing their actionable recommendations to improve support for all academic carers. Please come and say hello to me if you’re at the Edinburgh event! 9/end🧵

Register👉: forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

Carers In STEMM @carersinstemm.bsky.social · 17d

🚨We're going on tour!🚨
Join us for 1 of our "Report Launch" networking events: Edinburgh, Manchester, London, or the comfort of your own home!

We will present the 'Carers in STEMM' survey findings, host panel discussions w/ policy markers, EDI advocates & fellow parents/carers.

Spread the word!📣

Poster detailing a series of events hosted by Carers in STEMM in Edinburgh (22nd October), Manchester (13th November) or London (9th December). Events will be hybrid. Poster includes a QR code for registration. Contact us for alternative registration processes.

Poster also details the financial support available to facilitate the full attendance of carers in STEMM or interested, supportive allies

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 4d

So today I celebrate the work of @carersinstemm.bsky.social who are calling for systemic changes to funding, policy & culture to support carers in STEM. Funders & employers must listen if they recognise and value the importance of a diverse workforce.👩‍🔬🧪

Read their report 👉 carersinstemm.co.uk 8/9🧵

A Carers Guide for Institutions
1
Ensure institutional expense policy allows for the reimbursement of care-related costs including dependant and co-carer travel expenses.
2
Update and align institutional financial reimbursement policy with funder T&C’s relating to care-giving costs.
3
Establish institutional policy and disseminate to line managers and expense approvers to avoid inconsistent implementation and support.
4
Provide flexible carers grants for all staff and students with minimal administrative burden to flexibly support ad-hoc care and do not mandate online attendance.
5
Consider the competing demands of meeting sustainability goals and the requirement to support carers (e.g. trains, flight times on weekends).
6
Decouple measures of research impact and esteem from travel opportunities with updated academic guidance.
7
Allow for family-friendly travel accommodation options including booking outside of approved institutional travel providers.
8
Provide a per-diem (a daily allowance) option for complex trips to reduce
administrative burden on carers.
9
When hosting an event, ensure risk assessments and insurance policy align to allow access to those under the age of 18.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 4d

I’ve been lucky but I’m unusual. Many friends followed the standard advice, only to find that tenure came too late for their biological clock. Others broke under the pressure of trying to balance it all, reluctantly leaving academia for more family friendly careers. 7/9🧵

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 4d

Child Number Three arrived in my 1st year as a lecturer, by which point the family had just got used to taking 'holidays' at Universities around the globe. Financially it was difficult but somehow we made it work. 6/9🧵

A little blonde haired girl smiles sweetly pointing at kid-drawn science-like diagrams on a white board in a lecture theatre.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 4d

So 20 years ago I ignored all the conventional wisdom, deciding motherhood would not wait for tenure. Eldest & middle child were born during back-to-back short-term postdoc contracts & they travelled with me wherever I needed to go, even to the graduate school I taught in Tehran! 5/9🧵 👩‍🔬🧪

Two students wearing black burkhas are sat in front of their computer holding a small curly blonde haired toddler.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 4d

Bottom line: to land the holy grail of tenure you need to be out there all the time, meeting people, talking about your work and sparking new ideas, which is not compatible with the traditional responsibilities of motherhood. 4/9🧵

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 4d

Maybe you’re seeking promotion? If you're unable to travel for work it will likely be rejected because you lack key metrics of esteem such as teaching at an international grad school or examining a thesis abroad. 3/9🧵

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 4d

So, what’s the problem? Well, settling down early on means you’ll be told your CV lacks an international dimension. Staying home with the baby means declining invitations to give conference talks, and your research is easily overlooked. 2/9🧵

Catherine in the spotlight giving a talk at a fancy conference. She’s looking confident with her hand raised no doubt to make a very interesting point to the audience.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 4d

Conventional wisdom says motherhood should wait for tenure as before you land a permanent post, #academia is just not that family friendly🙁

@carersinstemm.bsky.social are calling for change and to celebrate their new report, a Saturday🧵on parenting & academia! 1/9 👩‍🔬🧪🔭⚛️

ℹ️: carersinstemm.co.uk

From 2006. A younger and shell-shocked looking Catherine on a balcony holding a very tiny baby with the mountains of Vancouver in the background. The baby is so new, Catherine still has the pregnant bump.

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