Month: July 2026
Peter Coles points out, I fear with some justification, that the recent STFC cuts to high-profile fields of physics like astronomy, cosmology, and particle physics might have as much (or more) to do with internal conflicts and jealousy within physics as with financial issues.
This is only of niche interest, but it’s great to be at the Sterrewacht group at the University of Leiden, drinking from an old-school early-90s vintage CITA (Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics) mug.
This White House paper marks a huge change to US science funding, trying to pick tech winners, alongside its efforts to align science with its right-wing ideology.
For a party supposedly against communism, they are doing their best to reproduce some of the worst excesses of the soviet state.
UK Science moves from DSIT to DBIST. Should we be worried? (I have no idea.)
Good (depressing) discussion of the effect of the large cuts to the UK’s astrophysics and particle physics programs. (The government’s own “explainer” is not very good…).
Presented at a meeting today: “Remaining challenges are systemic rather than structural.”
What does this mean?
Goodyear Blimp over the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Fun paper “The Squealer: Sensification of model exploration and model misfit” with new co-authors Andrew Gelman, Eliot Carlson and Philip Greengard, all computational statisticians in the New York area.
Heading off on a wild suit chase, somehow involving the exchange of bank details and morning dress in an English pub.
Hey Peter, I’m not planning on retiring any time soon!
This meeting has been going on here at Imperial College for a few days. I am humbled and honoured by my friends and colleagues who have come to London.