Notices by Peter Coles (telescoper@mastodon.social)

Weekly Update from the Open Journal of Astrophysics – 11/01/2025

For the new year we have started Volume 8. Since the last update of 2024 we have published four new papers which brings the total so far published by OJAp up to 239.

http://telescoper.blog/2025/01/11/weekly-update-from-the-open-journal-of-astrophysics-11-01-2025/

Failing to Teach Particle Physics

As the Christmas holiday draws to a close and I begin thinking about the possibility that in due course, at some point in the future, in the fulness of time, all things considered, I will have to start teaching again. Thinking about this is preferable to thinking about the stack of exam marking that I will have to contend with shortly.

http://telescoper.blog/2025/01/07/failing-to-teach-particle-physics/

Extrapolation of the Open Journal of Astrophysics

This morning I published another paper at the Open Journal of Astrophysics, taking the total number of publications for this year to 115 and the total altogether to 230. This means that we have now published as many papers this year as we have in all previous years combined. Here's a table showing the sequence of papers published over the last six years and the series formed from the aforementioned sequence:

http://telescoper.blog/2024/12/18/extrapolation-of-the-open-journal-of-astrophysics/

It’s LGBTQIA+ STEM Day!

Just a quick post to point out that today is LGBTQIA+ STEM Day, which aims to celebrate to celebrate the work of LGBTQIA+ people in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM), but also to highlight the barriers still facing us. For more information see here. This also provides an opportunity for me to send my best wishes to all LGBTQIA+ staff and students at Maynooth and around the world!

http://telescoper.blog/2024/11/18/its-lgbtqia-stem-day/

The Sun – Edvard Munch

by Edvard Munch (1911, 455 x 780 cm, oil on canvas, University of Oslo)

http://telescoper.blog/2024/11/14/the-sun-edvard-munch/

Universities urged to value ‘hidden’ academic labour - Research Professional News
https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-africa-south-2024-10-universities-urged-to-value-hidden-academic-labour/

In the Dark on Social Media

It's almost a year since I deactivated my Twitter account. Or should I call it X? Anyway, it doesn't matter because I don't use it any more. Over the past few weeks it seems quite a few more - especially in the UK - have had enough of the antics of Elon Musk (aka Space Karen), especially with his attempts to fan the flames of the recent Farage riots by spreading misinformation.

http://telescoper.blog/2024/08/12/in-the-dark-on-social-media/

Simon Harris, the new Taoiseach, has addressed his party. Not a single mention of the housing crisis and homelessness his party has presided over.

This tells you all you need to know.

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0324/1439725-harris-speech/

@faduda it would indeed. I'm sure they won't, though.

A Christmas Message from the President of Ireland

"...may I express my gratitude to the migrants who now call Ireland their home. Their presence enriches our culture, contributes to our society, bringing as they do experiences, traditions, and perspectives that make us stronger as a nation.'

http://telescoper.blog/2023/12/24/a-christmas-message-from-the-president-of-ireland/

Universities: why are you still on Twitter/X?

As I have explained before, I left the platform formerly known as Twitter at the end of August 2023 and haven't looked back. Many of my friends and colleagues have quit too, most of them setting up accounts on Bluesky and/or Mastodon. In recent months, a number of big companies have also stopped advertising on Twitter/X too. It's not just the systematic amplification of hateful tweets from a variety of antisocial bigots,…

http://telescoper.blog/2023/12/20/universities-why-are-you-still-on-twitter-x/

Confirmation that National Conservatism is a fascist plot

The reaction in academia to the need to change assessment practice in the light of #ChatGPT etc reminds me of this joke:

Q: How many academics does it take to change a lightbulb?

A: What do you mean, change?