Benjamin Pope
@benjaminpope.bsky.social
Australian astronomer
he/him
Sydney/Gadi
he/him
Sydney/Gadi
Pinned
Benjamin Pope
@benjaminpope.bsky.social
· Oct 28
🚨 #DiscoveryProjects #DP26 announcement:
❗️Outcomes announced publicly for Discovery Projects 2026❗️
See ARC's RMS for list ➡️ rms.arc.gov.au/RMS/Report/D...
/bot
❗️Outcomes announced publicly for Discovery Projects 2026❗️
See ARC's RMS for list ➡️ rms.arc.gov.au/RMS/Report/D...
/bot
Absolutely delighted to read this news after an anxious wait - Christian Schwab and I will be looking for a postdoc on extremely precise radial velocities at Macquarie soon!
Congratulations to everyone on what looks like an unusually large haul of projects for astronomy.
Congratulations to everyone on what looks like an unusually large haul of projects for astronomy.
Would absolutely beg for an autocorrect/spell check integration that does OUP or Macquarie English rather than defaults of UK or US. Autocorrect is useful when typing fast but consistently is confused about the spelling standards I use every day!
November 29, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Would absolutely beg for an autocorrect/spell check integration that does OUP or Macquarie English rather than defaults of UK or US. Autocorrect is useful when typing fast but consistently is confused about the spelling standards I use every day!
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
Something worrying me: many seem to change their research direction out of FOMO, reacting to (the obvious) recent trend: "If I don't do this, someone else will do it!"
One of the key perks we have in academia is the freedom to set our own agenda.* If someone else can—and WILL—do it, why would you?
One of the key perks we have in academia is the freedom to set our own agenda.* If someone else can—and WILL—do it, why would you?
November 29, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Something worrying me: many seem to change their research direction out of FOMO, reacting to (the obvious) recent trend: "If I don't do this, someone else will do it!"
One of the key perks we have in academia is the freedom to set our own agenda.* If someone else can—and WILL—do it, why would you?
One of the key perks we have in academia is the freedom to set our own agenda.* If someone else can—and WILL—do it, why would you?
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
And I don't know if the answer is: everyone is too traumatized to do work and we need to reinvent society. Or if it's more like: generations are losing their cognitive abilities and willpower due to destructive technologies. Or: we all have post-viral brain damage. Or: all of the above.
November 28, 2025 at 11:34 PM
And I don't know if the answer is: everyone is too traumatized to do work and we need to reinvent society. Or if it's more like: generations are losing their cognitive abilities and willpower due to destructive technologies. Or: we all have post-viral brain damage. Or: all of the above.
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
Universities are assembling larger and larger teams to deal with academic integrity issues--mostly focused on AI--while simultaneously holding AI "writing" contests, AI-themed events, "hey, come play with these fun tools!" The messages are so mixed, it's criminal. Because AI is bloated with money.
November 28, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Universities are assembling larger and larger teams to deal with academic integrity issues--mostly focused on AI--while simultaneously holding AI "writing" contests, AI-themed events, "hey, come play with these fun tools!" The messages are so mixed, it's criminal. Because AI is bloated with money.
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
A big day for space weather, with the BBC reporting that a Mexico-to-USA flight in October experienced a 'sudden drop in altitude', likely caused by *solar energetic particles* from the Sun. Here is an explanation and some thoughts as a solar astrophysicist (a thread): 1/8
November 28, 2025 at 9:44 PM
A big day for space weather, with the BBC reporting that a Mexico-to-USA flight in October experienced a 'sudden drop in altitude', likely caused by *solar energetic particles* from the Sun. Here is an explanation and some thoughts as a solar astrophysicist (a thread): 1/8
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
To add context, part of why there were so many more applicants is because they moved DECRA back six months, effectively skipping funding the scheme for a year. They had to extend eligibility as a result, so this was essentially two years in one. But with no adjustment to number of grants awarded.
November 28, 2025 at 4:51 AM
To add context, part of why there were so many more applicants is because they moved DECRA back six months, effectively skipping funding the scheme for a year. They had to extend eligibility as a result, so this was essentially two years in one. But with no adjustment to number of grants awarded.
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
A truly amazing public health result.
Australia recorded ZERO cases of cervical cancer in women under 25 for the first time since they started tracking the cancer in the 80s.
This is the power of vaccines.
The HPV vaccine is extremely effective at preventing cancer.
Viruses can be oncogenic. Get your vaccines and protect yourself!
This is the power of vaccines.
The HPV vaccine is extremely effective at preventing cancer.
Viruses can be oncogenic. Get your vaccines and protect yourself!
newsGP - Australia set for world-first cervical cancer elimination
Vaccination programs have played a key role, and GPs remain ‘instrumental’ in boosting screening rates to reach the 2035 target.
www1.racgp.org.au
November 27, 2025 at 9:19 PM
A truly amazing public health result.
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
And now AI slop is taking a serious bite out of SocArXiv.
Thread:
Thread:
In light of record submission rates and a large volume of AI-generated slop, SocArXiv recently implemented a policy requiring ORCIDs linked in the OSF profile of submitting authors, and narrowing our focus to social science subjects. Today we are taking two more steps:
/1
/1
November 27, 2025 at 7:28 PM
And now AI slop is taking a serious bite out of SocArXiv.
Thread:
Thread:
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
New fascistic jargon alert. Another copy of Australian policy of dumping people in a foreign country without hope of a future. EU is using concept of “return hubs” as a prison/human warehousing concept for trapping people who don’t meet narrow def of refugees. 😡 Worse than 🇦🇺 Cambodia/Nauru/PNG
November 27, 2025 at 8:49 PM
New fascistic jargon alert. Another copy of Australian policy of dumping people in a foreign country without hope of a future. EU is using concept of “return hubs” as a prison/human warehousing concept for trapping people who don’t meet narrow def of refugees. 😡 Worse than 🇦🇺 Cambodia/Nauru/PNG
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
Sometimes you read an academic researcher's CV and you just feel like a Soviet citizen reading another press release about comrade Stakhanov
November 27, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Sometimes you read an academic researcher's CV and you just feel like a Soviet citizen reading another press release about comrade Stakhanov
Putting a general call out to my private sector colleagues - would anyone be interested in supporting an industry PhD?
I would love to bring in students to work on imaging/time series problems, especially in space/remote sensing bridging astronomy and other applications.
I would love to bring in students to work on imaging/time series problems, especially in space/remote sensing bridging astronomy and other applications.
CSIRO Industry PhD Program: Information for industry
Tackle your business challenge. Gain access to top research and development expertise while developing the next generation of researchers.
www.csiro.au
November 27, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Putting a general call out to my private sector colleagues - would anyone be interested in supporting an industry PhD?
I would love to bring in students to work on imaging/time series problems, especially in space/remote sensing bridging astronomy and other applications.
I would love to bring in students to work on imaging/time series problems, especially in space/remote sensing bridging astronomy and other applications.
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
you just can't have a meaningful conversation about the potential benefits of "AI" while this stuff is happening. it's like trying to talk about how useful an airplane might be during a hijacking
What the leaked AI executive order tells us about the Big Tech power grab
What the leaked AI executive order tells us about the Big Tech power grab
Should states write their own AI laws, or should David Sacks?
buff.ly
November 26, 2025 at 4:31 PM
you just can't have a meaningful conversation about the potential benefits of "AI" while this stuff is happening. it's like trying to talk about how useful an airplane might be during a hijacking
unironically the UK consumer experiences I most wish we had in Australia are M&S train station sandwiches and Gregg's
it is very strange to me that Americans just cannot do packaged, relatively cheap sandwiches. they're fucking awful here. (handmade sandwiches are often great, but, like, the £2.75 Tesco's 'good but not great' sandwich is a missing piece)
It is a huge problem to me that sandwiches in the US are both delicious and stupidly expensive.
There are days I miss a prawn mayo or tuna sandwich meal deal from Boots or WH Smith.
There are days I miss a prawn mayo or tuna sandwich meal deal from Boots or WH Smith.
November 27, 2025 at 7:52 AM
unironically the UK consumer experiences I most wish we had in Australia are M&S train station sandwiches and Gregg's
On top of the lowest DECRA success rate… what are we doing
Australian #NHMRC Ideas grants are out. 8.1% success rate. Lowest since the scheme began. Congrats to the successful few, as it looks like less than 200 were funded. 🧪
November 26, 2025 at 8:20 PM
On top of the lowest DECRA success rate… what are we doing
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
If anyone wondering about academic funding in Aus, this is the stark reality at present. I have written countless letters to politicians like @mehreenfaruqi.bsky.social, @davidpocock.bsky.social who like to say they are leading this conversation in Aus but it is really like shouting into the void.
Australian #NHMRC Ideas grants are out. 8.1% success rate. Lowest since the scheme began. Congrats to the successful few, as it looks like less than 200 were funded. 🧪
November 26, 2025 at 8:13 PM
If anyone wondering about academic funding in Aus, this is the stark reality at present. I have written countless letters to politicians like @mehreenfaruqi.bsky.social, @davidpocock.bsky.social who like to say they are leading this conversation in Aus but it is really like shouting into the void.
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
Strategic cuts to the CSIRO include 'environment' and 'health and biosecurity' 🤓
November 25, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Strategic cuts to the CSIRO include 'environment' and 'health and biosecurity' 🤓
what on earth is going on in the UK
oh Americans may not understand this, but a 'magistrate' in the UK is a local volunteer with typically no legal background. But it's ok, they receive about 10 days of training. And now they can send you to jail for two years without a jury!
what the fuck
November 26, 2025 at 6:39 AM
what on earth is going on in the UK
one of those big Ws for American cuisine is that sweet pies are good. we have great savoury pies here but an apple pie in a roadside diner in the States is just one of the best desserts you can have
November 26, 2025 at 1:38 AM
one of those big Ws for American cuisine is that sweet pies are good. we have great savoury pies here but an apple pie in a roadside diner in the States is just one of the best desserts you can have
every so often I am reminded that kettles are rare in much of the US and experience the culture shock afresh
November 25, 2025 at 10:48 PM
every so often I am reminded that kettles are rare in much of the US and experience the culture shock afresh
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
It beggars belief that Labour are taxing universities’ most lucrative revenue streams at a time when three quarters of them are in the red
November 25, 2025 at 9:54 PM
It beggars belief that Labour are taxing universities’ most lucrative revenue streams at a time when three quarters of them are in the red
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
And engaging in this kind of pedagogy is simply the entry-level version of when scholars do this, which I wrote about here. www.artforum.com/features/gen...
November 24, 2025 at 1:32 PM
And engaging in this kind of pedagogy is simply the entry-level version of when scholars do this, which I wrote about here. www.artforum.com/features/gen...
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
I will add the following: our students lack the research skills required to audit an LLM essay for errors. They don’t arrive on campus with these skills; we teach it to them over four long years. So throwing freshmen in the deep end and saying “swim your way to a shore of rectitude” is folly.
November 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I will add the following: our students lack the research skills required to audit an LLM essay for errors. They don’t arrive on campus with these skills; we teach it to them over four long years. So throwing freshmen in the deep end and saying “swim your way to a shore of rectitude” is folly.
Reposted by Benjamin Pope
Wow. Just wow. A decision in direct conflict with all the ideals of the Reith Lectures.
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Wow. Just wow. A decision in direct conflict with all the ideals of the Reith Lectures.
Book in some tickets for January 29 in St Peters, where I'll be speaking about JWST at the inaugural Professors in Pubs talk!
www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-telesc...
www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-telesc...
The Telescope That Sees Time - Drinks & JWST!
Explore the universe over a beverage! Expert breaks down the James Webb Space Telescope in a fun, beginner-friendly brewery talk.
www.eventbrite.com.au
November 25, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Book in some tickets for January 29 in St Peters, where I'll be speaking about JWST at the inaugural Professors in Pubs talk!
www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-telesc...
www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-telesc...
am reminded for no particular reason of the @birmo.bsky.social plot thread about the navy whose officers have real training without use of AI being the only ones to survive a cyberattack
November 25, 2025 at 1:47 AM
am reminded for no particular reason of the @birmo.bsky.social plot thread about the navy whose officers have real training without use of AI being the only ones to survive a cyberattack