Prof Ben Britton
@bmatb.expmicromech.com
Dyslexic atomic sorcerer @ UBC, Vancouver 🍁 (he/him & 🏳️🌈). 🐕 dad.
Materials and Manufacturing Engineering (🔬⚛️), Clean Tech, Academic Governance (UBC Senate & Faculty Assoc.), EDI.
Leads @expmicromech.com.
Has too many hills to die on. Views own.
Materials and Manufacturing Engineering (🔬⚛️), Clean Tech, Academic Governance (UBC Senate & Faculty Assoc.), EDI.
Leads @expmicromech.com.
Has too many hills to die on. Views own.
Pinned
Prof Ben Britton
@bmatb.expmicromech.com
· Oct 24
Scheduling Matters — UBC Senate
The UBC Vancouver Senate is currently considering the timing of its main meetings, following a motion from the Agenda Committee and…
bmatb.medium.com
A brief blog piece that supports the proposal to move the #UBC Senate Meetings to a 4-6.30pm (currently 6-8.30pm).
bmatb.medium.com/scheduling-m...
bmatb.medium.com/scheduling-m...
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
In case you had any doubt that peer review doesn't work in pay-to-publish journals, including those with a Nature badge....
#academicSky
pivot-to-ai.com/2025/11/28/n...
#academicSky
pivot-to-ai.com/2025/11/28/n...
Nature’s latest AI-generated paper — with medical frymblal and Factor Fexcectorn
Nature’s open-access sideline Nature Scientific Reports is the “we’ve got Nature at home” of scientific publishing. It appears to run any garbage for a mere $2,690 processing charge. A snip, I’m su…
pivot-to-ai.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:54 AM
In case you had any doubt that peer review doesn't work in pay-to-publish journals, including those with a Nature badge....
#academicSky
pivot-to-ai.com/2025/11/28/n...
#academicSky
pivot-to-ai.com/2025/11/28/n...
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Among the provisions are ones agreeing to the Trump administration's definition of sex as "biological sex" and agreeing "not perform hormonal interventions and transgender surgeries ... on any individual under the age of 18 years old, effective immediately."
November 29, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Among the provisions are ones agreeing to the Trump administration's definition of sex as "biological sex" and agreeing "not perform hormonal interventions and transgender surgeries ... on any individual under the age of 18 years old, effective immediately."
Whenever I see the framing of "YYY made a deal", I usually think it's a good investment or partnership…
November 29, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Whenever I see the framing of "YYY made a deal", I usually think it's a good investment or partnership…
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Always love to see great talent using their platform for unabashed good.
'F*** Off And Let People Be': David Tennant Doubles Down On Support For Trans People
"People are trying to create division... and it's so f***ing unnecessary."
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Always love to see great talent using their platform for unabashed good.
Moments I wish my dog could talk and tell me what he wants, number 9374738
November 28, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Moments I wish my dog could talk and tell me what he wants, number 9374738
I fixed my dishwasher today (unclogged its drain, and some...).
I shall take this "I can be an adult" win and celebrate with a beer.
I shall take this "I can be an adult" win and celebrate with a beer.
November 28, 2025 at 4:04 AM
I fixed my dishwasher today (unclogged its drain, and some...).
I shall take this "I can be an adult" win and celebrate with a beer.
I shall take this "I can be an adult" win and celebrate with a beer.
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
We are now further away from the theatrical release of Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 12, 1981) than it was from the year it takes place in (1936). We have reached the Indiana Jones event horizon.
November 27, 2025 at 12:49 AM
We are now further away from the theatrical release of Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 12, 1981) than it was from the year it takes place in (1936). We have reached the Indiana Jones event horizon.
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Two studentships available, one with me and Sam Booker and the other with me and Paul Donlin-Asp- do apply!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
EASTBIO Subcelllular compartmentalisation of eEF1A paralogous proteins in neurons across the lifespan at University of Edinburgh on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - EASTBIO Subcelllular compartmentalisation of eEF1A paralogous proteins in neurons across the lifespan at University of Edinburgh, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Two studentships available, one with me and Sam Booker and the other with me and Paul Donlin-Asp- do apply!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
It turns out there is a Venn diagram that includes "AI" and "high entropy alloys" which is where my soul goes to die.
November 27, 2025 at 4:55 AM
It turns out there is a Venn diagram that includes "AI" and "high entropy alloys" which is where my soul goes to die.
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Last thought: everyone needs to remember that one of the biggest issues on the BC government's mind is the potential collapse of VIU. When it talks about "consolidation", you should all understand it as "how can we create political cover to radically shrink VIU and foist the rest on UVic"?
OK, I have now read the Terms of Reference in more detail. My more considered opinion of the review is that the Government has lost its damn mind.
The BC Govt has announced a review of the public post-secondary system. Review will be led by Don Avison, recently Chair of the board at Emily Carr. He's a past Deputy Minister of Education, Skills and Training, and President of the Research Universities Council of BC
news.gov.bc.ca/releases/202...
news.gov.bc.ca/releases/202...
November 26, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Last thought: everyone needs to remember that one of the biggest issues on the BC government's mind is the potential collapse of VIU. When it talks about "consolidation", you should all understand it as "how can we create political cover to radically shrink VIU and foist the rest on UVic"?
The framing on this is 👀
It will be curious to see how this trickles down to #UBC and both our campuses.
It will be curious to see how this trickles down to #UBC and both our campuses.
The BC Govt has announced a review of the public post-secondary system. Review will be led by Don Avison, recently Chair of the board at Emily Carr. He's a past Deputy Minister of Education, Skills and Training, and President of the Research Universities Council of BC
news.gov.bc.ca/releases/202...
news.gov.bc.ca/releases/202...
Province reviews public post-secondary system to ensure long-term sustainability
The Province is launching an independent review to strengthen the public post-secondary education system and ensure it is sustainable and well-positioned to support people in British Columbia and B.C.’s economic growth.
news.gov.bc.ca
November 26, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The framing on this is 👀
It will be curious to see how this trickles down to #UBC and both our campuses.
It will be curious to see how this trickles down to #UBC and both our campuses.
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
"By 2025, Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, with the impact accumulating gradually over time. We estimate that investment was reduced by between 12% and 18%, employment by 3% to 4% and productivity by 3% to 4%"
Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 25, 2025 at 7:31 PM
"By 2025, Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, with the impact accumulating gradually over time. We estimate that investment was reduced by between 12% and 18%, employment by 3% to 4% and productivity by 3% to 4%"
Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
It’s all good but this part is the crowning jewel.
“There is no wrong way to attend a conference.”
“There is no wrong way to attend a conference.”
November 26, 2025 at 4:53 AM
It’s all good but this part is the crowning jewel.
“There is no wrong way to attend a conference.”
“There is no wrong way to attend a conference.”
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Higher education is one of the UK's most important exports. This policy would cripple many of the UK's leading universities. It's equivalent to slaughtering the goose that lays the golden eggs.
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 24, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Higher education is one of the UK's most important exports. This policy would cripple many of the UK's leading universities. It's equivalent to slaughtering the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Tell me you don't understand higher education funding without telling me you don't understand higher education funding.
(Hint - the reason why international fees are high is mostly to address chronic underfunding of the system by successive governments.)
(Hint - the reason why international fees are high is mostly to address chronic underfunding of the system by successive governments.)
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 24, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Tell me you don't understand higher education funding without telling me you don't understand higher education funding.
(Hint - the reason why international fees are high is mostly to address chronic underfunding of the system by successive governments.)
(Hint - the reason why international fees are high is mostly to address chronic underfunding of the system by successive governments.)
A high school student asked me, amongst other things, about the future of AI for my field.
I said I liked statistical models, and can see their value, but I haven't seen a killer application for mainstream AI beyond the "hype".
I said I liked statistical models, and can see their value, but I haven't seen a killer application for mainstream AI beyond the "hype".
November 24, 2025 at 2:38 PM
A high school student asked me, amongst other things, about the future of AI for my field.
I said I liked statistical models, and can see their value, but I haven't seen a killer application for mainstream AI beyond the "hype".
I said I liked statistical models, and can see their value, but I haven't seen a killer application for mainstream AI beyond the "hype".
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
I think we need to pay reviewers.
25 no response out of 30 requests to review!
Drives me mad this selfish behaviour, which I also see as a journal editor. And it's almost always established folk with secure jobs, not least those endlessly brandishing their right-on-ness on social media
Drives me mad this selfish behaviour, which I also see as a journal editor. And it's almost always established folk with secure jobs, not least those endlessly brandishing their right-on-ness on social media
Recently did around 30 requests to ppl who'd published very similar papers to the one I needed reviews for. 3 declines, 25 no response. Please at least decline guys it slows stuff down so much otherwise.
November 24, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I think we need to pay reviewers.
These days I think that the H-index is a feature, rather than a bug.
It's propagated by those who have centralized power and control of the academic narrative, and they have a conflict of interest when asked to consider whether it should be phased out.
It's propagated by those who have centralized power and control of the academic narrative, and they have a conflict of interest when asked to consider whether it should be phased out.
Imagine being refused for a position based on miscalculation... I really hope that people will start looking for other things that purely H-index and citations count. It also promotes totally stupid behavior with people like Raoult publishing 200 papers per years, which is humanely not possible.
November 23, 2025 at 5:27 PM
These days I think that the H-index is a feature, rather than a bug.
It's propagated by those who have centralized power and control of the academic narrative, and they have a conflict of interest when asked to consider whether it should be phased out.
It's propagated by those who have centralized power and control of the academic narrative, and they have a conflict of interest when asked to consider whether it should be phased out.
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Imagine being refused for a position based on miscalculation... I really hope that people will start looking for other things that purely H-index and citations count. It also promotes totally stupid behavior with people like Raoult publishing 200 papers per years, which is humanely not possible.
November 23, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Imagine being refused for a position based on miscalculation... I really hope that people will start looking for other things that purely H-index and citations count. It also promotes totally stupid behavior with people like Raoult publishing 200 papers per years, which is humanely not possible.
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
15-year-old bug 😐 in an industry that has the highest profit margins possible pretty much
www.theguardian.com/science/2017...
www.theguardian.com/science/2017...
November 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
15-year-old bug 😐 in an industry that has the highest profit margins possible pretty much
www.theguardian.com/science/2017...
www.theguardian.com/science/2017...
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
It's Trans Day of Remembrance. I don't know a single trans person who hasn't lost another trans person in their circle. Please hold them in your hearts today, even if their names are new to you.
And remember all of us who are out here, doing the best we can.
And remember all of us who are out here, doing the best we can.
November 21, 2025 at 4:22 AM
It's Trans Day of Remembrance. I don't know a single trans person who hasn't lost another trans person in their circle. Please hold them in your hearts today, even if their names are new to you.
And remember all of us who are out here, doing the best we can.
And remember all of us who are out here, doing the best we can.
Also happens to some of my female colleagues, to this day 😭
Stories of being harassed, propositioned, stalked, and of course punished, discouraged, ignored when such entreaties were refused. Complaining and being met with shrugs. One ran into the wife of the professor obsessed with her and the wife said, "Oh, you're THAT [name.]" as if she was the temptress.
November 21, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Also happens to some of my female colleagues, to this day 😭
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Stories of being harassed, propositioned, stalked, and of course punished, discouraged, ignored when such entreaties were refused. Complaining and being met with shrugs. One ran into the wife of the professor obsessed with her and the wife said, "Oh, you're THAT [name.]" as if she was the temptress.
November 21, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Stories of being harassed, propositioned, stalked, and of course punished, discouraged, ignored when such entreaties were refused. Complaining and being met with shrugs. One ran into the wife of the professor obsessed with her and the wife said, "Oh, you're THAT [name.]" as if she was the temptress.
Reposted by Prof Ben Britton
Some gay male classmates reported similar harassment from gay professors. One or two women reported harassment from female teachers. But man -- I simply cannot believe -- and am ashamed I did not know at the time -- what my friends and classmates were enduring.
November 21, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Some gay male classmates reported similar harassment from gay professors. One or two women reported harassment from female teachers. But man -- I simply cannot believe -- and am ashamed I did not know at the time -- what my friends and classmates were enduring.