Author | Lightnews

Reposted by Jonathan Pritchard

UCU Imperial College @ucuimperial.bsky.social · 10h

A significant new development in the Imperial College pay dispute.

The Joint Trade Unions have uncovered that key 2018 pay benchmarking recommendations—based on extensive staff consultation—were quietly set aside by College management.

Read the full update here: ucu.imperial.ac.uk/archives/1143

Joint Trade Unions demand transparency over Imperial’s pay benchmarking

In brief (if you don’t have much time) The Imperial Joint Trade Unions (JTU) have written to the University Negotiating Team (UNT) to raise serious concerns about the College’s handling of the 2018 Pa...

ucu.imperial.ac.uk

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 2d

Celebrating St Martin in the center of Bonn. Children with lanterns, a legionary on a white horse, and a huge bonfire!

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 3d

Too long for Jon, too short for Jonathan. That seems my current state of play.

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 4d

Hashtags made Twitter as a way of easily seeing relevant content & finding new people. Just isn’t the same dynamic on Bluesky.

Reposted by Jonathan Pritchard

Kat Lee @astrokat.bsky.social · 7d

Are you a grad student interested in writing for Astrobites, or do you know one? We're recruiting! Apply by November 26 :)

astrobites.org/2025/10/31/a...

Apply to Write for Astrobites 2025!

Love astronomy, astrophysics, and science communication? Come join the Astrobites team! Applications due November 26th.

astrobites.org

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 7d

Americans should be seriously concerned about the state of their democracy. It won’t get better if you deny the problem.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Opinion | In Trump’s America, Are We Losing Our Democracy? (Gift Article)

Donald Trump has wielded power as no previous president has.

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Jonathan Pritchard

Space.com @space.com · 7d

#nasa is shuttering the Goddard #space #flight center in a move that may not be entirely legal, according to critics. For months, our #staff #writer @joshdinner.bsky.social interviewed NASA #employees, read #senate reports and more to give you the deepest dive yet.

www.space.com/space-explor...

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 7d

Wowed by the “Nigerian Modernism” exhibition at Tate Modern. Fascinating subject matter and colour palettes.

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 7d

“Wherever law ends, tyranny begins…” - John Locke (1689)

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Reposted by Jonathan Pritchard

Imperial College London @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social · 8d

Professor Alice Gast, former Imperial President and Emeritus Professor of Chemical Engineering, died on 27 October 2025.

Remembering Alice Gast: www.imperial.ac.uk/news/270893/...

Remembering Professor Alice Gast | Imperial News | Imperial College London

Professor Alice Gast, former Imperial President and Emeritus Professor of Chemical Engineering, died on 27 October 2025.

www.imperial.ac.uk

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 9d

Frustrating how messed up is UK policy around Higher Education. Even if there’s so many sectors already in breakdown, maybe fixing things before there’s one more would be wise.

Paul Nightingale @paulnightingale.bsky.social · 9d

Ok a bit of policy wonky gossip on UK research and universities.

1. Universities in deficit hoping for a bail out are dreaming.

2. HE policy is drawing on success of schools policy.

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 10d

Godspeed to the poor people of Jamaica and other countries affected. Terrifying.
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

Hurricane Melissa latest updates: Red Cross says 1.5m people in Jamaica could be impacted by ‘storm of the century’

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says hurricane Melissa is expected to cause a ‘catastrophic situation’

www.theguardian.com

Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 11d

Kudos to PSF. Definitely the right call.

Python Software Foundation @python.org · 11d

TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵

The official home of the Python Programming Language

www.python.org

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 11d

Look forward to reading it!

Reposted by Jonathan Pritchard

Andrew Jaffe @defjaf.bsky.social · 11d

The Random Universe isn’t due out until November 11, but not only can you pre-order your copy today, you can also download a free sample from the e-book. (Similar on Amazon UK and Apple Books — though it’s even better if you buy your hardcopy from an independent bookseller!)

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Reposted by Jonathan Pritchard

UCU Imperial College @ucuimperial.bsky.social · 11d

Imperial UCU members are on strike today and tomorrow.
This action covers all parts of the College — academic, technical, administrative, and operational.
It’s about fairness, dignity, and pay that keeps pace with the cost of living.

Joint Trade Unions

imperial.ac.uk

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 13d

Definitely a Glen Powell fan.
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...

‘I don’t know how anyone takes themselves seriously in this job’: Hollywood hotshot Glen Powell talks to Marina Hyde

He’s an old-fashioned movie star in a digital age, making box-office smashes like Top Gun: Maverick, Twisters and Anyone But You. Now he’s lining up projects with everyone from Ron Howard to Edgar Wri...

www.theguardian.com

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 14d

Poor guy. Great actor.
“Suddenly, I can’t come up with names,” Skarsgård said. “I can’t follow a thought or make an argument that spans several sentences that gets to the point […] That is extremely frustrating. But on the other hand, I’m alive. I can work.”
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...

Stellan Skarsgård says he is living ‘on overtime’ since having a stroke three years ago

The 74-year-old actor said he had fallen ill between shooting the two parts of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movies – and puts it down to having ‘lived a naughty life’

www.theguardian.com

Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 14d

Surely the Wagner Group is a bit more than a “terrorist group”? It’s a fairly direct arm of the Russian state.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Six Britons acting for Wagner group jailed for arson attack on UK warehouse

Judge says men imprisoned over fire at site storing Ukraine aid planned terrorist campaign in interests of Russia

www.theguardian.com

Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 15d

CJ and Josh aged well. #TheDiplomat

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 15d

Dear Committee. I recommend X as a fine chap. By the way, I see that you hired Y to your faculty - a very peculiar choice. Did you see Y’s latest paper - totally lost the plot. Well, I really think you should hire X. Your Colleague. P.S. Hope to see you at AAS for a real knees up.

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 15d

It’s problematic that, as we come to letter writing season, I’m reading “Dear Committee Members” and tempted to write a livelier style of reference letter.

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Reposted by Jonathan Pritchard

Royal Astronomical Society @royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 16d

Do you know an outstanding woman astronomer based in Germany? We want to hear about them! 🔭👩🔬

Together with the @germanastrosoc.bsky.social we're now welcoming nominations for the prestigious Caroline Herschel Medal.🏅

Don't delay, get those nominations in via: ras.ac.uk/awards-and-g...

Graphic promoting the Caroline Herschel Medal 2026.

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 16d

National defences against malicious drone activity is shaping up to be a big issue. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/w...

As Suspicious Drones Plague Germany, Officials Are Unsure How to Respond

www.nytimes.com

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 17d

+1 for holding on to my iPhone 13 mini and wishing they still made one hand sized phones.

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