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.
A belated reminder of the trans day of remembrance when spotting the painted engineering Cairn, also poignant as it's #LGBTQinSTEM day
November 19, 2025 at 5:39 AM
A belated reminder of the trans day of remembrance when spotting the painted engineering Cairn, also poignant as it's #LGBTQinSTEM day
So yesterday - I managed to run a marathon. It's a hard & type ~2.5 activity. It wasn't helped by the cold rain, & yes, I am unsure if I will do it again.
Chosen to do because it's a thing grown people can do at a certain age & I hang out with too many runners.
A representative self at the end.
Chosen to do because it's a thing grown people can do at a certain age & I hang out with too many runners.
A representative self at the end.
October 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
So yesterday - I managed to run a marathon. It's a hard & type ~2.5 activity. It wasn't helped by the cold rain, & yes, I am unsure if I will do it again.
Chosen to do because it's a thing grown people can do at a certain age & I hang out with too many runners.
A representative self at the end.
Chosen to do because it's a thing grown people can do at a certain age & I hang out with too many runners.
A representative self at the end.
Me: oh I am quite tired at the moment...
Also me: let's run 2x 10 km laps for a relay.
Waffles was obliging for one of the laps though, which did make it more fun 🐕
(He got more cheers than I did, obviously)
Also me: let's run 2x 10 km laps for a relay.
Waffles was obliging for one of the laps though, which did make it more fun 🐕
(He got more cheers than I did, obviously)
October 5, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Me: oh I am quite tired at the moment...
Also me: let's run 2x 10 km laps for a relay.
Waffles was obliging for one of the laps though, which did make it more fun 🐕
(He got more cheers than I did, obviously)
Also me: let's run 2x 10 km laps for a relay.
Waffles was obliging for one of the laps though, which did make it more fun 🐕
(He got more cheers than I did, obviously)
And he's a very good boy when it comes to microscopy 🔬🐕
October 2, 2025 at 2:44 PM
And he's a very good boy when it comes to microscopy 🔬🐕
He also accepts that we have to go into work...
October 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM
He also accepts that we have to go into work...
Proof of sleepy floof.
October 2, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Proof of sleepy floof.
You also might like SEM micrograph set - showing the different detectors. T1 = BSE heavy; T2 = ~near surface SE; T3 = very surface SE, and high contrast. From the same titanium alloy sample/area - just with the immersion lens on, and contrast well balanced etc.
(These are quite small areas, 😅)
🧪🔬
(These are quite small areas, 😅)
🧪🔬
September 24, 2025 at 2:15 PM
You also might like SEM micrograph set - showing the different detectors. T1 = BSE heavy; T2 = ~near surface SE; T3 = very surface SE, and high contrast. From the same titanium alloy sample/area - just with the immersion lens on, and contrast well balanced etc.
(These are quite small areas, 😅)
🧪🔬
(These are quite small areas, 😅)
🧪🔬
One joy from my job is that I still get to do some hands on microscopy.
Here we have the microstructure structure of a titanium alloy, as revealed with our new scanning electron microscope.
The width of this image is the same as the width of human hair. 🔬🧪
Here we have the microstructure structure of a titanium alloy, as revealed with our new scanning electron microscope.
The width of this image is the same as the width of human hair. 🔬🧪
September 24, 2025 at 3:04 AM
One joy from my job is that I still get to do some hands on microscopy.
Here we have the microstructure structure of a titanium alloy, as revealed with our new scanning electron microscope.
The width of this image is the same as the width of human hair. 🔬🧪
Here we have the microstructure structure of a titanium alloy, as revealed with our new scanning electron microscope.
The width of this image is the same as the width of human hair. 🔬🧪
Sometimes it's all doom and gloom, and then you catch sunrise.
September 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Sometimes it's all doom and gloom, and then you catch sunrise.
I always have this quotation in mind when I, purposefully, Out myself to a class of engineering students.
(Quote from Cech and Waidzunas 2011
doi.org/10.1080/1937...)
(Quote from Cech and Waidzunas 2011
doi.org/10.1080/1937...)
![Text that reads:
Eric’s responses illustrate the pressures he faced to pass as straight:
Before I was out . . . I happened to laugh in a very gay way and [another student] mocked my laugh in the same kind of gay way that I laughed and then asked me, with obvious hostility, ‘are you gay?’ Other people were around him at the same time. And I said, ‘no,’ I was not gay. (respondent looks visibly uncomfortable at this point; he grimaced as he said this line, tugged at his shirt, shifted in his seat between ‘no’ and ‘I was not gay.’) Fortunately, the conversation ended there, but he really hurt me by that. He made me feel unsafe, and denigrated based on my sexuality. I never forgave him for that. (Eric)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rleo4i4q7co6w53dwecgsdcz/bafkreiepbwj3uat37qesjdud4c2skplx25fpwwnf2ds3swsbcg2moyfzda@jpeg)
September 3, 2025 at 2:25 AM
I always have this quotation in mind when I, purposefully, Out myself to a class of engineering students.
(Quote from Cech and Waidzunas 2011
doi.org/10.1080/1937...)
(Quote from Cech and Waidzunas 2011
doi.org/10.1080/1937...)
I think Waffles likes the adventures here.
September 2, 2025 at 3:22 AM
I think Waffles likes the adventures here.
We can also talk about the IP theft that was performed to train many of the "successful" LLMs - and I seem to recall that most Universities try really hard to protect the IP of their members, and yet, roll over in buying into some of the AI-hype...
www.wired.com/story/anthro...
www.wired.com/story/anthro...
August 29, 2025 at 6:29 PM
We can also talk about the IP theft that was performed to train many of the "successful" LLMs - and I seem to recall that most Universities try really hard to protect the IP of their members, and yet, roll over in buying into some of the AI-hype...
www.wired.com/story/anthro...
www.wired.com/story/anthro...
Forgot to celebrate #InternationalDayOfTheDog, except I did manage to adventure with him 🐕💕
August 27, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Forgot to celebrate #InternationalDayOfTheDog, except I did manage to adventure with him 🐕💕
I stand with workers and their right to withhold their labour via a strike.
I appreciate the intent of Federal Powers that can curtail strikes in a national interest, but invoking then only 12 hrs into a strike feels like an overreach.
#AirCanada
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
I appreciate the intent of Federal Powers that can curtail strikes in a national interest, but invoking then only 12 hrs into a strike feels like an overreach.
#AirCanada
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
August 18, 2025 at 4:08 PM
I stand with workers and their right to withhold their labour via a strike.
I appreciate the intent of Federal Powers that can curtail strikes in a national interest, but invoking then only 12 hrs into a strike feels like an overreach.
#AirCanada
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
I appreciate the intent of Federal Powers that can curtail strikes in a national interest, but invoking then only 12 hrs into a strike feels like an overreach.
#AirCanada
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Waffles would like to wish you a happy Sunday 🐾
August 10, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Waffles would like to wish you a happy Sunday 🐾
If you are in Vancouver, Waffles and I would like to wish you a Happy Pride 🌈
August 4, 2025 at 7:03 PM
If you are in Vancouver, Waffles and I would like to wish you a Happy Pride 🌈
Some people opt for adding an "ally" ribbon to their conference badge.
I opt for dogs with pride flags 🐕🏳️🌈.
(Also, it's a strong floor)
I opt for dogs with pride flags 🐕🏳️🌈.
(Also, it's a strong floor)
July 28, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Some people opt for adding an "ally" ribbon to their conference badge.
I opt for dogs with pride flags 🐕🏳️🌈.
(Also, it's a strong floor)
I opt for dogs with pride flags 🐕🏳️🌈.
(Also, it's a strong floor)
It's a simple headline that hides lots of detail. Most of the renewables have a technical potential that is >1x current energy demands, and they will all help us move forward (probably with some other choices)
For geothermal - it's worth thinking about technical potential & locations
For geothermal - it's worth thinking about technical potential & locations
July 22, 2025 at 2:12 PM
It's a simple headline that hides lots of detail. Most of the renewables have a technical potential that is >1x current energy demands, and they will all help us move forward (probably with some other choices)
For geothermal - it's worth thinking about technical potential & locations
For geothermal - it's worth thinking about technical potential & locations
Waffles hopes your Sunday is relaxing
July 20, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Waffles hopes your Sunday is relaxing
Bat - don't be too pragmatic with these things
Also I said yes to beach, which 🧇s enjoyed 😄
Also I said yes to beach, which 🧇s enjoyed 😄
July 19, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Bat - don't be too pragmatic with these things
Also I said yes to beach, which 🧇s enjoyed 😄
Also I said yes to beach, which 🧇s enjoyed 😄
Woah - this is new - just about to (re)submit a paper, and have this series of Q&A re: sanctions and export control
July 18, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Woah - this is new - just about to (re)submit a paper, and have this series of Q&A re: sanctions and export control
July 17, 2025 at 7:09 PM
I asked Perplexity what vibe physics was - and it gave me a very under informed answer.
This should be enough to tell you that general use of LLMs to try to probe "the edge" of physics, is going to produce a range of nonsense word salad that sort of sounds smart, but is really very batshit.
This should be enough to tell you that general use of LLMs to try to probe "the edge" of physics, is going to produce a range of nonsense word salad that sort of sounds smart, but is really very batshit.
July 16, 2025 at 5:53 AM
I asked Perplexity what vibe physics was - and it gave me a very under informed answer.
This should be enough to tell you that general use of LLMs to try to probe "the edge" of physics, is going to produce a range of nonsense word salad that sort of sounds smart, but is really very batshit.
This should be enough to tell you that general use of LLMs to try to probe "the edge" of physics, is going to produce a range of nonsense word salad that sort of sounds smart, but is really very batshit.
My dog electing to spend time chilling with me on the sofa is a perfect "welcome home" gift.
July 16, 2025 at 4:46 AM
My dog electing to spend time chilling with me on the sofa is a perfect "welcome home" gift.