David Fisher
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dfishstats.bsky.social
David Fisher
@dfishstats.bsky.social
210 followers 310 following 23 posts
Principal Research Fellow, MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, London. Medical statistician and meta-analysis methodologist. profiles.ucl.ac.uk/6604

Likes: cycling, hiking, maps, maths, whimsy. 90s-00s sad indie kid. Leftie woke blob adjacent.
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Reposted by David Fisher
robinbisson.bsky.social
The reforms to UKRI under Ian Chapman are only just starting, but there are already worries about what they mean for the bread and butter, applicant-led funding calls at research councils

While UKRI insists comparisons with previous years are impossible, figures from December suggest...
January 28, 2026 at 8:56 AM
Reposted by David Fisher
iansudbery.bsky.social
I'm seeing relatively little chatter or outcry about what is happening at the MRC, the UK's biomedical research funder.

Before Christmas MRC paused the acceptance of many of its grants, including the standard applicant-led research grant. There has been no public information on what is happening 🧵
January 23, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
samthielman.com
I just thought everyone should see this
Dr Kareem Carr man: i wish to publish @kareem_carr Jan 21 reviewer 2: your paper is no good man: i'll do anything to improve reviewer 2: it's simple. you must read the work of the great scientist Pagliarini man: *bursts into tears* but i am Pagliarini Andre Pagliarini @apagliar Jan 21 a first: in rejecting an article I submitted to a journal, reviewer 2 noted I failed to engage the work of one Andre Pagliarini Jan 21, 2026 • 3:47 PM UTC
January 22, 2026 at 11:02 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
852dude.bsky.social
BUNNY CORE
January 20, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
angeloslh.bsky.social
RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open 'just to do quick research'
January 13, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
depthsofwikipedia.bsky.social
wikipedia turns 25 today! the last unenshittified major website! backbone of online info! triumph of humanity! powered by urge of unpaid randos to correct each other! somehow mostly reliable! "good thing wikipedia works in practice, because it sure doesn't work in theory" - old wiki adage
January 15, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
robinbisson.bsky.social
The MRC's decision to stop funding research units is biting

Four out of five units at the University of Cambridge will run out of funding by 2027, and staff at risk of redundancty are considering action, @isaacbarbosa1.bsky.social reports

An insider said Cambridge is in "an awful position"
Union staff at Cambridge MRC research units consider action - Research Professional News
Medical Research Council under renewed criticism for putting university in “awful position” as redundancies loom
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
champierth.bsky.social
I wonder how much of the problem is that the masses have been groomed to be suspicious of people with intelligence rather than people with money.
January 14, 2026 at 9:19 AM
Reposted by David Fisher
garius.bsky.social
Have seen a number of the ads in this campaign around London.

It's fascinating how heavily targetted it is at the people who come up to London once in December, go to Oxford Street and Winter Wonderland, then spend the rest of the year banging on about how terrible London is.
luketurner.bsky.social Luke Turner @luketurner.bsky.social · Dec 21
“Arsehole? Then our vodka’s for *you*”
December 21, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Reposted by David Fisher
iucounu.bsky.social
—I’ve been asked to baptise the King of Spain’s daughter
—Infanta?
—No, holy water as usual. Weird thing to ask honestly
December 15, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
robinince.bsky.social
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Reposted by David Fisher
ianvisits.co.uk
The hidden chemical attack that forced the Northern line’s extraordinary repair

www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
The hidden chemical attack that forced the Northern line’s extraordinary repair
Thirty years ago, an entire section of the Northern line had to be replaced because it was under attack from acid, and hardly anyone noticed that it was happening.
www.ianvisits.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Reposted by David Fisher
mrcctu.bsky.social
We drive global research to improve HIV care for the next generation.

On #WorldAIDSDay, we share a thread highlighting our latest #ClinicalTrials that are transforming treatment for children and young people living with #HIV, helping them lead healthier, happier lives.

🧵
Red ribbon image with the text "World AIDS Day 2025 #WorldAIDSDay"
December 1, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
bfletcherwatson.bsky.social
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
"Years and years ago, there was a production of The Tempest, out of doors, at an Oxford college on a lawn, which was the stage, and the lawn went back towards the lake in the grounds of the college, and the play began in natural light. But as it developed, and as it became time for Ariel to say his farewell to the world of The Tempest, the evening had started to close in and there was some artificial lighting coming on. And as Ariel uttered his last speech, he turned and he ran across the grass, and he got to the edge of the lake and he just kept running across the top of the water — the producer having thoughtfully provided a kind of walkway an inch beneath the water. And you could see and you could hear the plish, plash as he ran away from you across the top of the lake, until the gloom enveloped him and he disappeared from your view. And as he did so, from the further shore, a firework rocket was ignited, and it went whoosh into the air, and high up there it burst into lots of sparks, and all the sparks went out, and he had gone. "When you look up the stage directions, it says, 'Exit Ariel.”
November 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
mrchrisaddison.bsky.social
1. It's been A Year, hasn't it? Maybe this time we should start with something delightful and calming. In that spirit, here's Max Bruch's lovely lullaby, 'Wiegenlied der Hirten', cradle-song of the shepherds, as sung incredibly sweetly by the Gächinger Kantorei.

youtu.be/FqFwp_NiKAs?...
Max Bruch »Wiegenlied der Hirten« | Gaechinger Cantorey | Hans-Christoph Rademann
YouTube video by bachakademie
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Reposted by David Fisher
davidho.bsky.social
For those wondering how you get on and off a penny-farthing.

*A guy walking by said to his companion, “That looks incredibly dangerous.” 😅
November 16, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
paulsinha.bsky.social
If the UK is on the brink of civil war, as Musk claims, it follows that in 300 years time there will be be a new generation of civil war re-enactment societies.

"Geoff,you defend Laurence Fox. Can you guys shout outside a hostel. Brian, i need you to relentlessly slag off Nish Kumar on Facebook."
November 15, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by David Fisher
stephencollins.bsky.social
Every ad now
[Scene is a kitchen - a middle aged woman called JANET is boiling peas at the stove. A younger more colourfully dressed woman named LIZ approached her.] JANET: Ugh... LIZ: What's up? JANET: I am so bored of cooking peas! LIZ: Have you tried... AI peas? JANET: AI peas? LIZ: They're peas with AI! [Liz holds up to us a packet of peas labelled: Pea-i AI - Peas with AI]. LIZ: Al-powered peas harness the potential of your peas JANET: What LIZ [Now a voiceover as we cut to a whizzy technology diagram of peas all connected by meaningless dotted lines] Why not take your peas to the next level with Al Peas' new Al tools to power your peas? [Show a techno diagram of a pea with a label reading 'AI' pointing to a random zone in it] LIZ: Each pea has Al in a way we haven't quite worked out yet but it's fine [Show Janet and Liz now in a Matrix-style world of peas] LIZ: With Al peas you can supercharge productivity and make AI work for your peas! JANET: What LIZ: Shut up LIZ: Our game-changing Pea-Al gives you the freedom to unlock the potential of the power of the future of your peas workflow From opening the bag of peas to boiling the peas to eating the peas To spending millions on adding Al to the peas and then having to work out what that even means. JANET: Is it really necessary to- LIZ [Grabbing Janet by the collar]: THE PEAS HAVE GOT AI, JANET [Cut to an advert ending screen, with the bag of peas and the slogan: AI PEAS: Just 'Peas' for god's sake buy the AI peas. [Ends]
November 13, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
sarahjeong.bsky.social
how did i go so long not knowing we were literally teaching people to read wrong. i knew something wasn't right but jesus christ www.apmreports.org/episode/2019...
How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers
For decades, schools have taught children the strategies of struggling readers, using a theory about reading that cognitive scientists have repeatedly debunked. And many teachers and parents don't kno...
www.apmreports.org
November 11, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
monkemma.bsky.social
We’re going to see more of this ridiculous “they’re cancelling Christmas” narrative.

It’s basically Rage-Bait LAW from the 12th November, just as soon as Poppy Rage is over.

Try not to get sucked in👍🏼

It’s not good for your blood pressure to get so angry about imaginary problems

12/15
November 8, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
sturdyalex.bsky.social
I'm just asking questions.
November 4, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
irisvanrooij.bsky.social
‘Study after study shows that students want to develop these critical thinking skills, are not lazy, and large numbers of them would be in favor of banning ChatGPT and similar tools in universities’, says @olivia.science www.ru.nl/en/research/...
‘Opposing the inevitability of AI at universities is possible and necessary’ | Radboud University
Since the widespread release of ChatGPT in December of 2022, AI has taken over much of the world by storm – including academia. Most of this happened with very little pushback, despite a myriad of iss...
www.ru.nl
November 1, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
amberleymuseum.bsky.social
#Museum30
We're Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre.
We have been Amberley Chalk Pits and Amberley Working Museum.
We're in a disused chalk quarry on the South Downs.
We tell the story of the chalk pits and lime burning and host a wide selection of craft and industrial exhibitions.
November 1, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Reposted by David Fisher
garius.bsky.social
Tolkien fought in the Battle of the Somme. He saw the horrors of war, and the moments of bravery and fear within it up close.

And after all that. ALL that. He wrote Lord of the Rings. He declared true bravery and masculinity to be love, friendship and humbleness.

Musk is everything he hated.
October 29, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Reposted by David Fisher
davidho.bsky.social
It should be called Hurricane Exxon.
zacklabe.com Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · Oct 28
To understand the climate connection to Hurricane Melissa, check out our real-time attribution page at @climatecentral.org: www.climatecentral.org/tropical-cyc...

"Climate change made the ocean temperatures along Melissa's path 500 to 900 times more likely."
Screenshot that says "Melissa has passed over waters made 1.4°C warmer, on average, by climate change." and "Climate change made the ocean temperatures along Melissa's path 500 to 900 times more likely." along with a map of Hurricane Melissa's path.
October 28, 2025 at 3:49 PM