Steve Fox
@drstephenfox.bsky.social
Glasgow/Edinburgh DataManager/Steward
Reposted by Steve Fox
1/15 Every wet lab uses spreadsheets.
But sloppy spreadsheets waste time, break code, and can cost you $450,000 a year. Here's how to fix that 🧵
But sloppy spreadsheets waste time, break code, and can cost you $450,000 a year. Here's how to fix that 🧵
September 6, 2025 at 1:15 PM
1/15 Every wet lab uses spreadsheets.
But sloppy spreadsheets waste time, break code, and can cost you $450,000 a year. Here's how to fix that 🧵
But sloppy spreadsheets waste time, break code, and can cost you $450,000 a year. Here's how to fix that 🧵
Reposted by Steve Fox
🧵 Skytorial 1 – Introduction to @github.com for Researchers
1/ 🚀 What is GitHub and why should you care about it as a researcher?
👉 It is a platform for organizing projects, saving versions of your work, and collaborating with others.
You don't need to know how to code to take advantage of it.
1/ 🚀 What is GitHub and why should you care about it as a researcher?
👉 It is a platform for organizing projects, saving versions of your work, and collaborating with others.
You don't need to know how to code to take advantage of it.
August 30, 2025 at 9:08 PM
🧵 Skytorial 1 – Introduction to @github.com for Researchers
1/ 🚀 What is GitHub and why should you care about it as a researcher?
👉 It is a platform for organizing projects, saving versions of your work, and collaborating with others.
You don't need to know how to code to take advantage of it.
1/ 🚀 What is GitHub and why should you care about it as a researcher?
👉 It is a platform for organizing projects, saving versions of your work, and collaborating with others.
You don't need to know how to code to take advantage of it.
Reposted by Steve Fox
Many have sworn off spreadsheets, others swear by them. Some swear profusely when they’re forced to use them. New @nature.com, six questions to make the most of your spreadsheets in science. 🧪 Feat @yabellini.bsky.social @cghlewis.bsky.social & more #datasci www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Six questions to ask before jumping into a spreadsheet
Spreadsheet software can be frustrating, but adopting some helpful habits can improve its effectiveness.
www.nature.com
August 11, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Many have sworn off spreadsheets, others swear by them. Some swear profusely when they’re forced to use them. New @nature.com, six questions to make the most of your spreadsheets in science. 🧪 Feat @yabellini.bsky.social @cghlewis.bsky.social & more #datasci www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Steve Fox
Nature Method: Temporal and spatial omics technologies for 4D profiling
www.nature.com/articles/s4...
www.nature.com/articles/s4...
Temporal and spatial omics technologies for 4D profiling
Nature Methods - This Perspective explores advances and future directions in spatiotemporal omics methods for four-dimensional profiling.
www.nature.com
August 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Nature Method: Temporal and spatial omics technologies for 4D profiling
www.nature.com/articles/s4...
www.nature.com/articles/s4...
Reposted by Steve Fox
🚨 NEW today in Nature Genetics: the LISTEN principles are a FAIR-compatible framework that will allow genetic sequence databases to seamlessly participate in new multilateral access and benefit-sharing systems, such as the CBD Cali Fund and the WHO PABS System. 🧬🧪
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The LISTEN principles for genetic sequence data governance and database engineering - Nature Genetics
This Perspective proposes a checklist of six database design considerations, LISTEN: licensed, identified, supervised, transparent, enforced and non-exclusive, aimed at ensuring access and benefit-sharing principles in open science.
www.nature.com
July 28, 2025 at 1:03 PM
🚨 NEW today in Nature Genetics: the LISTEN principles are a FAIR-compatible framework that will allow genetic sequence databases to seamlessly participate in new multilateral access and benefit-sharing systems, such as the CBD Cali Fund and the WHO PABS System. 🧬🧪
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Steve Fox
Scientists overwhelmingly recognize the value of sharing null results, but rarely publish them in the research literature
go.nature.com/450KElr
go.nature.com/450KElr
Researchers value null results, but struggle to publish them
Survey finds that fear of reputational harm and a lack of support and publication platforms are among respondents’ key concerns.
go.nature.com
July 23, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Scientists overwhelmingly recognize the value of sharing null results, but rarely publish them in the research literature
go.nature.com/450KElr
go.nature.com/450KElr
Reposted by Steve Fox
Issue 4 of RDM Weekly is out now! 📫
- Data, Behind the Scenes Conference @randyau.com
- Intro to SQL @tladeras.bsky.social
- Setting up a FAIR and Reproducible Project @heidiseibold.bsky.social
- Making Data Pipelines in R @meghansharris.bsky.social
and more!
open.substack.com/pub/rdmweekl...
- Data, Behind the Scenes Conference @randyau.com
- Intro to SQL @tladeras.bsky.social
- Setting up a FAIR and Reproducible Project @heidiseibold.bsky.social
- Making Data Pipelines in R @meghansharris.bsky.social
and more!
open.substack.com/pub/rdmweekl...
RDM Weekly - Issue 004
A weekly roundup of Research Data Management resources.
open.substack.com
July 15, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Issue 4 of RDM Weekly is out now! 📫
- Data, Behind the Scenes Conference @randyau.com
- Intro to SQL @tladeras.bsky.social
- Setting up a FAIR and Reproducible Project @heidiseibold.bsky.social
- Making Data Pipelines in R @meghansharris.bsky.social
and more!
open.substack.com/pub/rdmweekl...
- Data, Behind the Scenes Conference @randyau.com
- Intro to SQL @tladeras.bsky.social
- Setting up a FAIR and Reproducible Project @heidiseibold.bsky.social
- Making Data Pipelines in R @meghansharris.bsky.social
and more!
open.substack.com/pub/rdmweekl...
Reposted by Steve Fox
1/5 For upcoming work I lately read some articles on handling mistakes in science. They share an important consensus I think everyone should know:
Mistakes are a failure of systems, not people. In a working system, making a mistake is normal, but inconsequential. 🧵
Mistakes are a failure of systems, not people. In a working system, making a mistake is normal, but inconsequential. 🧵
July 14, 2025 at 4:38 PM
1/5 For upcoming work I lately read some articles on handling mistakes in science. They share an important consensus I think everyone should know:
Mistakes are a failure of systems, not people. In a working system, making a mistake is normal, but inconsequential. 🧵
Mistakes are a failure of systems, not people. In a working system, making a mistake is normal, but inconsequential. 🧵
Reposted by Steve Fox
Very cool to see authors of this article mentioning the importance of sharing project-, data-, AND variable-level documentation alongside data in a repository, and linking to the templates I've provided on OSF as an example! 🌟
doi.org/10.1515/ling...
doi.org/10.1515/ling...
July 8, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Very cool to see authors of this article mentioning the importance of sharing project-, data-, AND variable-level documentation alongside data in a repository, and linking to the templates I've provided on OSF as an example! 🌟
doi.org/10.1515/ling...
doi.org/10.1515/ling...
Reposted by Steve Fox
The NIH Strategic Plan for Data Science (2025-2030).
datascience.nih.gov/sites/defaul...
datascience.nih.gov/sites/defaul...
July 7, 2025 at 3:06 PM
The NIH Strategic Plan for Data Science (2025-2030).
datascience.nih.gov/sites/defaul...
datascience.nih.gov/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Steve Fox
While framed as a critique of Apple’s recent paper, I found this article mostly interesting because it made me think about reasoning in general: mikecaulfield.substack.com/p/the-apple-...
The Apple "Reasoning Collapse" Paper Is Even Dumber Than You Think
We're this far into reasoners and neither hypesters nor skeptics really understand their significance. Also: Read Toulmin.
mikecaulfield.substack.com
June 14, 2025 at 7:01 PM
While framed as a critique of Apple’s recent paper, I found this article mostly interesting because it made me think about reasoning in general: mikecaulfield.substack.com/p/the-apple-...
Reposted by Steve Fox
Your genome is not a blueprint. A thread about misleading metaphors in science communication. 🧬🧪 1/n
June 14, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Your genome is not a blueprint. A thread about misleading metaphors in science communication. 🧬🧪 1/n
Reposted by Steve Fox
Perhaps the worst data visualization job on the internet so far.. 🙄
May 14, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Perhaps the worst data visualization job on the internet so far.. 🙄
Reposted by Steve Fox
Want to tell us about your challenges in interdisciplinary research within bioinformatics & biomedicine?
Please take our HxC survey!
Our aim is to create lasting change and address barriers to interdisciplinary collaboration and creativity
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/edinburgh/...
Thank you
Please take our HxC survey!
Our aim is to create lasting change and address barriers to interdisciplinary collaboration and creativity
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/edinburgh/...
Thank you
HxC Survey on Interdisciplinary Work
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk
May 13, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Want to tell us about your challenges in interdisciplinary research within bioinformatics & biomedicine?
Please take our HxC survey!
Our aim is to create lasting change and address barriers to interdisciplinary collaboration and creativity
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/edinburgh/...
Thank you
Please take our HxC survey!
Our aim is to create lasting change and address barriers to interdisciplinary collaboration and creativity
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/edinburgh/...
Thank you
Reposted by Steve Fox
Remember when you first learned about genetics at school? All those fascinating examples of human traits that are each apparently determined by just a single gene? Time to check in on some of your favourites to see how they’re doing. 🧬🧵🧪 1/n
May 2, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Remember when you first learned about genetics at school? All those fascinating examples of human traits that are each apparently determined by just a single gene? Time to check in on some of your favourites to see how they’re doing. 🧬🧵🧪 1/n
Reposted by Steve Fox
Someday, maybe I'll find the time to write this up in article format. #databs
cghlewis.com/talk/sssp_ecf/
cghlewis.com/talk/sssp_ecf/
Ten Common Data Management Mistakes | Crystal Lewis
Slides from a presentation given to the Society for the Study of School Psychology Early Career Forum.
cghlewis.com
April 10, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Someday, maybe I'll find the time to write this up in article format. #databs
cghlewis.com/talk/sssp_ecf/
cghlewis.com/talk/sssp_ecf/
Reposted by Steve Fox
Reposted by Steve Fox
I love this paper on developing a streamlined process for sharing data through direct personal requests (e.g., collaborators, students, etc.). It walks through the typical stages of that process and also provides factors that you may consider adding in a DUA.
direct.mit.edu/imag/article...
direct.mit.edu/imag/article...
April 4, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I love this paper on developing a streamlined process for sharing data through direct personal requests (e.g., collaborators, students, etc.). It walks through the typical stages of that process and also provides factors that you may consider adding in a DUA.
direct.mit.edu/imag/article...
direct.mit.edu/imag/article...
Reposted by Steve Fox
NEW from me: it's not that universities are woke or anti-woke, left right or centre. The Higher Ed crisis is down to the fact that they're exhausted, burnt-out and staggering under their many burdens. Read all about it: danperry.substack.com/p/the-great-...
The Great University Unravelling
GLEN O’HARA WRITES: Once engines of progress, Anglo-American institutions of higher learning now seem exhausted, underfunded, and unsure of their purpose.
danperry.substack.com
March 27, 2025 at 5:12 PM
NEW from me: it's not that universities are woke or anti-woke, left right or centre. The Higher Ed crisis is down to the fact that they're exhausted, burnt-out and staggering under their many burdens. Read all about it: danperry.substack.com/p/the-great-...
Reposted by Steve Fox
I was on DW News yesterday discussing Trump's attacks on science, and here is a clip where I was talking about the importance - and joy - of diversity in science.
March 27, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I was on DW News yesterday discussing Trump's attacks on science, and here is a clip where I was talking about the importance - and joy - of diversity in science.
Reposted by Steve Fox
There's so many ways to collect bad survey data.
A few resources that might help:
1. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
2. www.nber.org/system/files...
3. www.pewresearch.org/writing-surv...
4. www.povertyactionlab.org/resource/sur...
5. tinyurl.com/38ke2jnh
6. datamgmtinedresearch.com/collect
A few resources that might help:
1. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
2. www.nber.org/system/files...
3. www.pewresearch.org/writing-surv...
4. www.povertyactionlab.org/resource/sur...
5. tinyurl.com/38ke2jnh
6. datamgmtinedresearch.com/collect
Science friends!
Many of you, alarmed by grant funding cuts that make expensive field ecology research difficult or impossible, have been thinking about what to do instead. Great idea.
Some of you have been saying "I'll just do some social science surveys," without learning how. Bad idea! 🧵🧪
Many of you, alarmed by grant funding cuts that make expensive field ecology research difficult or impossible, have been thinking about what to do instead. Great idea.
Some of you have been saying "I'll just do some social science surveys," without learning how. Bad idea! 🧵🧪
March 19, 2025 at 3:34 PM
There's so many ways to collect bad survey data.
A few resources that might help:
1. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
2. www.nber.org/system/files...
3. www.pewresearch.org/writing-surv...
4. www.povertyactionlab.org/resource/sur...
5. tinyurl.com/38ke2jnh
6. datamgmtinedresearch.com/collect
A few resources that might help:
1. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
2. www.nber.org/system/files...
3. www.pewresearch.org/writing-surv...
4. www.povertyactionlab.org/resource/sur...
5. tinyurl.com/38ke2jnh
6. datamgmtinedresearch.com/collect
Reposted by Steve Fox
Watching the US take a wrecking ball to science 💔 🤯
Reminder of the importance of doing science in the open. Put data, software, resources in public domain, where no single govt can erase them. This is our collective knowledge. Distributed data systems are essential.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reminder of the importance of doing science in the open. Put data, software, resources in public domain, where no single govt can erase them. This is our collective knowledge. Distributed data systems are essential.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Genomic data sharing: you don’t know what you’ve got (till it’s gone) - Nature Reviews Genetics
Reflecting on the core values of early data sharing agreements, the Bermuda Principles and the Fort Lauderdale Agreement, Kathryn E. Holt and Michael Inouye emphasize the need to reaffirm our commitme...
www.nature.com
March 17, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Watching the US take a wrecking ball to science 💔 🤯
Reminder of the importance of doing science in the open. Put data, software, resources in public domain, where no single govt can erase them. This is our collective knowledge. Distributed data systems are essential.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reminder of the importance of doing science in the open. Put data, software, resources in public domain, where no single govt can erase them. This is our collective knowledge. Distributed data systems are essential.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Steve Fox
Nice piece in @plosbiology.org about how to use #GitHub to run your wet lab, enhancing reproducibility and facilitating collaborations. Includes a template (github.com/rasilab/gith...) and examples...
February 17, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Nice piece in @plosbiology.org about how to use #GitHub to run your wet lab, enhancing reproducibility and facilitating collaborations. Includes a template (github.com/rasilab/gith...) and examples...