Mike Simpson
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mdsimpson.co.uk
Mike Simpson
@mdsimpson.co.uk
160 followers 220 following 98 posts
Professional nerd, father, photographer, gamer, aspiring writer, sci-fi addict and code monkey.

- RSE at @ncl-rse.bsky.social
- Vice-president of @society-rse.org
- @softwaresaved.bsky.social Fellow

My views are my own 🇺🇦 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

https://linktr.ee/mdsimpson
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mdsimpson.co.uk
I think I might be cursed!

I'm still going to carry on with my review of the game for my Year of Gaming challenge, but by the time it comes out, you won't be able to buy it! 😂
A screenshot of Mike's Steam activity. On November 6th, he played Battlestar Galactica Deadlock for the first time. On November 7th, the developers announced that the game will no longer be sold from November 15th!
November 13, 2025 at 8:01 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
CinemaSins getting a bit too real in their Thunderbolts video!
Subtitles from the video "Everything Wrong with Thunderbolts" by CimenaSins. The subtitles read "No! The point of work is to earn money to pay the bills that billionaires refuse to pay on our behalf until we die unhappy and in debt!"
November 11, 2025 at 8:01 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
Thank you to everyone who came to my talk at #RSECon25, and all the others over the last few months. It's been amazing to hear all the kind words and to see all the support for better #MentalHealth in our community.

Let's keep the conversation going: mdsimpson42.github.io/converse/joi...
Mike Simpson looking nervous during a talk at the 2025 UK RSE Conference. He's standing at the front of the room next to a lecturn, wearing a black SSI t-shirt and green Mental Health First Aider lanyard. Photo by Squire & Squire Photography.
October 8, 2025 at 7:01 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
Got to meet nerd royalty at #RSECon25: the hilarious Matt Parker (@standupmaths.bsky.social). 🤓
A photo of me standing next to Matt Parker.
September 9, 2025 at 9:21 PM
mdsimpson.co.uk
Come and say hi if you see me at #RSECon25 next week, and stop by the @softwaresaved.bsky.social stand to pick up the brand-new, version 2.0 "Let's Talk About Mental Health" leaflets and stickers.

mdsimpson42.github.io/converse/
September 4, 2025 at 7:01 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
In September, I'll be back on the road, bringing my talk to #RSECon25, #RSAA25 and @theturing.bsky.social. I'll discuss what I've been up to so far, the ConveRSE website and future plans for my @softwaresaved.bsky.social Fellowship.
August 29, 2025 at 7:00 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
Anyone else playing Apocalypse Bingo? 😬
A photo of a massive locust in a person's hand. Headline reads: "First Egyptian Locust found in Cornwall garden this year".
August 26, 2025 at 10:25 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
Inventor of the real-life Torment Nexus from the book "Don't Create the Torment Nexus" is surprised that it is being used for torment.
A screenshot of a headline about OpenAI CEO Sam Altmann saying "some folk are using AI in self-destructive ways"
August 14, 2025 at 7:57 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
#TerryPratchett #Quote
"Amazin’,” he said again. “He just looks as though he’s thinking, right?” “Er . . . yes.” “But he’s not actually thinking?” “Er . . . no.” “So . . . he just gives the impression of thinking but really it’s just a show?” “Er . . . yes.” “Just like everyone else, then, really,” said Ridcully. - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather (Discworld, #20)
August 5, 2025 at 7:00 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
I am the chosen one! 😍 #Puppy #Dog
An 11-week-old chocolate Labrador puppy curled up on my lap.
July 27, 2025 at 10:33 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
USB fan + power bank = portable cooling! 😎
A photo of a USB-powered fan, sitting on a table, plugged into to a small portable power bank. The fan has a magnetic, silver Star Trek comm badge attached to the centre of the casing.
June 21, 2025 at 4:48 PM
mdsimpson.co.uk
One of the many, many highlights from @softwaresaved.bsky.social #CollabW25 was getting to meet my fellow Fellows and hearing about all the fascinating and varied work that everyone is doing. Still feeling amazed and honoured to be among them!
The 2025 SSI Fellows posing for a group photo. About 25 people standing or sitting in three rows.
June 3, 2025 at 7:01 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
This week, I'm heading to Lancaster, Durham and (virtually, unfortunately!) The Netherlands to deliver my @softwaresaved.bsky.social Fellowship #MentalHealth talk. Wish me luck!
A photo of Mike Simpson, next to the title of the talk "ConveRSE - Let's Talk About Mental Health". Below is the SSI logo and the text "Dr Mike Simpson - 2025 SSI Fellow".
June 2, 2025 at 9:22 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
Well, I'm off, it's just me and the dog in the house... and, of course, it's raining! Oh well, time to get away from the screens for a bit and start a new #Lego set. 🤓
A partially assembled Lego Millennium Falcon (not the expensive one, unfortunately) next to the instruction manual.
May 27, 2025 at 3:54 PM
mdsimpson.co.uk
Heading home after another amazing CW. It was great to catch up with faces old and new. Thank you to those who talked to me about mental health, I'm feeling inspired and excited to move forward.

Thank you to Kyro and everyone at @softwaresaved.bsky.social for pulling it off once again! #CollabW25
A statue of the University of Stirling logo, standing next to a lake, with mountains, trees and the sunset in the background.
May 16, 2025 at 11:18 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
Delighted to announce 'ConveRSE' - the new online hub for #MentalHealth information, resources and support for people in the research software community - at @softwaresaved.bsky.social #CollabW25.

More details and opportunities to contribute to follow in the coming weeks.
A hexagonal laptop sticker, with the ConveRSE logo (Conve and RSE in adjoining speech bubbles) on a purple background, decorated with more, smaller speech bubbles. Under the logo is the text: "Let's Talk About Mental Health".
May 13, 2025 at 1:26 PM
mdsimpson.co.uk
Racing through the beautiful Scottish countryside in glorious sunshine on my way to @softwaresaved.bsky.social #CollabW25. Excited for another few days of ideas and conversations, and giving my lightning talk, of course!
The Collaborations Workshop logo over a road heading into the distance.
May 12, 2025 at 1:07 PM
mdsimpson.co.uk
Who's the worst guard dog in the whole damn world? #BassetHound #Dog
A photo of a basset hound taken from the living room window. His head is on the back of an armchair but he is fast asleep.
May 10, 2025 at 2:10 PM
mdsimpson.co.uk
Last week, I qualified as a Mental Health First Aider to help me prepare for talking about #MentalHealth as part of my @SoftwareSaved.bsky.social Fellowship. I'll be at CW25 next week and I will have news of some other upcoming talks soon.
The text "Mental Health First Aider" and the MHFA England logo on a green background.
May 8, 2025 at 7:01 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
This is kinda my whole problem with them. The best response they can come up with for "why should I vote for you?" is "because we're not those guys!" 🙄
A Labour Party pamphlet with some graphs and text but the whole message is "Don't risk letting Reform win here"
May 1, 2025 at 5:39 PM
mdsimpson.co.uk
This time, 5 years ago... ❤️
#Baby #Fatherhood
A man sitting in a hospital chair, holding a little bundle wrapped in cloth. He's smiling at the camera, but looks nervous and exhausted. The baby has forcep scars on his cheek.
April 19, 2025 at 7:06 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
Figured some of you might need some emergency Marv this morning! #Dog #BassetHound
A basset hound lying on his back on the floor, looking seductively up at the camera.
April 16, 2025 at 7:19 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
Oh, so it's our fault that there's no hand rails and the seats are small and uncomfortable, is it? 🙄
A photo of an advert on the new Tyne and Wear metro train which says "With 23,000 responses to our design consultation, your new metro was shaped by you."
April 12, 2025 at 9:01 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
Another post I forgot to share! 🤦‍♂️ I appeared on an episode of @code4thought.bsky.social to talk about project management in GitHub. In this post, I provide some context and link to some related talks and resources.

mdsimpson.co.uk/2025/03/byte...
The Code for thought Webpage, describing the episode 'ByteSized RSE: Project Management with GitHub'. Text reads: "English Edition: How can repository services like GitHub or GitLab help you manage your project. Listen to my conversation with three guests, Gemma Turon (Ersilia), Ben Clifford (Parsl) and Mike Simpson (Uni Newcastle) how they use GitHub PM tools effectively in their work."
April 10, 2025 at 7:00 AM
mdsimpson.co.uk
I realise I forgot to promote this. I wrote a blog post that gives a bit more context to my SSI fellowship (and links to my other blog post). #MentalHealth #RSEng

mdsimpson.co.uk/2025/03/my-s...
A photo of Mike Simpson, next to the words "supporting mental health in the research software community" and the SSI logo
April 3, 2025 at 7:00 AM