Prof Rebecca Hoyle

A person is standing against a blue illustrated background and holding a large photo of a child wearing a pink top. To the left, text reads ‘Lee Chan – Insight lead.’ At the bottom, a yellow text box contains a personal statement about choosing a career in applied social research in government and encouraging others from similar backgrounds to consider this path.

A person stands against a colourful background with abstract shapes and holds a printed photo of an elephant next to two people outdoors. Text at the top reads: ‘Dr Alicia Demirjian – Consultant Epidemiologist and Clinical Lead for Antimicrobial Resistance and Prescribing.’ A yellow text box at the bottom contains a message encouraging curiosity, asking questions, striving for excellence, working hard, and enjoying the journey as well as the destination.

A person stands against a green and blue illustrated background with science-themed icons and holds a printed photo of a child wearing a purple dress and standing outdoors. Text on the left reads: ‘Dr Marie Chattaway – Unit Head of Gastrointestinal bacteria reference unit.’ A yellow text box at the bottom contains a message about discovering a career in microbiology, being open to opportunities, exploring, asking questions, learning from failure, being brave enough to try, and moving forward without needing to have everything figured out.

A person stands against a bright blue and green illustrated background with science-themed icons and holds a printed photograph of a child wearing a dress and standing outdoors. A yellow text box on the left displays the name ‘Oyebimpe Balogun’ with the title ‘International Health Regulations Strengthening Project, Nigeria – Technical Adviser for Laboratory Systems.’ A larger yellow text box at the bottom contains a message describing an early visit to a bottling company in Sokoto, Nigeria, observing young people performing quality control tests, and how this experience inspired a future career in laboratory science. The message encourages determination, resilience, and transforming obstacles into stepping stones toward success.

Did you see these stories from some of our female scientists recently?

On #InternationalWomensDay, we thought we would reshare them to celebrate the incredible contributions women make across UKHSA. 🔬🧪

I recently found some of these self-seeded in my garden. I’d never seen them before and was completely delighted to find out they are called summer snowflakes. Lovely flowers and lovely name!

How far back in time can you understand English? An experiment in language change

This is super interesting.

The last one I can read fluently is 1600.

I can then still read it and figure out (almost) every word, with some puzzling, but then lose it almost completely at 1200.

www.deadlanguagesociety.com/p/how-far-ba...

"I am the farm worker going home at evening": gender fluidity, rural landscapes, and the Women's Land Army Archivist Lottie Wood explores gender and landscapes in E. M. Barraud's reflections on her time in the Women's Land Army.

A common fictional narrative shows people with nonconforming identities finding self-acceptance in towns and cities.

This #LGBTQHistoryMonth, archivist Lottie Wood explores how author E. M. Barraud found the opposite, through rural work and the Women’s Land Army.

merl.reading.ac.uk/news-and-vie...

‘Let’s treat writing as shared infrastructure rather than private struggle’ Academic writing is often framed as something faculty should simply manage better; when they struggle, the blame is put on the individual academic. But this explanation doesn’t hold, as Rachel Gabriele explains

Academic #writing is often framed as something faculty should simply manage better; when they struggle, the blame is put on the individual academic. But this explanation doesn’t hold, as Rachel Gabriele explains: https://ow.ly/kFFA50YiI3g #Academia #HigherEd #AcademicSky

Why it’s funnier when you’re not allowed to laugh Suppressing laughter in solemn settings can backfire. Here’s what brain science says about why ‘church giggles’ feel unstoppable.

Suppressing laughter in solemn settings can backfire. Here’s what brain science says about why ‘church giggles’ feel unstoppable.

The Bucket Stops Here UKRI’s new funding framework takes a stab at classifying budgets – but doesn’t yet govern research

Bucket theory is unglamorous but very important. @ersatzben.com is forensic here - a must read for those interested in UK research policy
www.ersatzben.com/p/the-bucket...

The five most romantic paintings of all time – according to art historians From first dates to sleeping lovers, these are the paintings that have touched the hearts of our experts.

From first dates to sleeping lovers, these are the paintings that have touched the hearts of our experts.

JOB ALERT! Lecturer in Biological Sciences Come and join us in the world class Life Sciences Building at the University of Bristol! Closing date: Sunday 8 March

JOB ALERT! Lecturer in Biological Sciences Interested in our research areas? Click the link in our bio to discover more! Closing date: Sunday 8 March

JOB ALERT!

We are excited to announce that we are recruiting three new academics at lecturer level!

Click the link below for more info on how to apply, and don’t forget to explore our research themes too!

We look forward to receiving your applications!

www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...

“I’ve reviewed over 50 sticky toffee puddings” is an incredibly powerful way to begin a video

Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.

A few days ago we lost an important hidden figure in the history of 20th century Cold War technology—Gladys West’s work and insights were essential in the creation of GPS:

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Fun thing about the 72 microseasons featured in this book: nobody’s really sure where the ‘traditional’ 72 came from (or how ‘ancient’ they are), but if you’re following the calendar they’re based on, the year starts tomorrow.

Some initial reactions to the 'published on a Sunday afternoon' letter from the CEO of UKRI. 🧵

www.ukri.org/news/open-le...

The Trust are grateful for the ongoing support from The University of Surrey, who continue to build on the legacy of Professor Daphne Jackson. The Trust spoke with two Daphne Jackson Fellows who were hosted at The University of Surrey about their experience returning to research here.

Retreat for women in applied mathematics 2026 - ICMS The best conference I have been to in my academic career to date. I really loved the combination of PhD students, post docs/fellows, lecturers and professors during this event. I loved the size of the...

💡This week at ICMS: "Retreat for women in applied mathematics 2026"

Have at look at the full details here: icms.ac.uk/activities/w...

Heartwarming festive update: these icons are still together!

From time to time I burden you with some personal stuff, based on my belief that our values begin with who we are and where we came from.

I wanted to share some thoughts on what it means to get older. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/you-look-great

‘Don’t be disheartened by mistakes’: 10 lessons my artist father taught me David Gentleman’s brilliant career spans eight decades, from watercolour painting to tube station murals to drawing the Tottenham riots. Here his daughter, the Guardian journalist Amelia Gentleman, di...

‘Don’t expect to be a genius; you get better by working hard. Don’t rip up your work in a fury if it’s going badly. Set it aside, sit in the garden, drink tea’
David Gentleman has a new book ‘Lessons for Young Artists’
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Just to be clear: this is satire.

Innocent people end up in our criminal courts.

Completely, terrifyingly innocent.

And all that stands between them and losing everything is a fair trial.

Politicians would do well to remember this when they tell us that justice is all about processing “criminals” swiftly.

We are opening a FACULTY POSITION (tenure track, permanent) in the University of Cambridge at the interface of control and biology, interpreted broadly. Theorists and wet lab quantitative biologists with backgrounds in control, EE, applied math, ... apply by Jan 28!

www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/univers...

Reading about the past or watching documentaries are a great way to discover the past, but there's noting that compares to seeing the actual bowl a cook wrote his name on 19 years before Shakespeare was born...

#Museum30 #WhyMuseums

Ruby Wax stands confidently in a lush jungle scene. She is wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a beige jacket, red trousers, and a red, white, and blue scarf. The backdrop is filled with green foliage and bright red flowers. Credit: ITV Plc.

Good luck to our former Chancellor Ruby Wax as she embarks on bush tucker trials and jungle adventures in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 🐍

Could Ruby be swapping her cap and ceremonial mace for a crown and sceptre?

Job Opportunity: Scientific Knowledge Exchange Coordinator - Newton Gateway to Mathematics

Interesting mathematics knowledge exchange job available: gateway.newton.ac.uk/media/news/j...

My individually handmade recycled silver jewellery including intricate casts of real flowers (snowdrop, bluebell etc), casts of dragonfly Wongs & jay feathers & my tiny wearable sculptures of much-loved British bird species

One of my best-selling mounted art prints of flowers I grew & bought from an honesty florist

Victorian ink bottles that form part of my tiny posy-making mental health kits-they make great gifts

The 12 photos that make up my 2026 botanical calendar-each image is designed to improve mental health

Just added to my Etsy shop:
🌿final small print run of my '26 calendars
🪶my handmade recycled silver jewellery designs (incl intricate casts of real flowers)
🌸limited ed'n mounted art prints of my photos
💐tiny posy mental health kits
Last orders for📮 in time for🌲: 19 Nov
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/silv...

Why electricity costs so much in the UK (it’s not all about the weather) Many countries in Europe pay much less for their energy.

Many countries in Europe pay much less for their energy.

Tree of the Day

Share of electric vehicles in light-duty vehicle sales (%) Share of electric vehicles in the light-duty vehicle fleet (%) Reforestation (total Mha) GHG emissions intensity of soil fertilization (gCO2 e/1,000 kcal) Ruminant meat productivity (kg/ha) 1.8x Global private climate finance (trillion US$/yr) d Share of zero-carbon sources in electricity generation (%) Share of solar and wind in electricity generation (%) Share of coal in electricity generation (%) Share of unabated fossil gas in electricity generation (%) Carbon intensity of electricity generation (gCO2/kWh) Energy intensity of building operations (kWh/m2 ) Carbon intensity of building operations (kgCO2 /m2 ) Share of electricity in the industry sector's final energy demand (%) Carbon intensity of global cement production (kgCO2/t cement) Share of new buildings that are zero-carbon in operation (%) WRONG DIRECTION, U-TURN NEEDED INSUFFICIENT DATA RIGHT DIRECTION, OFF TRACK RIGHT DIRECTION, WELL OFF TRACK 1.2x 1.6x 7x 4x N/A Green hydrogen production (Mt) b,d Share of sustainable aviation fuels in global aviation fuel supply (%) N/Ab,d Share of electric vehicles in bus sales (%) N/Ab N/Ab,d 1.8x 5x U-turn needed Mangrove loss (ha/yr) d Number of kilometers of rapid transit per 1 million inhabitants (km/1M inhabitants) 5x N/Ab,d Share of electric vehicles in medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicle sales (%) N/Ab,d Share of kilometers traveled by passenger cars (% of passenger-km) Carbon intensity of global steel production (kgCO2/t crude steel) U-turn needed U-turn needed Share of food production lost (%) U-turn needed Public fossil fuel finance (trillion US$/yr) d Ins. data Ins. data Peatland degradation (Mha/yr) Ins. data Peatland restoration (total Mha) Ins. data Food waste (kg/capita)

New 'state of climate action' report gives you a much better picture than daily headlines about contextless solar panel or EV sales

- Most things are going in the right direction

- Most things are badly off track to the pace of change required

systemschangelab.org/state-climat...

Screen cap from linked article, with heading Significance and then text: Large Language Models (LLMs) are used in evaluative tasks across domains. Yet, what appears as alignment with human or expert judgments may conceal a deeper shift in how “judgment” itself is operationalized. Using news outlets as a controlled benchmark, we compare six LLMs to expert ratings and human evaluations under an identical, structured framework. While models often match expert outputs, our results suggest that they may rely on lexical associations and statistical priors rather than contextual reasoning or normative criteria. We term this divergence epistemia: the illusion of knowledge emerging when surface plausibility replaces verification. Our findings suggest not only performance asymmetries but also a shift in the heuristics underlying evaluative processes, raising fundamental questions about delegating judgment to LLMs. Sentence starting with "While models often" is highlighted in blue.

I'd love to see someone try to estimate just how much time and money has gone into research that is either fully undermined by reliance on LLMs or fully pointless --- because obvious if you start from an understanding of what LLMs actually are.

www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

It has absorbed the whole world’s lying and spits it back at you.