francesjones.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

@robinbisson.bsky.social and I found out that more than 50 UKRI staff made complaints against the conduct of HR staff, with complaints against 6 staff investigated upheld. Severance agreements for both those making complaints and those complained are understood to be up to £90,000 so far.

submitted 2 hours ago • 0 comments

UKRI HR staff investigated in lengthy bullying probe - important, in-depth exclusive story by @robinbisson.bsky.social and @francesjones.bsky.social (now free to read) www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

submitted 23 hours ago • 0 comments

UKRI HR staff investigated in lengthy bullying probe - exclusive and important story from @francesjones.bsky.social and @robinbisson.bsky.social for @resprofnews.bsky.social

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

Big story from @robinbisson.bsky.social and @francesjones.bsky.social. 👇

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

Exclusive: UKRI HR staff investigated in lengthy bullying probe. Complaints against six employees upheld as scores come forward over allegations of “toxic” behaviour. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

Very cool to get the views of many Royal Society fellows for my RF lead ahead of the critical 3 March meeting. One fellow, tells me that the Royal Society’s leadership “was afraid of litigation and deflected action” when the issue was raised at a previous meeting.

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

Royal Society ‘afraid of litigation if it expels Musk’. Leadership urged to show “courage” at key meeting to discuss billionaire’s fellowship. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...

submitted 6 days ago • 6 comments

Can anyone shed light on what the litigation risk would be here? The RS is a club with rules its members agree to abide by. Surely it has the right to enforce its own rules. How might it fall foul of the law in doing so? www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...

submitted 6 days ago • 6 comments

Next UKRI chief exec Ian Chapman expected to "measure his success by what UKRI delivers rather than the number of universities supported and the number of academics active". Via @robinbisson.bsky.social @francesjones.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

Ahead of a crucial meeting of Royal Society fellows on Elon Musk's fellowship next Monday, @francesjones.bsky.social reveals that litigation fears could be stopping the RS from expelling the billionaire As @scurry.bsky.social says, "whatever happens now, there will be a media storm to weather"

submitted 6 days ago • 1 comment

Good to see the Royal Society finally speaking out about some of the issues raised by the Musk affair. This is a good statement - and a good start. I trust there will be further discussion of these matters at the Fellows meeting next Monday.

submitted 6 days ago • 2 comments

Exciting times for UKRI. Ian was one of three names I reported in November to have been shortlisted to the role, www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

Breakimg: Ian Chapman appointed as next UKRI chief executive. Current UKAEA head tasked with leading public research funder into “refreshed mission” targeting economic growth. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

🗞️ In this week's Research Europe, @kamilakozirog.bsky.social tells @francesjones.bsky.social that the Commission's 2024 She Figures report highlighted a “critical gap” in gender equality within research. @eua.eu 👇

submitted 11 days ago • 1 comment

Ian Chapman is the next @ukri.org CEO RPN called it (more or less) back in Nov thanks to reporting by @francesjones.bsky.social Chapman,a nuclear physicist, has been CEO of @ukaeaofficial.bsky.social since 2016, so is well-versed in leading an arms-length body He's been on UKRI's board since 2024

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

My lead for Research Europe: More work is needed to dismantle “systemic barriers” blocking women from top research roles, according to policy experts. Really good to speak to a range of different academic voices, offering different geographic and career level perspectives.

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

‘Systemic barriers’ block gender equality in research, experts say. Warning comes as “timely” Commission report stresses that promoting equality is “not about culture wars”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

The Royal Society must choose between Musk and its integrity. When science itself is under attack, neutrality becomes complicity, says Kit Yates. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

submitted 12 days ago • 1 comment

UK must adapt research institutions - including UKRI - for era of AI, says Tony Blair Institute report, with @ersatzben.bsky.social among authors. Via @francesjones.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

"Deep review" of university funding needed to avert "doom loop" on higher education and research - academic turned Labour MP @adamthompsonmp.bsky.social, chair of the University APPG, interviewed by @francesjones.bsky.social. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

A real pleasure to interview @adamthompsonmp.bsky.social “We know that research, for the most part, runs at a loss, and that means it’s at risk,” he tells me.

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

This is a thoughtful and balanced piece on my open letter and the issues raised by Musk's fellowship of the Royal Society, and hopefully will contribute to their discussions on 3rd Mar. 1/2 www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

submitted 14 days ago • 57 comments

Musk row forces Royal Society ‘to consider what it stands for’. Society president summons fellows to meeting, following calls to expel billionaire Trump ally. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

Here's the latest from me on Musk/RS after more nationals picked up the story over the weekend.. Controversy over whether RS should expel Musk has forced the academy to “consider what it stands for”, according to @deevybee.bsky.social as its president summoned a meeting to resolve the issue.

submitted 14 days ago • 1 comment

The irony of the richest man in the world almost single-handedly destroying an agency designed to help the world’s poor, so that the U.S. federal budget has more room for another giant tax cut for the richest man in the world and his pals, should not be lost on anyone. [Cartoon by Mike Luckovich]

submitted 16 days ago • 941 comments

This ten year old paper by my friend & colleague Eugenia Kalnay and colleagues modeling the combined effects of environmental degradation and wealth disparity on societal stability didn't get much attention at the time. It feels especially relevant now: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

submitted 23 days ago • 20 comments

Exclusive! This Valentine's Day, we can reveal the secret crushes that lie at the ❤️ of higher education and research. 😘 Read in full, right here: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

After becoming the 2nd FRS to quit over Elon Musk, @andrewmillar.bsky.social explains why Musk's actions "are not compatible with the conduct required of a fellow...they undermine the purpose of the Royal Society" The @royalsociety.org has called fellows to a 3rd March meeting as the crisis grows

submitted 18 days ago • 1 comment

Lol! Lots more HE Valentine's here: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

‘I do not want a fellowship that can include such actions.’ Elon Musk's fellowship is undermining the purpose of the Royal Society, writes resigning fellow @andrewmillar.bsky.social. In this piece, he tells us why he feels enough is enough. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

Interesting comment piece here from FRS resignee Andrew Millar, posing questions on whether the Royal Society needs to reform its processes so it’s fit to tackle mid-century challenges to science.

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

US ‘culture war excesses’ on diversity could ‘contaminate’ UK . Inclusion agenda at UK universities under pressure from tight finances and changing political climate. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

“We should be mindful about allowing culture war excesses from the US to contaminate the debate in the UK” @timsout.bsky.social said at an event on inclusion in higher education held by @hepi-news.bsky.social & @advancehe.bsky.social yesterday @francesjones.bsky.social reports

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

This says it all

submitted 20 days ago • 1633 comments

Signature tally is now north of 750. Please keep going so the community can send the strongest possible message to the Royal Society.

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

2nd Royal Society fellow resigns over Musk’s membership, citing the Council’s “inability to take proportionate action on Musk’s promotion of disinformation and attacks on evidence-based policies and science advice”. FRS Andrew Millar, prof of engineering bio at Uni of Edinburgh, confirmed to me.

submitted 19 days ago • 5 comments

Breaking: Second Royal Society fellow resigns over Musk’s membership More than 750 scientists, including multiple fellows, criticise academy’s lack of action www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...

submitted 19 days ago • 12 comments

The revelation by @francesjones.bsky.social that STFC is being lined up for cuts is worrying scientists @robertmassey.bsky.social has "deep concerns" @jhnaismith.bsky.social says "disrupting long-term STFC grants risks disproportionately large negative impacts to science and our economy"

submitted 20 days ago • 1 comment

Hats off to @robinbisson.bsky.social for his insightful, probing interview with UKRI ceo Ottoline Leyser. The @resprofnews.bsky.social news team is bringing some great stories out this year. Smart, balanced journalism is so important right now. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

submitted 19 days ago • 1 comment

Patrick Vallance defends ‘golden triangle’ growth plans. Not investing in Oxford-Cambridge corridor would do UK a “massive disservice”, science minister tells MPs. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

UKRI chief executive: research budgets ‘will be tight’. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

Senior figures in physics and astronomy warn of damage to jobs, the economy and UK science if potential budget cuts lined up at Science and Technology Facilities Council go ahead. Via @francesjones.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

Latest blogpost on Musk/Royal Society debacle: deevybee.blogspot.com/2025/02/seve... I look at the reasons that have been given for inaction, and find them wanting. @royalsociety.org

submitted 20 days ago • 27 comments

Good start to the morning attending Hepi’s breakfast seminar asking if HE needs to take a different approach to EDI, an important topic given that the US’ crackdown on EDI initiatives could influence the UK approach

submitted 20 days ago • 1 comment

Ministers "very close" to appointing next UKRI chief executive, science minister tells MPs. Via @francesjones.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

Noaa turmoil under Trump alarms climate scientists. Temporary unavailability of key data leaves researchers stressing agency’s vital role in global climate science. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...

submitted 21 days ago • 0 comments

Musk fellowship ‘debases’ Royal Society, warns climate scientist. Michael Mann says billionaire’s role in action at US science agency crosses “yet another line”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...

submitted 22 days ago • 0 comments

Musk fellowship ‘debases’ Royal Society, warns climate scientist @michaelemann.bsky.social “I do feel it is problematic that Musk remains a fellow, given his efforts to undermine basic bedrock principles of democracy”, he tells me. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...

submitted 22 days ago • 1 comment