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Richard Alexander
@richardalexander.bsky.social
Astrophysicist at the University of Leicester | Dad | Cyclist | Exiled Scot rdalexander.github.io
319 followers251 following297 posts

Online talk, unfortunately, so no chance to catch up properly. 😢

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Was sent a survey about the new UKRI funding service grants application system. The last question is "Do you have any additional thoughts you wish to share?" Yes, yes I do...🔭

a red cartoon character with a white shirt and tie is making an angry face .
a red cartoon character with a white shirt and tie is making an angry face .

ALT: a red cartoon character with a white shirt and tie is making an angry face .

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Andy Bunker from Oxford is giving our seminar this afternoon. Hard not to laugh at his introduction, explaining how he joined the JWST high-z galaxies team in 2004, "3-4 years before the planned launch date". 😂 🔭

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Or just have half an hour more to try and stem the tide of the teaching tsunami...😂

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Not completely down, but no new listings today.

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No new arXiv listings this morning. Feels like there has been a great disturbance in the force... 🔭

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RArichardalexander.bsky.social

In principle I agree, but in practice some people are very hostile even to helpful suggestions. Without anonymity many early-career people won't "risk" any comments that could be seen as critical, even if it's constructive. But the most likely outcome is that they'll simply decline to review at all.

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Signing reviews without fear of consequences is a privilege only afforded to senior figures (mostly men) in secure positions. Putting your name to anything other than a glowing review is potentially career-ending for postdocs. Anonymity can be abused, but the benefits still outweigh the costs.

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RArichardalexander.bsky.social

On a good day I’d like to think I’m “not altogether unpleasant”, but at the moment I’m leaning “flat to bitter”.

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RArichardalexander.bsky.social

That field has *always* been like that. Even 20 years ago, there were papers on the high-z population in the Hubble UDF posted to arXiv within 1-2 days of the data release. It does seem to have got progressively crazier over time though - some of the stories really aren't good. 🔭

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RA
Richard Alexander
@richardalexander.bsky.social
Astrophysicist at the University of Leicester | Dad | Cyclist | Exiled Scot rdalexander.github.io
319 followers251 following297 posts