David Palk#RejoinEU 💖🇪🇺🤎🕊<p><a href="https://mas.to/tags/EU" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EU</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/RejoinEU" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RejoinEU</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Bollox2Brexit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Bollox2Brexit</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Benefit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Benefit</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Budget" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Budget</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Economics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Economics</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Farming" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Farming</span></a> for the best under the radar 'official' news <a href="https://mas.to/tags/FarmingToday" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FarmingToday</span></a> can't be beat. Very quietly <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Reeves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Reeves</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Starmer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Starmer</span></a> have withdrawn the <a href="https://mas.to/tags/SFI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SFI</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Sustainable" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Sustainable</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Farming" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Farming</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Initiative" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Initiative</span></a> . A post <a href="https://mas.to/tags/brexit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>brexit</span></a> measure designed to compensate <a href="https://mas.to/tags/farmers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>farmers</span></a> for losing <a href="https://mas.to/tags/EU" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EU</span></a> support for <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Green" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Green</span></a> initiatives. So, another two pledges gone. Not <a href="https://mas.to/tags/green" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>green</span></a> and no <a href="https://mas.to/tags/sufficiency" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sufficiency</span></a> . Ain't the a lying pair of cunning stunts eh?</p>
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In the Dark<p><strong>Blue Sky Research in Ireland</strong></p><p>There’s a new <a href="http://For%20what%20it’s%20worth%20I’ll%20repeat%20my%20own%20view%20that%20“commercially%20useful”%20research%20should%20not%20be%20funded%20by%20the%20taxpayer%20through%20research%20grants.%20If%20it’s%20going%20to%20pay%20off%20in%20the%20short%20term%20it%20should%20be%20funded%20by%20private%20investors,%20venture%20capitalists%20of%20some%20sort%20or%20perhaps%20through%20some%20form%20of%20National%20Investment%20Bank.%20When%20the%20public%20purse%20is%20so%20heavily%20constrained,%20it%20should%20only%20be%20asked%20to%20fund%20those%20things%20that%20can’t%20in%20practice%20be%20funded%20any%20other%20way.%20That%20means%20long-term,%20speculative,%20curiosity%20driven%20research." rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">piece in the <em>Irish Times</em></a> (sponsored by the recently formed <a href="https://www.researchireland.ie/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Research Ireland</a>, but probably behind a paywall) that makes promising noises about “Blue Skies” research. No jokes about the Irish weather, please. I quote:</p><blockquote><p>The merger of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council (IRC) to form Research Ireland on August 1st, 2024, has opened up new possibilities and opportunities for the Irish research community. The new organisation now oversees competitive research funding across all disciplines, ranging from the arts, humanities and social sciences through to science, technology, engineering and maths, as well as across the full spectrum spanning curiosity-driven to applied research.</p><p>“SFI was enterprise and Stem-focused,” explains Research Ireland deputy chief executive Dr Ciarán Seoighe. “The IRC was not set up on a statutory basis so that meant that the arts, humanities and social sciences [AHSS] were not in the statutory research funding system. That put us behind other countries. We weren’t getting the full benefit of research in those areas. By creating Research Ireland we are able to support the full spectrum.”</p><p>He also points out that SFI wasn’t able to fund blue-skies, fundamental research, but Research Ireland can. “We need that research to create the new ideas and innovations that become applied research in years to come. By creating Research Ireland, we now have the ability to tap into and unlock the full potential of research in Ireland.”</p></blockquote><p>The last bit is encouraging – or at least less discouraging – for those of us who work in fundamental science than the previous regime. The thing that struck me immediately when arriving in Ireland from the UK that funding for basic or fundamental research – especially in the sciences – is extremely poor. That is still the case now. This situation is largely the result of a <a href="https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/Research-Prioritisation-Steering-Group-Report.html" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">high-level report published in 2012.</a> This identified 14 priority areas of research that are most likely to give demonstrable economic and societal return, and where Ireland should focus the majority of competitive funding. Four criteria were used in selecting the 14 priority areas for future, competitively-awarded investment for economic objectives:</p><ol><li>the area is associated with a large global market or markets in which Irish-based enterprises already compete or can realistically compete;</li><li>publicly performed R&D in Ireland is required to exploit the area and will complement private sector research and innovation in Ireland;</li><li>Ireland has built or is building (objectively measured) strengths in research disciplines relevant to the area; and,</li><li>the area represents an appropriate approach to a recognized national challenge and/or a global challenge to which Ireland should respond.</li></ol><p>The `vast majority’ of SFI’s funding was directed towards the 14 areas so defined, leaving virtually nothing for anything else, an outcome which has dire implications for `blue skies’ research.</p><p>I think this is a deeply misguided short-term policy, which has had and will continue to have strongly negative effects on science in Ireland in the medium to long term, especially because Ireland spends so little of its GDP on research in the first place. There’s simply no point in trying to persuade world-leading researchers to come to Ireland if insufficient funds are available to enable them to establish here; the politicians’ welcoming platitudes will never be enough. This makes appointment of world-class researchers to Irish universities extremely difficult so, given that is what we are <a href="https://telescoper.blog/2025/01/30/professorial-position-in-astrophysics-or-cosmology-at-maynooth-2/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">trying to do in Maynooth now</a>, the change of tone is welcome. </p><p>The problem is that the creation of Research Ireland has not involved any more money that was previous allocated to the SFI and IRC separately. Unless there is a budget uplift – which in my view would be a good use for at least part of the huge windfall tax from Apple – any increase in basic research will have to be offset by cuts elsewhere. </p><p>It seems appropriate re-iterate part of my response to a previous funding crisis in the UK, <a href="https://telescoper.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/unravelling-cable/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">about using taxpayer’s money to fund research in universities</a>:</p><blockquote><p>… “commercially useful” research should <em>not</em> be funded by the taxpayer through research grants. If it’s going to pay off in the short term it should be funded by private investors, venture capitalists of some sort or perhaps through some form of National Investment Bank. When the public purse is so heavily constrained, it should only be asked to fund those things that can’t in practice be funded any other way. That means long-term, speculative, curiosity driven research.</p></blockquote><p>This is pretty much the opposite of what Irish government thinks. It wants to concentrate public funds in projects that can demonstrate immediate commercial potential. Taxpayer’s money used in this way ends up in the pockets of entrepreneurs if the research succeeds and, if it doesn’t, the grant has not fulfilled its stated objectives and the funding has therefore, by its own standards, been wasted.</p><p>My proposal, therefore, would be to phase out research grants for groups that want to concentrate on commercially motivated research and replace them with <em>research loans</em>. If the claims they make to secure the advance are justified, they should have no problem repaying the funds from the profits they make from patent income or other forms of exploitation. If not, then they will have to pay back the loan from their own funds (as well as being exposed as bullshit merchants). In the current economic situation the loans could be made at very low interest rates and still save a huge amount of the current research budget. I suggest these loans should be repayable in 3-5 years, so in the long term this scheme would be self-financing. I think a large fraction of research in, e.g., the applied sciences and engineering should be funded in this way. I think it is wrong to nationalise the risk only to privatise the profits.</p><p>The money saved by replacing grants to commercially driven research groups with loans could be re-invested in those areas where public investment is really needed, such as purely curiosity-driven science. Here grants are needed because the motivation for the research is different. Much of it does, in fact, lead to commercial spin-offs, and when that happens it is a very good thing, but these are likely to appear only in the very long term. But just because this research does not have an immediate commercial benefit does not mean that it has no benefit. For one thing, it is subjects such as Astronomy and Particle Physics that inspire young people to get interested in science in the first place. </p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/irc/" target="_blank">#IRC</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/irish-times/" target="_blank">#IrishTimes</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/research-ireland/" target="_blank">#ResearchIreland</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/sfi/" target="_blank">#SFI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/taighde-eireann/" target="_blank">#TaighdeÉireann</a></p>
David Ing<p>Web video of <a href="https://qoto.org/tags/OCADU" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OCADU</span></a> <a href="https://qoto.org/tags/SFI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SFI</span></a> Understanding Systems week 2 lecture on Systems Approaches. Incorporates doing literature reviews aided by Gen AI. <a href="https://qoto.org/tags/PatternLanguage" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PatternLanguage</span></a> <a href="https://qoto.org/tags/OpenSource" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OpenSource</span></a> <a href="https://qoto.org/tags/RussellAckoff" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RussellAckoff</span></a> <a href="https://qoto.org/tags/EricTrist" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EricTrist</span></a> <a href="https://qoto.org/tags/SystemsThinking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SystemsThinking</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://coevolving.com/blogs/index.php/archive/systems-approaches-project-language-lit-reviews-gen-ai/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">coevolving.com/blogs/index.php</span><span class="invisible">/archive/systems-approaches-project-language-lit-reviews-gen-ai/</span></a></p>
Irish Independent RSS<p>[12:36] ‘Damaging to all parties’ – Philip Nolan settles case against Science Foundation Ireland </p><p> Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has told the Court of Appeal (CoA) its termination of Prof Philip Nolan’s director general contract was “never intended to imply any finding of wrongdoing on his part”.</p><p> <a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/damaging-to-all-parties-philip-nolan-settles-case-against-science-foundation-ireland/a670218702.html" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">independent.ie/irish-news/cour</span><span class="invisible">ts/damaging-to-all-parties-philip-nolan-settles-case-against-science-foundation-ireland/a670218702.html</span></a><br> <br> <a href="https://mastodon.ozioso.online/tags/ScienceFoundation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ScienceFoundation</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.ozioso.online/tags/SFI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SFI</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.ozioso.online/tags/theCourtofAppeal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>theCourtofAppeal</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.ozioso.online/tags/PhilipNolan" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PhilipNolan</span></a></p>
Manuel Bissey<p><a href="https://cyberplace.social/tags/AI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AI</span></a> transformation begins with security, a key theme at Microsoft Ignite 2024. Security sessions were among the top 10 most-attended daily and allowed to get live answers from engineering and product teams on the latest security innovations🛡️🔐 <a href="https://cyberplace.social/tags/SFI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SFI</span></a></p><p><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2024/12/02/follow-up-on-ignite-with-ask-microsoft-anything-microsoft-security-edition/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">microsoft.com/en-us/security/b</span><span class="invisible">log/2024/12/02/follow-up-on-ignite-with-ask-microsoft-anything-microsoft-security-edition/</span></a></p>
ᏵꝊ𐌐𐌀𐌋<p><a href="https://fedia.social/tags/Police" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Police</a><span> brutality. </span><a href="https://fedia.social/tags/Delhi" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Delhi</a><span> </span><a href="https://fedia.social/tags/India" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#India</a><span><br>Students in the Indian capital are demanding concessional travel in the </span><a href="https://fedia.social/tags/DelhiMetro" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#DelhiMetro</a><span>. This is how the </span><a href="https://fedia.social/tags/DelhiPolice" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#DelhiPolice</a><span> is treating them.<br><br></span><a href="https://fedia.social/tags/HumanRights" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#HumanRights</a><span> </span><a href="https://fedia.social/tags/StudentProtests" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#StudentProtests</a><span> </span><a href="https://fedia.social/tags/SFI" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#SFI</a></p>
A Grantler<p>Anyone knows why there's still no E2E-Encryption for chat, conferencing, group calls and the whole rest in <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Microsoft" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Microsoft</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Teams" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Teams</span></a>?</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/security" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>security</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/privacy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>privacy</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/sfi" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sfi</span></a></p>
Beth Pariseau<p>I'm a podcasting fool lately! Took a turn in the guest seat on <span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://infosec.exchange/@robwright" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>robwright</span></a></span> 's Risk & Repeat for an episode about <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/Microsoft" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Microsoft</span></a>'s first <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/securefutureinitiative" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>securefutureinitiative</span></a> report. Check it out! <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/sfi" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sfi</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/csrb" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>csrb</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/cybersecurity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>cybersecurity</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/msft" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>msft</span></a></p><p><a href="https://riskandrepeat.podbean.com/e/risk-repeat-inside-the-microsoft-sfi-progress-report/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">riskandrepeat.podbean.com/e/ri</span><span class="invisible">sk-repeat-inside-the-microsoft-sfi-progress-report/</span></a></p>
Alvin Ashcraft 🐿️<p>Securing our future: September 2024 progress update on Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative (SFI).</p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/microsoft" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>microsoft</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/security" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>security</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/sfi" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sfi</span></a> <br><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2024/09/23/securing-our-future-september-2024-progress-update-on-microsofts-secure-future-initiative-sfi/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">microsoft.com/en-us/security/b</span><span class="invisible">log/2024/09/23/securing-our-future-september-2024-progress-update-on-microsofts-secure-future-initiative-sfi/</span></a></p>
Amgine<p>Reuters: "‘Sustainable’ logging operations are clear-cutting Canada’s climate-fighting forests"</p><p><a href="https://mamot.fr/tags/Journalist" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Journalist</span></a>: Chris Kirkham, <span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://mastodon.social/@grantmeaccess" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>grantmeaccess</span></a></span>, Jessica di NapoliI, Chris Helgren, David Jackson</p><p>In <a href="https://mamot.fr/tags/Canada" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Canada</span></a>, so-called forestry certifications are proving to be <a href="https://mamot.fr/tags/GreenWashing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GreenWashing</span></a>. And it names names.</p><p>Forest Stewardship Council <a href="https://mamot.fr/tags/FSC" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FSC</span></a> and Sustainable Foresty Initiative <a href="https://mamot.fr/tags/SFI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SFI</span></a> sources report the <a href="https://mamot.fr/tags/logging" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>logging</span></a> industry has control.</p><p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/canada-forests-climate/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">reuters.com/investigates/speci</span><span class="invisible">al-report/canada-forests-climate/</span></a></p><p><a href="https://mamot.fr/tags/environment" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>environment</span></a> <a href="https://mamot.fr/tags/forestry" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>forestry</span></a> <a href="https://mamot.fr/tags/news" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>news</span></a> <a href="https://mamot.fr/tags/InvestigativeJournalism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>InvestigativeJournalism</span></a></p>
In the Dark<p>The Government of Ireland has announced the Members of the Board of the newly-formed agency <em><a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/3a27c-minister-odonovan-announces-the-appointment-of-members-of-the-board-of-taighde-eireann-research-ireland/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland</a></em>. The names are:</p><ul><li>Dr Eoin O’Sullivan</li><li>Anne Vaughan</li><li>Professor Niamh Moloney</li><li>Professor Valeria Nicolosi</li><li>Dr. Godfrey Gaston</li><li>Professor Rebecca Braun</li><li>Patricia Quane</li><li>Lorraine Allen</li><li>Leonard Hobbs</li></ul><p>You can find biographies, together with one of the Chair, Michael Horgan, <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/3a27c-minister-odonovan-announces-the-appointment-of-members-of-the-board-of-taighde-eireann-research-ireland/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. Looking through the list I see just one practising scientist, Valeria Nicolosi, who is an industrial chemist specialising in nanoscience. Among the other biographies you will find expertise in technology, entrepreneurship, and generic businessy things. but very little to do with actual research. And there’s nobody at all on the Board to champion fundamental science or any other curiosity-driven research. It appears that the misguided short-termism of Science Foundation Ireland is to be continued into the new organization. </p><p>Like many scientists working in Ireland, I was optimistic that the merger of the IRC with SFI would provide an opportunity to rebalance Ireland’s research ecosystem to have less emphasis on applied research. I hope I’m proved wrong, but it looks like that opportunity is to be squandered.</p><p><a href="https://telescoper.blog/2024/08/25/research-ireland-a-wasted-opportunity/" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://telescoper.blog/2024/08/25/research-ireland-a-wasted-opportunity/</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/irish-research-council/" target="_blank">#IrishResearchCouncil</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/science-foundation-ireland/" target="_blank">#ScienceFoundationIreland</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/sfi/" target="_blank">#SFI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/taighde-eireann-research-ireland-2/" target="_blank">#TaighdeÉireannResearchIreland</a></p>
Jim "Ham on a Bike"<p>Took advantage of high <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/SFI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SFI</span></a> numbers early before <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/SolarFlares" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SolarFlares</span></a> started firing over the U.S. And in celebrating my 3rd year of <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/POTA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>POTA</span></a> activations wore same cycling jersey on my 1st <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/Parksontheair" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Parksontheair</span></a> activation and stopped by zoo to say 'Hi" to my friend.<a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/AmateurRadio" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AmateurRadio</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/Hamradio" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Hamradio</span></a></p>
Jim "Ham on a Bike"<p><a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/solarcycle25" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>solarcycle25</span></a> keeps on giving. Another record high <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/SFI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SFI</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/SolarFlareIndex" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SolarFlareIndex</span></a>. <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/amateurradio" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>amateurradio</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/hamradio" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>hamradio</span></a></p>
Jim "Ham on a Bike"<p>Wow! Can you believe the Olympic Gold Medal <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/solarfluxindex" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>solarfluxindex</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/SFI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SFI</span></a> numbers this morning. Making of a great 40m <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/amateurradio" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>amateurradio</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/hamradio" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>hamradio</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/morsecode" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>morsecode</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/qrp" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>qrp</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/pota" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>pota</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/parksontheair" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>parksontheair</span></a> activation pileup and still going strong</p>
Jim "Ham on a Bike"<p>Record <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/SFI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SFI</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/SolarFluxIndex" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SolarFluxIndex</span></a> Solar Flux Index for <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/solarcycle25" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>solarcycle25</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/AmatgeurRadio" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AmatgeurRadio</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.radio/tags/Hamradio" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Hamradio</span></a></p>
In the Dark<p>On 1st August 2024, i.e. tomorrow, a new funding organization comes into existence in Ireland, formed <a href="https://telescoper.blog/2022/05/18/major-merger-in-irish-research/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">by the merger of SFI with the Irish Research Council</a>. The new outfit is called <em>Taighde Éireann</em> – <em>Research Ireland </em>and many of us working in Irish academia were optimistic that it might improve the funding environment in Ireland, especially with regard to basic research.</p><p><em>Taighde Éireann</em> has not got off to a very promising start. In particular, the long-running saga of who would be Chief Executive Officer of the new organization does not inspire confidence. Professor Philip Nolan, former Director-General of Science Foundation Ireland was originally intended to take the helm, but then <a href="https://telescoper.blog/2024/06/13/the-nolan-case/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">he was dismissed</a> from his position at SFI which made the prospect of him taking over the new organization seem less likely. Indeed, more recently, it was announced that a new temporary CEO would be appointed “pending the recruitment of a new CEO on a permanent basis”. </p><p>Starting with a caretaker manager is far from ideal, although it probably just means that the interim CEO will just look after transferring activity from IRC and SFI to the new organization without actually changing much. I just hope that in the long run a person is appointed who actually understands research rather than a generic management type. Otherwise the only change that will actually happen will be purely administrative rather than the systemic overhaul of attitudes and culture that Ireland really needs. As an outsider, one way of reading the controversy of the CEO the current SFI establishment resisting any possibility of change.</p><p>From my own perspective, the fundamental problem is that research funding for fundamental science in Ireland is so limited as to be virtually non-existent by a matter of policy at Science Foundation Ireland, which basically only funds applied research. This is a short-sighted and damaging policy that is causing, among other things, a significant exodus of talented young researchers to opportunities elsewhere (especially in the EU).</p><p>I know there will be many competing calls for changes in practice for the new Council but I thought I would add a few suggestions that will probably be ignored but which I’ll make anyway.</p><ol><li> A funding stream should be set up to enable <em>scientific</em> exploitation of Ireland’s current memberships of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), European Space Agency (ESA) and <a href="https://telescoper.blog/2023/11/15/ireland-cern-and-science/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">future membership of CERN.</a> Ireland’s membership of ESO provides a cautionary tale. The Irish astronomical community was very happy about the decision to join ESO, but that decision was not accompanied by significant funding to exploit the telescopes. Few astronomers have therefore been able to benefit from ESO membership. While there are other benefits of course, the return to science has been extremely limited. The phrase “to spoil a ship for a ha’porth of tar” springs to mind. Even a few PDRA and PhD positions would provide an enormous boost.</li><li>There should be far less emphasis on top-down funding ventures, such as the research “Centres”. These lock up a huge amount of money which makes it much more difficult to provide support to exciting curiosity-driven research, which is often where real innovation occurs. Let’s have much more responsive-modem grants, including areas of basic research currently excluded by SFI policy. This could be done by simply expanding the remit of the SFI Frontiers programme.</li><li>The current <a href="https://research.ie/funding/ircla/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IRC Laureate programme</a> is inadequate. This currently has one call every four years. It should be <em>annual</em>, even if fewer positions are funded in each round, to allow it to be more responsive.</li><li>Ban the use of any funds from the new organization being wasted on Gold Open Access, but invest in Diamond Open Access activities across all disciplines (i.e. Arts and Humanities as well as Science).</li><li>Work with Government to provide a much more coherent system of funding research infrastructure, including if necessary requiring HEIs to commit a share of their surpluses to capital projects. In the UK, for example, capital projects funded by research councils usually require 50% institutional contribution. </li></ol><p>That’s just five off the top of my head. I’m sure others will have suggestions. If so, please feel free to make suggestions through the comments box below.</p><p><a href="https://telescoper.blog/2024/07/31/taighde-eireann/" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://telescoper.blog/2024/07/31/taighde-eireann/</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/cern/" target="_blank">#CERN</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/esa/" target="_blank">#ESA</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/eso/" target="_blank">#ESO</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/irc/" target="_blank">#IRC</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/irish-research-council/" target="_blank">#IrishResearchCouncil</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/professor-philip-nolan/" target="_blank">#ProfessorPhilipNolan</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/research-ireland/" target="_blank">#ResearchIreland</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/science-foundation-ireland/" target="_blank">#ScienceFoundationIreland</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/sfi/" target="_blank">#SFI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/taighde-eireann/" target="_blank">#TaighdeÉireann</a></p>
In the Dark<p>A couple of weeks ago I <a href="https://telescoper.blog/2024/05/28/exit-nolan/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">posted an item</a> about the sudden departure of Prof. Philip Nolan from his post as Director General of <a href="https://www.sfi.ie/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Science Foundation Ireland</a> (SFI) after allegations of misconduct (including bullying). That post included these words:</p><blockquote><p>As an outsider I have no idea what has been going on at SFI, so have no dirt to dish, but it must have been rather serious for Prof. Nolan to have been forced out so quickly.</p></blockquote><p>Despite that clear statement I have received a number of emails from “journalists” asking for gossip. Obviously I didn’t reply to them. </p><p>Anyway, it’s not only the sudden decision that led to Prof. Nolan’s dismissal that is striking; there’s also the fact that no formal disciplinary process took place and it was accompanied by immediate termination of his access to emails, etc. Actions so extreme are usually reserved for situations in which a staff member has committed gross misconduct, but that is not the accusation here.</p><p>Anyway, just a few days after his apparent departure from SFI, Prof. Nolan went to court and <a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2024/0531/1452413-sfi-philip-nolan/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">obtained a temporary injunction restraining his dismissal</a> ahead of a further hearing about the case which began on 11th June and has not yet completed. Although no longer fired, Prof. Nolan has not been allowed physically to return to work. </p><p>I have no idea how this mess will end. It does seem that there must have been a complete meltdown in SFI that will be very difficult to reverse. Perhaps the best way forward is to hasten the end of SFI and the beginning up of the new entity (<em>Taighde Éireann</em>– Research Ireland) supposed to be formed <a href="https://telescoper.blog/2022/05/18/major-merger-in-irish-research/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">by the merger of SFI with the Irish Research Council</a>.</p><p>I have no idea who is in the wrong at SFI. Perhaps both sides are. However, for the record, I will state that when my <a href="https://telescoper.blog/2019/11/02/in-memoriam/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mam died in 2019</a> Prof. Nolan (who was President of Maynooth University at the time) sought me out and offered his condolences in person. That was a kind gesture that I greatly appreciated at the time, and one which few University managers I have known would have made in the circumstances. Certainly not the current President of Maynooth University.</p><p>P.S. I discovered from reading <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2024/06/12/philip-nolan-sfi-was-in-serious-and-immediate-peril-due-to-managerial-breach-high-court-hears/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this article</a> about the Nolan Case that the Chairman of the Board of Science Foundation Ireland, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Clinch" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Professor Peter Clinch</a>, an economist; presumably no actual scientists were available.</p><p></p><p><a href="https://telescoper.blog/2024/06/13/the-nolan-case/" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://telescoper.blog/2024/06/13/the-nolan-case/</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/peter-clinch/" target="_blank">#PeterClinch</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/philip-nolan/" target="_blank">#PhilipNolan</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/science-foundation-ireland/" target="_blank">#ScienceFoundationIreland</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://telescoper.blog/tag/sfi/" target="_blank">#SFI</a></p>
DopeGhoti<blockquote><p><a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/Microsoft" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Microsoft</span></a> developed the <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/Recall" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Recall</span></a> feature under its new <strong>Secure Future Initiative</strong> (<a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/SFI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SFI</span></a>) that the company put in place to overhaul its <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/SoftwareSecurity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SoftwareSecurity</span></a> after major <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/Azure" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Azure</span></a> cloud attacks.</p></blockquote><p>— Tom Warren, <em>The Verge</em>, "Windows won't take screenshots of everything you do after all – unless you opt in" (emphasis and tags mine)</p><p>I didn't know that one sentence could make me laugh so hard.</p>
Some Bits: Nelson's Linkblog<p>More Is Different: Classic Paul Anderson systems science paper from 1972 arguing for the value of synthesis and emergent behavior and how reductionism is not sufficient for science<br><a href="https://www.isnature.org/Files/Anderson_More_is_Different.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">isnature.org/Files/Anderson_Mo</span><span class="invisible">re_is_Different.pdf</span></a><br> <a href="https://tech.lgbt/tags/reductionism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>reductionism</span></a> <a href="https://tech.lgbt/tags/philosophy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>philosophy</span></a> <a href="https://tech.lgbt/tags/science" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>science</span></a> <a href="https://tech.lgbt/tags/systems" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>systems</span></a> <a href="https://tech.lgbt/tags/sfi" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sfi</span></a> #+</p>
Cycling Europe<p><a href="https://www.cyclingeu.com/268079/obs-sondag-sprakpromenad-den-2-juni-2024/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">cyclingeu.com/268079/obs-sonda</span><span class="invisible">g-sprakpromenad-den-2-juni-2024/</span></a> OBS! Söndag!!! Språkpromenad den 2 juni 2024 #<a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/germany" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>germany</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/Bicycling" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Bicycling</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/BicyclingGermany" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BicyclingGermany</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/Biking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Biking</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/BikingGermany" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BikingGermany</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/Cycling" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Cycling</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/CyclingGermany" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CyclingGermany</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/CyclingMindenGermany" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CyclingMindenGermany</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/Deutschland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Deutschland</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/F%C3%B6rNyb%C3%B6rjare" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FörNybörjare</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/KursA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>KursA</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/L%C3%A4raSigSvenska" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LäraSigSvenska</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/LearnSwedish" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LearnSwedish</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/sfi" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sfi</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/SfiKursA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SfiKursA</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/SfiKursB" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SfiKursB</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/SfiKursC" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SfiKursC</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/StudySwedish" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>StudySwedish</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/svenska" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>svenska</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/SvenskaF%C3%B6rInvandrare" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SvenskaFörInvandrare</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/SvenskaSpr%C3%A5k" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SvenskaSpråk</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/sverige" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sverige</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/swedish" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>swedish</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/SwedishForBeginners" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SwedishForBeginners</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/SwedishLanguage" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SwedishLanguage</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/%D1%88%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9%D0%B4%D0%BB%D1%8F%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8E%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%85" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>шведскийдляначинающих</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/%D1%88%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BD%D1%83%D0%BB%D1%8F" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>шведскийснуля</span></a> <a href="https://pubeurope.com/tags/%D1%88%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%8F%D0%B7%D1%8B%D0%BA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>шведскийязык</span></a></p>
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