Andrew Mackenzie
@awmackenzie.bsky.social
Director of Strategic Networks, the National Centre for Universities and Business. Trustee of Faculty of Sport & Exercise Medicine. Council Member of Parliamentary & Scientific Committee. Own views.
Energising start to a wet Monday morning here at the Royal Society at the UK Global Science and Investment Summit.
🇮🇹 Back at work this week following travels around Italy (Venice, Rome, Naples & Sorrento). And by the looks of the bank holiday weather forecast, I seem to have brought the sun back with me! ☀️
I’m delighted to be starting a new role as Director of Strategic Networks at The National Centre for Universities and Business. I’ve long admired NCUB’s work, so it’s a real pleasure to be joining the team.
Heading home after a really interesting discussion and dinner in Parliament on the [often overlooked] role of microbiology in environmental legislation. Congrats to @amiposts.bsky.social and Parliamentary & Scientific Committee for a great event.
Fantastic evening at @physoc.bsky.social , Council for Science and Technology, and @foundscitech.bsky.social event on climate adaptation and resilience.
How do we enhance the UK’s preparedness and resilience to climate change? We will be asking this Q next week at an event in partnership with @physoc.bsky.social, @foundscitech.bsky.social and the Council for Science and Technology (the government’s top-level advisory body on science & technology).
Great couple of days up in Glasgow with fellow @ukhealthclimate.bsky.social trustees discussing strategy and next steps. Exciting things to come!
What a fantastic day at @sciencecampaign.bsky.social 40th anniversary conference! From hearing about CaSE’s origins through to the challenges facing R&D today, there were loads of great insights into how we reimagine UK science in 2026 and beyond.
Fascinating day yesterday at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social Policy Forum AI fundamentals course. Lots of interesting insight into how AI is changing the policy landscape: both how it is advancing key government priorities and also how it is reshaping the policy making process itself.
Great evening yesterday at a Foundation for Science Technology discussion on resilience of national infrastructure. As @physoc.bsky.social has pointed out, we should also think about national resilience from a health perspective. Health is critical element of any country’s infrastructure!
Great to tour the new GSK HQ today and see how much workplace science has gone into its development, both to improve staff wellbeing and also reduce climate impact. Highlight definitely was the hydroponic vertical farm, growing produce used in the onsite restaurant.
A pleasure to join the Nutrition Society at their annual reception and presentation of the Gowland Hopkins Award, with a lecture from this year’s recipient, Professor Harry Flint.
Was a privilege to join the rest of the @ukyoungacademy.bsky.social membership selection committee yesterday to review this year’s applicants. Such a broad array of excellent candidates… a show case of how UK R&D really is full of innovate, inspiring people. The 2026 cohort will be fantastic.
For a toddler, nothing is more exciting than trying to catch projectile poo from a zebra’s bottom. Well done @londonzoo.bsky.social - thoroughly recommend ZooTown 🦓
⏰ Tick tock...abstract submission closes on 16 January for UK Glia 2026. 🎤 Present your research as an oral or poster communication. 🏆 For early career researchers, you could be in with a chance of winning a prize for best oral communication or poster. Submit now ⬇️
UK Glia 2026
UK Glia 2026 meeting will highlight the pivotal role of glia in brain physiology, offering invaluable insights for those investigating glia function in both health and disease. Find out more about…
physoc.org
🔥 Today, the @metoffice.gov.uk have confirmed that 2025 was the UK's hottest year on record. The 2nd hottest was 2022 and the 3rd hottest was 2023. All of the top 10 hottest years have been in the last two decades.
🎄 Lovely evening in parliament celebrating UK science at the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee Christmas Reception.
🥳🍾🎈What a fantastic day at the @roysocmed.bsky.social to kick off @physoc.bsky.social 150th anniversary celebrations!
A real pleasure to support the launch of the Lloyds Risk Register new Global Safety Evidence Centre last night - and what a beautiful, historic building!
❓Why am I posting a photo of Queen Victoria? Because 150 years ago, Victoria was on the throne, Charles Darwin was still alive, Florence Nightingale was reshaping ideas about health and care, and Alexander Graham Bell had only just patented the telephone…
Fantastic evening at @rcphysicians.bsky.social for the @animalresearch.bsky.social Paget Lecture with Sarah Gilbert. A really great lecture on the development of vaccines against outbreak pathogens.
What role does advertising have on driving climate action? That was the key question at event this week on the work of ACT Climate Labs on supercharging climate communication, and the launch of their five levers of change to phase out fossil fuel advertising.
💰The morning after the night before….some reflections on what yesterday’s budget means for UK R&D.
A fantastic celebration of physiology as part of #PhysiologyWeek today at @londonmetuni.bsky.social! Great to see so many young people enthusiastic to learn about science.
A quick run up Calton Hill before leaving Edinburgh…a beautiful city, especially at sunset!
A fantastic day yesterday at Science and the Parliament talking to MSPs, scientists and students about the impact of climate change on health - and highlighting the work of @physoc.bsky.social in driving action in this area.
