Ben Dickson
@drbenomycin.bsky.social
Pākehā lecturing chem @ University of Waikato Ex-academic precariat, still in the fight. NZAS council and NZSR editorial board Rides a 💖pink💖 bicycle. he / him
My utterly amazing PhD student Madushani competed in the UoW Three Minute Thesis doctoral final the other night. I happen to know the amount of complex information that had to be distilled to formulate and deliver this and I indescribably proud. Got three minutes? Have a listen!
2026 Three-Minute Thesis Doctoral Finals
YouTube video by The University of Waikato
youtu.be
Where else but a university would two individuals interacting only in passing would bond over a mutual affection for hexagons?
NZ Government showing very clearly that there are no such things as "rules", there is only power 👍
Abstract submissions for NZIC2026 are closing soon! We'd love for you to join us in November. If you are hoping to give a talk or present a poster, please submit an abstract by 11pm on 12 August. We welcome submissions from all areas of chemistry! nzic2026.eventsairsite.com/call-for-abs...
I have a deep, deep distrust of the word "reasonable" in policy, law etc. simply because it is so vague and I don't believe people leave things vague by accident. Even if it is defined somewhere, is it as a reasonable person would expect it to be defined (I'm being deliberately obtuse)?
Chantalle Smith@chaneyz85.bsky.social · 4d agoOh this is absolutely terrible. Neurodivergent kids are going to be even further excluded… If this policy was in place before the 8yo was diagnosed (which the system wouldn’t do until he was 6), he would’ve been stood down multiple times in his first couple of years at school. 1/n
IYKYK I have access to a 'thumbplate oboe' to play, but I know the conservatoire system and my brain hurts
Lecturer position in soil science opportunity (equivalent to Assistant Prof. Looking forward to seeing some great applicants. elhs.fa.ap1.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
Lecturer in Soil Science
Take the next step in your academic career, conducting original research in soil science and contributing to teaching the next generation of scientists within the Earth and Environmental Sciences Team...
elhs.fa.ap1.oraclecloud.com
The high school that is literally 300m away requires a rates bill or sale and purchase agreement, a recent power bill, a statutory declaration witnessed by a JP and a passport or birth certificate to enrol a child - that feels excessive.
Every come up with a pun that is sufficiently obscure that you're not sure anyone will appreciate it? Yeah.. met too, over here wondering how many wavefunctions people fill their bicycle tyres with 😏
Seeing more and more names of our amazing early-career folk who will be presenting in the general programme and I'm getting more and more stoked! Abstracts close 12 August, so there's no time like now to submit one!
New Zealand Institute of Chemistry@nzic.bsky.social · 2w agoWe are delighted to invite you to join us for the NZIC Conference 2026, taking place at the University of Waikato this November. We are excited to have an outstanding line-up of plenary speakers who will be sharing their latest research, and insights! nzic2026.eventsairsite.com
We at NZSR published a really cool, must-read collection of Early Career Voices earlier this year, and recently discovered one that had fallen into a digital doom-trap. The collection has just been updated with a final submission, so I'd argue everyone should take a(nother) look!
Early Career Voices from a Changing Research System | New Zealand Science Review
doi.org
So yeah, it was -4 °C outside in Hillcrest this morning, warming to 0 °C in the sun at time to leave for work (I'd estimate ~-2 °C in the shade).
Ben Dickson@drbenomycin.bsky.social · 2w agoUhmm I just noticed Kirikiriroa has -3 ºC and -4 ºC forecast in the upcoming days and that seems like a lot
Have you noticed how people who drink tea every day get bored more easily? I think the problem is the tea diem 😊
Uhmm I just noticed Kirikiriroa has -3 ºC and -4 ºC forecast in the upcoming days and that seems like a lot
I definitely know some Auckland based nerds who might be interested in this...
Wikimedia Aotearoa New Zealand@wikimediaaotearoa.bsky.social · 2w agoThis isn't the kind of job listing you see very often! 👀 Our friends at Auckland Museum are looking for a Wikimedian in Residence to join the team! Get more information and apply via Seek: nz.seek.com/job/93393322
Having never previously had the need nor desire to try a "Mail Merge"... hoo boy, how is this so fragile in 2026? Will not work with New Outlook open (crashes Word). You must have Classic Outlook running (AFAICT?). It still crashed half way through, now trying to work out what actually sent?
We are delighted to invite you to join us for the NZIC Conference 2026, taking place at the University of Waikato this November. We are excited to have an outstanding line-up of plenary speakers who will be sharing their latest research, and insights! nzic2026.eventsairsite.com
Number nine. Number nine. Number nine. Number nine. Number nine. Number nine. ...
Secret Drug Addict@scrtdrugaddict.bsky.social · 2w ago
Reading fiction that is encroaching on the inclosure of commons and the arguments against feel very familiar to someone working in a University in 2026. Society is losing all it's commons to those who would make money, whether fields, churches or universities 😢
My washing machine appears to stay in one place so I can only conclude that gravity is much stronger where it is, given the 16 minutes remaining says 8 minutes remaining 20 minutes later. Any physicists wish to chip in with theories? Some strings involved perhaps?
Also, if you're involved with a company that would like to advertise to a group of chemists from all areas of the field, please let me know! Sponsorship options are still open and we love to work with you 🤝
Ben Dickson@drbenomycin.bsky.social · 3w agoExciting... terrifying... exciting... terrifying. This is me convening a conference, but when you see the faces on this poster you know it's going to be a good one. These are just some of our amazing speakers! Abstract submissions close Wednesday, 12 August 2026 at 11.00pm NZST. Tell everyone!
Exciting... terrifying... exciting... terrifying. This is me convening a conference, but when you see the faces on this poster you know it's going to be a good one. These are just some of our amazing speakers! Abstract submissions close Wednesday, 12 August 2026 at 11.00pm NZST. Tell everyone!
What is so hilarious about this to me is that many employers automatically give union-won benefits to individual employment agreements. So the default position is essentially opt-in while trying to undermine the union. Where's the opt-out of that?
PERFECTLY NORMAL@nzpom.com · 3w agoIncredibly negative framing here, there's a reason we're at the bottom of the wage growth chart and our conditions are worse Vote for change✊🏻 #nzpol
