Professor Tom Crick
@proftomcrick.com
Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; Professor of Digital Society and Policy at the University of Bristol. All views my own, etc. https://www.gov.uk/government/people/tom-crick
Remembering John Fitch proftomcrick.com/2026/07/16/r... @uniofbath.bsky.social @uniofbathnews.bsky.social
Remembering John Fitch
I was very sad to hear that Professor John Fitch, my undergraduate dissertation and PhD supervisor at the University of Bath, passed away in June 2026. This is a personal reflection on someone who …
proftomcrick.com
World’s first Phase I Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine trial launched by Oxford Vaccine Group www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-07...
World’s first Phase I Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine trial launched by Oxford Vaccine Group
The trial will assess the safety and immune response of the ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine in 50 healthy adults aged 18–55 years.
ox.ac.uk
Lord Vallance appointed chair of new PM AI Taskforce www.gov.uk/government/n...
AI to power change at the heart of government as Lord Vallance appointed chair of new PM AI Taskforce
For the first time, AI will be positioned at the very centre of government, thanks to the launch of the PM’s new AI Taskforce which will be chaired by Lord Vallance.
gov.uk
In Memoriam: Peter G. Neumann (1932-2026) cacm.acm.org/news/in-memo...
In Memoriam: Peter G. Neumann (1932-2026) – Communications of the ACM
cacm.acm.org
DSIT has opened a call for evidence on data regulation in the age of AI. It wants practical examples — what worked, what didn't, and why — from any sector, before 9 Sep. My take on why it's worth 30 minutes of your time: proftomcrick.com/2026/07/15/a...
An open call for evidence on UK data regulation and AI
Today, the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) opened a call for evidence on Data regulation in the age of AI and other data-intensive technologies. Given…
proftomcrick.com
It’s 25 years since we lost Douglas Adams. I am happy to have been able to get a reference to him into this piece in the FT about why the humanities are essential www.ft.com/content/fbde...
Scientists at the Centre: Science Advice at DCMS proftomcrick.com/2026/07/13/s...
Scientists at the Centre: Science Advice at DCMS
What does it actually mean to be a scientist working at the heart of government? It’s a question the Government Office for Science’s Scientists at the Centre series puts to departmental…
proftomcrick.com
The National Risk Register 2026 sets out the UK’s assessment of the most significant risks facing the country. Effective resilience depends not just on understanding risk, but on building the evidence, partnerships and capabilities needed to prepare: www.gov.uk/government/p...
National Risk Register 2026
The National Risk Register outlines the most serious risks facing the United Kingdom
gov.uk
As DCMS Chief Scientific Adviser, I have written a short blog post on the wider context: why these ARIs matter, how they fit into our wider evidence ecosystem, and why the challenge now is to make them useful and usable. proftomcrick.com/2026/05/26/f...
From Research Questions to Evidence Infrastructure: DCMS Areas of Research Interest 2026
Why these refreshed ARIs matter for research, policy and the sectors that shape national life. Today, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published its refreshed Areas of Research In…
proftomcrick.com
Today, DCMS published its refreshed Areas of Research Interest on GOV.UK. These set out priority research and evidence needs across culture, creative industries, media, sport, civil society, youth, tourism, heritage and gambling. www.gov.uk/government/p...
DCMS Areas of Research Interest
gov.uk
Old Ladybird Books updated (1976). Oops. When you find out a bit late that their helmets didn’t have horns Artist: Roger Hall
New role: ACM Secretary/Treasurer (2026–2028) proftomcrick.com/2026/05/29/n...
New role: ACM Secretary/Treasurer (2026–2028)
I’ve been elected Secretary/Treasurer of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) for a two-year term beginning 1 July 2026, alongside incoming President Elisa Bertino (Purdue University…
proftomcrick.com
China Takes Supercomputer Crown From U.S. for First Time Since 2017 www.nytimes.com/2026/06/23/t... (see TOP500 list: top500.org)
China Takes Supercomputer Crown From U.S. for First Time Since 2017
nytimes.com
Great read: “Where to Find the Colors Your Screen Can’t Show You” moultano.wordpress.com/2026/06/19/w...
Where to Find the Colors Your Screen Can’t Show You
An atlas of the vibrance of the real world
moultano.wordpress.com
Ryan Moulton@moultano.bsky.social · 2mo agoI spent the last month obsessed with finding colors that can't be displayed on a conventional screen. This is what I found. moultano.wordpress.com/2026/06/19/w...
Seven years of AI research: what we got right, what we missed, and what still matters proftomcrick.com/2026/06/19/s...
Seven years of AI research: what we got right, what we missed, and what still matters
Academic papers — especially ones that you’ve written — look different depending on when you read them. Papers written in 2019, before COVID, before generative AI, before agentic …
proftomcrick.com
Seven years of AI research: what we got right, what we missed, and what still matters proftomcrick.com/2026/06/19/s...
Seven years of AI research: what we got right, what we missed, and what still matters
Academic papers — especially ones that you’ve written — look different depending on when you read them. Papers written in 2019, before COVID, before generative AI, before agentic …
proftomcrick.com
Very sad to hear that Prof. John Fitch, my undergraduate dissertation and PhD supervisor at the University of Bath, passed away this week. John was a distinctive computer scientist, software engineer and composer, and a generous, original supervisor. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
Visa applications to study in UK at lowest ebb since 2022. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Visa applications to study in UK at lowest ebb since 2022 - Research Professional News
Applications during the year to May 2026 dipped below 400,000, ahead of tighter compliance regime
researchprofessionalnews.com
Great to see many deserving people (including Sir Kevin Sinfield!) recognised in the King's Birthday Honours 2026 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
King's Birthday Honours: Kevin Sinfield, Julia Donaldson and Malorie Blackman top list
Noughts & Crosses author Malorie Blackman and Gruffalo creator Julia Donaldson are made dames, as the rugby league star is knighted.
bbc.co.uk
Revolutionary British artist David Hockney dies aged 88
Revolutionary British artist David Hockney dies aged 88
The Bradford painter whose sun kissed visions of California broke world records at auction, has died
theguardian.com
Explore the mind-bending and paradoxical art of M. C. Escher www.newscientist.com/article/2528... @newscientist.com
Explore the mind-bending and paradoxical art of M C. Escher
A new retrospective of the artist beloved by mathematicians opens this week. Get up close to the art with our interactive story
newscientist.com
From @britishacademy.bsky.social: Who studies SHAPE? www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/policy-and-r...
Who studies SHAPE?
This dashboard provides a system-wide view of student numbers in SHAPE subjects across UK higher education covering the period from 2015/16 to 2024/25, the most recent year for which data are availabl...
thebritishacademy.ac.uk
We were delighted to welcome alumnus Professor Tom Crick MBE, Chief Scientific Adviser at the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport for a tour showcasing the breadth of Bath's interdisciplinary expertise in AI, digital security and behaviour, and sport. Read more at https://bit.ly/4uzabwZ
The Highest Scoring Move in Scrabble www.youtube.com/shorts/PWD1W...
The Highest-Scoring Move in Scrabble
YouTube video by Vsauce
youtube.com
This Is Why You’re Drowning in Busywork www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/o...
Opinion | This Is Why You’re Drowning in Busywork
nytimes.com
