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The reaction I used to get at conferences when I stated that plant viruses are the most interesting pathogens.
Bletchley Park was amazing. The reason we’re all not speaking German and all kept secret for decades.
GaryFoster retweeted
EXC: More programmes are to close at Edinburgh University in another round of cuts, The Herald understands.
@Xavier_Mesq and I for @heraldscotland
heraldscotland.com/news/2665…
Obvious to ALL at the time apart from those so called people in charge.
I still really hope some will be help to account somehow but I doubt it.
Government failings allowed Covid 'to spread like wildfire' in care homes, inquiry finds bbc.in/4sidWHB
China has selected its first group of young researchers to receive funding for up to 15 years, in one of the longest research grants on offer to scientists globally
go.nature.com/4z4Q3pw
Free speech, free labour and emeritus professors | HEPI hepi.ac.uk/2026/10/17/weeken…
Ulster University spent £800,000 on a project that was then abandoned.
They are now proposing up to 450 staff redundancies.
We have to expose the hypocrisy and incompetence of many of those leading the higher education sector in 2026.
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm87…
Excellent article on “What is an emeritus professor?”
With positives and negatives for both sides.
New Post: WEEKEND READING: Free speech, free labour and emeritus professors hepi.ac.uk/2026/10/17/weeken… hepi.ac.uk/2026/10/17/weeken…
GaryFoster retweeted
UK Research and Innovation is launching an organisation-wide voluntary exit scheme after announcing that it needs to lose hundreds of roles within its Science and Technology Facilities Council
timeshighereducation.com/new…
GaryFoster retweeted
BREAKING: UKRI opens voluntary exit scheme as ‘first phase’ of internal reforms.
Scale of potential job losses unclear as funder looks to avoid redundancies.
Free to read.
researchprofessionalnews.com…
GaryFoster retweeted
The post-92 contract and framework is not long for this world.
De Montfort University has become the latest UK institution to plan to hire a portion of its staff through a subsidiary firm
timeshighereducation.com/new…
GaryFoster retweeted
De Montfort University has become the latest UK institution to plan to hire a portion of its staff through a subsidiary firm
timeshighereducation.com/new…
GaryFoster retweeted
Full story
as.ft.com/r/6bcec2e3-c7b3-4b… UK universities withdraw offers from international students to avoid blanket ban
GaryFoster retweeted
Universities are withdrawing offers en masse from overseas applicants- particularly from Pakistan and Nigeria - as Home Office rejection rates rise
11% of all study visa applications were withdrawn this year
41% from Pakistan
23% from Nigeria
Bristol University has celebrated its 150th birthday with a series of events and exhibitions and by remembering its first ever lecture - in maths.
And its greatest ever lecture by yours truly 🙃
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqp9…
GaryFoster retweeted
More bad news for UK universities with another sharp fall in visa applications to study in September. Latest drop means 83,000 fewer international students applied to come to UK universities in summer recruitment window in 2026 compared to 2023 timeshighereducation.com/new…
Bendy elm still standing against all odds crowned UK tree of the year
Hundred-and-fifty-year-old Wych elm in Newcastle, Co Down has grown sideways owing to strong winds
theguardian.com/environment/…


















