#Highlights2024
Looking back at 2024

What are the highlights from the past year that grabbed the attention of the nudist community?

Interested to hear about events from around the world..

This is for our upcoming blog post.

#nudism
#naturism
#highlights2024
#2024highlights
February 2, 2025 at 3:20 PM
December 27, 2024 at 10:05 AM
🗞️ #Highlights2024 | Mar 5 🗓️

For @elpais.com, I analyzed the surnames of Mexican legislators from 1940 to 2024 to uncover the dynasties that have dominated politics across different parties ⬇️

elpais.com/mexico/opini...
Las dinastías políticas mexicanas
Este es un ejercicio preliminar para entender a nuestra clase política e inferir cómo ha cambiado a través del tiempo
elpais.com
January 1, 2025 at 3:58 AM
🗞️ #Highlights2024 | Jun 11 🗓️

In @elpais.com, I developed a quantitative model showing that popular support for Morena is more closely linked to its labor policy than to its social programs ⬇️

elpais.com/mexico/opini...
¿Quién se convirtió al Morenismo?
El votante le dio apoyo a Morena no por los programas sociales o el Plan C, sino porque su agenda laboral fue transformadora
elpais.com
December 31, 2024 at 3:51 AM
🗞️ #Highlights2024 | Jun 26 🗓️

In @elpais.com, I published a quantitative analysis exploring who the last remaining PRI voters are.

elpais.com/mexico/opini...
Los últimos priistas
Otrora un partido hegemónico, el PRI solo queda en bastiones rurales donde la pobreza ha aumentado
elpais.com
December 30, 2024 at 1:37 AM
But, that didn't stop me from attending the beautiful wedding of our ultra-cute and awesome friends - Kirsten and Jamie. Her dress was AMAZING and sparked like a galaxy. It was a beautiful day/night out in the country - I got teary!

And yes, JWST-themed decor + test-tube tea!

#Highlights2024
December 30, 2024 at 3:20 AM
Then, not so much a good highlight, but a significant event for me regardless was my ankle fracture in early-Nov.

Not painful, but it did put a big dent in my gym schedule and had me hopping around in a Moon-boot for a bit.

It sucked - but how neat is science to see inside me!

#Highlights2024
December 30, 2024 at 3:20 AM
A highlight from Sept. this year for me was *finally* getting to see/image Comet 2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) after many, many attempts where the clouds ruined my plans, or the sky was too bright.

In a small 15-min window @deep-twilight.bsky.social and me got a few pics!

#Highlights2024
December 30, 2024 at 3:20 AM
Also made a bit of a lifestyle change in terms of my diet in September, jumping from vegetarian to vegan. Took a little getting used to but now am in full swing and really enjoying it!

Added bonus was that since Sept., my cholesterol dropped 28% going back into the good range!

#Highlights2024
December 29, 2024 at 4:11 AM
But the best thing in September was the arrival of little Mason, my new nephew (sister's first kiddo).

One of his first gestures was giving the bird to the world. Made this uncle proud. And he's growing up real fast!

oh, and lemme tell you, the boy has a set of lungs on him!

#Highlights2024
December 29, 2024 at 4:11 AM
Post-conference season, August and early September (our late winter) was a good time to get stuck into writing my first paper (ongoing still!) which was/is a bit stressful. Countered the stress with some astrophotography - with all my images being captured using SeestarS50.

#Highlights2024
December 29, 2024 at 4:11 AM
and in London, got to also finally catch up in person with @drcarpineti.bsky.social which was nice! Soho in Summer is a bit of fun!

#Highlights2024
December 28, 2024 at 11:33 PM
But a fantastic highlight from being in Sicily (besides gelato!) was getting up close to Etna ... we were allowed up to 2900m only (summit: 3350m) as the Volcano erupted three days prior and then again a couple days later!

I was hoping to have been in Taormina to see an eruption!

#Highlights2024
December 28, 2024 at 11:03 PM
Hubby and I went hiking in Cinque Terre for a few days which was great, spent a couple days in Portofino, then onto Sicily, with a few days in Palermo, and then Taormina. Such a big difference between the two Sicilian locations - both enjoyable in their own way.

#Highlights2024
December 28, 2024 at 11:03 PM
Continuing on with my month in Italy, in July my bestie Eric joined me in Venice, as did hubby, and we had several days there. It was full of tourists but I loved seeing it again.

The massive gelato intake started here. By the end of that fortnight, I had spent AUD$100+ on gelato.

#Highlights2024
December 28, 2024 at 11:03 PM
And for the second week, we were up in the Dolomites for the IPTA conference week - which is where we had so many fantastic talks and activities.

Not to mention, it's a beautiful part of Italy!

I was surprised (and delighted) at the strong German influence in this region.

#Highlights2024
December 28, 2024 at 1:19 AM
The first week was student week in Milano, which was excellent from a learning perspective but also so awesome to meet other IPTA students in person for the first time.

We also had amazing food. And lots of aperol/limoncello spritz!

I really liked Milan!

#Highlights2024
December 28, 2024 at 1:19 AM
I was so lucky that I got to spend a month in Italy in June-July, as we had our pulsar timing conference there for the first two weeks of that month.

Probably the *biggest* highlight for me this year was meeting Dame Prof. Jocelyn Bell Burnell, and giving my talk in front of her 🥹🥹

#Highlights2024
December 28, 2024 at 1:19 AM
I also gave a science talk (remote) in May at the Australia-ChinA ConsortiuM for Astrophysical Research event on my pulsar research.

And of course, spending the weekend away in Mudgee with the friend-fam for my b'day. Saw a comet too!

May was a very busy, but excellent month!

#Highlights2024
December 27, 2024 at 10:56 PM
One of my fav events this year was @astrokatie.com #SciCommCollider2 event at Perimeter Institute. Learned so much!

Got to hang out with such cool folks like @particleclara.bsky.social @planet4589.bsky.social @patchenbarss.bsky.social @mattstrassler.bsky.social + more!

#Highlights2024

📸 G. Secara
December 27, 2024 at 10:56 PM
May this year was a packed month of fun! Got to visit Canada for the first time, catching up with my long-term friend Jen in Toronto.

Even ran a pulsar observation with Murriyang from 15,700km away from the telescope - my most northern observation ever!

#Highlights2024
December 27, 2024 at 10:56 PM