Best thing about #NAM2026: meeting lots of fantastic early career researchers and demanding they tell me all about the cool science in their posters. 🥳
Not so best thing about NAM2026: giving the why/what/how of #STFC funding cuts explainer, while trying to not jettison all their hopes and dreams.🔭
Not so best thing about NAM2026: giving the why/what/how of #STFC funding cuts explainer, while trying to not jettison all their hopes and dreams.🔭
Astronomer Royal for Scotland @astroroyalscot.bsky.social giving overview of the state of UK astronomy funding
Rising facility costs has led to a budget chasm. Huge cuts to labs. Postdocs protected, but at historically low level. To balance this, projects will be cut.
🔭 #SaveUKAstronomy #NAM2026
Rising facility costs has led to a budget chasm. Huge cuts to labs. Postdocs protected, but at historically low level. To balance this, projects will be cut.
🔭 #SaveUKAstronomy #NAM2026
July 22, 2026 at 6:45 PM
How delightful it is to meet BlueSky friends in real life at #NAM2026
Here is me interrupting @drcarpineti.bsky.social in the NAM press room when he was frantically trying to type up a story 😇
Here is me interrupting @drcarpineti.bsky.social in the NAM press room when he was frantically trying to type up a story 😇
Lovely seeing @astroroyalscot.bsky.social here at NAM
July 22, 2026 at 6:34 PM
How delightful it is to meet BlueSky friends in real life at #NAM2026
Here is me interrupting @drcarpineti.bsky.social in the NAM press room when he was frantically trying to type up a story 😇
Here is me interrupting @drcarpineti.bsky.social in the NAM press room when he was frantically trying to type up a story 😇
That's it for NAM2026 🚀🔭
Thank you so much to the organising committee, to our hosts the @unibirmingham.bsky.social and to everyone who came along or joined us online.
Next year's NAM will be hosted by the @universityofleeds.bsky.social - we look forward to seeing you there! 👋
Thank you so much to the organising committee, to our hosts the @unibirmingham.bsky.social and to everyone who came along or joined us online.
Next year's NAM will be hosted by the @universityofleeds.bsky.social - we look forward to seeing you there! 👋
July 24, 2026 at 4:19 PM
That's it for NAM2026 🚀🔭
Thank you so much to the organising committee, to our hosts the @unibirmingham.bsky.social and to everyone who came along or joined us online.
Next year's NAM will be hosted by the @universityofleeds.bsky.social - we look forward to seeing you there! 👋
Thank you so much to the organising committee, to our hosts the @unibirmingham.bsky.social and to everyone who came along or joined us online.
Next year's NAM will be hosted by the @universityofleeds.bsky.social - we look forward to seeing you there! 👋
'You can't build an anomaly detector...this is a very childish idea' says Shrinivas Kulkarni at #NAM2026. So much for those of us working in the field, then. 🔭
July 23, 2026 at 11:10 AM
'You can't build an anomaly detector...this is a very childish idea' says Shrinivas Kulkarni at #NAM2026. So much for those of us working in the field, then. 🔭
Lovely plenary talk on HiPERCAM - high speed imaging - by Sheffield's Vik Dhillon, covering everything from rings around Quaoar in the outer Solar System to binary neutron stars. #NAM2026 🔭
July 21, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Lovely plenary talk on HiPERCAM - high speed imaging - by Sheffield's Vik Dhillon, covering everything from rings around Quaoar in the outer Solar System to binary neutron stars. #NAM2026 🔭
I knew the National Astronomy Meeting football tournament was taken seriously, but I think last year's winners bringing the cup into science sessions is a new level of prominence #NAM2026. 🔭
July 21, 2026 at 1:22 PM
I knew the National Astronomy Meeting football tournament was taken seriously, but I think last year's winners bringing the cup into science sessions is a new level of prominence #NAM2026. 🔭
Early start for one of two days popping into #NAM2026 for me today, the UK astronomy community's annual conference and shindig. Hosted in beautiful Birmingham. Looking forward to galactic chemistry, a decade of grav waves, possibly some metascience and an excellent dinner with friends.
July 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM
Early start for one of two days popping into #NAM2026 for me today, the UK astronomy community's annual conference and shindig. Hosted in beautiful Birmingham. Looking forward to galactic chemistry, a decade of grav waves, possibly some metascience and an excellent dinner with friends.
‘Metal trends in dwarf galactic fashion’ by Alessandro Angrilli, the first in an irregular series: poster titles that conjure up different images of you don’t work in the field. 🔭 #NAM2026
July 21, 2026 at 12:31 PM
‘Metal trends in dwarf galactic fashion’ by Alessandro Angrilli, the first in an irregular series: poster titles that conjure up different images of you don’t work in the field. 🔭 #NAM2026
To those at the #NAM2026 plenary hearing things like “and that’s when I knew we were going to win [over other survey teams]”, know that you can do brilliant science in a collaborative and mutually encouraging way, rather than treating everyone else as a competitor. We decide/set our culture. 🔭
July 23, 2026 at 11:26 AM
To those at the #NAM2026 plenary hearing things like “and that’s when I knew we were going to win [over other survey teams]”, know that you can do brilliant science in a collaborative and mutually encouraging way, rather than treating everyone else as a competitor. We decide/set our culture. 🔭
...and just as I post that, Vik announces that the camera is at the end of its life due to cuts by STFC, who are not renewing the tiny operations grant for the team. A tragic loss of capability, saves only about £50k/year. #NAM2026
July 21, 2026 at 10:45 AM
...and just as I post that, Vik announces that the camera is at the end of its life due to cuts by STFC, who are not renewing the tiny operations grant for the team. A tragic loss of capability, saves only about £50k/year. #NAM2026
Really think they've mucked up the World Cup, by calling it CanadaMexicoUSA2026. Surely it's pretty much the North America World Cup, so just call it Nam2026.
"Welcome to Nam! Buckle up, you're in for a ride."
"Welcome to Nam! Buckle up, you're in for a ride."
March 11, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Really think they've mucked up the World Cup, by calling it CanadaMexicoUSA2026. Surely it's pretty much the North America World Cup, so just call it Nam2026.
"Welcome to Nam! Buckle up, you're in for a ride."
"Welcome to Nam! Buckle up, you're in for a ride."
Finished with #NAM2026, and off for brief holidays. A lovely conference with lots of good people, conversations, & science; I will probably do a science roundup when I am less tired. 🔭
July 24, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Finished with #NAM2026, and off for brief holidays. A lovely conference with lots of good people, conversations, & science; I will probably do a science roundup when I am less tired. 🔭
Tragic ending to Vikram Dhillon's plenary talk at #NAM2026, where he tells us that the STFC cuts have robbed us of the future of this wonderful instrument.
July 21, 2026 at 10:55 AM
Tragic ending to Vikram Dhillon's plenary talk at #NAM2026, where he tells us that the STFC cuts have robbed us of the future of this wonderful instrument.
Good to be back at #NAM2026 @royalastrosoc.bsky.social #UniofBirmingham. Looking forward to hearing about cutting -edge #astronomy rather than “cutting the edge off” astronomy… the Community session later today will be interesting 🔭👏👏👏 First up - #SpaceSustainability
July 22, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Good to be back at #NAM2026 @royalastrosoc.bsky.social #UniofBirmingham. Looking forward to hearing about cutting -edge #astronomy rather than “cutting the edge off” astronomy… the Community session later today will be interesting 🔭👏👏👏 First up - #SpaceSustainability
It's the final day here at NAM2026... but the science isn't over yet!
Could alien signals be hiding on a different radio channel? 👽️📻️ That's what @manchester.ac.uk PhD student Louisa Mason will be exploring later this afternoon.
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Could alien signals be hiding on a different radio channel? 👽️📻️ That's what @manchester.ac.uk PhD student Louisa Mason will be exploring later this afternoon.
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July 24, 2026 at 9:06 AM
It's the final day here at NAM2026... but the science isn't over yet!
Could alien signals be hiding on a different radio channel? 👽️📻️ That's what @manchester.ac.uk PhD student Louisa Mason will be exploring later this afternoon.
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Could alien signals be hiding on a different radio channel? 👽️📻️ That's what @manchester.ac.uk PhD student Louisa Mason will be exploring later this afternoon.
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HiPERCAM is such a cool instrument with so many applications across Astrophysics, its ring measurements of Quaoar are beautiful! Awesome science on a small budget. But now it’s a victim of STFC’s cuts to world-leading astrophysics in the UK. Gutting. #NAM2026
...and just as I post that, Vik announces that the camera is at the end of its life due to cuts by STFC, who are not renewing the tiny operations grant for the team. A tragic loss of capability, saves only about £50k/year. #NAM2026
July 21, 2026 at 11:00 AM
HiPERCAM is such a cool instrument with so many applications across Astrophysics, its ring measurements of Quaoar are beautiful! Awesome science on a small budget. But now it’s a victim of STFC’s cuts to world-leading astrophysics in the UK. Gutting. #NAM2026
Stepping away from the Specialist Discussion Meetings for one moment...
A NAM2026 update! There's one week left to submit session proposals for next year's National Astronomy Meeting at the University of Birmingham. 🪐💫
Don't delay, get them in now 👉 www.sr.bham.ac.uk/nam2026/sess...
A NAM2026 update! There's one week left to submit session proposals for next year's National Astronomy Meeting at the University of Birmingham. 🪐💫
Don't delay, get them in now 👉 www.sr.bham.ac.uk/nam2026/sess...
December 12, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Stepping away from the Specialist Discussion Meetings for one moment...
A NAM2026 update! There's one week left to submit session proposals for next year's National Astronomy Meeting at the University of Birmingham. 🪐💫
Don't delay, get them in now 👉 www.sr.bham.ac.uk/nam2026/sess...
A NAM2026 update! There's one week left to submit session proposals for next year's National Astronomy Meeting at the University of Birmingham. 🪐💫
Don't delay, get them in now 👉 www.sr.bham.ac.uk/nam2026/sess...
Good news! 🥳
The registration deadline for NAM2026 has been extended until 11.45pm on Thursday 9 July.
Don't miss out, register your place here: uobevents-national-astronomy-meeting-2026.eventsairsite.com/registration
The registration deadline for NAM2026 has been extended until 11.45pm on Thursday 9 July.
Don't miss out, register your place here: uobevents-national-astronomy-meeting-2026.eventsairsite.com/registration
July 2, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Good news! 🥳
The registration deadline for NAM2026 has been extended until 11.45pm on Thursday 9 July.
Don't miss out, register your place here: uobevents-national-astronomy-meeting-2026.eventsairsite.com/registration
The registration deadline for NAM2026 has been extended until 11.45pm on Thursday 9 July.
Don't miss out, register your place here: uobevents-national-astronomy-meeting-2026.eventsairsite.com/registration
The full #NAM2026 timetable has also now been released. Check it out at: uobevents-national-astronomy-meeting-2026.eventsairsite.com/block-schedule
June 25, 2026 at 1:56 PM
The full #NAM2026 timetable has also now been released. Check it out at: uobevents-national-astronomy-meeting-2026.eventsairsite.com/block-schedule
Our final scientific update from NAM2026 concerns NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory, which will search for Earth-like planets when it launches in the 2040s.
UK astronomers are a step closer to playing a leading role in the mission, after receiving £3m from the @ukspaceagency.bsky.social.
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UK astronomers are a step closer to playing a leading role in the mission, after receiving £3m from the @ukspaceagency.bsky.social.
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July 24, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Our final scientific update from NAM2026 concerns NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory, which will search for Earth-like planets when it launches in the 2040s.
UK astronomers are a step closer to playing a leading role in the mission, after receiving £3m from the @ukspaceagency.bsky.social.
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UK astronomers are a step closer to playing a leading role in the mission, after receiving £3m from the @ukspaceagency.bsky.social.
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How about a look at the only stellar explosion of its kind in the Milky Way to kick off Day 3 of NAM2026? ⭐️💥
John Mills, a @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social PhD student, has been discussing his research into the helium nova V445 Puppis, which disappeared behind a cloud of its own debris in 2000.
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John Mills, a @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social PhD student, has been discussing his research into the helium nova V445 Puppis, which disappeared behind a cloud of its own debris in 2000.
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July 22, 2026 at 9:27 AM
How about a look at the only stellar explosion of its kind in the Milky Way to kick off Day 3 of NAM2026? ⭐️💥
John Mills, a @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social PhD student, has been discussing his research into the helium nova V445 Puppis, which disappeared behind a cloud of its own debris in 2000.
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John Mills, a @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social PhD student, has been discussing his research into the helium nova V445 Puppis, which disappeared behind a cloud of its own debris in 2000.
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Community Session #NAM2026 on UK astro-funding and govt support (or not) for sector. Great observations from @astroroyalscot.bsky.social and updates from @ukspaceagency.bsky.social #stfc - “watchful waiting” but praise for @royalastrosoc.bsky.social actions in raising the profile of the sector
July 22, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Community Session #NAM2026 on UK astro-funding and govt support (or not) for sector. Great observations from @astroroyalscot.bsky.social and updates from @ukspaceagency.bsky.social #stfc - “watchful waiting” but praise for @royalastrosoc.bsky.social actions in raising the profile of the sector
Let the science begin! 🔬🔭
We're going to be featuring some of the most interesting research from NAM2026.
First up, Prof Sandra Chapman from the @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social shares a fascinating insight into how the way the Sun goes to 'sleep' could reveal future space weather when it wakes. ☀️💤☄️
⤵️
We're going to be featuring some of the most interesting research from NAM2026.
First up, Prof Sandra Chapman from the @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social shares a fascinating insight into how the way the Sun goes to 'sleep' could reveal future space weather when it wakes. ☀️💤☄️
⤵️
July 20, 2026 at 11:24 AM
Let the science begin! 🔬🔭
We're going to be featuring some of the most interesting research from NAM2026.
First up, Prof Sandra Chapman from the @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social shares a fascinating insight into how the way the Sun goes to 'sleep' could reveal future space weather when it wakes. ☀️💤☄️
⤵️
We're going to be featuring some of the most interesting research from NAM2026.
First up, Prof Sandra Chapman from the @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social shares a fascinating insight into how the way the Sun goes to 'sleep' could reveal future space weather when it wakes. ☀️💤☄️
⤵️