It has been an unusually mild November until today, when it has suddenly turned colder and wetter. This alteration does not seem to have pleased Maynooth University Library Cat.
Archive for the Maynooth Category
Maynooth University Library Cat Update
Posted in Maynooth with tags Maynooth University, Maynooth University Library Cat, Weather on November 18, 2024 by telescoperIt’s LGBTQIA+ STEM Day!
Posted in LGBTQ+, Maynooth with tags LGBTAIA+, LGBTQIA+, Maynooth University, Section 28, STEM on November 18, 2024 by telescoper
Just a quick post to point out that today is LGBTQIA+ STEM Day, which aims to celebrate to celebrate the work of LGBTQIA+ people in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM), but also to highlight the barriers still facing us.
For more information see here.
This also provides an opportunity for me to send my best wishes to all LGBTQIA+ staff and students at Maynooth and around the world!
P.S. I’m reminded that it was 21 years ago today that Section 28 was finally repealed in England and Wales.
Why you should leave Twitter/X
Posted in Maynooth with tags Academic Twitter, Anti-Semitism, BlueSky, Elon Musk, Fediverse, Mastodon, social media, Twitter, Twitter/X, Wordpress on November 13, 2024 by telescoperI noticed this morning that the Guardian has decided no longer to post on X, the far-right propaganda outlet formerly known as Twitter. Since Elon Musk’s takeover the site has become increasingly toxic; see this post from months ago.
As I have explained before, I left Twitter/X at the end of August 2023 and haven’t looked back. The above image is appearing more and more frequently around the world of social media. Many of my friends and colleagues have quit too, most of them setting up accounts on Bluesky and/or Mastodon. I have noticed a particularly significant influx of new followers on Bluesky. I don’t have as many followers there as I did on Twitter, but the quantity and quality of engagement is higher.
It’s not just the systematic amplification of hateful tweets from a variety of antisocial bigots, nor the reinstatement of noxious individuals previously banned for such conduct, nor the deluge of porn bots and other automated gibberish nor the scrapping of virtually all forms of moderation. It’s also that Elon Musk himself has used his own site to endorse explicitly anti-semitic conspiracy theories. Everyone who puts anything on Twitter nowadays is providing revenue that feeds this maelstrom of hate. How a decent individual can in good conscience remain on that site is beyond me.
But that’s not the point of this post. Virtually every public institution I know – including universities – continues to maintain a presence on Twitter/X for self-promotion despite that platforms deliberate and sustained violation of what purport to be their institutional values. Only a small number of institutions have acted according to their own ethics by quitting Musk’s platform, including the University of Luxembourg. Those still on, including my employer, are, in my opinion, displaying gross hypocrisy.
Why are so many universities still supporting Twitter/X? I suppose it may be because many of them have specifically employed staff to broadcast news about themselves on this platform and without it they’d have nothing to do. That’s not a very good argument, in my opinion. I’m sure other bullshit jobs can be found. Another possibility, of course, is that they just don’t care. Given the prevalence of toxic management in higher education these days, this may well be the real reason. Whatever the reason I find it deeply shaming to be working for an institution that is still happy to tout for trade in a neo-Nazi chatroom.
Any institution worried that there is no viable alternative to Twitter/X should consider setting up on the Fediverse. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, for example, already has its own Mastodon instance. The advantage of the Fediverse is that the owners of each server can apply their own policies. I’d like to see a future in which all universities, national agencies, and other public research institutions, set up their own Mastodon instances instead. That would create a very exciting environment for the exchange of news and information which would be a more than adequate replacement for academic Twitter/X.
Save the Hume Scholarships!
Posted in Maynooth, Politics with tags John and Pat Hume Doctoral Scholarships, Maynooth University, Postgraduate Workers Organization on November 12, 2024 by telescoper
You may recall that I recently posted about the terrible decision by the Management of Maynooth University to scrap the John and Pat Hume Doctoral Scholarships and followed this up with another post suggesting the decision might be reversed.
As it turns out, the decision has not been reversed but, in a truly bizarre step, the scheme is to be paused for a “review” with the possibility that applications would be opened in June 2025 for PhDs starting in October 2025. The vast majority of qualified students intending to do PhDs will have accepted offers elsewhere by then so effectively the scheme is cancelled for 2025. Only students not able to secure a place elsewhere will be around to apply in June. A sensible decision would be to keep the scheme going until the review is complete, but clearly the University bosses want to divert the funds elsewhere. Perhaps the money saved will go towards the €500k luxury limousine service for self-defined VIP managers currently out to tender. Who knows?
Anyway, the decision and the manner in which it has been imposed by the University Executive is highly objectionable (though I’m afraid typical of the regime at Maynooth). Along with the union to which I belong, IFUT, I am therefore happy to support the Postgraduate Workers’ Organization (PWO) in their campaign on this issue. Please consider signing the petition either using the QR code or by following the link here.
Midpoint at Maynooth
Posted in Biographical, Education, mathematics, Maynooth with tags Complex Analysis, education, Examination Questions, Examinations, mathematics on November 11, 2024 by telescoperAmid all the excitement last week I forgot that it was the sixth teaching week of the Semester. That means that we’re now past the halfway point. Among other things that meant that examination papers were due in on Friday (8th November). That means two papers for each module I’m teaching, one to be sat in January and another for the repeat opportunity in August, so that’s four altogether.
I always find setting examination questions very difficult. In theoretical physics we want to stretch the stronger candidates at the same time as allowing the weaker ones to show what they can do. It’s a perennial problem how to make the questions neither too easy nor too difficult, but it is compounded this time by the fact that I’m teaching two modules for the very first time so judging the right level is tricky.
Another issue is that I’m once again in a situation in which I have to set examination papers without having taught all the material. At least I’ve covered the first half of the content so I have some idea of what the students found difficult, but that’s not the case for the second half. It should be a bit easier next year once I’ve experience of covering the whole syllabus. Assuming, of course, that I’m teaching the same modules again next year, which is by no means guaranteed…
I’m teaching a module on Differential Equations and Complex Analysis for 4th year students and just about ready to switch to the part that comes after the and. I taught a bit of Complex Analysis when I was at Sussex and I’m quite looking forward to it, although it does pose a particular challenge. Some of the class are doing a Double Major in Theoretical Physics and Mathematics, and have done quite a lot of Complex Analysis before, while others are doing a Single Major in Theoretical Physics and haven’t really done any. I have to somehow find a way to satisfy these two different groups. The only way I can think of to do that is to teach the subject as a physicist rather than a pure mathematician, with an emphasis on examples and real-world applications rather than in the abstract. We’ll see how this works out over the next few weeks.
P.S. On the subject of Complex Analysis, I just remembered this post from a few years ago.
Developmental Review
Posted in Biographical, Maynooth with tags Developmental Review, Maynooth University, Staff Appraisal on November 8, 2024 by telescoperToday I attended a (mandatory) training workshop relating to the Developmental Review, a process which is aims to “help to align the objectives of the Reviewee with the goals of the Unit* and with those of the University” and “to develop the capability of all staff, by focussing on the employee’s current role and their future career plans”. In other words, it’s a Staff Appraisal scheme.
Basically the reviewee discusses goals for the next couple of years with the reviewer and identify any training or other needs that would help achieve those goals. The two meet again at the end of the review period to see whether the goals have been reached and agree aims for the next couple of years. And so on.
I have, in a previous existence, been involved with conducting appraisals as a reviewer as well as participating as a reviewee, and found the experience reasonably positive because it is reviewee-led and focussed on career development rather than being tied to pay. This time round, however, the only career development goal on the horizon for me is retirement so I’m not sure I’ll get much out of it unless someone can suggest a way of bringing the date forward…
*Don’t ask me what “the goals of the Unit” are. I have no idea.
Maynooth University Library Cat Update
Posted in Maynooth with tags Maynooth University, Maynooth University Library Cat on November 5, 2024 by telescoper
Maynooth University Library Cat was on post again today, staring at empty dishes to indicate that it was feeding time.
Management Memes
Posted in Biographical, Maynooth on November 1, 2024 by telescoperI’m out all day giving a talk at the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth, near Dublin, so in lieu of a proper post here’s another Management Meme.
Swans Again
Posted in Maynooth with tags Maynooth, Royal Canal, swan, Swans on October 30, 2024 by telescoperSome time ago, back in July, I posted about the sad demise of one of the beautiful swans that had been nesting at the canal harbour in Maynooth. I used to walk along the towpath to work sometimes, but currently there is work being done to renovate the canal bank so I have got out of the habit of walking along there. A couple of days ago, however, a colleague sent me a photograph which reminded me to post an update:
You will see that there are two swans once again. In fact there are three, as I shall explain.
First, contrary to what I said in my previous post, it was the male swan (cob) that died of an infection. The female swan (pen) was also very ill, and was taken aware to be nursed back to health by the team at Kildare Wildlife Rescue hence her temporary disappearance. She recovered, and was returned to the canal. However, a new pair of young swans – shown in the picture – moved in on the little island where the previous pair used to nest and drove off older pen. I’m told there wasn’t exactly a peaceful handover; it was more of a forcible eviction. The new swans will no doubt nest on the island, and perhaps raise cygnets next year, while the older one is usually to be found further along the canal, near the Mullen Bridge, apparently healthy but on her own.
Management Memes
Posted in Education, Maynooth with tags Maynooth University, rankings, University Rankings on October 28, 2024 by telescoperI’m too old to be making memes, but it’s a Bank Holiday so,in the light of recent developments at Maynooth University, I thought I’d give it a go. If this one proves popular there are many more I could post…
