Mike Simpson

Professional nerd, father, photographer, gamer, aspiring writer, sci-fi addict and code monkey.

RSE at @ncl_rse. Vice-president of @ResearchSoftEng. Fellow of @SoftwareSaved.

My views are my own. 🇺🇦 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

linktr.ee/mdsimpson

Mike Simpson boosted:
imdat celeste :v_tg: :v_nb: :v_genderfluid: [witchzard]ics@tau-ceti.space
2025-06-05

“Cheery was aware that Commander Vimes didn’t like the phrase “The innocent have nothing to fear,” believing the innocent had everything to fear, mostly from the guilty but in the longer term even more from those who say things like “The innocent have nothing to fear”.

Excerpt From
Snuff
Pratchett, Terry, Sir

Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-06-04

Huge thanks to everyone from @ukceh who organised and showed up for my @SoftwareSaved talk today.

It's a nerve-wracking talk to give, but everyone was so kind and welcoming. Nice to see some familiar faces too! 😊

Mike Simpson boosted:
Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-06-04

It is not "free" WiFi if I have to give you all my personal information to use it! 😡

Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-06-03

One of the many, many highlights from @SoftwareSaved was getting to meet my fellow Fellows and hearing about all the fascinating and varied work that everyone is doing. Still feeling amazed and honoured to be among them!

The 2025 SSI Fellows posing for a group photo. About 25 people standing or sitting in three rows.
Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-06-02

This week, I'm heading to Lancaster, Durham and (virtually, unfortunately!) The Netherlands to deliver my @SoftwareSaved Fellowship talk. Wish me luck!

A photo of Mike Simpson, next to the title of the talk "ConveRSE - Let's Talk About Mental Health". Below is the SSI logo and the text "Dr Mike Simpson - 2025 SSI Fellow".
Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-05-31

My 'new' game for May is Marvel's Midnight Suns, a tactical RPG from the makers of XCOM. On paper, it's the perfect game for me, but I was initially hesitant to play it. Was I right to be cautious?

mdsimpson.co.uk/2025/05/marvel

The Midnight Suns Logo above a line-up of characters. From left to right: Wolverine, Spider-Man, Iron Man, The Hunter, Blade, Scarlet Witch and Night Rider.
Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-05-27

I'm off, it's just me and the dog in the house... and, of course, it's raining! Oh well, time to get away from the screens for a bit and start a new set. 🤓

A partially assembled Lego Millennium Falcon (not the expensive one, unfortunately) next to the instruction manual.
Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-05-16

Heading home after another amazing CW, feeling both exhausted and energised! It was great to catch up with faces old and new. Thank you to those who talked to me about mental health, I'm feeling inspired and excited to move forward.

Thank you to Kyro and everyone at @SoftwareSaved for pulling it off once again!

A statue of the University of Stirling logo, standing next to a lake, with mountains, trees and the sunset in the background.
Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-05-13

Delighted to announce 'ConveRSE' - the new online hub for information, resources and support for people in the research software community - at @SoftwareSaved .

More details and opportunities to contribute to follow in the coming weeks.

A hexagonal laptop sticker, with the ConveRSE logo (Conve and RSE in adjoining speech bubbles) on a purple background, decorated with more, smaller speech bubbles. Under the logo is the text: "Let's Talk About Mental Health".
Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-05-12

Racing through the beautiful Scottish countryside in glorious sunshine on my way to @SoftwareSaved . Excited for another few days of ideas and conversations, and giving my lightning talk, of course!

The Collaborations Workshop logo over a road heading into the distance.
Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-05-10

Who's the worst guard dog in the whole damn world?

A photo of a basset hound taken from the living room window. His head is on the back of an armchair but he is fast asleep.
Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-05-08

Last week, I qualified as a Mental Health First Aider to help me prepare for talking about as part of my @SoftwareSaved Fellowship. I'll be at CW25 next week and I will have news of some other upcoming talks soon.

The text "Mental Health First Aider" and the MHFA England logo on a green background.
Mike Simpson boosted:
2025-05-07

🛣️ Only one week to go to ! We hope you're as excited as we are to get all together at the University of Stirling next week. In the meantime, why not brush up an all things CW25 at software.ac.uk/workshop/collab

Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-05-01

This is kinda my whole problem with them. The best response they can come up with for "why should I vote for you?" is "because we're not those guys!" 🙄

A Labour Party pamphlet with some graphs and text but the whole message is "Don't risk letting Reform win here"
Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-04-26

It’s time for a blast from the past. This month, I’ve been playing Streets of Rage 4 - a sequel released 26 years after the series’ last outing!

Was it worth the wait?

mdsimpson.co.uk/2025/04/street

The Streets of Rage 4 logo, surrounded by the characters from the game
Mike Simpson boosted:
Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-04-25

We're not "over-diagnosing", we're getting BETTER at diagnosing. That was the point of all those years of research.

And yes, more people are self-diagnosing, but that's because they are better informed. That was the whole point of raising awareness!

The more we are aware of these issues, the better we understand them, ourselves and each other, and the easier it is for us to manage and treat them. But we cannot do that if the funding and support isn't there!

Mike Simpson boosted:
2025-04-19
A drawing of a dinosaur swimming and looking up at the falling rain. The caption reads, "Bad days do not erase your progress."
Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-04-19

This time, 5 years ago... ❤️

A man sitting in a hospital chair, holding a little bundle wrapped in cloth. He's smiling at the camera, but looks nervous and exhausted. The baby has forcep scars on his cheek.
Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-04-16

@3xfactorial it should be 🤔 It just worked when I tried it on my phone...

Mike Simpsoncodemonkey_mike
2025-04-16

Figured some of you might need some emergency Marv this morning!

A basset hound lying on his back on the floor, looking seductively up at the camera.

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