@mdsimpson.co.uk
Professional nerd, father, photographer, gamer, aspiring writer, sci-fi addict and code monkey. RSE at Newcastle | Vice-president of SocRSE | SSI Fellow. My views are my own. 🇺🇦 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️ https://linktr.ee/mdsimpson
🧭 We are pleased to announce that applications for the SSI Fellowship Programme 2026 will be open from Mon 11 Aug to Mon 6 Oct 2025.
An introductory Fellowship Programme Launch Webinar will be held on Thu 21 Aug.
Find out more at www.software.ac.uk/news/fellows...
Protect your boundaries. Bubbles with the following boundaries in them: time for self-care, respecting your views and feelings, learning to say no, changing your mind, setting your own priorities, working only in work hours.
Pls respect my boundaries 💙
Anything you’d add?
"Amazin’,” he said again. “He just looks as though he’s thinking, right?” “Er . . . yes.” “But he’s not actually thinking?” “Er . . . no.” “So . . . he just gives the impression of thinking but really it’s just a show?” “Er . . . yes.” “Just like everyone else, then, really,” said Ridcully. - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather (Discworld, #20)
#TerryPratchett #Quote
05.08.2025 07:00 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Those of us living with mental illness have enough to deal with.
We shouldn’t have to put up with stigma too.
Tweet from @ThoughtSlime "People who become right wing because they get annoyed by leftists are weak willed, most leftists are annoyed by leftists every single day."
skill issue
26.07.2025 13:16 — 👍 295 🔁 38 💬 3 📌 1
An 11-week-old chocolate Labrador puppy curled up on my lap.
I am the chosen one! 😍 #Puppy #Dog
27.07.2025 10:33 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Aaand the porn-bots are here! NOW it feels like Twitter!
16.07.2025 16:03 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
'Self-care' in a jug being poured into a cup that says 'you can't pour from an empty cup'
Time to refill that cup
P.S. search 'self-care' on our website for lots of tips and ideas for how
New community award needing your nominations!
In addition to the Outstanding Contribution to the RSE Community, Rising Star, Training & Education and Impact awards, there is anew Green RSE award, sponsored by the Software Sustainability Institute!
Full details:
rsecon25.society-rse.org/awards/
💬 #SSIFellow @mdsimpson.co.uk has launched a new initiative names ConveRSE. The website will serve as a hub for mental health information and support, including updates on his fellowship and collaborations with others in the community. Find out more at
www.software.ac.uk/blog/convers...
It feels like, with all our human ingenuity, it should be possible to make straw that lasts longer 10 seconds but less than 10 million years! 🤔
08.07.2025 07:01 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
One Year Hard Labour
Tory chaos rebadged with a red rosette.
youtu.be/SpJhyyhuJrY?...
Wait for the..... <fist-bump>.
#ChimpChum 🐵
Becoming a Mental Health First Aider
🟢 In our latest blog post #SSIFellow @mdsimpson.co.uk tells us more about his experience becoming a Mental Health First Aider as part of his Fellowship activities. Read the full story at
www.software.ac.uk/blog/becomin...
This month, I finally got around to playing Hi-Fi Rush, a rhythm action game where you have to save the world by smashing robots to the beat with a guitar.
Does it make sense? No! Was it fun? Absolutely!
mdsimpson.co.uk/2025/06/hi-f...
A photo of the current trustees at an in-person meeting. Below them is a white box with the RSE Society Logo and the text "Society of Research Software Engineering, Trustee Nominations & Elections 2025"
The deadline for the trustee elections has been extended:
⏰ 23:59 (BST) Monday 30th June 2025 ⏰
Please consider stepping forward to help support the Society. And pass this on to your colleagues. We cannot do what we do without support from this wonderful community.
society-rse.org/trustee-nomi...
One day at a time.
Im talking to you - you, who might be struggling with your sobriety, or your anxiety, or your mental health - or just struggling.
One day at a time.
You cant fix everything, all the time. Hold on to one thing.
One day at a time.
You are loved ❤️
A photo of a USB-powered fan, sitting on a table, plugged into to a small portable power bank. The fan has a magnetic, silver Star Trek comm badge attached to the centre of the casing.
USB fan + power bank = portable cooling! 😎
21.06.2025 16:48 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Great discussion on Dealing with Anxiety (and #MentalHealth in general) from Jimmy Carr, of all people!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fYm...
Meet the Trustees - As the 2025/26 elections are currently underway, we thought we'd introduce ourselves and talk about our experience of being Society Trustees. Read more about who we are and what we do in the post below.
society-rse.org/meet-the-tru...
Huge thanks to everyone from @ukceh.bsky.social who organised and showed up for my @softwaresaved.bsky.social #MentalHealth talk today.
It's a nerve-wracking talk to give, but everyone was so kind and welcoming. Nice to see some familiar faces too! 😊
It is not "free" WiFi if I have to give you all my personal information to use it! 😡
17.11.2024 12:45 — 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
The 2025 SSI Fellows posing for a group photo. About 25 people standing or sitting in three rows.
One of the many, many highlights from @softwaresaved.bsky.social #CollabW25 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!
03.06.2025 07:01 — 👍 7 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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".
This week, I'm heading to Lancaster, Durham and (virtually, unfortunately!) The Netherlands to deliver my @softwaresaved.bsky.social Fellowship #MentalHealth talk. Wish me luck!
02.06.2025 09:21 — 👍 4 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
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/marv...
A partially assembled Lego Millennium Falcon (not the expensive one, unfortunately) next to the instruction manual.
Well, 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 #Lego set. 🤓
27.05.2025 15:54 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
A statue of the University of Stirling logo, standing next to a lake, with mountains, trees and the sunset in the background.
Heading home after another amazing CW. 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.bsky.social for pulling it off once again! #CollabW25
A pink graphic with a list of mental health helplines for Mental Health Awareness Week. It includes: Mind: 0300 102 1234 (Open 9am–6pm weekdays) Samaritans: 116 123 (Always open) Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): 0800 58 58 58 (Open 5pm–midnight) If you're in Wales, CALL: 0800 132 737 (Always open) If you're under 25, The Mix: Text THEMIX to 85258 (Always open) Text at the bottom says: "Share and save this post."
Mental Health Awareness Week has begun 💙
If you’re needing a little support, here’s who to call ☎️
Please share far and wide! #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
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".
Delighted to announce 'ConveRSE' - the new online hub for #MentalHealth information, resources and support for people in the research software community - at @softwaresaved.bsky.social #CollabW25.
More details and opportunities to contribute to follow in the coming weeks.
