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Dr Clara Barker

@drclarabarker.bsky.social

Trans material scientist at Oxford University. General DND, boardgames and mini-painting nerd.

465 Followers  |  412 Following  |  63 Posts  |  Joined: 22.11.2023  |  2.2519

Latest posts by drclarabarker.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Looking for a beautiful book for young people on the earth? Then can I recommend this beautifully illustrated and written book by @drlperezdiaz.bsky.social
I can't recommend this highly enough.
And it's never too early to start a lovely for #science #stem
#STEMforAll #ScienceForAll

17.07.2025 13:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Absolutely amazing time at #LondonPride yesterday.
So happy to be there with the @royalsociety.org supporting #STEMforAll
Bonus my new Converse turned up the day before, which I hadn't expected.
In times of hate, so amazing to see the love
#prideMonth #stem
#TransScientist #transgender #lgbt

06.07.2025 15:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 9    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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BREAKING: UKs oppressive 'Labour' government regime hit by official Red Flag genocide alert over oppression and erasure of trans and intersex people. | Dr Victoria Helen McCloud BREAKING: UKs oppressive 'Labour' government regime hit by official Red Flag genocide alert over oppression and erasure of trans and intersex people. Any Members of the UK Parliament now fail...

People may question the use of alarmist language but when such language starts to be used, you have to ask why.
And as a trans person living in the UK, I know full well why such language is being used.

www.linkedin.com/posts/dr-vic...

01.07.2025 15:00 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

it is very transparent they have an outcome in mind and choose their evidence to suit their desired narrative.

and how about we start treating people with dignity and respect. even those who are not yet adults

19.06.2025 16:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Yesterday my peer-reviewed research paper called โ€œHarming children: The Effects of the UK Puberty-blocker Banโ€ was published. | Dr Natacha Kennedy Yesterday my peer-reviewed research paper called โ€œHarming children: The Effects of the UK Puberty-blocker Banโ€ was published. It was by far the hardest thing I have ever had to write. It reveals how ...

funny how the current gov approach of being 'evidence led' means ignoring scientific experts and cherry picking research and data.
we have to stop this unscientific approach adopted by our leaders.

www.linkedin.com/posts/dr-nat...

19.06.2025 16:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Entrance steps to the Vienna conference centre, with EGU stickers going up

Entrance steps to the Vienna conference centre, with EGU stickers going up

A welcome sign at EGU, saying simply welcome

A welcome sign at EGU, saying simply welcome

A large crowd with soft pink lighting, and on stage a covers band

A large crowd with soft pink lighting, and on stage a covers band

Wonderful session at the @egu.eu conference in Vienna. Lots of great initiatives and a fantastic panel to be part of. Lovely evening to finish off.
Posts to come next week about a few of the wonderful people I spoke to.

03.05.2025 10:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Picture of a sunny garden, with various plants (including an alba, rhubarb plant, heather and cordaline) in the foreground and a little fairy house, and in the background is a slackline that has been set up

Picture of a sunny garden, with various plants (including an alba, rhubarb plant, heather and cordaline) in the foreground and a little fairy house, and in the background is a slackline that has been set up

Is this the year I master the slackline?
Probably not. But I'll give it a good go.
For me, the fun is trying. I don't have to master everything just try the things I want to try.
And I don't mind a fall. Only way I'll get better!

27.04.2025 13:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

We can choose the businesses and groups we support, the people we spend our precious time with.
I choose those who support people.

There will be waves of anti-trans rehetoric coming up. But know there are good organisations out there and choose them

17.04.2025 15:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

We have the right to feel safe, valued, respected. The world isn't a bubble. But generally, people are good. I like the people and organisations I surround myself with. Not everyone believe they have to choose between supporting trans people and other people.

17.04.2025 15:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

And some awesome organisations have put out supportive statements, that they value trans scientists. I saw a strong one from the @rsc.org

Next week there will be an exciting post about a new children's book I have been featured in.

17.04.2025 15:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Today I went to @ Gallery Bouldering in Oxford. Always been super friendly, they have a queer climbing night and also have unisex bathrooms and changing rooms. I feel a happy part of their community. (And after last year's broken hand, I finally feel I am getting back through the grades!)

17.04.2025 15:42 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Picture of two old battered pairs of climbing shoes, some board games and a ragged old pride flag doormat

Picture of two old battered pairs of climbing shoes, some board games and a ragged old pride flag doormat

Last night I went to a queer boardgame group, Oxford GAYmers. I used to be a regular and intend to regain that. Plenty of cis-gay men and women who have no issue with me using the bathroom and joining games.

17.04.2025 15:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 8    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Can you not work on cancer research if you or your family has, or has had cancer? Might get cancer?
What about research on womenโ€™s health, only to be done by men?
Research on climate change, only by people who do not live on this planet?
Double standards

27.03.2025 11:24 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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ยฃ485,000 of grants awarded to five UK-US partnerships to boost LGBT+ inclusion in STEM The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Science and Innovation Network are proud to announce the recipients of funding for five projects that will see UK and US universities partner to improve policy ...

Another little note, at the @rsc.org EDI day on Tuesday I heard from another person doing research about trans people. They faced the pushback, how can you do work on trans people if you are trans/NB/have trans family. We faced the same criticism.

www.rsc.org/news-events/...

27.03.2025 11:24 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Amazing how many free speech activists tried to distort this project.
Free speech โ€“ Ha.
Correct speech only!

Anyways, this essay was a good opportunity to share that project.
It could easily have been stronger, but I think we got the tone right and I hope proves useful.

27.03.2025 11:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Healthtalk Thousands of people have shared their experiences on film to help you understand what it's like to have a health condition such as breast cancer or arthritis.

Iโ€™m proud of the research project this was written about. It faced challenges simply for focussing trans youth.
And I only advised, I was not a researcher on the project.
This research was properly researched, but faced so much criticism because of the content

healthtalk.org/introduction...

27.03.2025 11:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Yesterday I was at a launch event for a series of essays on the power of community engagement in research sponsored by @britsciassoc.bsky.social
l
There are some amazing articles to read. And yes, I was a co-author on one - obvious which, lol
www.britishscienceassociation.org/creating-kno...

27.03.2025 11:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Great to be at the Royal Society of Chemistry EDI day today. Especially to hear the results of the LGBTQ+STEM inclusion grants.
We need to fund scientists now for them to achieve max potential. (& not just LGBTQ+ scientists).
Leaders take time to become leaders www.rsc.org/prizes-fundi...

25.03.2025 15:49 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 10    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

No idea why I showered before I went. I was straight into the middle as soon as I got in the venue...

22.03.2025 22:11 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Sorry! ๐Ÿ™‚

22.03.2025 22:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

That's so cool! Gosh, I saw them so many times I'm the 90s and 00s

22.03.2025 22:09 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

It was so good

22.03.2025 22:08 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Awesome gig tonight. Terrorvision. 1st saw em 30 ago and still 1 of the best live bands around.
Oh, @terrorvisiontone.bsky.social Josephine rocks. It was so nice to have fairly sweet, accepting song about trans people when I was growing up. There wasn't much of it. We could do with more these days

22.03.2025 21:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

I'm probably gonna spam this for a while tbh. Sorry if it gets annoying but I want people to know and remember that the resources exist. If you want to help these have impact, please share them with cis and straight scientists who do fieldwork, not just the LGBTQ+ ones!

28.02.2025 20:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 36    ๐Ÿ” 13    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Awesome day at the Royal Edinburgh Observatory today, celebrating #IWD. Inspiring to meet so many awesome people and I even got a tour of the facility including the old telescope. So cool. Thanks to Edinburgh Uni and STFC for hosting me (and the Cooper Bears) #edi #stem #science

13.03.2025 15:14 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 10    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Amazing. Thanks for sharing. It was great to chat with you too ๐Ÿ™‚

13.03.2025 15:08 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Thank you so much. Really glad you enjoyed it I had an awesome day and felt so reinvigorated by all the amazing chats I had ๐Ÿ™‚

13.03.2025 15:07 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Erin Reed on LinkedIn: New German, Swiss, And Austrian Guidelines Recommend Trans Youth Careโ€ฆ | 13 comments Major news in transgender care. Germany, Switzerland, and Austria have just released their trans youth care guidelines. They strongly recommend trans youthโ€ฆ | 13 comments on LinkedIn

Only had a quick look, but seems promising
We must centre patients and the evidence we have (which,yes, needs more but that seems unlikely as funding decreases) when it comes to healthcare, not political opinions.
I hope the UK gov are paying attention.
www.erininthemorning.com/p/new-german...

11.03.2025 09:02 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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As part of my show Fab-lab-ulous!, I do this demonstration and talk about elastic potential energy, kinetic energy, elastic properties of materials and @drclarabarker.bsky.social's work.

This is from a recent version of the show - this is the longest one I've ever made!

05.03.2025 13:38 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 13    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

And I always wonder: some mysteries have remained longer than we would expect. Why is this? Have we pushed out those who may have been able to solve them because of who they are? We will never know.

But investing in Science and Scientists is important for society and our species to move forward.

26.02.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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