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Exciting News!

The grand finale of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is set for Saturday, May 17th. However, there seems to be a lack of interest in this year’s Feedback JR, making it easier for some to skip the event altogether. We fully support the contest’s welcoming spirit, though many of the entries may be quite challenging for our ears.

But why bother with Eurovision when we have a winner from this year? The Dancing PhD contest invites researchers to present their findings through interpretive dance, and it has been a tradition since 2008. It might provide valuable inspiration for countries struggling to engage participants for Eurovision.

This year’s winning choreography was crafted by Slo Lucca from the University of Helsinki, who focuses on chemical research. Lucca’s work explores diverse sensations related to taste and smell, such as the heat of chili peppers and the coolness of menthol. A video showcases a performance set to an energetic tune reminiscent of “Lady Gaga,” highlighted by the recurring phrase “Hot! Hot! Hot!” The routine creatively incorporates laboratory settings, costume changes, acrobatics (with Lucca being lifted a la Kylie Minogue), and vibrant colors.

What on earth happened with the UK’s Eurovision entry?

What’s surprising about this routine is that it hasn’t competed in Eurovision yet. The only hurdle is that the song was inspired by Dr. Slo Lucca, Sanpo Marjama, and Ai Shaman Jami Piecilla, hinting at a potential AI composition, which might provoke concerns from Eurovision officials.

If Eurovision isn’t feasible, perhaps “dance your PhD” could make its debut on TikTok. Science recently shared a snippet of Roukka’s performance on their TikTok account, but the contest is largely absent from the platform, which is typically known for singing and dancing trends.

Is Watts in Charge?

An email from John Harper from Wellington’s Victoria University in New Zealand brought our attention to an intriguing case of “double nominal determinism.” The country’s Minister of Energy is Simon Watts, who sounds like he has his work cut out for him. Simon Watt.

“Both figures need more than just two watts to keep the lights on,” John observes.

Can you imagine their kids’ wedding?

The World’s Top Polymers

I view feedback as encompassing a wide array of interests: science, history, music, films, video games, and ASMR videos, unless they involve chewing sounds. It captures a blend of the vastness that occupies our minds. Naturally, this means that feedback isn’t truly an expert on anything aside from elongating simple concepts to fill paragraphs, regardless of clarity.

Yet, Bruce Dury certainly stands out. “I recently found out that I’m considered quite a significant polymer expert internationally,” he remarked. This revelation comes from receiving numerous invitations to conferences covering a wide range of topics, from chemistry to social studies.

For clarity, Bruce is undoubtedly a polymath. He is a genealogist and author who presents on BBC radio. What connects him to fields like chemistry and cancer research is a mystery to both him and us.

But that’s not all. His “Encyclopaedic Eminence” has led to invitations for submissions to many journals “aiming to feature the best contributions from noteworthy individuals just like you,” and to describe him as “one of the leading experts in the field” with “somewhat hyperbolic praise.”

Bruce provided a comprehensive list of these journals. Initially, we considered sharing his full list, but given the multitude of complex terms, it would have filled the columns. (Our lawyers advised against it.) They ranged from archaeology and family medicine to infrastructure and posthumanism.

Lastly, Bruce was offered yet another academic distinction: “I am ‘very invited’ to become the editor-in-chief of a new but obscure journal from the EuroAsia Academic Alliance. I could even start my own journal – a feat accomplished by 58 academics just last month.

Don’t overlook the molecular biologists like Richard Sever from the Cold Spring Harbor Institute in New York, who has been invited to join the editorial committee for the journal Behavioral Neuroscience Dance. As he noted on BlueSky: “I can’t envision anyone less qualified than myself – except perhaps those managing the journal…”

We are indeed in a remarkable new era where scientific journals and conferences are marketed much like Nigerian princes and cryptocurrencies.

As Bruce says, “Publication without oversight is one thing, but at least such predators should be subtle?”

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