CEO @ARIA_research | formerly @activatefellows + @arpae + founder/investor | building a better future with science x community
Sep 11, 2023 • 11 tweets • 4 min read
Thrilled to introduce ARIA's first set of Programme Directors. Their job: push the limits of the possible to unlock breakthroughs that benefit everyone. /1
The application form for ARIA PD started with one question: “If you could direct up to £50m to drive a bold and focused scientific/technical step-change in human progress, what would you do?” /2
We're recruiting a founding group of programme directors (PDs) at @ARIA_research. Short 🧵 on why this is such an exciting/important experiment, and why you should pause to consider the opportunity - especially if at first glance you felt like it wasn't meant for you. /1
We're backing people, then projects. ARIA PDs will look a lot like ARPA program managers. With a £50M+ budget, you’ll join ARIA for 3-5 years with creative control to develop a focused scientific/tech vision, fund a portfolio of projects, & direct progress. /2
Nov 28, 2022 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
Catch-up thread with notes from a handful of awesome roundtables we recently hosted (part of our pre-launch learning/brainstorming for @ARIA_research). Featuring 🍄⚕️🦠🔌💻 and more... /🧵
Microbiome engineering
- Busy space but still tons of headroom
- Interdisciplinary "grand oppty" to model/predict the full lifecycle of microbiome dynamics?
- How about an HMP for soil?
- UK leads the world in linking omics to clinical --> what about for microbiome? /2
Nov 21, 2021 • 14 tweets • 8 min read
A⚡️🧵on why we should #electrifyeverything to solve climate change while driving progress vs. degrowth /1
We make most of our electricity from fossil fuels in a manner future generations will find barbaric. Burn fuel to make heat to boil water to make steam to drive turbines to generate electricity. Lose about 2/3 of the energy to heat along the way yet spew all the carbon as CO2. /2
Feb 14, 2021 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
I've built up an arsenal of geeky metaphors to help scientists make sense of startups and entrepreneurship.
Figured it might make for a fun 🧵to share a few here... /1
[Chemistry] Your startup is a chemical rxn. Value prop dictates thermo, business model dictates kinetics. Success requires [A] an exothermic reaction (products more valuable than reactants) & [B] overcoming activation barriers (fundraising, distribution, etc.). /2
Jan 24, 2021 • 15 tweets • 8 min read
Interested in bringing back Bell Labs?
Some thoughts 🧵 on why it's not possible, and what we should do instead.... /1
At peak, Bell Labs was about $2B/yr in today's USD. Split 30% fundamental research, 10% translation, 60% systems engineering. (straight from the source) /2
Jun 23, 2020 • 15 tweets • 7 min read
Appreciated the chance to share thoughts on gov-funded R&D for @techreview's #innovation issue. Some highlights below.
What resonates with you? What's off/missing?
This is important: next 12 months may be a once-in-lifetime oppty to course correct.
technologyreview.com/2020/06/17/100…
Wake up call: The US spends more on research in human health than agriculture, space, and energy combined, yet we were unprepared for covid-19—not because we weren’t spending enough, but because we weren’t spending effectively.
