Richard Tutton

New paper alert for social studies of outer space folk and anyone else interested in #spaceports and #spacepolicy. Written with the amazing @ellietheelement.bsky.social, in it we explore the UK’s attempts to turn access to orbital space into an asset for the UK economy. #assetization #expectations

This is such an interesting read 👇 “For many, the key intelligence lesson from Ukraine was stark: do not rule things out, just because they might once have seemed impossible.”

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

“Savour life, be happy, value what truly matters, flee from toxicity and show empathy … lots of empathy”

📜 New article! 👉 As part of our 'Forum on Tech Oligarchy," @Jonathan Roberge, Nicolas C., and Victor Galaretta analyse the crystallisation of tech oligarchy during the tumultuous months following the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the US 🔗 doi.org/10.1080/0950...

I'm co-chairing the Society for Social Studies of Science @4sweb.bsky.social Conference in Toronto, Oct 2026. #STS #scipol #innovation Theme: "TechnoPower • Technoscientific Futures". Open panel submissions portal is open! ls! Deadline: 2nd February 2026 www.4sonline.org/about_the_co...

Delighted to receive this in the post - 'Bigfooters and Scientific Inquiry' by @drjamielewis.bsky.social and Andy Bartlett. This book is in the finest STS tradition of showing how an apparently marginal or obscure scientific practice opens up an entire epistemological world.

“For every inch yielded, there’s going to be another inch demanded,” he said. “Where does it stop? For example, the focus right now is on migrants, in large part. But who is it going to be about next time around?”

@hannahnagrom.bsky.social

Edmund Coleman-Fountain, Silvia Falcetta, @patriciahamilton.bsky.social, @drfuturity.bsky.social , Rodrigo Campos, Jade Gilbourne, @rossolb.bsky.social & Phoebe Murphy have published an article reflecting on trialing problem-based learning in sociology in ‘Sociology’ ( @britsoci.bsky.social )

The Call for applications for the EASST Fund is now open until 31 December 2025. Find all the details and how to apply on the website. easst.net/fund/

A good line here: “Some people think we don’t have the political will but as I like to remind people, political will is a renewable resource.”

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

There are some excellent points made here exposing what is happening in the UK at the moment.

“Does this still look like dystopian fiction to you? Perhaps a better way of framing the question is to go back two decades, pretend that the ethnic cleansing of the United Kingdom was your ultimate goal, and ask how satisfied you would be with how things had turned out.”

Just watched the final ever ITV highlights episode of the #TourdeFrance. End of an era. Twenty years of watching the best coverage of this amazing event. Julys won’t be the same again.

“Send them to Mars”

Some sound advice here but no discussion of how the car park companies should surely have some responsibility to remove these fake QR codes and to adapt their business processes to limit opportunities for fraud.

This is a helpful read. Thank you.

If true, this is a terrible mistake, especially with the prospect that solar panels would be optional. The failure to have a clear vision and get the basics right is demoralising and irresponsible. No wonder the young people I teach feel angry at politicians on climate change action.

I admire this guy’s style and courage in the face of police brutality.

The Guardian view on China’s EV breakthrough: helped by the kind of strategic state Elon Musk despises www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

“It is one small department in one university. But it will reverberate across the entire country.” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/u...

The secret history of Australian women in the Space Age A Bluesky version of my International Women's Day talk for the Shire of Berrigan, NSW. (Many thanks to them for the invitation and support). 🧪#WomenInSTEM #IWD25

“Friday, February 28, 2025, will go into the history books as one of the grimmest days in American diplomacy, the beginning of a long-term disaster that every American, every U.S. ally, and anyone who cares about the future of democracy will have to endure.” www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

In 1973, a group of feminist activists protested NASA's exclusion of women from space, except in menial or decorative roles. #WomenInSTEM 🧪

What does Elon Musk believe? www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

Something interesting behind the world record story: “Supporting the project is Grant Romundt, from Canada. Both he and Koch have grander visions linked to the libertarian -- and at-times controversial -- "seasteading" movement that envisions ocean-based communities outside government control.”

Sat watching BBC Parliament channel’s coverage of the Senedd Cymru. Its modern look and arrangements a stark contrast to the archaic, dysfunctional Westminster.

As someone who experiences low to moderate level anxiety when flying, on my last trip I found that noise cancelling earphones helped so much. It seems obvious in hindsight but I appreciate now that reducing the sensory load of anxiety inducing situations is a very effective way of managing them.

Signs of a luna-earth-economic system taking shape? www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Embarking on my journey tonight to attend the first EASST Council of 2025 in Aarhus. Chance to meet newly elected members. Looking forward to productive discussions over the next two days.

‘“nei” and “juan” literally mean rolling inwards. After decades of rapid growth, many Chinese millennials and Gen Z people feel that the opportunities that were available to their parents no longer exist, and that working hard no longer offers guaranteed rewards.’ www.theguardian.com/world/2024/d...

Here’s to my adorable working-from-home companion of 2024, looking resplendent in her winter coat.

Nothing ages faster than visions of the future. You simply cannot organize an institution entirely around The Latest Thing. But we have, it seems, an entire generation of institutional leaders with no second thought in their heads. And we have roomfuls of rotting, half-finished projects to prove it.

Excited to receive the proofs for a chapter coming out next year, which represents my first foray in writing speculative fiction in an academic context. Hugely inspired by the likes of @ruha9.bsky.social and Kodwo Eshun.

This is exciting. We’re hiring a new lecturer in STS. Let me know if you want to discuss, and please repost and share.

The latest issue of EASST Review is now out, covering the 2024 EASST- @4sweb.bsky.social conference last summer, and including some amazing creative writing, and reports from across the STS community. easst.net/easst-review/

Oh well, time for a cup of tea instead.

We warmly welcome you to join our next online FutureSpace Talk on Wednesday December 11th, with guest speakers Eleanor S. Armstrong (University of Leicester) and Réka P. Gál (Technical University of Munich). Register here: futurespace-project.eu/futurespace-...

Have we reached peak depense with this dystopian news? Crypto entrepreneur eats banana art he bought for $6.2m. www.theguardian.com/world/2024/n...

Seen this @deathandculture.bsky.social @emmahcasey.bsky.social @raphahead.bsky.social?

Thank you @sciasculture.bsky.social for making this article free to access. Maybe the time is right to start work on a follow-up.

As Musk takes a greater role in the White House, Science as Culture is making the article "Sociotechnical Imaginaries and Techno-Optimism: Examining Outer Space Utopias of Silicon Valley" by Richard Tutton, originally published in 2020, free access. [2/3] www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Claudio Angelo (Observatorio do Clima, Brazil) said: “Rich countries spent 150 years appropriating the world’s atmospheric space, 33 years loitering on climate action, and three years negotiating [a financial settlement] without putting numbers on the table.” www.theguardian.com/environment/...