Nick Souter
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Sussex, studying ways of measuring the carbon footprint of fMRI data preprocessing and analysis 🌱🧠
- This week I attended my first ever hackathon with @bhdonostia.bsky.social! We put together a functioning dashboard to estimate the carbon footprint of MRI data collection 🧠 You can access the neuro-impact-calculator here: nicksouter.shinyapps.io/neuro-impact... (Not yet optimised for phones) 🧵
- The tool takes input information including: 🟢 Field strength 🟢 Scanner model 🟢 Country in which data was collected 🟢 Year of data collection 🟢 Sample size From this, it generates an environmental impact statement which can be popped into a grant application or journal paper
- A caveat, we’ve taken energy consumption metrics from specifications provided by scanner manufacturers. The numbers generated as output seem to be a pretty big underestimation of the impact we’d expect from fMRI research scanning. The numbers are probably more relevant to clinical scanning…
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View full threadAnd another thank you to the whole @bhdonostia.bsky.social organising team for inviting me to speak about the carbon footprint of neuroimaging computing! (I think the subtitles shown on the screen here were from people all over the room, not me just mumbling incoherently)
- Reposted by Nick SouterWe just wrapped an excellent keynote from @nicksouter.bsky.social on reducing the carbon footprint of research computing. A powerful reminder that scientific progress and sustainability can — and should — go hand in hand! 🌍💡 #BHDonostia2025 #sustainability #GreenScience
- Reposted by Nick Souter‼️ If you're interested in getting involved with the SEA-SIG, we are accepting nominations for the roles of Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer until OCTOBER 5! ‼️ ✨ 💫 🌍 🌱 🍃
- Make a difference within the OHBM community and help make it more sustainable! The @ohbmenvironment.bsky.social positions of chair, secretary and treasurer are open for nominations. Email ohbm.sea.sig@gmail.com with a short statement (200 words) about why you and how you will get involved!
- Reposted by Nick Souter🗓️ Only ONE WEEK to register for the OHBM Virtual Satellite Meeting, hosted with the SEA-SIG @ohbmenvironment.bsky.social! There will be an educational course, 3 symposia, and a can’t-miss keynote from Dr. Michael Breakspear! You won’t want to miss it!
- Reposted by Nick Souter📣 Interested in the environmental (un)sustainability of AI (and how to support positive change)? Or know someone who is? I have an open position for a postdoctoral researcher to join my group in Cambridge, UK 🌱 🚨Closing June 5th www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/51255/ Topics below 👇 #AcademicSky #GreenSky
- Reposted by Nick SouterSave the date ! Co-organized with @inserm.bsky.social bLORIER, @nicksouter.bsky.social from @sussexfss.bsky.social will talk about « How to reduce the carbon footprint of your research computing? » tinyurl.com/4hck9xbh An event affiliated with @ohbmenvironment.bsky.social !
- Som staggering statistics from @ourworldindata.org
- Reposted by Nick SouterAre you a neuroscientist interested in sustainability, but don't know who to follow? 🤔 You're in luck! Here's a starter pack of neuroscientists who post about climate, and researchers who work in the intersection of neuro/psych and climate change! 🌱Msg if you want to be added! go.bsky.app/E1iW12Tat://did:plc:miuhumismny6zqupajakygfs/app.bsky.graph.starterpack/3lbuhq2m3op2x
- Reposted by Nick SouterWeekends are a great time to let ideas percolate, so why not give @nicksouter.bsky.social's paper on "10 recommendations for reducing the carbon footprint of neuroimaging research" a read and let it sink in while you head outside and get some fresh air? direct.mit.edu/imag/article...
- Reposted by Nick SouterWhat is the relationship between neuroscience and climate change? At first these two topics can seem very distinct, but this article by Rae et al. makes a very compelling case for why we should incorporate environmental awareness into our research practices. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
- Reposted by Nick Souter🚨We're recruiting! Interested in making science and computing more environmentally friendly? Now's the time! Very excited to build a research group at Cambridge Uni to expand our Green Algorithms work thanks to the support of the Wellcome Trust www.green-algorithms.org/join-us #AcademicSky #SciSky
- Reposted by Nick Souter‼️ NEW PAPER ALERT ‼️ @nicksouter.bsky.social et al. (including many of our SEA-SIG members) demonstrate the environmental impact of different fMRIprep preprocessing choices, and make recommendations for minimizing carbon emissions of your pipeline! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
- Reposted by Nick SouterAre you looking to get involved with like-minded neuroimagers to make our field more sustainable? Nominate yourself to be the new Chair, Secretary, or Treasurer of the SEA-SIG in our 2024 elections! Nominations accepted from August 15-September 15! ohbm-environment.org/upcoming-sig...
- In this short 'PosterByte' video made for the British Neuroscience Association 2024 Members' Meeting, I discuss our recent work on the carbon footprint of neuroscience data processing 🌱🧠🖥️ shorturl.at/aguWY #BNAMembersMeeting2024
- Reposted by Nick SouterThe Problem with Doomerism: Critics are right that doom and gloom can demoralize people into inaction. We found that negative messages increase social media sharing, but had no effect on policy support or climate beliefs & even backfired for effortful action: powerofus.substack.com/p/how-to-tal...
