University of Glasgow Academic's [AT]LegoAcademics Twitter Account Goes Viral

19th August 2014

A University of Glasgow researcher has created a viral twitter account about day-to-day life in academia illustrated by Lego figures.

Dr Donna Yates, an archaeologist in the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, stages the [AT]LegoAcademics scenes using Lego's 'Research Institute' set, designed to promote a diverse and empowering view of academia to children.

Since her first tweet on Friday, a posed picture of the Lego figures celebrating the weekend with a few drinks, but captioned with a tongue-in-cheek "Work Life Balance: The academics enjoy Friday drinks... because they know they will be working through the weekend", the account has gained over 13,000 followers in six days, with the number growing by the hour.

Speaking of the overnight success of the new account, Dr Yates said: "Reflecting on it, perhaps the most interesting and exciting thing about this twitter account are its followers.

"We have over 10,000 of the smartest, most inspiring people in the world; people who have devoted their lives to advancing every academic and scientific field imaginable, often because they love it but for the benefit of all.

"These are the people that our children should look up to and should have as heroes. The Lego Academics are honoured to have such followers as 'peers'."

Dr Yates is quick to point out that she is not really complaining about academia, "Really, I have my dream job. Sure there are some frustrations in the life of an academic, but I think I have the best job in the world."

As part of the University's Trafficking Culture Project, which is funded by the European Research Council, the Leverhulme Foundation, and the Fulbright Programme, Dr Yates is part of a team of researchers who are studying the international trafficking of antiquities and the looting of archaeological sites.

"I am a bit surprised by how popular the Lego Academics have become, but I think that this goes to show that the image of a woman as a scientist isn't just accepted, it is embraced", she said.

"I've got a lot of replies about the Lego Academics tweets by my absolute favourite was a mother reporting that after she showed the photos to her daughter, the little girl asked how she could become a professor too."

You can follow the Lego academics at www.twitter.com/LegoAcademics where Dr Yates will post one per day for “as long as it's funny.”