Alastair Vaan

Head of Comp Sci at Radley College. Robots. STEM and occasional nonsense. VEX evangelist. MIE. Photography on Instagram and twitter @augustvisual

[Paul Graham @paulg]

In fact programming is particularly good at teaching you how to think. Programs are literally built out of ideas. Which is one reason it's still a good idea to study CS in the AI era. It's still important to be able to think well.

[VEX Robotics @VEXRobotics]

Want to make a difference and help inspire the next generation of STEM leaders? 🤖 Volunteer for VEX Robotics Competitions through the @REC_Foundation! Check out what roles are available and see how you can bring your skill set to your local competitions: https://t.co/E3pqKGqr9b

[Alastair Vaan @BitbyBot]

What a pleasure to end up sat on a table all day with @mberry @suesentance and more talking AI education.

And thanks @Raspberry_Pi foundation for the invite! So much potential in this space.

[Satya Nadella @satyanadella]

Our breakthrough work on an analog optical computer points to new ways to solve complex real-world problems with much greater efficiency. Super to see this published today in @Nature. https://t.co/vjx8lYmze5

[Alastair Vaan @BitbyBot]

Here we go again!

@RadleyCollege @RadleyCoCurr
#vexworlds #omgrobots #vexrobotics

[Alastair Vaan @BitbyBot]

Quite a lot of Skye feels like Mordor, only with better food…

[NASA Earth @NASAEarth]

ICYMI: Earth’s sea ice reached a new low in 2025. 🌊🧊

Arctic sea ice cover reached its lowest annual maximum on record and Antarctic sea ice cover was the second-lowest on record in March of 2025. https://t.co/uIQ7cG4kfQ

[VEX Robotics @VEXRobotics]

A couple weeks ago, 150 VIQRC & V5RC teams competed at the UK National Championship in Telford, England! 🌟 These teams showed the high caliber of robotics excellence in the United Kingdom! @VEXRoboticsUK

We look forward to greeting some of you at #VEXWorlds this May! ✈️🤖

[Alastair Vaan @BitbyBot]

Finally a peek of Mercury. Perfect gap in the hedge 😄

[Alastair Vaan @BitbyBot]

Icarus and Ringo safely through to the semis. And one will advance to the final. The third year running for a Radley team in the finals. Outstanding!

@RadleyCollege @RadleyEnrich

[Alastair Vaan @BitbyBot]

Drivers meeting time. UK Vex Nationals 2025

Three Radley teams, inspected and raring to go.

A huge 12 match qualification session, over two days follows.

Let’s go!

🧵naturally…

@RadleyCollege @VEXRoboticsUK #omgrobots

[Alastair Vaan @BitbyBot]

In a lovely moment, Ibex post a 26 skills to place 5th with the skills queue getting shorter and shorter. A great testament to their skill and a super contrast to a difficult qualification session.

Two teams in top 5 national skills. 👌

[Alastair Vaan @BitbyBot]

Amazing fun getting back into Vex IQ - running a regional today for Pegasus School in Oxford.

Always amazed at the youngest engineers, and so proud of our partnership ES teams competing among the middle schoolers.

#omgrobots
@RadleyLinks
@VEXRoboticsUK

[Alastair Vaan @BitbyBot]

All teams to the semis.

Icarus all the way. Teamwork and Skills Champ.

Lots learned.

A great day of robotics.

#omgrobots
@RadleyCoCurr @RadleyEnrich

[Alastair Vaan @BitbyBot]

Love a whopping screen backdrop. Great show by @StChrisSenior for today’s Vex V5RC Regional.

Three @RadleyCollege teams competing today.

Here we go!

#omgrobots @VEXRoboticsUK

[Alastair Vaan @BitbyBot]

Icarus top of skills and qualifies 2nd to form top alliance. Ibex and Icarus form 6th seed. Knockouts time!