Liz Renner
@lrrenner.bsky.social
Academic; cats, culture, child development, cultural evolution, social learning; she/her #BiInSci
And to think, just a few months ago we were saying "not now, hantavirus cruise ship"
life moves fast
life moves fast
Russian officials said a researcher working at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia died after contracting “pneumonia of unknown etiology.”
Russian Plague Lab Researcher Dies As Nearly 200 Monitored—Here’s What We Know
Russian officials said a researcher working at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia died after contracting “pneumonia of unknown etiology.”
www.forbes.com
October 5, 2026 at 3:07 PM
And to think, just a few months ago we were saying "not now, hantavirus cruise ship"
life moves fast
life moves fast
250 locally acquired cases of dengue in Florida. (!!)
This is a disease you don't mess around with. Dehydration is a big risk (among other symptoms), especially for the young and old. Dengue mosquitoes tend to be day biters, & you may not notice them hanging out under tables & similar places
This is a disease you don't mess around with. Dehydration is a big risk (among other symptoms), especially for the young and old. Dengue mosquitoes tend to be day biters, & you may not notice them hanging out under tables & similar places
“Traditionally, the CDC would be highly visible in a situation like this, but it hasn’t been this time…
The U.S. public health agency has to be invited in by state officials, however, and Florida officials have not asked for CDC disease investigators to come in”.
The U.S. public health agency has to be invited in by state officials, however, and Florida officials have not asked for CDC disease investigators to come in”.
Florida's dengue outbreak is now the largest in the continental US in decades
Florida is experiencing its largest dengue outbreak in decades, with over 250 locally acquired cases reported this year.
apnews.com
October 5, 2026 at 2:39 PM
250 locally acquired cases of dengue in Florida. (!!)
This is a disease you don't mess around with. Dehydration is a big risk (among other symptoms), especially for the young and old. Dengue mosquitoes tend to be day biters, & you may not notice them hanging out under tables & similar places
This is a disease you don't mess around with. Dehydration is a big risk (among other symptoms), especially for the young and old. Dengue mosquitoes tend to be day biters, & you may not notice them hanging out under tables & similar places
🤭
My man looks like Ursula the Sea Witch addressing a shareholders' meeting
October 5, 2026 at 12:17 PM
🤭
Let me highlight this bit again:
"Scientists cannot passively trust this industry."
"Scientists cannot passively trust this industry."
8. While egregious examples are easy to spot, the deeper dynamic of easy-button tech slowly eating away at our capacity to understand and produce research cannot be overstated. The companies know what they are doing and what they hope to do with it. Scientists cannot passively trust this industry.
I’m not clear on why this isn’t a major disciplinary crisis. Both for statistics (which seems unable to distinguish slop from real work), for UChicago (this seems to violate their rules), and for his peers (salami slicing studies is unethical), to say nothing of Polson‘s own ethical stance.
October 5, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Let me highlight this bit again:
"Scientists cannot passively trust this industry."
"Scientists cannot passively trust this industry."
Reposted by Liz Renner
3. Taken together — scientists rely on AI to generate work faster and the AI companies steal their work — this actually looks worse than the widespread theft of art and literature that has powered these models, as companies cultivate use to them steal for their own development.
September 28, 2026 at 11:19 AM
3. Taken together — scientists rely on AI to generate work faster and the AI companies steal their work — this actually looks worse than the widespread theft of art and literature that has powered these models, as companies cultivate use to them steal for their own development.
Reposted by Liz Renner
September 2026 was the warmest September on record for the Contiguous U.S. since 1895 according to PRISM climate data. 🔥🔥🔥
October 1, 2026 at 3:26 PM
September 2026 was the warmest September on record for the Contiguous U.S. since 1895 according to PRISM climate data. 🔥🔥🔥
oooh The Onion.... getting me right where it hurts
Archaeologists Unearth Ancient Clay Pot Shards From Dwelling Of Earliest Known Klutz https://theonion.com/archaeologists-unearth-ancient-clay-pot-shards-from-dwe-1827116788/
October 4, 2026 at 7:01 PM
oooh The Onion.... getting me right where it hurts
Reposted by Liz Renner
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH
October 4, 2026 at 5:47 AM
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH
Reposted by Liz Renner
Universities cannot expect researchers to take risks if they are repeatedly at risk of redundancy while losing professional services support, grappling with the gratuitous vagaries of home and international student number swings and both teaching and assessing in an age of unregulated AI.
Opinion: Universities are failing at mission-led research—here’s how to fix it.
Jonathan Breckon and Geoff Mulgan explain how institutions can tackle society's most urgent crises.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Jonathan Breckon and Geoff Mulgan explain how institutions can tackle society's most urgent crises.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Universities are failing at mission-led research—here’s how to fix it - Research Professional News
Jonathan Breckon and Geoff Mulgan explain how institutions can tackle society's most urgent crises
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
October 2, 2026 at 6:52 AM
Universities cannot expect researchers to take risks if they are repeatedly at risk of redundancy while losing professional services support, grappling with the gratuitous vagaries of home and international student number swings and both teaching and assessing in an age of unregulated AI.
Reposted by Liz Renner
My priors about chimp anti-sociality confirmed: They stole from "friends" 61% of trials, from non-friends 70% of trials.
Continues to be one of the biggest puzzles about human evolution, which mechanisms and evolutionary history make humans qualitatively more cooperative than other apes.
Continues to be one of the biggest puzzles about human evolution, which mechanisms and evolutionary history make humans qualitatively more cooperative than other apes.
Do chimpanzees value their friendships enough to pass on juicy pineapple?
In our new paper, out now at Evolution and Human Behavior, we find that they do!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
In our new paper, out now at Evolution and Human Behavior, we find that they do!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
October 1, 2026 at 7:58 AM
My priors about chimp anti-sociality confirmed: They stole from "friends" 61% of trials, from non-friends 70% of trials.
Continues to be one of the biggest puzzles about human evolution, which mechanisms and evolutionary history make humans qualitatively more cooperative than other apes.
Continues to be one of the biggest puzzles about human evolution, which mechanisms and evolutionary history make humans qualitatively more cooperative than other apes.
I'm prepping for lecture tomorrow (scold if you will but I have a good excuse), so instead of watching a bedtime episode of TV, I'm re-watching last year's lecture. Maybe I can pretend it's a really low-budget Netflix special
October 1, 2026 at 8:32 PM
I'm prepping for lecture tomorrow (scold if you will but I have a good excuse), so instead of watching a bedtime episode of TV, I'm re-watching last year's lecture. Maybe I can pretend it's a really low-budget Netflix special
Reposted by Liz Renner
pouring one out for mturk today
September 30, 2026 at 10:49 PM
pouring one out for mturk today
Reposted by Liz Renner
Tragic epic poem about a postdoc who finally gets tenure only to find that to get there they turned themselves into exactly the sort of clout chasing professionalised neurotic who couldn't possibly actually enjoy the freedom it offers.
October 1, 2026 at 6:37 AM
Tragic epic poem about a postdoc who finally gets tenure only to find that to get there they turned themselves into exactly the sort of clout chasing professionalised neurotic who couldn't possibly actually enjoy the freedom it offers.
Reposted by Liz Renner
... and that's where Registered Revisions comes in
The Registered Revisions Meta Trial Pilot Report is OUT NOW!!
osf.io/preprints/me...
But new(ish) policy involves developing a new(ish) multi-headed trial design, workflows, infrastructure, piloting, mistakes, and a super team.
And it's all here.
The Registered Revisions Meta Trial Pilot Report is OUT NOW!!
osf.io/preprints/me...
But new(ish) policy involves developing a new(ish) multi-headed trial design, workflows, infrastructure, piloting, mistakes, and a super team.
And it's all here.
September 8, 2026 at 8:39 PM
... and that's where Registered Revisions comes in
The Registered Revisions Meta Trial Pilot Report is OUT NOW!!
osf.io/preprints/me...
But new(ish) policy involves developing a new(ish) multi-headed trial design, workflows, infrastructure, piloting, mistakes, and a super team.
And it's all here.
The Registered Revisions Meta Trial Pilot Report is OUT NOW!!
osf.io/preprints/me...
But new(ish) policy involves developing a new(ish) multi-headed trial design, workflows, infrastructure, piloting, mistakes, and a super team.
And it's all here.
Reposted by Liz Renner
I am part of a team guest editing a special issue of the American Journal of Primatology on "Digitization and use of legacy datasets in primatology” and we are seeking out submissions due on 1 September 2027.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal...
September 29, 2026 at 7:11 PM
I am part of a team guest editing a special issue of the American Journal of Primatology on "Digitization and use of legacy datasets in primatology” and we are seeking out submissions due on 1 September 2027.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal...
Reposted by Liz Renner
BREAKING NEWS: “Do geese see God” is a palindrome
September 30, 2026 at 3:52 AM
BREAKING NEWS: “Do geese see God” is a palindrome
Reposted by Liz Renner
Our members at Nottingham University commence strike action today over threats to hundreds of jobs and course closures.
Please show them solidarity as they head onto picket lines this morning.
Please show them solidarity as they head onto picket lines this morning.
September 30, 2026 at 6:14 AM
Our members at Nottingham University commence strike action today over threats to hundreds of jobs and course closures.
Please show them solidarity as they head onto picket lines this morning.
Please show them solidarity as they head onto picket lines this morning.
Reposted by Liz Renner
Day 2 of the UCU workers' strike at the University of Edinburgh.
The 1,800 jobs UCU estimates will be cut is unprecedented in Scottish higher education. It is happening in the wealthiest Scottish university, and the third richest in the UK, currently sitting with over £3billion reserves.
The 1,800 jobs UCU estimates will be cut is unprecedented in Scottish higher education. It is happening in the wealthiest Scottish university, and the third richest in the UK, currently sitting with over £3billion reserves.
September 29, 2026 at 6:05 AM
Day 2 of the UCU workers' strike at the University of Edinburgh.
The 1,800 jobs UCU estimates will be cut is unprecedented in Scottish higher education. It is happening in the wealthiest Scottish university, and the third richest in the UK, currently sitting with over £3billion reserves.
The 1,800 jobs UCU estimates will be cut is unprecedented in Scottish higher education. It is happening in the wealthiest Scottish university, and the third richest in the UK, currently sitting with over £3billion reserves.
Reposted by Liz Renner
you will encounter more opportunities in life to change the batteries on a smoke alarm than you will to run into a burning building and no one gives a shit you changed those batteries but it is still very important and why are you waiting on a burning building, know what i’m saying, it’s a metaphor
September 29, 2026 at 6:49 AM
you will encounter more opportunities in life to change the batteries on a smoke alarm than you will to run into a burning building and no one gives a shit you changed those batteries but it is still very important and why are you waiting on a burning building, know what i’m saying, it’s a metaphor
Reposted by Liz Renner
Silky sifakas (Propithecus candidus) are native to a very restricted range in northeastern Madagascar. One of the rarest and most threatened sifaka species. Females mate only one day a year, in late Dec or early Jan. Threatened by slash-and-burn agriculture and hunting. Critically Endangered.
September 29, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Silky sifakas (Propithecus candidus) are native to a very restricted range in northeastern Madagascar. One of the rarest and most threatened sifaka species. Females mate only one day a year, in late Dec or early Jan. Threatened by slash-and-burn agriculture and hunting. Critically Endangered.
Reposted by Liz Renner
I’m seeing a lot of posts about talking to your sons in light of the Cornell article.
And yes. Talk to your sons. Here are some things you should say, based on anti-violence research about what they need to hear:
And yes. Talk to your sons. Here are some things you should say, based on anti-violence research about what they need to hear:
September 28, 2026 at 5:06 PM
I’m seeing a lot of posts about talking to your sons in light of the Cornell article.
And yes. Talk to your sons. Here are some things you should say, based on anti-violence research about what they need to hear:
And yes. Talk to your sons. Here are some things you should say, based on anti-violence research about what they need to hear:
Just reviewing my intro to developmental psych lecture from last year and realising that the captioning needs some work ("the end of life" or "the end of life period" is rendered as "the end of the world")
although it is reflecting the current mood, so
although it is reflecting the current mood, so
September 29, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Just reviewing my intro to developmental psych lecture from last year and realising that the captioning needs some work ("the end of life" or "the end of life period" is rendered as "the end of the world")
although it is reflecting the current mood, so
although it is reflecting the current mood, so
Reposted by Liz Renner
'In his [Ivison's] view, the government is avoiding the bigger issues of what universities are for and who should pay for them.'
It would help if universities would ask (and answer) that 1st big question in public rather than just parroting government. That's what institutional autonomy is for.
It would help if universities would ask (and answer) that 1st big question in public rather than just parroting government. That's what institutional autonomy is for.
To save UK higher education, start talking about knowledge - Research Professional News
Until debate on universities foregrounds their core purposes, their woes will deepen, says Margot Finn
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
September 29, 2026 at 8:26 AM
'In his [Ivison's] view, the government is avoiding the bigger issues of what universities are for and who should pay for them.'
It would help if universities would ask (and answer) that 1st big question in public rather than just parroting government. That's what institutional autonomy is for.
It would help if universities would ask (and answer) that 1st big question in public rather than just parroting government. That's what institutional autonomy is for.
it's so weird to wake up and experience anger again. haven't felt like this in a long time. Gonna wake up with angry energy every day this week!
September 29, 2026 at 8:28 AM
it's so weird to wake up and experience anger again. haven't felt like this in a long time. Gonna wake up with angry energy every day this week!
Reposted by Liz Renner
The plot to enslave America entails destroying every university except for the business school
Trump is banning students majoring in degrees that don’t make enough money from taking out college loans. Degrees for social work, art, religious studies, teaching aides, and music will be hit the hardest. trib.al/kQdKbY1
Trump Moves to Cut Off Student Loans for Tons of Degrees
Under a new rule, if your degree doesn’t make enough money, you won’t be able to get a student loan.
trib.al
September 28, 2026 at 7:53 PM
The plot to enslave America entails destroying every university except for the business school