G. Owen Schaefer
@owenschaefer.bsky.social
Bioethicist and Philosopher at the Centre for Biomedical Ethics, National University of Singapore (views are my own, not NUS's). Film critic, in another life.
Reposted by G. Owen Schaefer
Trials We Love!
What's happening? Researchers are using a carefully controlled dengue human challenge model in healthy adult volunteers to study how the virus interacts with the human immune system.
What's happening? Researchers are using a carefully controlled dengue human challenge model in healthy adult volunteers to study how the virus interacts with the human immune system.
August 10, 2026 at 1:42 AM
Trials We Love!
What's happening? Researchers are using a carefully controlled dengue human challenge model in healthy adult volunteers to study how the virus interacts with the human immune system.
What's happening? Researchers are using a carefully controlled dengue human challenge model in healthy adult volunteers to study how the virus interacts with the human immune system.
Reposted by G. Owen Schaefer
Once again, child dies in gene-editing trial in China, rekindling debate on transparency and safety. HuidaGene, under loosened oversight, was testing CRISPR therapy in boy with muscular dystrophy. www.statnews.com/2026/08/05/c... via @statnews.com
Once again, child dies in gene-editing trial in China, rekindling debate on transparency and safety
With a second delayed report of a child's death in China, criticism is rising of a looser form of clinical trial. One expert: what "bothers me is the lack of transparency."
www.statnews.com
August 6, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Once again, child dies in gene-editing trial in China, rekindling debate on transparency and safety. HuidaGene, under loosened oversight, was testing CRISPR therapy in boy with muscular dystrophy. www.statnews.com/2026/08/05/c... via @statnews.com
Reposted by G. Owen Schaefer
We're looking for a Research Fellow to join us at CBmE, NUS. This is an opportunity to work alongside an international team on innovative research with real-world impact. careers.nus.edu.sg/job/Research...
Research Fellow (Biomedical Ethics)
Research Fellow (Biomedical Ethics)
careers.nus.edu.sg
July 31, 2026 at 7:22 AM
We're looking for a Research Fellow to join us at CBmE, NUS. This is an opportunity to work alongside an international team on innovative research with real-world impact. careers.nus.edu.sg/job/Research...
There's something to this. In the glory days of pre-streaming Netflix, with literally all of film history readily accessible, I plowed through dozens of classics. And they blew me away! But now, it takes a really special film to grab me, cuz they all pale in comparison to the greats...
I thought Project Hail Mary was absolutely wonderful. But critics who dislike it cite many space/alien movies I haven't seen that are better than it, as evidence it is derivative.
Might too much knowledge of film history sometimes detract from the quality of film criticism?
Might too much knowledge of film history sometimes detract from the quality of film criticism?
July 14, 2026 at 4:47 AM
There's something to this. In the glory days of pre-streaming Netflix, with literally all of film history readily accessible, I plowed through dozens of classics. And they blew me away! But now, it takes a really special film to grab me, cuz they all pale in comparison to the greats...
Ominous. Implies one team will *never* go home, trapped in some sort of hellish FIFA purgatory. Probably Uruguay?
Thank you Canada 🙏
Every team but one eventually goes home, and it was our time today
But we went further than we ever have and you did us proud
Every team but one eventually goes home, and it was our time today
But we went further than we ever have and you did us proud
July 5, 2026 at 3:39 AM
Ominous. Implies one team will *never* go home, trapped in some sort of hellish FIFA purgatory. Probably Uruguay?
Millennium Actress, in a way
Name your fav time travel movie.
June 12, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Millennium Actress, in a way
Exclusive still of Rotta the Hutt from The Mandalorian and Grogu!
June 9, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Exclusive still of Rotta the Hutt from The Mandalorian and Grogu!
Repost with the Russian agent who spies on your posts.
May 25, 2026 at 7:28 AM
Repost with the Russian agent who spies on your posts.
Philosophy absolutely bodied by my kids' school sending out important PSA about rejecting 'anything strange' from adults.
May 22, 2026 at 4:22 AM
Philosophy absolutely bodied by my kids' school sending out important PSA about rejecting 'anything strange' from adults.
Reposted by G. Owen Schaefer
A true giant. I was lucky enought to meet him and spend an evening around him and Rorty in Chicago many years ago. RIP
apnews.com/article/juer...
apnews.com/article/juer...
Jürgen Habermas, influential German philosopher, dies at 96
German philosopher Jürgen Habermas has died at age 96. Habermas' work on communication, rationality and sociology made him one of the world’s most influential philosophers and a key intellectual figur...
apnews.com
March 14, 2026 at 4:41 PM
A true giant. I was lucky enought to meet him and spend an evening around him and Rorty in Chicago many years ago. RIP
apnews.com/article/juer...
apnews.com/article/juer...
Oh, but they do
March 10, 2026 at 4:12 AM
Oh, but they do
That's cool, I wonder how that worked out for hi- oh.
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 AM
That's cool, I wonder how that worked out for hi- oh.
You've been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you.
Who's coming to save you?
...
Aso feeling very secure - at least given the caveat Saitama is *trying* to rescue me. New season seems like an extended Waiting For Saitama brick joke!
Who's coming to save you?
...
Aso feeling very secure - at least given the caveat Saitama is *trying* to rescue me. New season seems like an extended Waiting For Saitama brick joke!
December 23, 2025 at 8:15 AM
You've been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you.
Who's coming to save you?
...
Aso feeling very secure - at least given the caveat Saitama is *trying* to rescue me. New season seems like an extended Waiting For Saitama brick joke!
Who's coming to save you?
...
Aso feeling very secure - at least given the caveat Saitama is *trying* to rescue me. New season seems like an extended Waiting For Saitama brick joke!
Reposted by G. Owen Schaefer
In my professional opinion, ChatGPT is not conscious and does not have psychological states like beliefs and desires (yes I’m aware of the arguments to the contrary)
November 26, 2025 at 12:16 AM
In my professional opinion, ChatGPT is not conscious and does not have psychological states like beliefs and desires (yes I’m aware of the arguments to the contrary)
Reposted by G. Owen Schaefer
“As of November 5th, [the BU tracker] estimated that U.S.A.I.D.’s dismantling has already caused the deaths of six hundred thousand people, two-thirds of them children.”
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
www.newyorker.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:51 AM
“As of November 5th, [the BU tracker] estimated that U.S.A.I.D.’s dismantling has already caused the deaths of six hundred thousand people, two-thirds of them children.”
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Star Wars discourse eh? Time for an aesthetically objective ranking of the films:
1. A New Hope
2. Empire Strikes Back
3. Return of the Jedi
4. Rogue One
5. Force Awakens
6. Attack of the Clones
7. Last Jedi
8. Phantom Menace
9. Rise of Skywalker
10. Revenge of the Sith
11. Solo
12. Ewok nonsense
1. A New Hope
2. Empire Strikes Back
3. Return of the Jedi
4. Rogue One
5. Force Awakens
6. Attack of the Clones
7. Last Jedi
8. Phantom Menace
9. Rise of Skywalker
10. Revenge of the Sith
11. Solo
12. Ewok nonsense
a close up of a monkey wearing goggles
ALT: a close up of a monkey wearing goggles
media.tenor.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Star Wars discourse eh? Time for an aesthetically objective ranking of the films:
1. A New Hope
2. Empire Strikes Back
3. Return of the Jedi
4. Rogue One
5. Force Awakens
6. Attack of the Clones
7. Last Jedi
8. Phantom Menace
9. Rise of Skywalker
10. Revenge of the Sith
11. Solo
12. Ewok nonsense
1. A New Hope
2. Empire Strikes Back
3. Return of the Jedi
4. Rogue One
5. Force Awakens
6. Attack of the Clones
7. Last Jedi
8. Phantom Menace
9. Rise of Skywalker
10. Revenge of the Sith
11. Solo
12. Ewok nonsense
Reposted by G. Owen Schaefer
Director of Oxford Institute for Ethics in AI resigns following sexual harassment investigation. Institute "set up about five years ago to examine the complex moral questions thrown up by artificial intelligence".
Sexual Harassment Investigations at Oxford - Daily Nous
John Tasioulas resigned from his position as director of the University of Oxford’s Institute for Ethics in AI in September. Five months earlier, the university had begun an investigation into allegat...
dailynous.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Director of Oxford Institute for Ethics in AI resigns following sexual harassment investigation. Institute "set up about five years ago to examine the complex moral questions thrown up by artificial intelligence".
literally me rn
November 14, 2025 at 6:55 PM
literally me rn
I find this hilarious because Noah Smith has managed to negatively polarize people into defending Heathrow.
Noah Smith is paid in the high six-figures to write a blog read by Americans who believe themselves to be intelligent. Yet, he is both unable to read a sign and also for some reason chose to have a 90 minute layover for a flight that takes 90 minutes.
onemileatatime.com/news/economi...
onemileatatime.com/news/economi...
Economist Doesn't Follow Signs At Heathrow: Proof The UK Is Failing?
A economist had a bad experience connecting at Heathrow, suggesting it's reflective of bigger issues in the UK. There's only one issue...
onemileatatime.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:12 AM
I find this hilarious because Noah Smith has managed to negatively polarize people into defending Heathrow.
Fun fact: cannibalism is also in itself legal throughout the US, with the notable (?) exception of Idaho. Desecration of a corpse is more commonly outlawed, but there's loophole: lab-grown human flesh. Luckily, it turns out no one's keen to exploit this gap... pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
November 11, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Fun fact: cannibalism is also in itself legal throughout the US, with the notable (?) exception of Idaho. Desecration of a corpse is more commonly outlawed, but there's loophole: lab-grown human flesh. Luckily, it turns out no one's keen to exploit this gap... pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Reposted by G. Owen Schaefer
For all the needless suffering they have caused domestically in the US, nothing will likely ever surpass this singular evil
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 12:46 PM
For all the needless suffering they have caused domestically in the US, nothing will likely ever surpass this singular evil
Reposted by G. Owen Schaefer
I am so very excited about this new chapter of my life. Looking forward to working alongside talented colleagues to find creatives ways to leverage knowledge for the benefit of Canadians www.dal.ca/news/2025/11...
Dalhousie’s Dr. Françoise Baylis begins new chapter as president of the Royal Society of Canada
Global bioethics leader steps into a pivotal national role, aiming to deepen public trust in research, amplify Canadian voices on the world stage, and champion science for societal good.
www.dal.ca
November 6, 2025 at 9:17 PM
I am so very excited about this new chapter of my life. Looking forward to working alongside talented colleagues to find creatives ways to leverage knowledge for the benefit of Canadians www.dal.ca/news/2025/11...
Reposted by G. Owen Schaefer
The paper I co-authored with Hui Yun Chan has just been published in the Journal of Law and the Biosciences. In this paper, we compare Singaporean and Swiss data privacy and human research regulations, and how these may act as a barrier to cross border data sharing: academic.oup.com/jlb/article/...
Cross-border health data sharing between Singapore and Switzerland: controlling for competing regulatory requirements
Abstract. Research in biomedical and health sciences using data-intensive methods increasingly involve multi-party cross-border institutional collaboration
academic.oup.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:08 AM
The paper I co-authored with Hui Yun Chan has just been published in the Journal of Law and the Biosciences. In this paper, we compare Singaporean and Swiss data privacy and human research regulations, and how these may act as a barrier to cross border data sharing: academic.oup.com/jlb/article/...
Murakami, true visionary, presaging in 1979 countless failed Perception checks by generations of D&D players.
October 27, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Murakami, true visionary, presaging in 1979 countless failed Perception checks by generations of D&D players.