Rachel Smith
@valuequestion.bsky.social
1.6K followers 3.5K following 29 posts
Scotland-based Lecturer in Anthropology & Museum Studies. Vanuatu/Pacific; economic anthro, value, labour migration. Co-Editor, Anthropology of Work Review @anthropologyofwork.bsky.social
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Reposted by Rachel Smith
ebharrington.bsky.social
Rothbard is a patron saint of the Broligarchs' efforts to establish their own personal empires offshore-which is why the subtitle of my new(ish) book is "The New Colonialism."
Rothbard-inspired techbros are styling themselves as imperial potentates.
See also, @raycraib.bsky.social's cool history.
Reposted by Rachel Smith
kbgraubart.bsky.social
Moving quickly to a world where students use AI to complete work, profs use AI to grade it, no one learns anything and we will live in a world of mediocrity and incompetence where only the billionaires benefit.
biblioracle.bsky.social
I strongly urge everyone to not just read this warning from @marcwatkins.bsky.social, but heed it, and be vocal and forceful pushing back against using AI to grade student writing. This must be anathema if we're going to have a world where learning means something. substack.com/inbox/post/1...
The Dangers of using AI to Grade
Nobody Learns, Nobody Gains
substack.com
Reposted by Rachel Smith
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
'prime minister Keir Starmer...confirmed that the University of Lancaster and the University of Surrey had been given approval to open new campuses in India while on a trade mission to Mumbai, joining six more institutions already in the country.' (Lancaster is mooting 20% academic redundancy) 1/3
Reposted by Rachel Smith
histoftech.bsky.social
“Concerns over an AI bubble bursting have grown lately, with analysts recently finding that it’s 17 times the size of the dotcom-era bubble and four times bigger than the 2008 financial crisis.”

Hang onto your butts. This “correction” is gonna hurt.
futurism.com/artificial-i...
Bank of England Warns of Impending AI Disaster
The Bank of England has sounded the alarm, warning of an intensifying risk of a "sudden correction" due to an AI spending frenzy.
futurism.com
Reposted by Rachel Smith
beki.bsky.social
Any university AI policy that doesn't also include the range of real and documented environmental consequences from its use does a disservice to students who may not know how harmful it is. IME, many do use it differently when they're expected to make informed decisions vs just following rules.
Reposted by Rachel Smith
sadiahqureshi.bsky.social
This collaborative PhD project with the LSE and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, on Planting Decolonization: Plantation Science and Empire in the Twentieth Century, sounds amazing.

I’m sure many of you might be interested.

#STS #HPS #HistSci

www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse...
LSE Collaborative Studentship with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
LSE Collaborative Studentship with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
www.lse.ac.uk
Reposted by Rachel Smith
piotrgoldstein.bsky.social
I am super happy to see this multimodal article published! It is part of research in @visionproject.bsky.social on #transborder work between #Poland & #Brandenburg #Germany, based at @dezim-institut.de, @unisalzburg.bsky.social and University of Amsterdam, funded by @volkswagenstiftung.de.
Reposted by Rachel Smith
hawthorne-abendsen.bsky.social
This has been a concerning trend for a while. #profjohnfriedman #criticalthinking #curriculum
Reposted by Rachel Smith
levostregc.bsky.social
"Academia.edu has created a robot replica of you based on your published papers. Expect a knock at your door. Expect a new you."
Reposted by Rachel Smith
anthropologyofwork.bsky.social
New AWR article!

In 'Redivisions of Work: Manufacturing Labor and Training in Switzerland's Knowledge Economy' Johanna Mugler argues anthropological studies of work and education in de-industrial settings should examine the social critique of industrial work in concert with its aesthetic critique.
Anthropology of Work Review | AAA Labor Studies Journal | Wiley Online Library
The promise of knowledge society is clean, creative, and expressive work. Technological advancements would relieve humans from the tedium and hardship of labor, and access to knowledge and expansion ...
anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Reposted by Rachel Smith
anthropologyofwork.bsky.social
Great thread (and speculative editorial in @lmt-journal.bsky.social) about the past present, and possible future of academic publishing. A future with new publishing practices that respect the labour of authors, reviewers, and editors is one we are actively working towards.
benpatrickwill.bsky.social
Academic authors, here's a peek into the black box of journal publishing from an journal editor if you can bear it:
Reposted by Rachel Smith
williamcarruthers.bsky.social
Excited to discover that all the higher ed consultancies and think tanks seem to be discussing the future of higher ed without actually talking to any staff
Reposted by Rachel Smith
Reposted by Rachel Smith
clarekelly.bsky.social
Academics are under unrelenting pressure to accept the narrative of the inevitability of #generativeAI & to embrace it in teaching & learning. We resist - because it is ecologically destructive, ethically corrupt, & because it undermines the thinking abilities that make us both human & intelligent.
Reposted by Rachel Smith
anthropologal.bsky.social
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dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
THREAD. A collection of photos I have taken of scarecrows I have stumbled across during walks in the British countryside over the last fifteen years.
A scarecrow who has just watched Monty Python's The Holy Grail for the first time A scarecrow who is feeling pleased with himself after forming a 1950s sci-fi themed surf rock band, of which he is the sole member A scarecrow who is dolled up and ready for a night out in the fanciest part of Newcastle A very pleasant and well-meaning scarecrow who will paint your house for a competitive rate while rhapsodising about the beauty of the land
Reposted by Rachel Smith
timeshighered.bsky.social
Long read: Many fear algorithms will displace academics but artificial intelligence is already eating itself and its long-term business model remains unclear, says Martin A. Mills. He explains why we must resist bots’ damaging features for the good of students, society and AI itself
#academicsky #AI
Replaced by bots? No, AI needs academics more than we need it
Many fear algorithms will displace academics but the technology is already eating itself and its long-term business model remains unclear, says Martin A. Mills. Here he explains why bots will not wipe...
www.timeshighereducation.com
Reposted by Rachel Smith
berghahnbooks.bsky.social
LAST CHANCE! Our 50% #SALE off ALL paperbacks and eBooks purchased via our website is ending this week. Get these discounts automatically when you shop, no discount code required.

Shop now: bit.ly/40BfJed

Don’t miss out, offer ends soon!

#academicsky #booksale
Reposted by Rachel Smith
anthropologyofwork.bsky.social
Deadline September 1st!
anthropologyofwork.bsky.social
Grad students working on labor 👀 Check out this call for submissions for the @saw-anthroofwork.bsky.social Eric Wolf Prize. The recipient will receive a $250 and an invitation to develop the paper for publication in AWR @anthropologyofwork.bsky.social saw.americananthro.org/pub/2025-wol...
saw.americananthro.org
Reposted by Rachel Smith
Reposted by Rachel Smith
lsangha.bsky.social
This is great! The Chew Inclusive Terminology Glossary wiki was created by @natlibscot.bsky.social - perhaps they can suggest who we should contact about it?