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Prof Ben Britton

@bmatb.expmicromech.com

2.8K followers 1.2K following 2.8K posts

Dyslexic atomic sorcerer @ UBC, Vancouver 🍁 (he/him & 🏳️‍🌈). 🐕 dad. Materials and Manufacturing Engineering (🔬⚛️), Clean Tech, Academic Governance (UBC Senate & Faculty Assoc.), EDI. Leads @expmicromech.com. Has too many hills to die on. Views own.

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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · Apr 16

Academic Freedom at #UBC has been on my mind quite a bit recently - in light of the proposed new Senate Policy - also recently due to very helpful discussions with colleagues, and the open letter that's been circulating.

Here are some of my thoughts:
bmatb.medium.com/academic-fre...

#AcademicSky

Academic Freedom @ UBC

As a tenured professor and active participant in UBC governance, I have been closely following ongoing discussions about academic freedom…

bmatb.medium.com

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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 4h

Not fresh. It's the old shit backing up again...

Reposted by Prof Ben Britton

Seema Jayachandran @seema.bsky.social · 2d

We just spent 6 months to add 1 figure to this paper. Some people said, "Couples aren't prioritizing men's careers. Men just have better earnings opportunities when moving."

Earnings effects of moves for couples on the left, singles on the right. Negligible gap between single men and women.

Event study coefficients that show that men's earnings rise more than women's among couples following a cross-commuting zone move (left panels). The pattern is muted or reverses among single men and single women (right panels).

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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 15h

Yep - and all of these are ~two orders of magnitude bigger than what's being raised as a point of concern

Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 16h

Yep - it's an unhelpful take on the data

Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 16h

Anyway these are the many thoughts of a neurodivergent individual recovering from an episode of acute hyperfocus.

Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 16h

And as per the article - and the major concerns raised - re ADHD and substance abuse.

That's also a complicated story - many neurodivergent people "clump together" socially, and it's more than I am willing to share on social media - let's just say I have seen this first hand 😭.

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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 16h

As a "highly functional" neurodivergent individual - all of this is normal, sadly, but equally frustrating when I see it broken down.

My neurodivergence makes me very good at many aspects of my job, and life, but also the "oh why don't I eat properly/why can't I sleep properly" hits me in the face.

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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 16h

I also find articles on ADHD, and related issues, quite triggering.

I say this after hyperfoccusing on something yesterday and finishing work way later than I wanted + almost not eating.

There is the: neurodivergence is a spectrum / basket of spicy traits; and also "hmm - do I have ADHD"

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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 17h

"The study says it’s estimated that 2.5 to 2.9 per cent of Canadians have ADHD."

2.5% of 100,000 = 2,500.

The article can also be how ADHD is wildly under diagnosed in a formal setting…

#TeamNeurodivergant

The Tyee @thetyee.ca · 17h

The number of British Columbians getting diagnosed with ADHD jumped from around nine people per 100,000 in 2013 to around 35 people per 100,000 in 2023.

@michellegamage.bsky.social reports. 🧠

BC’s ADHD Diagnoses Skyrocketed During and After the Pandemic | The Tyee

This concerns substance use researchers because people with ADHD are more at risk from unregulated drugs.

thetyee.ca

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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 1d

Early stage - it happens too. The ranks thin a bit as you progress, and the battles diversify...

Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 1d

Oh it happens less and less often, so each day the clock resets it is memorable.

Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 1d

Days since I was assumed to be a grad student - 0.

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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 1d

Never heard of it... Is it fun?

Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 1d

And for people who know what I am dealing with, this could be related to one of four 'big' conversations yesterday.

I am sure that at one point I moved to UBC to have a less chaotic/busy time of things 🫠

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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 1d

I texted an academic friend (they gave me an opening with some drama they have) - we shared solidarity, strategized, and laughed at how messed up these things are. Oh and the strategies are 👌

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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 1d

I tried texting a non academic friend about something and I couldn't quite translate the relative scale of my stress and how it centered on something "tiny" (how colleagues work together) but also large (the $$$ on the table)

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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 1d

This has made me chuckle, thank you.

Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 1d

Is later stage academia just texting your friends to get reassurance for a decision you made yesterday?

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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 1d

When the AI bubble bursts, it will be very painful 😭.

This isn't a statement that it shouldn't be burst, the "AI industry" is built on theft and false promises

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

Reposted by Prof Ben Britton

Rosa Lafer-Sousa @rosalafersousa.bsky.social · 2d

Over the weekend ICE abducted an NIH contractor when he showed up to a courthouse for his green card hearing. He is documented. His wife is a citizen.

He is also member of the skeleton crew of animal care staff that works through a shutdown, to ensure the health and wellbeing of research animals.

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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 2d

I have huge issues with the Nobel Prizes, but I can always commend Laureates who use their new platforms to do good.

AFP News Agency @en.afp.com · 2d

"It is going to be disastrous if this continues"

Nobel Prize physics laureate John Clarke says Trump cuts will 'cripple' US scientific research

u.afp.com/SmAy

Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 2d

Still boggled that the US government is shut down.

Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 2d

Some people are: "these renovations will help your career and scientific output"

Me: ish. I could do good science with the few instruments I have already installed. The new ones are for everyone else to use...

Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 2d

Today has included 3 hrs of renovations discussions 🫠.

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Reposted by Prof Ben Britton

Patrixmythical Beast @patri.xyz · 4d

The intrinsic lesson is that you CAN absolutely bully the mods into banning someone. You just can't accurately predict who that someone might be.

Big Red Button ass bullshit, if you ask me

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