Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kevin Mitchell @wiringthebrain.bsky.social · 9d

Great piece by @jonathanjarry.bsky.social on the descent of Sabine Hossenfelder, from science communicator to contrarian outrage-monger www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/...

Sabine Hossenfelder Asks If Science Is Dying. It’s Not.

Physics is dying. It’s mathematical fiction. Science is failing. Most of academic research that your taxes pay for is almost certainly bullshit. I don’t trust scientists. Would you believe me if I tol...

www.mcgill.ca

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Calvin Lai @calvinklai.bsky.social · Sep 9

🚨We're hiring!🚨 The Dept of Psychology at Rutgers is hiring an Assistant Professor in Social Psychology. Review of applications begin on Oct 18. Details here: jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/259...

I'm chairing the search committee and am happy to field questions about the position. 🧵

Assistant Professor in Social Psychology, Tenure-Track

The Department of Psychology at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, NJ, plans to hire a tenure-track Assistant Professor in SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, with a start date of September 1, 2026. We seek a candidate...

jobs.rutgers.edu

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Colin Tucker Smith @colinsmithpsych.bsky.social · Aug 18

This part of the semester where we contact all the people and make all the schedules does not, let's say, play to my strengths...

Benedek Kurdi @benedek.bsky.social · Aug 12

In this invited piece for PIBBS I argue that implicit bias education is not inherently worthless but often ineffective (counterproductive) in its current form. I offer recommendations to improve it by making it measurable, agentic, integrated, broad, & evidence-based (MAIBE): osf.io/preprints/ps...

Implicit (unintentional) biases related to social categories such as race, gender, and age are often seen as impediments to belonging and success in diverse organizations. Indeed, organizations around the world expend considerable effort and resources to implement educational programs with the stated goal of addressing — and even eradicating — such biases. However, in recent years, implicit bias education has come under scrutiny for several reasons, including via claims that implicit bias (a) is inherently unchangeable, (b) has no real-world analogs, (c) is unrelated to, and takes focus away from, biased behaviors, (d) provides an excuse for discrimination, and (e) is a structural problem and thus requires structural solutions. After refuting these critiques, I introduce the MAIBE checklist to help organizations decide if implicit bias education is worth their investment based on whether it (a) includes measurable benchmarks (rather than assuming success), (b) foregrounds epistemic agency (rather than treating individuals as passive consumers of information), (c) is integrated into a larger toolbox (rather than administered in isolation), (d) is broad (rather than light-touch), and (e) is evidence-based (rather than unscientific). I conclude by calling for extended collaboration between academic psychologists and organizational decision-makers to synergistically improve both basic science and institutional practices.

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Colin Tucker Smith @colinsmithpsych.bsky.social · Aug 7

Mboko!

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Colin Tucker Smith @colinsmithpsych.bsky.social · Jul 31

Feels dangerously like we’re giving Jan 6th the Lost Cause treatment (turning treasonous slavery defenders into misunderstood good ol’ boys). Moves faster with current media than late 19th century. Honestly could see a legitimate push for Jan 6th as a Federal holiday in the name of “unity” any time.

Teddy Wilson @reportbywilson.bsky.social · Jul 31

Pardoned Capitol Rioters have no regrets and are rewriting the history of January 6th. From attending GOP events to appearances in right-wing media — Pardon Tracker is monitoring their statements, activities, and networks.

NEW investigative report next month.

Donate to support this project:

Pardon Tracker

Pardon Tracker is an independent investigative journalism and data visualization project, documenting the statements, activities, and networks of the individuals that received pardons charges related ...

fundrazr.com

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Teddy Wilson @reportbywilson.bsky.social · Jul 31

Pardoned Capitol Rioters have no regrets and are rewriting the history of January 6th. From attending GOP events to appearances in right-wing media — Pardon Tracker is monitoring their statements, activities, and networks.

NEW investigative report next month.

Donate to support this project:

Pardon Tracker

Pardon Tracker is an independent investigative journalism and data visualization project, documenting the statements, activities, and networks of the individuals that received pardons charges related ...

fundrazr.com

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Maor Schreiber @maorschreiber.bsky.social · Jul 29

📢Excited to share our paper, "Studying unconscious processing: Contention and consensus", published in BBS.
The paper is the result of a collaborative effort of 32 leading researchers in the field, from 10 different countries🌏

Check out the full ms👇
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Studying unconscious processing: Contention and consensus | Behavioral and Brain Sciences | Cambridge Core

Studying unconscious processing: Contention and consensus

www.cambridge.org

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David Amodio @davidamodio.bsky.social · May 12

I’m thrilled to share my new paper on impression formation & updating in @natrevpsychol.nature.com!

In it, I argue that impression formation is fundamentally a learning process. And as such, theories of impression formation should be based on mechanisms of learning and memory.

Some key take-aways:

A learning and memory account of impression formation and updating - Nature Reviews Psychology

Impression formation occurs when a perceiver infers another person’s traits, goals and preferences and forms an attitude towards that person. In this Perspective, Amodio describes the unique and inter...

www.nature.com

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Colin Tucker Smith @colinsmithpsych.bsky.social · Jul 22

This image popped up on my car radio this morning. One week ago I would have been VERY confused to learn that I immediately thought “Coldplay!” Life is weird…

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Laura Wallace @lauraewallace.bsky.social · Jul 17

We (Goizueta Business School) are hiring a new lab manager for our behavioral lab. This is a great opportunity for recent undergrads who are hoping to get more research experience before a PhD. Would love to see your strong undergrads in this applicant pool.

staff-emory.icims.com/jobs/150128/...

Senior Research Administrative Coordinator (Behavioral Lab Manager) - Goizueta Business School in Atlanta, Georgia | Careers at Emory Campus-Clifton Corridor

Emory University is a leading research university that fosters excellence and attracts world-class talent to innovate today and prepare leaders for the future. We welcome candidates who can contribute...

staff-emory.icims.com

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Colin Tucker Smith @colinsmithpsych.bsky.social · Jul 14

That feeling you get when one of your students’ work shows up in your feed does not get old.

Political Psychology @ispp-pops.bsky.social · Jul 14

When do we think the system is fair and why? Ferrés et al.’s article in our June issue explores how comparing today’s society to past conditions or future alternatives can shape how people perceive fairness and legitimacy in the system. Read the full article online: doi.org/10.1111/pops...

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Political Psychology @ispp-pops.bsky.social · Jul 14

When do we think the system is fair and why? Ferrés et al.’s article in our June issue explores how comparing today’s society to past conditions or future alternatives can shape how people perceive fairness and legitimacy in the system. Read the full article online: doi.org/10.1111/pops...

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Lisa S. Scott 🧠 @lisascottbcd.bsky.social · Jun 28

Interested in the development of vision and the brain in the first years of life? The BCD Lab is expecting to hire a postdoc and a lab coordinator/tech in the coming months! Send me an email if interested and I’ll make sure to send you the job postings once open!

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Colin Tucker Smith @colinsmithpsych.bsky.social · Jun 21

This is definitely good news. At the same time, it’s a bit like noting that the arson that was done should not have been done. We will need active rebuilding.

Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · Jun 20

BREAKING: Judge denies NSF's 15% indirect rate plan. Like the DOE and NIH attempts, it too has now been rejected by courts. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

storage.courtlistener.com

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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · Jun 20

BREAKING: Judge denies NSF's 15% indirect rate plan. Like the DOE and NIH attempts, it too has now been rejected by courts. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

storage.courtlistener.com

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Colin Tucker Smith @colinsmithpsych.bsky.social · Jun 18

We have moved to Canada and we cannot figure out how to watch the Stanley Cup finals and this does not feel very Canadian.

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Ruben C. Arslan @ruben.the100.ci · Jun 13

Our paper "A fragmented field" has just been accepted at AMPPS. We find it's not just you, psychology is really getting more confusing (construct and measure fragmentation is rising).
We updated the preprint with the (substantial) revision, please check it out.
osf.io/preprints/ps...

Treemap showing measurement fragmentation across subfields in psychology. Hill-Shannon Diversity 𝐷=1626.05

How often measures in the APA PsycTESTS database are (re)used according to the APA PsycInfo database: rarely, the majority are never reused.

Our fragmentation index (Hill-Shannon diversity) over time across subdisciplines shows fragmentation rising.

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Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · May 28

🧪 YAASSSSS: 16 state AGs just sued NSF for its illegal changes in "agency priorities"

The broad scope would seem to not only address grant terminations...but also the underlying basis for closing programs, returning proposals without review, etc.

The filing: www.doj.state.or.us/wp-content/u...

a man wearing a hat and an orange shirt says " get her jade "

Alt: A man wearing a hat and an orange shirt says " get her jade "

media.tenor.com

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Colin Tucker Smith @colinsmithpsych.bsky.social · May 22

Three more weeks until I’m a Canadian!

Olga Nesterova @onestpress.onestnetwork.com · May 22

cultmtl.com/2025/04/cana...

Canada named among top 5 countries with the best quality of life

A study by U.S. News & World Report has ranked Canada as the country with the fifth-highest quality of life in the world.

cultmtl.com

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Olga Nesterova @onestpress.onestnetwork.com · May 22

cultmtl.com/2025/04/cana...

Canada named among top 5 countries with the best quality of life

A study by U.S. News & World Report has ranked Canada as the country with the fifth-highest quality of life in the world.

cultmtl.com

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Colin Tucker Smith @colinsmithpsych.bsky.social · May 22

Zeitgeist: www.espn.com/olympics/sto...

Olympic-style event in 2026 to feature PED use

A new company hoping to infuse PEDs into Olympic-style sports says it will hold its first formal competition next May.

www.espn.com

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Colin Tucker Smith @colinsmithpsych.bsky.social · May 21

I’m not [even close to being] a lawyer but, if, based on Citizens United, “money is speech”, then actually IS the fed govt taking away money a form of regulating speech? Probably should read the article first…

Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · May 21

An immensely important First Amendment Q right now is when the government may regulate speech by imposing conditions on federal funding. Here’s a new @knightcolumbia.org series on this topic. 1/ knightcolumbia.org/research/fed...

Federal Funding and the First Amendment

knightcolumbia.org

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Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · May 21

An immensely important First Amendment Q right now is when the government may regulate speech by imposing conditions on federal funding. Here’s a new @knightcolumbia.org series on this topic. 1/ knightcolumbia.org/research/fed...

Federal Funding and the First Amendment

knightcolumbia.org

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Lisa S. Scott 🧠 @lisascottbcd.bsky.social · May 10

With all that is going on at NSF, it’s important for me to describe how important NSF has been for my career and the careers of my trainees over the years. This funding is so important for so many reasons.

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David Amodio @davidamodio.bsky.social · May 9

Social Psychologists: SESP is in Lisbon this year (Oct 16-18)!

*The symposium submission deadline is May 16*

More info & the submission portal here: www.sesp.org/annualconfer...

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Josh Pasek @joshpasek.com · May 8

I previously thought that Ono might have been a bit of a coward, but he couldn't have done much to kill the good will more effectively. A few notes on some of the claims in a 🧵.
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...

Why I Chose University of Florida, by Santa Ono (opinion)

Santa J. Ono explains why he’s pursuing the University of Florida presidency.

www.insidehighered.com

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moin syed @syeducation.bsky.social · Apr 29

New paper, "Elegant theories and the problems of social psychology," in which I argue that social psych suffers from large inference gaps, or the distance between theoretical model and statistical tests, with some suggestions for how to improve things doi.org/10.1080/1046...

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Colin Tucker Smith @colinsmithpsych.bsky.social · Apr 29

I spent a lot of time with people in Tilburg's Psychology Dep't between 2009 and 2012. I was always so impressed that the students there were taking courses in English. This change would remove a significant advantage they currently enjoy relative to their EU peers.

Eiko Fried @eikofried.bsky.social · Apr 29

Folks, universities here are have decided to cut international psychology programs, which will be devastating to psychological science in the Netherlands.

Please consider signing this open letter on behalf of my colleagues and me; anybody can sign.

openletter.earth/against-lang...

Against Language Barriers: A Call to Protect International Education in Dutch Academia

openletter.earth

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Eiko Fried @eikofried.bsky.social · Apr 29

Folks, universities here are have decided to cut international psychology programs, which will be devastating to psychological science in the Netherlands.

Please consider signing this open letter on behalf of my colleagues and me; anybody can sign.

openletter.earth/against-lang...

Against Language Barriers: A Call to Protect International Education in Dutch Academia

openletter.earth

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