Julia Wester, PhD
@drjuliawester.bsky.social
Interdisciplinary environmental social scientist, educator, organizer | Field School and UMiami | Unironically loves Florida, even when it hurts me
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
every time somebody asks me for help with an LLM problem at work, the checklist starts with "do you understand what you are trying to do well enough to explain it to me, a human with way more preexisting context about your problem than the LLM has?". most fail.
November 19, 2025 at 7:46 AM
every time somebody asks me for help with an LLM problem at work, the checklist starts with "do you understand what you are trying to do well enough to explain it to me, a human with way more preexisting context about your problem than the LLM has?". most fail.
ruh roh
This is terrifying.
"[AI agents] can... infer a researcher's latent hypotheses and produce data that artificially confirms them."
...
"We can no longer trust that survey responses are coming from real people" [email protected]
"[AI agents] can... infer a researcher's latent hypotheses and produce data that artificially confirms them."
...
"We can no longer trust that survey responses are coming from real people" [email protected]
November 18, 2025 at 9:26 PM
ruh roh
Don’t try to tell me when something should be a table google sheets. I decide when things should be tables.
November 18, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Don’t try to tell me when something should be a table google sheets. I decide when things should be tables.
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
A lot of education discourse is at root an inability to decide whether the purpose of our education system is to 1) teach material and measure learning 2) reward students who work hard 3) separate the smart kids (destined for smart guy jobs) from the dumb kids (destined to serve the smart guys)
November 15, 2025 at 5:52 PM
A lot of education discourse is at root an inability to decide whether the purpose of our education system is to 1) teach material and measure learning 2) reward students who work hard 3) separate the smart kids (destined for smart guy jobs) from the dumb kids (destined to serve the smart guys)
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
the way basic human decency hits these days is crazy
So the streamer Ludwig recently found out that one of his earliest regular viewers, who was trans, passed away and tonight he's doing a charity stream for the Trevor Project. So far he's raised over $46,000 in about 5 hours. www.twitch.tv/ludwig
November 14, 2025 at 3:25 AM
the way basic human decency hits these days is crazy
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
DESPITE ALL MY RAGE
LET'S CIRCLE BACK
AND GET ON THE SAME PAGE
DESPITE ALL MY RAGE THERE ARE STILL SEVERAL METRICS TO GAUGE
SOMEONE WILL SAY
TURN THIS IN
BY THE END OF THE DAY
DESPITE ALL MY RAGE
YOU DON'T NEED MY SIGN-OFF
AT THIS STAGE
LET'S CIRCLE BACK
AND GET ON THE SAME PAGE
DESPITE ALL MY RAGE THERE ARE STILL SEVERAL METRICS TO GAUGE
SOMEONE WILL SAY
TURN THIS IN
BY THE END OF THE DAY
DESPITE ALL MY RAGE
YOU DON'T NEED MY SIGN-OFF
AT THIS STAGE
November 11, 2025 at 9:02 PM
DESPITE ALL MY RAGE
LET'S CIRCLE BACK
AND GET ON THE SAME PAGE
DESPITE ALL MY RAGE THERE ARE STILL SEVERAL METRICS TO GAUGE
SOMEONE WILL SAY
TURN THIS IN
BY THE END OF THE DAY
DESPITE ALL MY RAGE
YOU DON'T NEED MY SIGN-OFF
AT THIS STAGE
LET'S CIRCLE BACK
AND GET ON THE SAME PAGE
DESPITE ALL MY RAGE THERE ARE STILL SEVERAL METRICS TO GAUGE
SOMEONE WILL SAY
TURN THIS IN
BY THE END OF THE DAY
DESPITE ALL MY RAGE
YOU DON'T NEED MY SIGN-OFF
AT THIS STAGE
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
If we were really going to "run the government like a business," Costco is the actual model we'd want to follow.
Let's again stipulate that the government is not a business & the whole idea it should run like one is a dumb category error. But if anyone was actually serious about running the government like a business & eliminating waste, the model would be Costco & not a single person/firm from Silicon Valley.
Costco is a really popular subject for business-success case studies but I feel like business guys kinda lose interest when the upshot of the study is like "just operate with scrupulous integrity in all facets and levels of your business for four decades" and not some easy-to-fix gimmick
November 10, 2025 at 6:51 PM
If we were really going to "run the government like a business," Costco is the actual model we'd want to follow.
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
THIS IS AMAZING. ALSO WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID WE FORGET TO RUIN?
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
🧵
🧵
November 6, 2025 at 9:19 PM
THIS IS AMAZING. ALSO WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID WE FORGET TO RUIN?
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
Mark your calendar for a huge December election (sorry, sorry, I know):
Democrat Eileen Higgins & Republican Emilio Gonzalez moved on to the runoff for mayor of Miami.
Democrat Eileen Higgins & Republican Emilio Gonzalez moved on to the runoff for mayor of Miami.
November 5, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Mark your calendar for a huge December election (sorry, sorry, I know):
Democrat Eileen Higgins & Republican Emilio Gonzalez moved on to the runoff for mayor of Miami.
Democrat Eileen Higgins & Republican Emilio Gonzalez moved on to the runoff for mayor of Miami.
This is the most minor of points possible. But the theme for Halloween parties is “Halloween”. Why are you trying to narrow the field of possible costume choices? Anyways, unsurprisingly joyless crap here.
The way he rubs his inhumanity in Americans” face never ceases to stun me.
He’s illegally refusing to pay food stamp benefits…
…while he throws a ridiculously over the top Gatsby party for his right wing millionaire and corporate friends.
He’s illegally refusing to pay food stamp benefits…
…while he throws a ridiculously over the top Gatsby party for his right wing millionaire and corporate friends.
November 1, 2025 at 2:13 PM
This is the most minor of points possible. But the theme for Halloween parties is “Halloween”. Why are you trying to narrow the field of possible costume choices? Anyways, unsurprisingly joyless crap here.
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
Yeah the Hobbits big virtue is that they're indomitable. They aren't wise or clever or strong, but that turns out to be less important than the will to pick up and carry your friend to the end of the world
October 24, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Yeah the Hobbits big virtue is that they're indomitable. They aren't wise or clever or strong, but that turns out to be less important than the will to pick up and carry your friend to the end of the world
Environmental activism that only focuses on “raising awareness” without a broader theory of change, are not helping and can potentially harm progress.
Do you have any extremely niche, but serious, ethical stances?
October 19, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Environmental activism that only focuses on “raising awareness” without a broader theory of change, are not helping and can potentially harm progress.
Great turn out and energy in Miami today 💙
October 18, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Great turn out and energy in Miami today 💙
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
"Organizing" is just "Did I do anything to help out with organizing efforts today?" And it, like most of the categories, isn't binary—I give myself more points for that day if what I did was more significant, or took more time.
Would also love to know what breaking down “organizing” looks like for you in terms of regular achievable tasks on a daily-weekly scale to-do list. I’ve added stuff on the month scale like “attend meetings” and “check off that thing I promised to contribute at the last meeting”
October 16, 2025 at 1:12 AM
"Organizing" is just "Did I do anything to help out with organizing efforts today?" And it, like most of the categories, isn't binary—I give myself more points for that day if what I did was more significant, or took more time.
Any Miami folks, especially near the Coral Way/Shenandoah area: we’re meeting up to travel together to the protest if anyone wants to join this Saturday @coralwaydems.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Any Miami folks, especially near the Coral Way/Shenandoah area: we’re meeting up to travel together to the protest if anyone wants to join this Saturday @coralwaydems.bsky.social
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
Interestingly I found this action to be a real beautiful example of solidarity across orgs, movements and causes. Too often things are structured in ways that keep us fighting for “our issue” in silos, but all our fates are intertwined. Always have been, but now could not be more obvious.
Look I get that it's not sexy that the Florida facility was closed via an environmental lawsuit but Al Capone got taken down by tax evasion. Not everything is sexy!
October 7, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Interestingly I found this action to be a real beautiful example of solidarity across orgs, movements and causes. Too often things are structured in ways that keep us fighting for “our issue” in silos, but all our fates are intertwined. Always have been, but now could not be more obvious.
been dealing with some brain fog more lately and as someone with a parent with early onset dementia I can't determine if this is just HOW IT STARTS or if its my mind reacting to everything being too much right now.
October 6, 2025 at 4:15 PM
been dealing with some brain fog more lately and as someone with a parent with early onset dementia I can't determine if this is just HOW IT STARTS or if its my mind reacting to everything being too much right now.
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
CHATGPT: I understand where you're coming from. You worked really hard to get here, and now it's time to enjoy the fruit of your labors.
ISILDUR: So I should keep it? Elrond says I shouldn't
CHATGPT: The ring is precious. Sometimes friends don't have your best interests at heart.
ISILDUR: true
ISILDUR: So I should keep it? Elrond says I shouldn't
CHATGPT: The ring is precious. Sometimes friends don't have your best interests at heart.
ISILDUR: true
October 6, 2025 at 1:58 PM
CHATGPT: I understand where you're coming from. You worked really hard to get here, and now it's time to enjoy the fruit of your labors.
ISILDUR: So I should keep it? Elrond says I shouldn't
CHATGPT: The ring is precious. Sometimes friends don't have your best interests at heart.
ISILDUR: true
ISILDUR: So I should keep it? Elrond says I shouldn't
CHATGPT: The ring is precious. Sometimes friends don't have your best interests at heart.
ISILDUR: true
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
"We're going to create superintelligence" How about making outlook search work first. How about that
October 3, 2025 at 5:18 PM
"We're going to create superintelligence" How about making outlook search work first. How about that
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
feels like we're living through some kind of cultural gas leak
Microsoft launches ‘vibe working’ in Excel and Word
Microsoft launches ‘vibe working’ in Excel and Word
Vibe working is all about Office’s new Agent Mode.
buff.ly
October 1, 2025 at 4:52 PM
feels like we're living through some kind of cultural gas leak
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
Say it often, say it loud:
"Overall, research has not supported the common-sense presumption that digital approaches to schooling are better than non-digital alternatives. At the broadest level, widespread computer use in education has been found to be associated with lower student achievement."
"Overall, research has not supported the common-sense presumption that digital approaches to schooling are better than non-digital alternatives. At the broadest level, widespread computer use in education has been found to be associated with lower student achievement."
Fit for Purpose? How Today’s Commercial Digital Platforms Subvert Key Goals of Public Education
Digital educational platforms have become ubiquitous in American classrooms, with tools like Google Workspace for Education, Kahoot!, Zearn, Khan Academy, and many others now structuring curriculum, i...
nepc.colorado.edu
September 29, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Say it often, say it loud:
"Overall, research has not supported the common-sense presumption that digital approaches to schooling are better than non-digital alternatives. At the broadest level, widespread computer use in education has been found to be associated with lower student achievement."
"Overall, research has not supported the common-sense presumption that digital approaches to schooling are better than non-digital alternatives. At the broadest level, widespread computer use in education has been found to be associated with lower student achievement."
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
Scientists say Twitter has lost its edge and Bluesky is taking its place | Coverage of our paper in PsyPost
Scientists say X (formerly Twitter) has lost its professional edge — and Bluesky is taking its place
After Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, many scientists report the platform is no longer suitable for professional use. A recent survey indicates that researchers are increasingly turning to…
www.psypost.org
September 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Scientists say Twitter has lost its edge and Bluesky is taking its place | Coverage of our paper in PsyPost
Reposted by Julia Wester, PhD
For Floridians wanting the COVID-19 vaccine, both Publix and Walgreens pharmacies have announced they are offering the shot now without a prescription.
Covid-19 vaccines now available without prescription, Publix and Walgreen pharmacies | WKRG.com
For Floridians wanting the COVID-19 vaccine, both Publix and Walgreens pharmacies have announced they are offering the shot now without a prescription.
www.wkrg.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
For Floridians wanting the COVID-19 vaccine, both Publix and Walgreens pharmacies have announced they are offering the shot now without a prescription.