Richard Littauer
@richlitt.bsky.social
PhD in CS at Te Herenga Waka, focusing on birds. Open source. Linguist and conlanger. eBird and iNat. SustainOSS and CURIOSS. He/him.
See https://burntfen.com for a list of things I did when I should have been doing other things.
See https://burntfen.com for a list of things I did when I should have been doing other things.
Happy World Linguistics Day from Pōneke Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand!
Happy World Linguistics Day from Montreal, Canada!
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Melbourne, Australia!
November 26, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Happy World Linguistics Day from Pōneke Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand!
Reposted by Richard Littauer
I’m humbled & on cloud nine to have been awarded the NZ Assoc Scientists Cranwell Medal in Science Communication. I could not have done this level of sci comm without the support of my family & wonderful lab group. This award is as much for you as it is for me www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroo...
Prestigious medal for science communicator
www.otago.ac.nz
November 26, 2025 at 5:55 AM
I’m humbled & on cloud nine to have been awarded the NZ Assoc Scientists Cranwell Medal in Science Communication. I could not have done this level of sci comm without the support of my family & wonderful lab group. This award is as much for you as it is for me www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroo...
Reposted by Richard Littauer
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Historian Rutger Bregman is a well-respected proponent of a universal basic income. The Guardian has called him “the Dutch wunderkind of new ideas.”
The BBC invited Bregman to give this year’s Reith Lecture series.
Before airing, the BBC removed one sentence from his lecture, “A Time of Monsters.”
The BBC invited Bregman to give this year’s Reith Lecture series.
Before airing, the BBC removed one sentence from his lecture, “A Time of Monsters.”
November 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Historian Rutger Bregman is a well-respected proponent of a universal basic income. The Guardian has called him “the Dutch wunderkind of new ideas.”
The BBC invited Bregman to give this year’s Reith Lecture series.
Before airing, the BBC removed one sentence from his lecture, “A Time of Monsters.”
The BBC invited Bregman to give this year’s Reith Lecture series.
Before airing, the BBC removed one sentence from his lecture, “A Time of Monsters.”
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
Reposted by Richard Littauer
You're told it'll sabotage your career if you're a vocally politically opinionated, queer, woman. But things sabotaging my career are systemic xenophobia, sexism, and horrible job market. Which are a direct consequences of people not being vocally opinionated in the first place.
November 25, 2025 at 2:27 AM
You're told it'll sabotage your career if you're a vocally politically opinionated, queer, woman. But things sabotaging my career are systemic xenophobia, sexism, and horrible job market. Which are a direct consequences of people not being vocally opinionated in the first place.
It took ten years.
Today, I finished the latest season of Strange New Worlds. I have now seen every single episode of Star Trek.
I have no regrets.
Today, I finished the latest season of Strange New Worlds. I have now seen every single episode of Star Trek.
I have no regrets.
November 23, 2025 at 11:14 PM
It took ten years.
Today, I finished the latest season of Strange New Worlds. I have now seen every single episode of Star Trek.
I have no regrets.
Today, I finished the latest season of Strange New Worlds. I have now seen every single episode of Star Trek.
I have no regrets.
Reposted by Richard Littauer
The Christian right for decades has fear-mongered that federal agents (under Dem presidents) would "criminalize" Christianity and literally prevent them from worshipping.
Now that Trump's stormtroopers are doing it ... crickets
Now that Trump's stormtroopers are doing it ... crickets
Here’s a story for every national news outlet:
In N.C., churchgoers are literally running into the woods as federal agents descend on the property.
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.”
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
In N.C., churchgoers are literally running into the woods as federal agents descend on the property.
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.”
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
November 16, 2025 at 12:16 PM
The Christian right for decades has fear-mongered that federal agents (under Dem presidents) would "criminalize" Christianity and literally prevent them from worshipping.
Now that Trump's stormtroopers are doing it ... crickets
Now that Trump's stormtroopers are doing it ... crickets
Reposted by Richard Littauer
What might be my favourite fossil has been just published by Kiat et al. 2025. Years ago I saw a pic of this Anchiornis specimen in nat geo article and I audibly gasped.preserving not only the feathers but also the original patterns as well. I made this drawing on the spot. Maybe its time to do v2.0
November 21, 2025 at 7:27 PM
What might be my favourite fossil has been just published by Kiat et al. 2025. Years ago I saw a pic of this Anchiornis specimen in nat geo article and I audibly gasped.preserving not only the feathers but also the original patterns as well. I made this drawing on the spot. Maybe its time to do v2.0
I just presented on @opensustaintech.bsky.social at @kiwipycon.nz in Pōneke, Aotearoa New Zealand. My slides are here!
Great to be part of both of these projects - both tech for climate, and python for NZ.
github.com/RichardLitt/...
Great to be part of both of these projects - both tech for climate, and python for NZ.
github.com/RichardLitt/...
GitHub - RichardLitt/talks: Talks of mine at conferences and meetups
Talks of mine at conferences and meetups. Contribute to RichardLitt/talks development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:55 AM
I just presented on @opensustaintech.bsky.social at @kiwipycon.nz in Pōneke, Aotearoa New Zealand. My slides are here!
Great to be part of both of these projects - both tech for climate, and python for NZ.
github.com/RichardLitt/...
Great to be part of both of these projects - both tech for climate, and python for NZ.
github.com/RichardLitt/...
Anyone know any birders or naturalists in Santiago? I'm headed there tomorrow and I have a looooong layover, would be good to get out and see a condor instead.
November 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Anyone know any birders or naturalists in Santiago? I'm headed there tomorrow and I have a looooong layover, would be good to get out and see a condor instead.
Today is the day. I'll be giving a talk in a bit on @opensustaintech at OpenForum Academy Symposium, here in Rio. Looking forward to good conversations about the work afterwards.
symposium.openforumeurope.org#programme
symposium.openforumeurope.org#programme
Homepage - OFA Symposium
Open Technology Impact in Uncertain Times
symposium.openforumeurope.org
November 19, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Today is the day. I'll be giving a talk in a bit on @opensustaintech at OpenForum Academy Symposium, here in Rio. Looking forward to good conversations about the work afterwards.
symposium.openforumeurope.org#programme
symposium.openforumeurope.org#programme
A journal I've had a manuscript accepted in has let me know that submitting my PDF anywhere, including preprint servers, is strictly prohibited.
Can't I submit an earlier draft of the paper anywhere I want, though? Isn't that the point of preprints?
Can't I submit an earlier draft of the paper anywhere I want, though? Isn't that the point of preprints?
November 19, 2025 at 10:55 AM
A journal I've had a manuscript accepted in has let me know that submitting my PDF anywhere, including preprint servers, is strictly prohibited.
Can't I submit an earlier draft of the paper anywhere I want, though? Isn't that the point of preprints?
Can't I submit an earlier draft of the paper anywhere I want, though? Isn't that the point of preprints?
Reposted by Richard Littauer
People want to classify you as one thing or another. Life is far more complicated than that and I choose to celebrate it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:09 PM
People want to classify you as one thing or another. Life is far more complicated than that and I choose to celebrate it.
Reposted by Richard Littauer
AI slop gracing the cover of Royal Society B. Not only in AI yellow but scientifically nonsensical. Come on. I'm certain human photographs and artworks were ignored to platform ... this.
November 18, 2025 at 10:49 AM
AI slop gracing the cover of Royal Society B. Not only in AI yellow but scientifically nonsensical. Come on. I'm certain human photographs and artworks were ignored to platform ... this.
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Why we don't have many female bird ringers ?That was the topic of Lilou Buchet master's work. She found only 5% of female that follow the ringing course became #bird ringers.
Why? Ornithology is historically a matter of men, lack of confidence, support, and bad behaviours by men in field 🦉
Why? Ornithology is historically a matter of men, lack of confidence, support, and bad behaviours by men in field 🦉
🐦⬛♀️ Pourquoi y a t'il si peu de femmes bagueuses d'oiseaux? C'était le sujet de stage de M2 de Lilou Buchet au @mnhn.fr
🔎📔 Les résultats de cette enquête, publiés dans son rapport, sont maintenant disponibles sur le blog du CRBPO :
crbpoinfo.blogspot.com/2025/11/bagu...
🔎📔 Les résultats de cette enquête, publiés dans son rapport, sont maintenant disponibles sur le blog du CRBPO :
crbpoinfo.blogspot.com/2025/11/bagu...
Bagueuses d’oiseaux : pourquoi sont-elles si peu nombreuses après la qualification ? Résultats de l’enquête
Vous l’avez peut-être remarqué sur le terrain : alors que les femmes sont aussi nombreuses que les hommes lors de la formation au baguage,...
crbpoinfo.blogspot.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Why we don't have many female bird ringers ?That was the topic of Lilou Buchet master's work. She found only 5% of female that follow the ringing course became #bird ringers.
Why? Ornithology is historically a matter of men, lack of confidence, support, and bad behaviours by men in field 🦉
Why? Ornithology is historically a matter of men, lack of confidence, support, and bad behaviours by men in field 🦉
Reposted by Richard Littauer
PSA! leaf litter on your lawn can house thousands of babies🧐 - some hoverfly babies (larvae) i spotted earlier today. (plus old hoverfly pic for info)
Don't put leaf litter in the bin- it's a precious, nutrient-filled habitat..Pile it up, compost it or just leave it... 😁🌿🍁🍂
Don't put leaf litter in the bin- it's a precious, nutrient-filled habitat..Pile it up, compost it or just leave it... 😁🌿🍁🍂
November 16, 2025 at 1:17 PM
PSA! leaf litter on your lawn can house thousands of babies🧐 - some hoverfly babies (larvae) i spotted earlier today. (plus old hoverfly pic for info)
Don't put leaf litter in the bin- it's a precious, nutrient-filled habitat..Pile it up, compost it or just leave it... 😁🌿🍁🍂
Don't put leaf litter in the bin- it's a precious, nutrient-filled habitat..Pile it up, compost it or just leave it... 😁🌿🍁🍂
Reposted by Richard Littauer
ALT Text benefits everyone
Alt text helps with accessibility, identifying/explaining elements you might not get to in your posts and makes your posts/work more discoverable - Make sure to toggle it on to “require alt text” in your settings
Alt text helps with accessibility, identifying/explaining elements you might not get to in your posts and makes your posts/work more discoverable - Make sure to toggle it on to “require alt text” in your settings
November 13, 2025 at 11:41 PM
ALT Text benefits everyone
Alt text helps with accessibility, identifying/explaining elements you might not get to in your posts and makes your posts/work more discoverable - Make sure to toggle it on to “require alt text” in your settings
Alt text helps with accessibility, identifying/explaining elements you might not get to in your posts and makes your posts/work more discoverable - Make sure to toggle it on to “require alt text” in your settings
Reposted by Richard Littauer
I guess since holiday gift-buying time is upon us I should remind you all that my book about the surprisingly wild and entertaining history of bird migration research is available in paperback now...
Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration
How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration
bookshop.org
November 14, 2025 at 12:01 AM
I guess since holiday gift-buying time is upon us I should remind you all that my book about the surprisingly wild and entertaining history of bird migration research is available in paperback now...
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Music continues to suffuse my days with meaning. And it's music like this which reminds me not to take that for granted. Art is amazing ya'll.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Tq...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Tq...
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (PULSE Restored & Re-Edited)
YouTube video by Pink Floyd
www.youtube.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Music continues to suffuse my days with meaning. And it's music like this which reminds me not to take that for granted. Art is amazing ya'll.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Tq...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Tq...
Reposted by Richard Littauer
100% Pure NZ 💩 from Minister Reti. Nothing could be further from the truth. Early career researchers are not well looked after. Nor are their career prospects here good. Very early career researchers (ms and phd scholars) are highly skilled and often paid less than minimum wage. Exploited as. #NZPOL
good on MP Reuben Davidson for asking Shane Reti to designate ring-fenced funding for young scientists in NZ
Reti's answer is complete bullshit: NZ is one of the hardest countries in the WORLD to fund a postdoc. why does he think we have so few of them here????
#nzpol
Reti's answer is complete bullshit: NZ is one of the hardest countries in the WORLD to fund a postdoc. why does he think we have so few of them here????
#nzpol
November 13, 2025 at 4:03 AM
100% Pure NZ 💩 from Minister Reti. Nothing could be further from the truth. Early career researchers are not well looked after. Nor are their career prospects here good. Very early career researchers (ms and phd scholars) are highly skilled and often paid less than minimum wage. Exploited as. #NZPOL
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Frankly, more tax money should be flowing in our direction to keep these NATIONAL institutions going. www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Te Papa announces plans for restructure in an effort to cut rising costs
It comes after the museum started charging international visitors to the site due to rising costs of energy, insurance and staffing.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 12, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Frankly, more tax money should be flowing in our direction to keep these NATIONAL institutions going. www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Dear NZ: fight civil asset forfeiture with everything you have in you. Love, the US
A concorning snippet, here:
"That campaign will receive $5.9 million from the Proceeds of Crime Fund - money taken from criminals - and the Government wants to make it faster for police use the proceeds of crime laws to seize assets from drug dealers."
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
"That campaign will receive $5.9 million from the Proceeds of Crime Fund - money taken from criminals - and the Government wants to make it faster for police use the proceeds of crime laws to seize assets from drug dealers."
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
The Post
www.thepost.co.nz
November 9, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Dear NZ: fight civil asset forfeiture with everything you have in you. Love, the US
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Frankly I’m with Lubo
And finally, Lubo’s message to the young: LESS COMPUTER, MORE COLLECTING
November 9, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Frankly I’m with Lubo