Simon Munzert
@simonsaysnothin.bsky.social
Professor of Data Science and Public Policy | Director @ Hertie School Data Science Lab | Elections, Public Opinion, Data
Pinned
2️⃣4️⃣🎁🎄 Doing something new for Advent this year: one great data journalism piece per day until Dec 24. I’m teaching a data journalism course @hertieschool.bsky.social next semester, so this is partly selfish homework. But maybe interesting for others too.
School council election. Also running: the class clown. Annoying to all, impossible to ignore.
Kid 1: “I’ll vote for him. He’s in my class.”
Kid 2: “Nice poster! He'll get my vote.”
Kid 1: “Also, he promised better school lunches.”
Political scientist in me: slowly nodding, checking off the 2020s
Kid 1: “I’ll vote for him. He’s in my class.”
Kid 2: “Nice poster! He'll get my vote.”
Kid 1: “Also, he promised better school lunches.”
Political scientist in me: slowly nodding, checking off the 2020s
a man in a black shirt is making a funny face while sitting at a table .
Alt: Guy at table trying to say something, gives up
media.tenor.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:18 AM
School council election. Also running: the class clown. Annoying to all, impossible to ignore.
Kid 1: “I’ll vote for him. He’s in my class.”
Kid 2: “Nice poster! He'll get my vote.”
Kid 1: “Also, he promised better school lunches.”
Political scientist in me: slowly nodding, checking off the 2020s
Kid 1: “I’ll vote for him. He’s in my class.”
Kid 2: “Nice poster! He'll get my vote.”
Kid 1: “Also, he promised better school lunches.”
Political scientist in me: slowly nodding, checking off the 2020s
Reposted by Simon Munzert
Flashback to last year’s Data4Good Hackathon challenges!
🏛 Municipal Innovation (with @bertelsmannst.bsky.social): > Participants tackled the Wegweiser Kommune dataset, using 400+ indicators to map out the future of German municipalities.
🏛 Municipal Innovation (with @bertelsmannst.bsky.social): > Participants tackled the Wegweiser Kommune dataset, using 400+ indicators to map out the future of German municipalities.
January 21, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Flashback to last year’s Data4Good Hackathon challenges!
🏛 Municipal Innovation (with @bertelsmannst.bsky.social): > Participants tackled the Wegweiser Kommune dataset, using 400+ indicators to map out the future of German municipalities.
🏛 Municipal Innovation (with @bertelsmannst.bsky.social): > Participants tackled the Wegweiser Kommune dataset, using 400+ indicators to map out the future of German municipalities.
Reposted by Simon Munzert
This is the week we’ve been waiting for:
The Data4Good Festival 2026!
We are excited to host 70+ students from across Europe at the Hertie School for a weekend of data-driven innovation and creativity in the heart of Berlin.
The Data4Good Festival 2026!
We are excited to host 70+ students from across Europe at the Hertie School for a weekend of data-driven innovation and creativity in the heart of Berlin.
January 19, 2026 at 11:42 AM
This is the week we’ve been waiting for:
The Data4Good Festival 2026!
We are excited to host 70+ students from across Europe at the Hertie School for a weekend of data-driven innovation and creativity in the heart of Berlin.
The Data4Good Festival 2026!
We are excited to host 70+ students from across Europe at the Hertie School for a weekend of data-driven innovation and creativity in the heart of Berlin.
Reposted by Simon Munzert
Thanks for referring to our research, @donmoyn.bsky.social!
For those who want to understand the actions of authoritarian security organizations, here is the info kit of our forthcoming book “Making a Career in Dictatorship”.
It includes short chapter summaries and more:
tinyurl.com/599d6uc5
For those who want to understand the actions of authoritarian security organizations, here is the info kit of our forthcoming book “Making a Career in Dictatorship”.
It includes short chapter summaries and more:
tinyurl.com/599d6uc5
January 12, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Thanks for referring to our research, @donmoyn.bsky.social!
For those who want to understand the actions of authoritarian security organizations, here is the info kit of our forthcoming book “Making a Career in Dictatorship”.
It includes short chapter summaries and more:
tinyurl.com/599d6uc5
For those who want to understand the actions of authoritarian security organizations, here is the info kit of our forthcoming book “Making a Career in Dictatorship”.
It includes short chapter summaries and more:
tinyurl.com/599d6uc5
Reposted by Simon Munzert
📢 Call for papers
9th Economics of Media Bias Workshop
Keynotes: Ruben Durante (NUS) and Pinar Yildrim (Wharton)
🗓️ May 28th-29th 2026
📍 Berlin, Germany
⏰ Deadline: January 31st 2026
Full CfP and information on how to submit: tinyurl.com/2s3f6tar
Please circulate!
9th Economics of Media Bias Workshop
Keynotes: Ruben Durante (NUS) and Pinar Yildrim (Wharton)
🗓️ May 28th-29th 2026
📍 Berlin, Germany
⏰ Deadline: January 31st 2026
Full CfP and information on how to submit: tinyurl.com/2s3f6tar
Please circulate!
January 7, 2026 at 8:30 AM
📢 Call for papers
9th Economics of Media Bias Workshop
Keynotes: Ruben Durante (NUS) and Pinar Yildrim (Wharton)
🗓️ May 28th-29th 2026
📍 Berlin, Germany
⏰ Deadline: January 31st 2026
Full CfP and information on how to submit: tinyurl.com/2s3f6tar
Please circulate!
9th Economics of Media Bias Workshop
Keynotes: Ruben Durante (NUS) and Pinar Yildrim (Wharton)
🗓️ May 28th-29th 2026
📍 Berlin, Germany
⏰ Deadline: January 31st 2026
Full CfP and information on how to submit: tinyurl.com/2s3f6tar
Please circulate!
Reposted by Simon Munzert
🎅2️⃣4️⃣❄ Weiße Weihnachten in ...? By @carlagrefehuge.bsky.social and André Pätzold interaktiv.morgenpost.de/schnee-an-we...
Wann gab es bei Ihnen weiße Weihnachten?
Hier finden Sie die Antwort auf die Schnee-Frage für Ihren Ort - als persönliches Geschenkpapier, Poster oder Grußkarte.
interaktiv.morgenpost.de
December 24, 2025 at 9:51 AM
🎅2️⃣4️⃣❄ Weiße Weihnachten in ...? By @carlagrefehuge.bsky.social and André Pätzold interaktiv.morgenpost.de/schnee-an-we...
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Don’t get your hopes up—at least not in Germany. Anyway, Merry Christmas, everyone! 🎄
December 24, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Don’t get your hopes up—at least not in Germany. Anyway, Merry Christmas, everyone! 🎄
🎅2️⃣4️⃣❄ Weiße Weihnachten in ...? By @carlagrefehuge.bsky.social and André Pätzold interaktiv.morgenpost.de/schnee-an-we...
Wann gab es bei Ihnen weiße Weihnachten?
Hier finden Sie die Antwort auf die Schnee-Frage für Ihren Ort - als persönliches Geschenkpapier, Poster oder Grußkarte.
interaktiv.morgenpost.de
December 24, 2025 at 9:51 AM
🎅2️⃣4️⃣❄ Weiße Weihnachten in ...? By @carlagrefehuge.bsky.social and André Pätzold interaktiv.morgenpost.de/schnee-an-we...
A beautifully designed feature on a sad story. "As insects disappear, we’re losing the limbs and the twigs of the tree of life. We’re tearing it apart. And we’re leaving behind a very simplified and ugly tree."
December 23, 2025 at 8:39 AM
A beautifully designed feature on a sad story. "As insects disappear, we’re losing the limbs and the twigs of the tree of life. We’re tearing it apart. And we’re leaving behind a very simplified and ugly tree."
🎅2️⃣3️⃣ The collapse of insects. By @jhjanicki.bsky.social, @gloriadickie.bsky.social, Simon Scarr and Jitesh Chowdhury. www.reuters.com/graphics/GLO...
Insect populations are declining at an unprecedented rate
The most diverse group of organisms on the planet are in trouble and the consequences could be dire.
www.reuters.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:39 AM
🎅2️⃣3️⃣ The collapse of insects. By @jhjanicki.bsky.social, @gloriadickie.bsky.social, Simon Scarr and Jitesh Chowdhury. www.reuters.com/graphics/GLO...
I can hardly think of a better example to motivate data science students by showing how their tools and investigative skills can be used to make real impact.
December 22, 2025 at 8:51 AM
I can hardly think of a better example to motivate data science students by showing how their tools and investigative skills can be used to make real impact.
This is part one of a five-part investigation into detention camps in the Xinjiang region that won a Pulitzer Prize.
December 22, 2025 at 8:51 AM
This is part one of a five-part investigation into detention camps in the Xinjiang region that won a Pulitzer Prize.
🎅2️⃣2️⃣ China Built A Vast New Infrastructure To Imprison Uighurs, by @meghara.bsky.social, @alisonkilling.bsky.socialand @christobuschek.net @buzzfeed.com www.buzzfeednews.com/article/alis...
Blanked-Out Spots On China's Maps Helped Us Uncover Xinjiang's Camps
China's Baidu blanked out parts of its mapping platform. We used those locations to find a network of buildings bearing the hallmarks of prisons and internment camps in Xinjiang. Here's how we did it.
www.buzzfeednews.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:51 AM
🎅2️⃣2️⃣ China Built A Vast New Infrastructure To Imprison Uighurs, by @meghara.bsky.social, @alisonkilling.bsky.socialand @christobuschek.net @buzzfeed.com www.buzzfeednews.com/article/alis...
Pünktlich zu den Festtagen ein Tool zur Abschätzung, wie viel unterm Baum maximal gebechert werden sollte. Prost!
December 21, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Pünktlich zu den Festtagen ein Tool zur Abschätzung, wie viel unterm Baum maximal gebechert werden sollte. Prost!
🎅2️⃣1️⃣ Wie riskant ist Ihr Alkoholkonsum? By @driven-by-data.net, @jakobbauer.bsky.social, Annick Ehmann, @selinarudolph.bsky.social, @florianschumann.bsky.social and Jan Schwenkenbecher. www.zeit.de/gesundheit/2... www.zeit.de/gesundheit/2... (freebie link)
Alkoholkonsum: Wie riskant ist Ihr Alkoholkonsum?
Daten des RKI zeigen: Fast ein Drittel der Erwachsenen trinkt Alkohol in gesundheitlich bedenklichen Mengen. Mit unserem Tool können Sie herausfinden, ob Sie dazugehören.
www.zeit.de
December 21, 2025 at 11:13 AM
🎅2️⃣1️⃣ Wie riskant ist Ihr Alkoholkonsum? By @driven-by-data.net, @jakobbauer.bsky.social, Annick Ehmann, @selinarudolph.bsky.social, @florianschumann.bsky.social and Jan Schwenkenbecher. www.zeit.de/gesundheit/2... www.zeit.de/gesundheit/2... (freebie link)
PSA für alle Eltern, die mit dem Gedanken spielen, die Weihnachtsbäckerei anzuzünden und die Winterkinder auf dem Balkon auszusperren: Bestes Kinder-Weihnachtsalbum? Look no further www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxFn...
O je, Tannenbaum!
YouTube video by Release - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:40 PM
PSA für alle Eltern, die mit dem Gedanken spielen, die Weihnachtsbäckerei anzuzünden und die Winterkinder auf dem Balkon auszusperren: Bestes Kinder-Weihnachtsalbum? Look no further www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxFn...
Reposted by Simon Munzert
🎅2️⃣0️⃣ Inside the Suspicion Machine, by @evaconstantaras.bsky.social, @gabrielgeiger.bsky.social, @jusbraun.bsky.social, @dmehro.bsky.social, and Htet Aung from @lighthousereports.com in @wired.com www.wired.com/story/welfar...
Inside the Suspicion Machine
Obscure government algorithms are making life-changing decisions about millions of people around the world. Here, for the first time, we reveal how one of these systems works.
www.wired.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:05 PM
🎅2️⃣0️⃣ Inside the Suspicion Machine, by @evaconstantaras.bsky.social, @gabrielgeiger.bsky.social, @jusbraun.bsky.social, @dmehro.bsky.social, and Htet Aung from @lighthousereports.com in @wired.com www.wired.com/story/welfar...
The article makes the faultiness and consequences of algorithmic governance palpable — almost like scanning a restaurant bill. Awesome narration and visual communication.
December 20, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The article makes the faultiness and consequences of algorithmic governance palpable — almost like scanning a restaurant bill. Awesome narration and visual communication.
A fascinating piece on Rotterdam’s welfare fraud algorithm, which shows how risk scoring and profiling slip into routine administration - aimed at people with the least room for error.
December 20, 2025 at 2:05 PM
A fascinating piece on Rotterdam’s welfare fraud algorithm, which shows how risk scoring and profiling slip into routine administration - aimed at people with the least room for error.
🎅2️⃣0️⃣ Inside the Suspicion Machine, by @evaconstantaras.bsky.social, @gabrielgeiger.bsky.social, @jusbraun.bsky.social, @dmehro.bsky.social, and Htet Aung from @lighthousereports.com in @wired.com www.wired.com/story/welfar...
Inside the Suspicion Machine
Obscure government algorithms are making life-changing decisions about millions of people around the world. Here, for the first time, we reveal how one of these systems works.
www.wired.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:05 PM
🎅2️⃣0️⃣ Inside the Suspicion Machine, by @evaconstantaras.bsky.social, @gabrielgeiger.bsky.social, @jusbraun.bsky.social, @dmehro.bsky.social, and Htet Aung from @lighthousereports.com in @wired.com www.wired.com/story/welfar...
Another one by @puddingviz.bsky.social. One of their earliest (and imo still best) from 2016, and one that should get you prepared for all the Christmas movies of the season...
December 19, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Another one by @puddingviz.bsky.social. One of their earliest (and imo still best) from 2016, and one that should get you prepared for all the Christmas movies of the season...
🎅1️⃣9️⃣ Film Dialogue, by Hanah Anderson and Matt Daniels pudding.cool/2017/03/film...
The Largest Analysis of Film Dialogue by Gender, Ever
Lately, Hollywood has been taking so much shit for rampant sexism and racism. The prevailing theme: white men dominate movie roles.
pudding.cool
December 19, 2025 at 10:10 AM
🎅1️⃣9️⃣ Film Dialogue, by Hanah Anderson and Matt Daniels pudding.cool/2017/03/film...
🎅1️⃣8️⃣ Was passt noch in mein CO2-Budget? By Ida Flik, Luc Guillemot, André Pätzold and @benjazehr.ch. interaktiv.morgenpost.de/co2-budget-p...
Wieviel CO2 kann ich mir noch leisten? Spielen Sie es durch!
CO2-Budget pro Kopf: Was passt da noch rein, um den Klimawandel zu bremsen. Probieren Sie es aus - mit dem persönlichen Klima-Test.
interaktiv.morgenpost.de
December 18, 2025 at 1:25 PM
🎅1️⃣8️⃣ Was passt noch in mein CO2-Budget? By Ida Flik, Luc Guillemot, André Pätzold and @benjazehr.ch. interaktiv.morgenpost.de/co2-budget-p...
I’ve never been to Singapore, but this article really makes me want to go. Beautifully told story, with interactive elements and image analysis woven right in. So good -absolutely delicious.
December 17, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I’ve never been to Singapore, but this article really makes me want to go. Beautifully told story, with interactive elements and image analysis woven right in. So good -absolutely delicious.