Thomas Hills
@thomhills.bsky.social
4K followers 5.5K following 47 posts
Behavioral network science, cognitive search/ecology/control, language, and cultural evolution, data science, complex systems, R, art, teaching. Direct Behavioural and Data Science MSc at University of Warwick, UK, Prof Psychology
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
thomhills.bsky.social
Glorious day. The Behavioral Network Science: Language, Mind, and Society is now available. Thanks for waiting and thanks to all you network scientists (and other scientists) who made the project a joy to work on. TOC and code at thomasthills.github.io/BehavioralNe....
thomhills.bsky.social
Unfortunately I couldn't attend this year's #NetSci2025, but I am there in spirit, and hopefully in text, which mentions the work of many of my inspirations, like Max Schich, Mirta Galesic, Cynthia Siew, Olaf Sporns, Filippo Menczer, and many more.
Reposted by Thomas Hills
schichmax.bsky.social
🐈🏳️‍🌈 🛫✈️🛬 🚂 🚂 🚂 🎉

Just arrived in Maastricht
for #NetSci2025 (@netsciconf.bsky.social),
scheduled to present the #HISTONET satellite #keynote
on #NetworkHistory.

Tuesday, Jun 3, 17:40-18:20
at @fasosmaastricht.bsky.social

Abstract & details:
historicalnetworkresearch.github.io/netsci-maast...
Network visualization has come a long way in the last 700 years.

The inset figure shows a circular network layout of a bipartite graph with multiple components, conncecting 12 tribes in black with 5 cities in red via 13 links; source: Codex Cremifarnensis 243, fol. 57v (dated circa 1330 CE).

The background figure shows a spring-embedded Touchgraph layout of a bipartite graph with a 89.9% Giant Connected Component connecting 7984 Ancient monuments in blue with 2934 Renaissance documents in brown via 19983 binned links; data source: Census of Antique Works of Art and Architecture Known in the Renaissance (1947-2004).

Both figures from 
Schich, Maximilian. Rezeption und Tradierung als Komplexes Netzwerk. Der CENSUS und visuelle Dokumente zu den Thermen in Rom. Munich: Verlag Biering & Brinkmann, 2009. Figs. 25 & 167
open access: https://doi.org/10.11588/artdok.00000700
thomhills.bsky.social
Interested in learning how to deal with big data, web scraping, network science, or natural language processing in the lovely Lugano this summer? The list of courses is rich and some still have open seats. Check it out: www.usi.ch/en/education...
Workshops / Programme
The academic programme for the 29th edition of the Summer School is ready - minor changes can still occur. Registration: Registrations for the Summer School is now OPEN! Places are assigned on a first...
www.usi.ch
thomhills.bsky.social
Very cool. So now I'm wondering--for no particular reason--how might age alter the outcome these simulations? 🍄
Reposted by Thomas Hills
arealo.bsky.social
Cognitive slowness and disjointedness that often come with aging might be better seen as a symptom of a brain full of 'cluttered' wisdom rather than a sign of decline.

Thanks so much @thomhills.bsky.social at @warwickpsych.bsky.social for giving us all some hope that it's not all lost as we age! 😊
thomhills.bsky.social
Does the mind degrade or become enriched as we grow old? To explain healthy aging effects, the evidence supports enrichment. Indeed, the evidence suggests changes in crystallized (enrichment) and fluid intelligence (slowing) share a common cause. psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-...
APA PsycNet
psycnet.apa.org
thomhills.bsky.social
Two PhDs with me on offer, focusing on language, information, well-being, and the attention economy. Project-Linked Studentships Deadline April 14. warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa...
warwick.ac.uk
thomhills.bsky.social
I am a strong proponent of this for all departments (which would increase productivity and avoid numerous biases and costs associated with current funding policies). There even merit based routes to achieving it. I lay out one such approach in the final chapter of my recent book.
jowolff.bsky.social
Years ago I argued that the Research Excellence Framework (RAE then) does more harm than good and should be replaced (at least in the humanities) with equal research funding for everyone who meets a threshold for being research active. Have not changed my mind.

www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Jonathan Wolff on the research assessment exercise
Although in financial terms no one has won the jackpot, there are some who are nursing huge losses, says Jonathan Wolff
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Thomas Hills
jowolff.bsky.social
Years ago I argued that the Research Excellence Framework (RAE then) does more harm than good and should be replaced (at least in the humanities) with equal research funding for everyone who meets a threshold for being research active. Have not changed my mind.

www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Jonathan Wolff on the research assessment exercise
Although in financial terms no one has won the jackpot, there are some who are nursing huge losses, says Jonathan Wolff
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Thomas Hills
neillewisjr.bsky.social
1/8. This week I had a few different conversations with scholars who, in the face of the attacks on science and institutions of learning in the U.S., are wondering what to do. One suggestion I have is: keep doing your work. It matters in and of itself. Why do I say that? A few reasons.
Reposted by Thomas Hills
simonkirby.bsky.social
A thread explaining our new discovery about humpback whale song published today in Science... We found key statistical properties that characterise all human languages in another species for the first time. We have more in common with whales than we previously thought! doi.org/10.1126/scie...
A picture of a humpback whale just below the sea surface taken by Marc Quintin
thomhills.bsky.social
Agreed. Scientists need not be so thoughtful they cannot act. Most scientists have chosen a life of service to truth and the curiosity it requires,...above authority "Resistance need not be overt"--it cannot be for everyone--but it should be woven into our deeds.
aaronclauset.bsky.social
Thankful for Philip Ball's call to action : "prudence cannot mean timidity, nor can it risk looking like it... The scientific community needs to speak up – not just for the sake of science, but of human decency, dignity and morality."
This is the only way.
philipcball.bsky.social
I have run out of patience with the apparent silence of most US science institutions (and not just US) in the face of Trump & Musk's rampage. There are of so many facets of that, but in this column for @chemistryworld.com I talk about the assaults on inclusion.
www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/scie...
Reposted by Thomas Hills
suzanneaussems.bsky.social
The Psychology Department (@warwickpsych.bsky.social) at the University of Warwick is seeking new talent! If you're interested in pursuing a PhD focused on the topics of language and gesture, I encourage you to get in touch with me and apply: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLI727/f...
Four PhD Fellowships in Psychology at University of Warwick
Discover a Four PhD Fellowships in Psychology on jobs.ac.uk. Apply now and explore other PhD opportunities.
www.jobs.ac.uk
thomhills.bsky.social
A cheerful little watercolor and ink I made from a picture of Salt Lake City a friend sent me. I miss them both.
Reposted by Thomas Hills
gaborbekes.bsky.social
ICYMI: A comprehensive textbook on data analysis for business, applied economics, and public policy students that uses case studies with real-world data.
gabors-data-analysis.com/getting-star...
Datasets
Code #Rstats #python #stata.
Slides.
Courses.

#EconSky #econsky_data #data #econometrics
Reposted by Thomas Hills
roger-beaty.bsky.social
The Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity (@tsfnc.bsky.social) has a starter pack of folks doing creativity research. We're trying to build the creativity research community here. Please follow and let us know if you'd like to be added.
SfNC Starter Pack
Join the conversation
go.bsky.app
thomhills.bsky.social
Here's a network lesson on #creativity @yoedkenett.bsky.social and I came up: How to be more creative? Get noisy! Try lots of things. It's the old exploration-exploitation trade-off, and good practice when you don't know what to do. DM for a copy of the paper. psycnet.apa.org/record/2025-...
APA PsycNet
psycnet.apa.org
Reposted by Thomas Hills
roryturnbull.bsky.social
Just got my hands on this wonderful book - looking forward to getting stuck in to it!
thomhills.bsky.social
Glorious day. The Behavioral Network Science: Language, Mind, and Society is now available. Thanks for waiting and thanks to all you network scientists (and other scientists) who made the project a joy to work on. TOC and code at thomasthills.github.io/BehavioralNe....
thomhills.bsky.social
Many thanks, Rory! I really appreciate it.