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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford
@celiaford.bsky.social
1.8K followers 300 following 48 posts
she/her/dr • trying to make the future better ✨ AI reporter @ transformernews.ai also: thereplacement.substack.com previously: @vox.com, @wired.com, @theopennotebook.bsky.social signal: @celia.08 portfolio: drceliaford.com
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Reposted by Celia Ford
shakeelhashim.com
Shakeel @shakeelhashim.com · 29d
When I launched Transformer a year ago, it was with a simple mission: provide decision-makers with the information and analysis needed to anticipate and steer the impacts of transformative AI.

Today, we're announcing an exciting new effort to achieve that: Transformer 2.0.
Welcome to Transformer 2.0
We're now a team of reporters and editors dedicated to covering the power and politics of AI
www.transformernews.ai
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · Sep 5
California SB 53, the watered-down successor of last year's fumbled AI safety bill, might actually stand a chance. It all comes down to whether Gov. Newsom values voters over tech billionaires.

I covered SB 53's home stretch @transformernews.bsky.social:

www.transformernews.ai/p/california...
California's latest AI safety bill might stand a chance
SB 53 is entering the home stretch despite industry lobbying. Will it make it over the line?
www.transformernews.ai
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Reposted by Celia Ford
jasperjackson.bsky.social
Jasper Jackson @jasperjackson.bsky.social · Sep 5
Like the big tech of previous years, the AI industry has been lobbying hard against regulation. California's last attempt at passing legislation on AI failed, but its latest might just have a shot at becoming law. Read @celiaford.bsky.social dive: www.transformernews.ai/p/california...
California's latest AI safety bill might stand a chance
SB 53 is entering the home stretch despite industry lobbying. Will it make it over the line?
www.transformernews.ai
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Reposted by Celia Ford
ertrunnell.bsky.social
Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · Jul 30
How a securities fraud case broke animal welfare enforcement: a quick Q&A with @delcianna.bsky.social director of the Animal Law and Policy Institute at @vtlaw.bsky.social

By @celiaford.bsky.social

thereplacement.substack.com/p/research-f...
“Research facilities have carte blanche to violate the Animal Welfare Act"
How a securities fraud case broke animal welfare enforcement
thereplacement.substack.com
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Reposted by Celia Ford
jasperjackson.bsky.social
Jasper Jackson @jasperjackson.bsky.social · Jul 15
Hello, reporters, writers and commentators covering AI. I'm commissioning pieces for Transformer and I would love to hear from you! Feel free to send (brief) pitches to [email protected]. And if you're covering the beat and want to chat through what we're interested in, drop me a line!
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · Jul 3
Pleasantly surprised by how not-horrible the YouTube comments have been so far, but this callout was brutal and accurate.
A YouTube comment reading, "Great discussion! But Celia really needs to water her plants."
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · Jul 3
It was an absolute honor to chat about ChatGPT and critical thinking with Manuel Rapalo on @aljazeera.com's The Take! TLDR; use your brain first. 🧠

Watch the video: youtu.be/qz_ZYa3oRSE

Or listen wherever you get your podcasts, if that's more the vibe! podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/i...
Is ChatGPT hurting our critical thinking skills? | The Take
YouTube video by Al Jazeera English
www.youtube.com
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · May 8
thank you for sharing (and for saying that!) 🥰
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · May 7
This newsletter was literally born yesterday. Help this resource grow by subscribing, supporting, and sharing tips, resources, and job opportunities! My dream is to build a community of scientists, students, policymakers, animal advocates, biotechies, and curious normies.

I'm on signal: @celia.08
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · May 7
Meet The Replacement: a bi-weekly newsletter on the global transition away from animal testing. ✨

Coverage of animal testing & research policy often flies under the radar, but it's more urgent than ever. I'm here to round up the news for you. 🫡

Please share widely!

thereplacement.substack.com
Welcome to The Replacement
a bi-weekly newsletter covering the global transition away from animal testing
thereplacement.substack.com
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Reposted by Celia Ford
jessimckenzi.bsky.social
Jessica McKenzie @jessimckenzi.bsky.social · Mar 17
hahaha unfortunately i was behind the times with this and the rough drafts of history are already being written www.vox.com/future-perfe... by @celiaford.bsky.social
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Reposted by Celia Ford
alexip718.com
Alex Ip 葉清霖 @alexip718.com · Mar 6
BREAKING: The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University has reneged on their commitment to host the @sciencewriters.org annual conference and withdrew their entire financial support.

The National Association of Science Writers is now looking for a new venue, sponsors, and partners.
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Reposted by Celia Ford
whysharksmatter.bsky.social
David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · Mar 3
Today, a broad coalition of scientific professional societies who represent over 92,000 scientists are speaking out against the politicization and demonization of Federally funded science and government scientist jobs.

It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
48 Scientific Societies Representing Almost 100,000 Scientists Ask Congress to Protect the Future of Science
48 scientific societies representing almost 100,000 scientists signed on to a letter asking Congress to protect the future of science
www.ucsusa.org
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Reposted by Celia Ford
madelinekrasno.bsky.social
Maddie Krasno @madelinekrasno.bsky.social · Mar 3
If ever there was a case for @whenwejustify.bsky.social, this is it. Thank you, @celiaford.bsky.social, for courageously sharing your story & compiling such a thorough narrative on the experiences of animal research professionals & the psychological impacts of this work.
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
The harrowing lives of animal researchers
Science depends on animal testing. But the work comes at a steep, hidden cost.
www.vox.com
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · Mar 3
10/ As one former principal investigator told me: "You have to strive to have an ethical identity. Otherwise, what are you doing? You might as well be working in a bowling alley."
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Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · Mar 3
9/ As science faces unprecedented attacks from this administration, we need to support the mental health of young researchers. The future depends on building a thoughtful, empathetic workforce, ensuring that discovery doesn't come at the expense of those who make it possible.
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · Mar 3
8/ This was the most challenging story I've ever written. There are so many things to hold at once: that animal testing is both necessary and ought not to be. That a career in science is worth pursuing, yet might break you. That we harm and heal, often in the same day.
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · Mar 3
7/ Viewing living creatures as tools for data collection can lead to serious psychological consequences, amplifying already-pervasive mental health challenges in academia. Scientists who question the status quo rarely inspire change. They're simply pushed out.
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · Mar 3
6/ After spending thousands of hours in the lab, I graduated in 2023 with a PhD, questionable data, zero publications, and an intense combination of guilt, rage, and burnout that I'm only just beginning to process. I spent the majority of my twenties dissociating to survive.
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · Mar 3
5/ No matter how you feel about animal research, experimenting on animals is hard, potentially traumatic work. Several former research assistants I spoke with, for example, were diagnosed with PTSD after spending months caring for, killing, and dissecting monkeys.
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · Mar 3
4/ Institutions teach researchers that expressing discomfort is akin to weakness—or worse, tantamount to dismissing the value of science altogether. Many scientists are afraid to speak openly because it might fuel distrust in science or invite attacks from animal rights activists.
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · Mar 3
3/ Young scientists enter labs hoping their work will justify these deaths. I spent years convincing myself that by recording brain activity in monkeys, I could uncover crucial information about mental health. I was uncomfortable, disconnected, and had frequent nightmares. I stayed anyway.
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · Mar 3
2/ Animal research is widespread, and has yielded critical medical breakthroughs we take for granted. Without lab animals, we wouldn't have polio vaccines, PrEP, or organ transplants.

But experiments often end with lab animals dying. And humans have to kill them.
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · Mar 3
1/ Today, @Vox published a piece that's very close to my heart. Science depends on animal testing, but the work comes at a steep psychological cost—one that too many researchers have been told to endure in silence.

www.vox.com/future-perfe...
The harrowing lives of animal researchers
Science depends on animal testing. But the work comes at a steep, hidden cost.
www.vox.com
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celiaford.bsky.social
Celia Ford @celiaford.bsky.social · Feb 20
Being a Vox Future Perfect Fellow is one of the best things that's ever happened to me. Now, it's time to pass the torch.

If you're an early-career writer thinking about how to make the world a better place, this is for you! (one year, remote + well-paid!)

job-boards.greenhouse.io/voxmedia/job...
2025 Future Perfect Fellows
Remote (US Only)
job-boards.greenhouse.io
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