Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Megan Barker @meganbarkerase.bsky.social · Sep 2

@agberistain.bsky.social to think about for next sabbatical…!

Michalis Averof @michalis-averof.bsky.social · Sep 2

Interested in a sabbatical in Lyon? The Collegium de Lyon provides accommodation and attractive interdisciplinary environment for 1 or 2 semesters. Open to all disciplines. You can be affiliated with any local department/lab. Apply now for 2026-27. collegium.universite-lyon.fr/2026-2027-un...

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Megan Barker @meganbarkerase.bsky.social · Sep 2

Welcome to the west coast!

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Reposted by Megan Barker

Mike Dickison @adzebill.bsky.social · Aug 31

Wikipedia editors trying to fend off the onslaught of AI crap have crowdsourced some telltale signs of LLM-generated writing; it might be handy for editors and proofreaders generally. Thanks to @ellenrykers.com for pointing me to it. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikiped...

Wikipedia:Signs of AI writing - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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Reposted by Megan Barker

Alex de Campi @alexdecampi.bsky.social · Aug 27

There are tons of graphic novels, academic papers, film and TV scripts, & prose novels/nonfiction on the LibGen list Anthropic used.

As settlement approaches, make it easy for the class action lawyers to contact you! Here’s how

Part 1: is your work in Libgen?

www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...

Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI

Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.

www.theatlantic.com

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Reposted by Megan Barker

todd nickel @toddnickel.bsky.social · Aug 27

Please share far and wide.

Ars Technica @arstechnica.com · Aug 27

AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.

Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action

Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.

arstechnica.com

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Reposted by Megan Barker

Pulpfiction Books @pfbvan.bsky.social · Aug 27

🚨 END OF SUMMER EVENT 🚨

Thru Mon 1 Sep, all of our ABE Books stock (6100+ items!) priced $100 USD or less will be sold AT PAR if collected from Main Street & paid by cash, Interac, or etransfer.

Full list linked (including 100USD+ items not on sale):

Some items in storage; email to collect!

Pulpfiction Books - AbeBooks - Vancouver, BC, Canada

Pulpfiction Books:

www.abebooks.com

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Megan Barker @meganbarkerase.bsky.social · Aug 25

You could get tips from @odedrechavi.bsky.social and @itaiyanai.bsky.social and the rest of the #tCtEAC team?

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Reposted by Megan Barker

Dorothy Bishop @deevybee.bsky.social · Aug 24

Huge variability documented in how publishers respond when informed about a problematic body of work by a research group. www.jclinepi.com/article/S089...
#publishers #retractions

Bar chart showing % of articles retracted, with expression of concern, or no action from different publishers. 100% no action from Elsevier and Wolters Kluwer; 100% retraction from Taylor and Francis.

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Reposted by Megan Barker

amy brown @amybrown.xyz · Aug 22

this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like

Why should I write better when a machine can do it for me?
Because actually no one can do it for you, because your voice is unique among all the people on earth. Siri never petted a horse's neck. Alexa has never been ghosted by the captain of the football team. But you have lived, your heart is beating, you have suffered, and you have something important to say. It's a human's job, to use words, and whatever job you give to a machine, that part of your brain goes dark. Maybe it's worth it when it comes to remembering phone numbers and directions, but when that part of your brain that uses words goes dark, that's a vast area that's very close to your soul. Don't let some internet platform convince you that what you have to say and create isn't worthwhile. Words are the echo of your soul. Honing that echo matters.

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Megan Barker @meganbarkerase.bsky.social · Aug 9

Interesting and useful, plus a dashboard! A banger combination.

Matthieu Boisgontier @matthieuboisgontier.com · Aug 9

Should I say “disabled people” or “people with disabilities”? Out of 519 disabled people from 23 countries: 49% preferred identity-first language (disabled people), 33% preferred person-first language (people with disabilities), and 18% had no preference. doi.org/10.1145/3517...

Reposted by Megan Barker

Naguib Mechawar @naguibmechawar.bsky.social · Jul 4

The important and nearly unanimous "let's stop discussing grants on Teams and resume in-person meetings in Ottawa" feedback is still being ignored. We complained about the CCV for an eternity, and now that everyone is comfortable with the brief easy-to-update version, they're reinventing the wheel.

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Megan Barker @meganbarkerase.bsky.social · Jun 24

Glad to hear you got home safe!

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Reposted by Megan Barker

Vancouver Is Awesome @viawesome.bsky.social · Jun 24

B.C.’s first ‘flying ferry’ makes waves at the Squamish oceanfront

In a demonstration that felt more like science fiction than public transit, an all-electric 'flying' ferry took to the waters of Howe Sound on June 23, showcasing its green technology.

dlvr.it

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Reposted by Megan Barker

Meghan Azad, PhD @meghanazad.bsky.social · Jun 20

🚨 Job Alert! 🚨

We're hiring a Research Project Manager to join our #THRiVElab team at U. Manitoba.

📍 Winnipeg or Remote (in Canada)
💰 Up to $85k
🔗 Apply: www.umanitoba.ca/careers (#38881)
🌐 About us: www.thrivediscovery.ca/staff-positi...

Know someone perfect for this? Please boost or share! 🙏

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Reposted by Megan Barker

Daniel MacPhee 🇨🇦 @d-macphee.bsky.social · Jun 22

The U.S. is cutting billions from science. Canadian researchers say it's time to step up | CBC Radio
#Science #Canada
www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks...

The U.S. is cutting billions from science. Canadian researchers say it's time to step up | CBC Radio

Scientists in the U.S. are dealing with funding cuts left and right by the current government. But because Canada is so closely tied with its southern neighbours, those cuts are being felt here as wel...

www.cbc.ca

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Megan Barker @meganbarkerase.bsky.social · Jun 18

Baaaahahaha yup

Megan Barker @meganbarkerase.bsky.social · Jun 17

So glad you made it, stay safe friend.

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Megan Barker @meganbarkerase.bsky.social · Jun 16

Scientists looking to move to Canada 🇨🇦: @sfuscience.bsky.social has funding for some faculty positions for this. Deadline soon (june 30). www.sfu.ca/vpacademic/a...

Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) 2026 Competition

www.sfu.ca

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Reposted by Megan Barker

Itai Yanai @itaiyanai.bsky.social · Jun 16

I am heartbroken about the loss of many labs at the Weizmann Institute yesterday in the missile attack. Dear scientists there: please know that you are not alone. Like many many others, I support you and am standing by to help you in any way I can.

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Megan Barker @meganbarkerase.bsky.social · Jun 14

Yeah! Someone 🇨🇿 will know more, but I believe it’s by David Cžerny, a famous Czech artist. He also did the (creepy!) barcode-faced babies on the TV tower, if you saw those.
But, physiological relevance = ??? I’m clueless!

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Megan Barker @meganbarkerase.bsky.social · Jun 14

Beautiful!!

Megan Barker @meganbarkerase.bsky.social · Jun 14

Same!!!

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Megan Barker @meganbarkerase.bsky.social · Jun 14

Also a HUGE thank you again to the organizing team, for pulling this off with joy and panache #TCTeAC #LastPragueSights

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Megan Barker @meganbarkerase.bsky.social · Jun 14

🇨🇦🚖🛬🇨🇿🚊☀️🧪🍻🚊🌙🧪⛺️💃🕺🎉🚣‍♂️🚌🛫🇨🇦 ❤️❤️❤️ Whoosh!
Heading home with @agberistain.bsky.social after #TCTeAC
Thank you for these inspiring, creative, fascinating days together! Please do come visit Vancouver any time, on even the tiniest, flimsiest of excuses - we love visitors! 🏔️🌊🌳🧬🧪

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Megan Barker @meganbarkerase.bsky.social · Jun 13

Canoe rental guy desperately hoping for mobile signal to get us onto the boats #themorningafter #TCTeAC

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