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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 11h

It was lovely to meet and connect with the research students, hear about their research and learn something of the Finnish doctoral process. Priveleged to have been part of this event. 2/2

Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 11h

Fabulous couple of days at the Philosophy of Geography conference for doctoral researchers, University of Oulu, organised by Dr Johanna Sitomaniemi-San, Prof
Eeva-Kaisa Prokkola & Dr Marika Kettunen. The university's botanical gardens were the perfect setting. 1/2

Inside the botanical gardens, tropical area. A brick path winds between big leafy plants.

More big plants around a pond. Look carefully and there's a fly-trap plant hanging above the water.

An Australian wollemi tree, described on the adjacent information panel as one of the world's rarest trees.

University of Oulu complimentary notebook and pen, made of cardboard. Sustainability concerns were very much in evidence everywhere in the University.

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 2d

A super first day at the University of Oulu, Finland. Honoured to be the opening speaker for the Geography Research Unit's inaugural Philosophy of Geography conference for PhD researchers. Discussion time raised lots of big questions about the nature of geography. A bit of sightseeing a bonus!

Toripolliisi, a big statue of a policeman

View across the water towards Pikisaari island. A white bridge for pedestrians and cyclists crosses from left to right.

Pikisaari huvimaja, a bathhouse with small pavilion above, alongside autumnal trees.

The main street of Pikisaari, lined with wooden houses and trees.

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Reposted by Pauline Couper

Michelle A. Rodrigues 🐒 @marspidermonkey.bsky.social · 6d

As a primatologist, Jane Goodall was a huge inspiration to me. I admired the way she describes chimpanzee behavior with such detail and empathy, and she’s inspired so many people and advocated for chimpanzee conservation and welfare.

However, I'm dismayed at what her narrative leaves out (1/10)

Photo of Jane Goodall in the center, signing a book, with three women standing slightly hunched behind her. A very young Michelle is to the right, smiling.

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 7d

And for the first of the month, we're very pleased to feature Prof James Esson (QMUL). 👏🏼 2/2
blog.yorksj.ac.uk/geography/20...

Celebrating Black Geographers: Spotlight on Prof James Esson - Geography at YSJ

Celebrating Black Geographers: Spotlight on Prof James Esson As part of our Black History Month celebrations at York St John University, we are proud to showcase the voices and contributions […]

blog.yorksj.ac.uk

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 7d

YSJ Geography is marking Black History Month by celebrating the work of Black geographers past and present on our blog. With thanks to colleagues, esp Olalekan Adekola, Tokunbo Olorundami & Jamie Arathoon. 1/2
#BlackHistoryMonth #Geosky #Geography
blog.yorksj.ac.uk/geography/20...

What Does It Mean to Be a Black Geographer? - Geography at YSJ

What Does It Mean to Be a Black Geographer? How many Black geographers can you name? How many of their works have you read or cited? Geography, as […]

blog.yorksj.ac.uk

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 7d

I'm not sharing the results here, that would be a breach of trust (central to teaching). But it prompted conversations & gave me insights into where our students are at. I'm looking fwd to the discussions ahead. 4/4

Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 7d

At the end, alongside their essay students are asked to reflect on their use of genAI in producing the essay & their views of genAI overall.

Today incorporated an anonymous poll of students' use of AI: all the time; occasionally; have tried it; or never. Gives us a starting point. 3/4

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 7d

Alongside the #GeoThoughtPlaylist (using songs to connect with each approach, as reminders - I really should write about this), we'll look at what geographical research on AI would/does look like using that approach. My hope is it will broaden their understanding of AI. Likely mine too. 2/4

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 7d

And so starts semester 1 and the Geographical Thought module. Feeling more excited than usual this year, trying something new. Each week I introduce a different approach to research: positivist, structuralist, phenomenological, poststructuralist etc. 1/4
#AcademicSky #Geography

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 8d

A super piece by John Horton (Northampton) on gentleness in the anything-but-gentle academy. Ever felt nervous about public speaking? Conferences cause existential angst? Wonder whether you fit in as an academic? You're not alone.
#AcademicSky

rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Area | RGS Geography Journal | Wiley Online Library

This commentary uses autoethnographic reflections and qualitative data to question how normative styles of academic writing and self-presentation efface and devalue gentleness. It highlights the prev...

rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Reposted by Pauline Couper

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 8d

YES! THIS on GenAI!

Please read this absolutely splendid piece of writing that had me cheering, a little bit weepy, and writing in the margins:

"An extraordinary amount of money is spent by the AI industry to ensure that acquiescence is the only plausible response. But marketing is not destiny."

Large Language Muddle | The Editors

The AI upheaval is unique in its ability to metabolize any number of dread-inducing transformations. The university is becoming more corporate, more politically oppressive, and all but hostile to the ...

www.nplusonemag.com

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 10d

On Cook, commerce, and the valuing of coastal sands.

E-Tangata @etangata.bsky.social · 10d

“The sands here are not just matter, materials, or commodities. They are alive with the energy of our mountain and moana. They carry whakapapa. They are not for sale.” — Kate Paris in Pātea.

Resisting the plunder in Pātea | E-Tangata

“The sands here are not just matter, materials, or commodities. They are alive with the energy of our mountain and moana. They carry whakapapa. They are not for sale.” — Kate Paris in Pātea.

e-tangata.co.nz

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Reposted by Pauline Couper

James Kneale @jameskneale.bsky.social · 11d

Anyone know what happened to Syracuse geographer Farhana Sultana? It's been nearly a week since her bsky account disappeared after her K**k posts, and she doesn't appear to have a web page at Syracuse anymore... In fact no one below 'leadership' does. @rgsibg.bsky.social @geographers.bsky.social ?

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 16d

Good to see this in print. Health & safety has potential for making dull reading, but co-authoring this with Matt Bellew, the uni's Health and Safety Advisor, made it the most fun thing to write. 🙏
Congrats to Dan & Naomi for making the book happen!
#fieldwork #Geosky

Photo of a new book, 'The Routledge Handbook of Field Research', edited by Daniel Hammett and Naomi Holmes

Chapter 20: 'Life Savers. Ensuring health safety works for you', by Pauline Couper and Matt Bellew

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Reposted by Pauline Couper

M.J. Crockett @mjcrockett.bsky.social · 17d

Glad Science collected this data (though the results are entirely unsurprising). GenAI cannot accurately summarize scientific papers, sacrificing accuracy for simplicity.

And shame on publishers who are pushing genAI summaries on readers. Great way to accelerate an epistemic apocalypse.

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Reposted by Pauline Couper

sean guynes @guynes.bsky.social · 19d

Folks, get off of Academia[.]edu. Delete your accounts. Put your work on a faculty webpage, on hcommons, on your own webpage. But not on Academia[.]edu.
www.academia.edu/terms

Image of text from a website that reads:

"License granted by Member

We may, in our sole discretion, permit Members to post, upload, publish, submit or transmit Member Content. By making any Member Content available through the Site or Services, you hereby grant to Academia.edu a worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free, non-exclusive, transferable license to exercise any and all rights under copyright, in any medium, and to authorize others to do the same, in connection with operating and providing the Services and Content to you and to other Members, including the generation and hosting of Output and the use of AI to generate adaptations and other derivative works of Member Content, provided that the Member Content is not sold to a third party for a profit. Academia.edu does not claim any ownership rights in any Member Content and nothing in these Terms will be deemed to restrict any rights that you may have to use and exploit any Member Content. You agree that Academia.edu may analyze, transform, and create derivative works from Member Content in connection with providing and improving its Services.

By creating an Account with Academia.edu, you grant us a worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable license, permission, and consent for Academia.edu to use your Member Content and your personal information (including, but not limited to, your name, voice, signature, photograph, likeness, city, institutional affiliations, citations, mentions, publications, and areas of interest) in any manner, including for the purpose of advertising, selling, or soliciting the use or purchase of Academia.edu's Services."

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Reposted by Pauline Couper

Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS) @clpskuleuven.bsky.social · 20d

Hello, #AcademicSky! We are the Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS) at KU Leuven. Our senior and junior researchers focus on #logic, #epistemology & #philsci. We’re here to share our work and connect with logicians and philosophers of science worldwide—help us spread the word! #philsky

Cobblestone pathway leading to the red-brick Institute of Philosophy building at KU Leuven in Belgium (home of the Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science), framed by ivy-covered walls, arched windows, and lush greenery with purple wisteria flowers in the foreground.

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 25d

The disparities across different parts of the sector are depressing. Would have been good to know whether any of the closed courses were replaced with new courses/different titles though.

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 25d

Grim reading. Research culture is about "making sure universities are a happier place," according to one 'sector figure'. Bcs time to read & think, discuss with colleagues etc. makes no difference to the actual research, does it? #academicsky #UKHE
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/could-r...

Could REF pause lead to Trump-style diversity crackdown?

Three-month review of Research Excellence Framework could trigger more radical rethink on institutional priorities and spending, sector figures warn

www.timeshighereducation.com

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · 29d

#Geosky #hazards #EarthScience 🧪⚒️

CLaSH-an NSF Center for Land Surface Hazards @clashgeohazards.bsky.social · Sep 4

🎉 It’s official! Today, we announce the launch of CLaSH: Center for Land Surface Hazards an NSF supported initiative to advance the science of cascading geohazards to enable a resilient society.

Follow along as we share updates, opportunities, research, and collaborations! 🌎✨ #CLaSH #NSF

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · Sep 7

#Academicsky #science ⚒️🧪

Michela Massimi @michelamassimi.bsky.social · Sep 1

This 2-day workshop @royalsociety.org on the right to participate in science and science as a global public good brings together scientists, philosophers, and policy makers. The event is open to everyone and can also be attended online. Programme coming soon. Registration required 👇

Science as a global public good? From the right to participate in science to science governance | Royal Society

Science+ meeting organised by Professor Geoffrey Boulton FRS FRSE MAE and Professor Michela Massimi FRSE FRAS MAE

royalsociety.org

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · Sep 7

This looks excellent, thanks for sharing. I've registered online.

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · Sep 7

This is an excellent article critiquing the adoption of 'AI' in academia. A rigorous, comprehensive analysis. Well worth a read.
##academicsky

Olivia Guest · Ολίβια Γκεστ @olivia.science · Sep 6

Finally! 🤩 Our position piece: Against the Uncritical Adoption of 'AI' Technologies in Academia:
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...

We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
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Abstract: Under the banner of progress, products have been uncritically adopted or
even imposed on users — in past centuries with tobacco and combustion engines, and in
the 21st with social media. For these collective blunders, we now regret our involvement or
apathy as scientists, and society struggles to put the genie back in the bottle. Currently, we
are similarly entangled with artificial intelligence (AI) technology. For example, software updates are rolled out seamlessly and non-consensually, Microsoft Office is bundled with chatbots, and we, our students, and our employers have had no say, as it is not
considered a valid position to reject AI technologies in our teaching and research. This
is why in June 2025, we co-authored an Open Letter calling on our employers to reverse
and rethink their stance on uncritically adopting AI technologies. In this position piece,
we expound on why universities must take their role seriously toa) counter the technology
industry’s marketing, hype, and harm; and to b) safeguard higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, and scientific integrity. We include pointers to
relevant work to further inform our colleagues.

Figure 1. A cartoon set theoretic view on various terms (see Table 1) used when discussing the superset AI
(black outline, hatched background): LLMs are in orange; ANNs are in magenta; generative models are
in blue; and finally, chatbots are in green. Where these intersect, the colours reflect that, e.g. generative adversarial network (GAN) and Boltzmann machine (BM) models are in the purple subset because they are
both generative and ANNs. In the case of proprietary closed source models, e.g. OpenAI’s ChatGPT and
Apple’s Siri, we cannot verify their implementation and so academics can only make educated guesses (cf.
Dingemanse 2025). Undefined terms used above: BERT (Devlin et al. 2019); AlexNet (Krizhevsky et al.
2017); A.L.I.C.E. (Wallace 2009); ELIZA (Weizenbaum 1966); Jabberwacky (Twist 2003); linear discriminant analysis (LDA); quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA).

Table 1. Below some of the typical terminological disarray is untangled. Importantly, none of these terms
are orthogonal nor do they exclusively pick out the types of products we may wish to critique or proscribe.

Protecting the Ecosystem of Human Knowledge: Five Principles

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Pauline Couper @paulinecouper.bsky.social · Sep 7

On Pacific #geopolitics.
#geosky

E-Tangata @etangata.bsky.social · Sep 6

“While the Pacific Islands Forum is often described as the region’s premier political gathering, it has never been a space owned solely by Pacific nations. From the beginning, Australia and New Zealand have sat at the table.” — Sione Tekiteki.

The Pacific Islands Forum and its powerful ‘partners’ | E-Tangata

“While the Pacific Islands Forum is often described as the region’s premier political gathering, it has never been a space owned solely by Pacific nations. From the beginning, Australia and New Zealan...

e-tangata.co.nz

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