Rob Smith
@robinjsmith.bsky.social
580 followers 370 following 95 posts
Sociologist at Cardiff University (still “in scope” for redundancy) and Visiting Professor at The University of the Witwatersrand. Ethnography, Ethnomethodology, and MCA, of all sorts of settings including policing, mountain rescue work, and public space.
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Reposted by Rob Smith
Reposted by Rob Smith
llantwit.bsky.social
A devastating piece from an anonymous Cardiff Uni academic:

“Huddled under blankets in my freezing office, because the anti-suicide lock on the window has seized slightly ajar, I am – like everyone –frantically trying to make it work for the students.”

voice.cymru/huge-cardiff...
Huge Cardiff University Cuts Have Been A Disaster For Staff & Students -
Reading Time: 3 minutesMonths since bosses at Wales’ biggest university imposed dramatic cuts, an anonymous academic reveals what…
voice.cymru
Reposted by Rob Smith
iiemca27.bsky.social
📢Meet the IIEMCA27 Keynote Speakers.

Read about their work on the conference website:
www.iiemca27.org/about

#EMCA #MCA
About | iiemca27
www.iiemca27.org
Reposted by Rob Smith
kirsteen-paton.bsky.social
👋 Sociologists in Solidarity with Palestinians @socispal.bsky.social have joined Bluesky

Give them a follow for resources, events and upcoming actions calling on sociological professional bodies to us their platforms to stand with Palestinian

If you want to get involved email [email protected]
Reposted by Rob Smith
jakubmlynar.bsky.social
In June 2024, a special issue CFP on the Chicago School sparked a collaboration with @robinjsmith.bsky.social, Terry, Erik & Patrik. Inspired by Sacks' (1992:27) appreciative critique, we explored how CS ethnography may relate to the development of #EMCA. Our paper is now out #OpenAccess: t.ly/Has34
robinjsmith.bsky.social
“The banana is big, but its skin is bigger.”
paleofuture.bsky.social
Billionaires are convinced AI is on the verge of making new scientific discoveries because they don't understand how AI chatbots work.
Billionaires Convince Themselves AI Is Close to Making New Scientific Discoveries
gizmodo.com
robinjsmith.bsky.social
“The banana is big, but its skin is bigger”
Reposted by Rob Smith
thesociologicalreview.org
Chapter, verse, etc: if you’re an early career researcher with some serious writing to get done, Strictly Come Writing might hold the answer.

Apply by 1 September to join the Sociological Review Foundation's annual funded and facilitated writing retreat in beautiful rural Wales.

buff.ly/HGegMPZ
Reposted by Rob Smith
wolvendamien.bsky.social
This really shouldn't be in question: Do not rely on "generative AI" to bullshit out legal writings that could mean literal life-changing or *-ending* consequences for another person, or yourself.

And if you do it, & bad consequences arise, the harmed party should get to sue you & the "AI" company.
shuadc.bsky.social
I believe very strongly that any use of generative AI (at least that I can think of) in the practice of law is malpractice, and I wish more professionals and organizations would come out and say that
Reposted by Rob Smith
abeba.bsky.social
New paper hot off the press www.nature.com/articles/s41...

We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance

1/
Computer-vision research powers surveillance technology - Nature
An analysis of research papers and citing patents indicates the extensive ties between computer-vision research and surveillance.
www.nature.com
robinjsmith.bsky.social
Yes! Super relevant. I had to cut a discussion of the metronome tutorial from my stretcher lift coordination paper.
See also;

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
scholar.google.co.uk
Reposted by Rob Smith
okwonga.bsky.social
This is one of the most important conversations in sport. Thank you very much for giving it the focus it deserves, @hebagowayed.bsky.social and @nickocchiuto.bsky.social.
Reposted by Rob Smith
laalaajenkins.bsky.social
Just 5 days left to submit an abstract…

Forensic Conversations symposium (17 Sep Lboro/online)

‼️ Abstract submission deadline ‼️

📅 15 June 2025
laalaajenkins.bsky.social
Forensic Conversations is back!

🗓️ 17 Sep
📍 Lboro & online

A spectacular symposium #EMCA #conversationanalysis in criminal justice settings.

Call for abstracts & registration OPEN
bit.ly/4ivADkN

@darg-sessions.bsky.social @lborocrcc.bsky.social @lborouniversity.bsky.social @lizstokoe.bsky.social
Black magnifying glass with "2025" in the middle. Yellow tape stretches from left to right of the image displaying the text "forensic conversations" in black ink.
robinjsmith.bsky.social
Just spent a while looking for a photo from a missing person search for a talk I’m giving next week. This. This was the photo…
Fortunately, there’s more in the detail* of the account that goes with it!

#ethnography
#fieldwork
Impenetrable undergrowth/bracken
robinjsmith.bsky.social
Hand written instructions from a paper map was a vibe.
And everyone was good at holding a map on the steering wheel, between the thumbs. Always worked out ok… ish…
paulrusof.bsky.social
I am officially one of The Ancients, Keeper of Knowledge of the Before Time
Post to the subreddit r/AskHistorians:

What was navigation like for vehicle drivers in the United States before the internet and
GPS?

Before GPS devices and smartphones/cellular internet networks were a thing (Garmin company was founded 1989), millions of Americans were already getting around driving without the use of those inventions. How did they navigate? Did everyone need stacks of maps? Were drivers frequently lost? Did everyone have to understand the interstate system and use intuition to guide them? How burdensome was driving before GPS? Did drivers pay people to calculate an optimal route for them?
Reposted by Rob Smith
interactemca.bsky.social
Thank you @robinjsmith.bsky.social for an inspiring 3 and a half days of exploring #MCA and potential projects for @iiemca27.bsky.social. We are already looking forward to your next visit.
#EMCA
robinjsmith.bsky.social
Definitely struggling with the cold winter here. Bring a coat!

#IIEMCA27
robinjsmith.bsky.social
Oh man, what to say about these three days?!
We went from “baby cried” and the search for help, through headlines, making sense of political events, memes, comedy sketches, to observations in public space. A brilliant bunch! Cheers @interactemca.bsky.social @cathtam.bsky.social and all!
#MCA
#EMCA
interactemca.bsky.social
Thank you InterAct members for an incredible 3 days of MCA magic with @robinjsmith.bsky.social at Wits

#EMCA @jennywatermeyer.bsky.social @cathtam.bsky.social
Wits InterAct workshop on MCA 2025
Reposted by Rob Smith
rolsi-journal.bsky.social
A run through of the articles in the Special Section on "The Ethics of Collecting, Curating and Sharing Data in Conversation Analysis", now online (1st of 6 posts)

#EMCA

1. Joyce et al
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The title and abstract of Joyce et al "accessing and using data without informed consent: guiding principles from conversation analysis" in Rolsi 2025
robinjsmith.bsky.social
First visit to the Wits campus. A real honour to be Visiting Professor in the School of Human and Community Development until 2028.
Main building of Wits University. A grand affair with colonial style pillars at the rear of a large lawn.
robinjsmith.bsky.social
What a great first day in Johannesburg!
Already looking forward to
#IIEMCA27
@iiemca27.bsky.social
robinjsmith.bsky.social
Holding the actual thing felt a bit special.
There’s just so much care gone in to this and it shows in the introductory chapters.

#emca