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Reposted by Dr Samuel Finnerty

Dr Pete Knapp @peteknapp.bsky.social · 1d

Upcoming Oct screening dates of my film 'Fires and Fascism'

10 Oct - Bristol, Bedminster
13 Oct - Cambridge
18 Oct - Nottingham
21 Oct - Bath (TBC)
23 Oct - Falmouth
25 Oct - Exeter (TBC)
28 Oct - Bristol, Cotham

Get tickets here (some not yet available) fires-and-fascism.co.uk#screening-da...
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Film poster: matchbox with wildfires on it and bank notes coming out

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 1d

When you say application form which form are you referring to? I have a research contract ending in April (am looking for follow-on work) and remortgage before the end of August next year. What would you advise in this case? Thank you

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Reposted by Dr Samuel Finnerty

Saoirse McHugh @saoirsemc.bsky.social · 5d

A massive loss to us all. His care for and wonder at both nature and the Irish language was a great gift that he shared with us all

RTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 5d

The writer, broadcaster and documentary maker Manchán Magan has died at the age of 55, his family has confirmed

Broadcaster and scríbhneoir Manchán Magan dies aged 55

The writer, broadcaster and documentary maker Manchán Magan has died at the age of 55, his family has confirmed.

www.rte.ie

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 6d

Will keep an eye out. Thanks Selin.

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Reposted by Dr Samuel Finnerty

Science Vs @sciencevs.bsky.social · 7d

This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is 🔥

We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪

Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇

open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...

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Reposted by Dr Samuel Finnerty

Wouter Poortinga @wouterpoortinga.bsky.social · 6d

As part of our Infra4NextGen project, @ess-survey.bsky.social has just released a new data summary that brings together insights from the European Social Survey, European Values Study, and the International Social Survey Programme...

infra4nextgen.com/wp-content/u... (1/)

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 6d

I cannot join this today, but if interested in how collective action emerges in emergencies, you cannot do better than attending this.

Selin Tekin @drselintekin.bsky.social · 7d

@merveozturkey.bsky.social & I are organizing an event with the @bps-social-psych.bsky.social
Rising Together: How Collective Action Emerges in the Face of an Emergency
Our wonderful speakers:
Dr. Nihan Albayrak-Aydemir
Dr. Rim Saab
Prof. @lucygobag.bsky.social
Prof. @profjohndrury.bsky.social

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 9d

Data confirming what many have been saying all along. You cannot win by aping the extreme rhetoric of the far right. You drive your supporters away and embolden the far right. Labour needs to counter Reform with a positive story about how immigration enriches the UK (both materially and culturally).

Jeannette Eggers @jeannetteeggers.bsky.social · 9d

"We studied more than 70 different elections that took place in 12 western European countries over several decades, and found that when mainstream parties take more anti-immigration positions, it leads to more support for the radical right, not less."

Our research makes it clear: by capitulating to the right, Labour is driving voters to Reform UK | Tarik Abou-Chadi and Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte

Mimicking Farage on immigration is senseless. Labour voters feel betrayed; anti-immigration voters see through the ruse, say academics Tarik Abou-Chadi and Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte

www.theguardian.com

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 12d

I often take it for granted how essential being able to walk and cycle freely is for my quality of life (and for incidental exercise) until I travel elsewhere. Being able to walk my son to nursery, and then cycle to the Uni relatively safely is massive (based in Lancaster, England, for context).

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Reposted by Dr Samuel Finnerty

Dr Andrew Boswell #ClimateLitigation @drandrewboswell.bsky.social · 14d

260,000 people are trapped in #Sudan – experts fear a massacre is days away. Pep Guardiola’s voice could help save lives. His club is owned by the UAE, backing the fighters attacking El Fasher. Call on him to speak out now:
#SudanMassacre #PepGuardiola secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/...

Pep Guardiola: Help stop a massacre

260,000 people are trapped in El Fasher, Sudan – no food, no water, no way out. Experts warn a massacre is imminent. Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, could help stop the killing. The club is...

secure.avaaz.org

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Reposted by Dr Samuel Finnerty

Dr Abeba Birhane @abeba.bsky.social · 15d

I was part of a working group on AI and Fraternity assembled by the Vatican. We met in Rome and worked on this over two days. I am happy to share the result of that intense effort: a Declaration we presented to the Pope and other government authorities

coexistence.global

In this spirit of fraternity, hope and caution, we call upon your leadership to uphold the following principles and red lines to foster dialogue and reflection on how AI can best serve our entire human family:

Human life and dignity: AI must never be developed or used in ways that threaten, diminish, or disqualify human life, dignity, or fundamental rights. Human intelligence – our capacity for wisdom, moral reasoning, and orientation toward truth and beauty – must never be devalued by artificial processing, however sophisticated.

AI must be used as a tool, not an authority: AI must remain under human control. Building uncontrollable systems or over-delegating decisions is morally unacceptable and must be legally prohibited. Therefore, development of superintelligence (as mentioned above) AI technologies should not be allowed until there is broad scientific consensus that it will be done safely and controllably, and there is clear and broad public consent.

Accountability: only humans have moral and legal agency and AI systems are and must remain legal objects, never subjects. Responsibility and liability reside with developers, vendors, companies, deployers, users, institutes, and governments. AI cannot be granted legal personhood or “rights”.

Life-and-death decisions: AI systems must never be allowed to make life or death decisions, especially in military applications during armed conflict or peacetime, law enforcement, border control, healthcare or judicial decisions.

Independent testing and adequate risk assessment must be required before deployment and throughout the entire lifecycle.
Stewardship: Governments, corporations, and anyone else should not weaponize AI for any kind of domination, illegal wars of aggression, coercion, manipulation, social scoring, or unwarranted mass surveillance.

Responsible design: AI should be designed and independently evaluated to avoid unintentional and catastrophic effects on humans and society, for example through design giving rise to deception, delusion, addiction, or loss of autonomy.

No AI monopoly: the benefits of AI – economic, medical, scientific, social – should not be monopolized.

No Human Devaluation: design and deployment of AI should make humans flourish in their chosen pursuits, not render humanity redundant, disenfranchised, devalued or replaceable.

Ecological responsibility: our use of AI must not endanger our planet and ecosystems. Its vast demands for energy, water, and rare minerals must be managed responsibly and sustainably across the whole supply chain.

No irresponsible global competition: We must avoid an irresponsible race between corporations and countries towards ever more powerful AI.

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Reposted by Dr Samuel Finnerty

Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 19d

Last week I was at the BPS Social Psych Conference @bps-social-psych.bsky.social in Oxford @ox.ac.uk The theme was Beyond Tribalism—bringing different traditions together organised by @shelleymckeown.bsky.social @swedishprotests.bsky.social @nascherme.bsky.social
Some reflections in a thread 👇

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 19d

This could have been written about the UK too 😅

Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 19d

@unroll.skywriter.blue unroll please

Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 19d

Hi @katharinehayhoe.com 💯. I am referring to this in a review piece I am writing currently (which has Christel and Lydia on it too by the way) and this features in it. Will let you know once it is out. Should go out for review in the next month or so 😀

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 19d

The session that stood out for me, “What Can Social Psychology Do”—chaired by @swedishprotests.bsky.social—brought us together to explore how we can respond to urgent crises, for example by challenging journals, associations, and institutions complicit in, or failing to act on, the genocide in Gaza.

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 19d

Reicher highlighted that we don’t often get to choose many of the groups we belong to—we’re born into social contexts with particular power dynamics that shape who we are and how we interact. Yet we can create social change: coming together as a group gives the power to change society.

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 19d

We also heard from Stephen Reicher, whose keynote marked 50 years of social identity theory. He reminded us that while differences between individuals and groups are inevitable (and important for sense-making), discrimination is not. The content of an identity shapes outcomes—not general processes.

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 19d

In between the talks I did manage to take in some of the sights. First time in Oxford and I must say it was gorgeous. Sadly as a big J.R.R. Tolkien fan I was disappointed that the Eagle and Child was not open, but will just have to go back for a pint there when it reopens.

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 19d

Also great to catch up with @metesefauysal.bsky.social auysal.bsky.social @swedishprotests.bsky.social hprotests.bsky.social and hear about their work on Greta Thunberg’s climate leadership with @yasemingacar.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

The Making of a Movement (Together): How Climate Activists Perceive Greta Thunberg's Leadership

Drawing on the Social Identity Theory of Leadership, this study explores how Greta Thunberg's influence emerges through group processes where her leadership is sustained among climate activists by pe...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 19d

As always, the best part of a conference was the people. Loved hanging out with the @crowdsidentities.bsky.social s.bsky.social group and hearing about the important work they’re doing—especially their research on the UK anti-immigrant riots: www.qeios.com/read/17ASAP

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 19d

Thank you to @thierryaaron.bsky.social @maiensachis.bsky.social and @fdabl.bsky.social for your comments and notes which helped improved the ethnography. It's currently out for review (will put you in the acknowledgments).

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 19d

Presenting these papers at Oxford University was a career highlight.

They build on a broader ethnographic project I conducted on scientist-activists, tracing the “critical moments” when scientists transition into activism and how they manage/perform their scientist identity osf.io/preprints/ps...

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 19d

The 3rd paper explored how scientists think about the future: do they see collapse as inevitable, delayable, or avoidable through transformation? How the future is framed—fixed or transformable—shapes both the urgency and scope of proposed actions
tinyurl.com/ym3wfv4v

<em>British Journal of Social Psychology</em> | Wiley Online Library

The climate and ecological crisis poses an unprecedented challenge, with scientists playing a critical role in how society understands and responds. This study examined how 27 environmentally concern....

tinyurl.com

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Dr Samuel Finnerty @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social · 19d

The 2nd www.nature.com/articles/s44..., based on 27 interviews (11 countries), showed how scientists balance objectivity & impartiality with activism, using strategies like redefining the scientist identity or reframing their work to legitimize action as rational, objective, or morally necessary

Between two worlds: the scientist’s dilemma in climate activism - npj Climate Action

npj Climate Action - Between two worlds: the scientist’s dilemma in climate activism

www.nature.com

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