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Joshua Barbour

@barbourjosh.bsky.social
52 followers 63 following 9 posts

nerd, professor at UIUC communication, organizational communication scholar, posts my own

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Joshua Barbour @barbourjosh.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
www.natcom.org/nca-amplifie...
natcom.org
NCA Amplified — Improving Emergency Alert Text Messages (v1) - National Communication Association
Research shows people’s natural urge to “mill” additional information and prior experience and knowledge with hazards dictates how communities respond to alerts about imminent danger.
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Joshua Barbour @barbourjosh.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
NSF memo implementing Trump’s ‘golden age’ of science unsettles researchers
New document emphasizes support for White House priorities over curiosity-driven ideas
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Laura Keating @lorekeating.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
"Find out who you are and do it on purpose." - Dolly Parton
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Kim Lane Scheppele @kimlanelaw.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
The White House is reserving about $1 billion in science spending for its own special projects while cutting virtually ALL of the research money for the social sciences. This is catastrophic for sociology, political science, economics and more. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Exclusive: NSF set to issue lowest number of new grants in four decades
The US science-funding agency is withholding $1 billion of its budget so that the money can go to a special White House project.
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Deen Freelon @dfreelon.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
We got new research out today y'all--if you study TikTok, buckle up because we found something wilddddd... arxiv.org/abs/2608.09917 (accepted @ ICWSM 2027)
arxiv.org
WhichTok? Comparing Three TikTok Data Acquisition Tools
TikTok's global growth has made it a prime platform for both entertainment and political discourse, prompting increased social science research. However, this rapidly evolving research field faces a f...
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Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Vaccine benefit in children "Since 1974, vaccination has averted 154 million deaths, including 146 million among children younger than 5 years of whom 101 million were infants younger than 1 year." www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... The most striking benefit was for vaccination vs measles (Figure)
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Jen Mercieca @jenmercieca.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
As a parent, let me tell you why the vaccine advice is complete f*ckery. For a lot of people (not all, obvs), when you have kids you prioritize their safety and happiness. Many parents would jump in front of a tiger to keep their kid safe. Like, safety is the prime goal. Everything for them.
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Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
67% error rate
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Laura Ansley @lmansley.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
🗃️
historians.org
Federal Judge Rules to Restore National Endowment of the Humanities Funding In Historic Case - AHA
Statements From American Council of Learned Societies, American Historical Association, and Modern Language Association on the Ruling FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 7, 2026 - This afternoon US District J...
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Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
How to terminate >100 science US advisory committees. The unremitting path of destruction www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Key US science panels are being axed — and others are becoming less open
A Nature analysis shows that the Trump administration has terminated more than 100 advisory committees to science agencies — and reduced the transparency and independence of those that remain.
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 24/04/2026
When DOGE arrived at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the operatives had no real background in nuclear issues. They boxed out experienced hands, forcing resignations and massive exodus of talent. Over 400 people have since left or been forced out. Our full story: propub.li/3OBQMwk
Graphic displaying how hundreds of staff who do work related to nuclear reactors and their safety have left and not been replaced. The data is categorized into six sections: Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Nuclear Regulatory Research, Nuclear Security and Incident Response, Regional offices, and Other offices. Each orange square underneath a category represents a loss in staff, while each gray square represents an addition of staff. The graphic shows that there have been 443 losses and 57 arrivals across all six of these categories. Note: The data is from the week ending Jan. 24, 2025, through Feb. 13, 2026. Source: Weekly Information Reports from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
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FT @fucktheory.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
I think it’s time we all think very seriously how much of the internet and online life in general we’re willing to give up to shut down the panopticon. Doesn’t look like there’s a future with both tech and tech regulation. Looks increasingly like safety means being offline.
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The Journal of Applied Communication Research (JACR) @jacr-official.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
📢 New research shows misinformation doesn't just warp beliefs — it breaks relationships. "When information is partisan and personal, the health of our relationships becomes inseparable from the health of our democracy." @emilyvanduyn.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
What is informational is relational: How close relationships are implicated in information quality concerns
In this article, I argue that research on information quality and its effects has focused too much on the individual effects of (mis/dis) information and not enough on both the relational factors a...
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Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 27/02/2026
Study finds ChatGPT Health did not recommend a hospital visit when medically necessary in more than half of cases. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
‘Unbelievably dangerous’: experts sound alarm after ChatGPT Health fails to recognise medical emergencies
Study finds ChatGPT Health did not recommend a hospital visit when medically necessary in more than half of cases
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Deen Freelon @dfreelon.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Quick PSA for all mid-career academics and above: people may be citing articles with your name on them that don't exist.
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Mar Hicks @histoftech.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition. Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
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Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 24/01/2026
Here's a time-lapse from yesterday as thousands of people marched through downtown Minneapolis to protest ICE. 📷️: Sydney Lewis/The Minnesota Star Tribune
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Jen Mercieca @jenmercieca.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
I'm really glad we bought all those guidebooks, we made the right person our guide. ❤️
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S. Scott Graham @sscottgraham.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
🚨new pub - Noninferiority and Efficiency/Revenue Facilitation (NERF) Endpoints: @jadeshiva.bsky.social, @kimberharrison.bsky.social & I explore how NERF endpoints prioritize financial incentives over patient outcomes in health AI research & accelerate culture of financialized health. rdcu.be/eQzJe
picture of journal article:: title: Noninferiority and Efficiency/Revenue Facilitation (NERF) Endpoints Shifting Grounds of Argument in Health AI Interventional Studies; abstract: This article investigates ethical hazards associated with argumentative shifts following the emergence of combined non-inferiority and effi-ciency/revenue facilitation (NERF) endpoints, with particular attention to research on artificial intel-ligence (AI) in health and medicine. The study pre-sented here adopts a Toulmin argumentative analysis approach to investigate the dominant persuasive log-ics of twenty-three health AI trials evaluating NERF endpoints. In so doing, the article demonstrates how the argumentative logics of NERF trial reports shifts away from health outcomes as the putative evidence base for adopting novel interventions toward an argu-mentative model that prioritizes economic benefits over patient benefits. Ultimately, the article argues that new logic of NERF endpoints is consistent with and risks accelerating the harms to patient care that arise from increased financialization of the healthcare sector. If the use of NERF endpoints and attendant logics continue to grow unchecked, they could result in significant harms to patient health and well-being.
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Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 10/11/2025
This is not a deal — it's an empty promise. Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families. Time for Democrats to stand tall for affordable healthcare. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
politico.com
Senate reaches deal on ending the shutdown
Democrats are coalescing around a bipartisan agreement to fund the government.
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Joshua Barbour @barbourjosh.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
Submit to our special issue Hybrid Organizing for Social Good: Implications for Communication. 3/31/26 journals.sagepub.com/page/mcq/202...
journals.sagepub.com
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
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Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 14/10/2025
On Saturday, the American people will rise up again for a truly historic day of defiance. Make your plan to be part of the biggest day of peaceful protest in modern US history: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i... #NoKings
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Ezra Levin ❌👑 @ezralevin.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Two minutes out!! Drop on by for a visit.
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Center for Media Engagement - UT Austin @engagingnews.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
How can local news thrive? A study by @EmilyVanDuyn and @TaliaStroud finds that engaged journalism — where journalists connect more directly with communities — may be part of the answer.
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Dave Vanness @djvanness.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
A lot of people think that every international student admitted means one fewer spot for domestic students, when the opposite is more likely true - the tuition revenue international students bring allows public universities to provide substantial discounts to domestic students, improving access.
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Shawna Malvini Redden @drshawna.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
I’m doing a thing at @sacstate.bsky.social today. #sacstate #research #nerdalert
Green and gold flyer announcing an award presentation
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Kate Kirkpatrick @philosofemme.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
AI medical tools downplay symptoms in women and ethnic minorities on.ft.com/46ILa9z
on.ft.com
AI medical tools downplay symptoms in women and ethnic minorities
Large language models reflect biases that can lead to inferior healthcare advice to female, Black and Asian patients
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Luckily, Sinclair has a helpful database of all their stations, so you can see if they're operating in your area and respond accordingly. sbgi.net/tv-stations/
Map of Sinclair stations
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Jen Mercieca @jenmercieca.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
How to Lead Conversations within a Highly Polarized Political Context. open.substack.com/pub/jennifer...
open.substack.com
How to Lead Conversations within a Highly Polarized Political Context.
Advice for teachers and leaders of all kinds about how to communicate for democracy
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Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 18/09/2025
A free and democratic society cannot silence comedians because the President doesn’t like what they say. This is an attack on free speech and cannot be allowed to stand. All elected officials need to speak up and push back on this undemocratic act.
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Journal of Communication @journal-of-comm.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
New Issue Alert! Introducing the JoC Special Issue: Qualitative Theorizing and Methodological Advancements, edited by Kristina M. Scharp, Elizabeth A. Hintz @elizabethahintz.bsky.social and Sandra Vera Zambrano Check it out here: academic.oup.com/joc/issue
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Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 01/09/2025
Illinois is now the number one state in the Midwest to work in. This ranking reflects our work in making Illinois the best state in the nation to do business, raise a family, and thrive.
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Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 08/08/2025
Republicans have tossed the rulebook out. Here in Illinois, we will do whatever it takes to preserve democracy.
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Nikki Budzinski @budzinski.house.gov · 02/08/2025
Congratulations to UIUC's own Dr. Kaiyu Guan who is receiving national recognition for his groundbreaking work in food security and environmental sustainability!
aces.illinois.edu
ACES researcher acclaimed as national leader in agricultural innovation | College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences | Illinois
A scientist in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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Joshua Barbour @barbourjosh.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Will Barley! youtu.be/8u8GB44WuDg?...
youtu.be
The Art of Science
YouTube video by Liberal Arts & Sciences at Illinois
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Jen Mercieca @jenmercieca.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
What Happens When You Trade Doomscrolling for Hopescrolling: Doomscrolling turns our phones into misery machines—and makes us see the world as a mean, scary place. Here's what happened when Jennifer Mercieca's students tried hopescrolling instead www.zocalopublicsquare.org/what-happens...
zocalopublicsquare.org
What Happens When You Trade Doomscrolling for Hopescrolling
Our phones have become misery machines. Hopescrolling can change that.
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S. Scott Graham @sscottgraham.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Looks like oral exams after LLM use may not be the easy fix some are hoping for. arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872
This study explores the neural and behavioral consequences of LLM-assisted essay writing. Participants were divided into three groups: LLM, Search Engine, and Brain-only (no tools). Each completed three sessions under the same condition. In a fourth session, LLM users were reassigned to Brain-only group (LLM-to-Brain), and Brain-only users were reassigned to LLM condition (Brain-to-LLM). A total of 54 participants took part in Sessions 1-3, with 18 completing session 4. We used electroencephalography (EEG) to assess cognitive load during essay writing, and analyzed essays using NLP, as well as scoring essays with the help from human teachers and an AI judge. Across groups, NERs, n-gram patterns, and topic ontology showed within-group homogeneity. EEG revealed significant differences in brain connectivity: Brain-only participants exhibited the strongest, most distributed networks; Search Engine users showed moderate engagement; and LLM users displayed the weakest connectivity. Cognitive activity scaled down in relation to external tool use. In session 4, LLM-to-Brain participants showed reduced alpha and beta connectivity, indicating under-engagement. Brain-to-LLM users exhibited higher memory recall and activation of occipito-parietal and prefrontal areas, similar to Search Engine users. Self-reported ownership of essays was the lowest in the LLM group and the highest in the Brain-only group. LLM users also struggled to accurately quote their own work. While LLMs offer immediate convenience, our findings highlight potential cognitive costs. Over four months, LLM users consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels. These results raise concerns about the long-term educational implications of LLM reliance and underscore the need for deeper inquiry into AI's role in learning.
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Sarah Shugars @shugars.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Huge congratulations to my brilliant Rutgers colleague Sophia Fu for receiving the #ICA25 Early Career Scholar Award! So glad to see her important work recognized with this prestigious award!
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Jen Mercieca @jenmercieca.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
Ten actions every one of us can take to defend democracy open.substack.com/pub/jennifer...
open.substack.com
Ten actions every one of us can take to defend democracy
Every sector of society is under threat. We must work together.
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S. Scott Graham @sscottgraham.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
Thanks to a great team: Quinn Grundy, Nandini Sharma, @jadeshiva.bsky.social, @barbourjosh.bsky.social, Justin Rousseau, @zoltanmajdik.bsky.social, and Lisa Bero Read article here: rdcu.be/elVHg
rdcu.be
Research on policy mechanisms to address funding bias and conflicts of interest in biomedical research: a scoping review
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Joshua Barbour @barbourjosh.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Excited to share open access to this new book edited by Drs. Stephanie Fox, Kirstie McAllum, Leena Mikkola. Dr. Cassidy Doucet and I contributed a chapter. If you’re interested in professions, healthcare organizing, or interprofessional communication, check it out! link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com
Interprofessional Communication in Health and Social Care
This is an Open Access book.This book aims to fill that gap by offering practitioners, policy makers, interprofessional curriculum builders, and students
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Joshua Barbour @barbourjosh.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
OCMC 2025 publish.illinois.edu/ocmc-2025/
publish.illinois.edu
Organizational Communication Mini Conference 2025 – A publish.illinois.edu site
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Charles Logan @charleswlogan.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
FYI: The Spencer Foundation, Kapor Foundation, The William T. Grant Foundation, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation have collaborated to offer $25K rapid response grants. "This rapid response bridge funding opportunity is for scholars and teams whose grants have recently been cancelled by NSF."
spencer.org
Rapid Response Bridge Funding Program
In the face of recent abrupt shifts in federal funding for education research, including large-scale terminations of National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant awards, we have developed a rap...
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Mary Feeney @mkfeeney.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
For the last 3 yrs, I was the director for the Science of Science program at the NSF. We funded projects on science communication - science communication to the public, communication of public priorities to scientists, citizens engagement & participation in science. 🧵
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Data & Society @datasociety.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Silicon Valley could not have come up with some of its most valuable ideas without government support, @matteowong.bsky.social writes. Withholding federal funding for academic research is “rapidly eroding the engine of scientific innovation in America.” www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
theatlantic.com
A Disaster for American Innovation
The Trump administration is jeopardizing the AI boom.
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Ricky Davila @therickydavila.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
Over 1,200 protests took place in all 50 states today including this massive one in Boston. Beautiful. 💙👊
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S. Scott Graham @sscottgraham.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Sharing a little bit more about my NEH-sponsored research on anatomical museums today. I have no idea if this project will retain funding, but I am incredibly grateful for the NEH program officers and reviewers who have made so much humanities research possible. sscottgraham.com/archives/911
Entrance to Musem Vrolik. White brick corridor with fat trim black outlined doorway. Blue sign of museum name and posters of anatomical specimens on the wall.
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Laura Helmuth @laurahelmuth.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
“This will go down as one of the darkest days in modern scientific history” 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
‘One of the darkest days’: NIH purges agency leadership amid mass layoffs
In shock move, four institute directors at the US biomedical agency are removed from their posts.
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Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
A pie graph worth keeping in mind as the NIH budget plummets jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... for 356 new FDA drugs approved
graph of NIH basisfor new drugs
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Jonathan Ladd @jonathanmladd.com · 18/03/2025
Georgetown has put together resources for federal workers who may be facing a transition in jobs. These include various seminars and workshops, as well as tuition scholarships providing a discount on many master's programs and certificates. Please spread the word to anybody who might benefit.
grad.georgetown.edu
Federal Workforce Transition Resources - Georgetown Graduate School
The Georgetown Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is offering resources to assist in federal workforce transitions. Check out our career seminars to learn more.
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