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Elizabeth Bonawitz

@ebonawitz.bsky.social
6.2K followers 299 following 1.1K posts

Assoc. Prof. Learning Sciences, Harvard GSE. Study learning in early childhood using computational modeling & empirical studies. Speaking for self only. She/her

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Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
Tobias Gerstenberg @tobigerstenberg.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Amazing!! Huge congratulations @felipedebrigard.bsky.social on the MacArthur Foundation 'Genius Grant' 🥳🎉 www.nytimes.com/2026/09/29/a...
nytimes.com
MacArthur Foundation Announces 2026 ‘Genius Grant’ Winners (Gift Article)
The 20 fellowship recipients across the arts, humanities and sciences will each receive an $800,000, no-strings-attached stipend for their work.
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Garvin Brod @garvinbrod.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
"No aphorism is more frequently repeated [...] than that we must ask nature fewer questions, or, ideally, one question at a time. The writer is convinced that this view is wholly mistaken." — Ronald A. Fisher, 1926 1/4 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
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Tomer Ullman @tomerullman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
thinking of sending funding agencies Letters of Disinterest, see if negging works any better "Your foundation is really close to being the kind of place I'd want to work with"
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Tomer Ullman @tomerullman.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
new preprint: "Directing large language models to follow the letter or spirit of the law" arxiv.org/pdf/2609.23083 (by Qian , Li, Chen, Murthy @soniakmurthy.bsky.social , Belinkov, and me) this is particularly cool/important, and I'm allowed to say it because it was headed by @pqian.bsky.social
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Costa Samaras @costasamaras.com · 13/09/2026
This will be bad for: - the students - the research progress - the universities - the towns the universities are in - the companies hiring students - the states the universities are in - the national economy - national security - the country - the world
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Tomer Ullman @tomerullman.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
new paper out: *~*~*~*~ "Revisiting the 5- to 7-Y ear Shift: The Age of Metacognitive Control?" (by Brod @garvinbrod.bsky.social , McAuliffe @katiemcauliffe.bsky.social , Ullman) *~*~*~*~ sharable paper link: bit.ly/5to7_2026 free pdf draft: www.tomerullman.org/papers/5to7s...
bit.ly
Revisiting the 5- to 7-year shift: The age of metacognitive control?
Abstract. The term 5- to 7-year shift refers to the marked changes in behavior observed as children transition from preschool age to school age. In 1996, a
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Hilary Barth @hilarybarth.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Do read the report from MIT on AI in Teaching, Learning, and Research Training. aiandeducation.mit.edu/report/
aiandeducation.mit.edu
Report – AI and Education
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Elizabeth Bonawitz @ebonawitz.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Soooo... any confirmation on whether this happened 12 hours ago? youtube.com/shorts/6PbM9... (please don't engage with any seriousness about llms being "self aware")
youtube.com
August 29th - Judgement Day (Terminator2)
YouTube video by Nostalgic Nebula
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Melissa Kibbe @levelsof.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
And here's the official journal version! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
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Elizabeth Bonawitz @ebonawitz.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
In school, American children are taught to use "HOMES" to remember the Great lakes, but we will have to switch the acronym to SHAME, If Lake Ontario is changed to Lake America.
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 23/08/2026
I hope everyone caught this Lancet study confirming that Elon Musk & DOGE are responsible for genocidal levels of suffering & death.
thelancet.com
Evaluating the impact of two decades of USAID interventions and projecting the effects of defunding on mortality up to 2030: a retrospective impact evaluation and forecasting analysis
USAID funding has significantly contributed to the reduction in adult and child mortality across low-income and middle-income countries over the past two decades. Our estimates show that, unless the a...
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Megan deBettencourt @mdebettencourt.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Come work with me at Google! We have an open 6-month temp role on my team - it’s a great opportunity for someone with a cog neuro or psych background interested in exploring big tech. Looking for comp modeling experience (e.g. RL, DDMs) and Python/JS. Reach out to learn more or pass along any names!
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
We need to show rightwing newspapers that actions have consequences. Add your name: goodlawproject.org/s/abb8a1
goodlawproject.org
Jason Arday: Demand a public inquiry now | Good Law Project
Commission an immediate public inquiry into how to ensure a responsible press given its contribution to Dr Arday’s tragic death.
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public health guy @publichealthguy1.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
regular reminder that most of the millions of projected deaths from USAID's destruction HAVE NOT HAPPENED YET—which means they can still be prevented. but this is only possible if we demand that democrats prioritize it once in power. it is a moral imperative that we actually act on these numbers
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Center for Open Science @cos.io · 11/08/2026
COS is announcing important changes to the Open Science Framework (OSF). OSF Projects—used for project collaboration, file mgmt, & storage—is being phased out as an active workspace over the next 6 months. This change does not affect persistence & accessibility of existing public projects. (🧵1/2)
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bergelsonlab @bergelsonlab.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
to be honest, this is my fear with NIH getting rid of the BESH category, i.e. that that was just the first step in getting rid of anything that *isn't* a clinical trial, i.e. the death knell for all basic science...on which all those eventual CTs are based.
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Jane Rosenzweig @janerosenzweig.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Trying out the features in Claude for education. Join me as I see how it "helps" me write a research paper. My chosen topic: "AI and education". /1
workspace where you can tell Claude what you are writing about. Screenshot shows that user is writng a  paper about "AI and Education"
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Tomer Ullman @tomerullman.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
new preprint: "The Humorous Hill: A U-shaped Relationship Between Humor and Quality" (by Bhattacharya, Hu, and me) link: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
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Open Mind @openmindjournal.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Children’s Representations of Possibility: Uncertainty About “What” Is Easier Than Uncertainty About “Where”
direct.mit.edu
Children’s Representations of Possibility: Uncertainty About “What” Is Easier Than Uncertainty About “Where”
Abstract. Young children struggle in situations involving mere possibility, such as when a target object could be in one of two possible locations. This difficulty is often interpreted as a general…
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Anna Kornbluh @annakornbluh.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
the best day for the presidents of every R1 to hold a press conference screaming that higher ed is our second largest export and destroying it is economic sabotage and soft power detonation was Jan 21st 2025. the next best day is tomorrow.
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Melissa Kibbe @levelsof.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
New from me and Alan Leslie! We got the band back together to lay out our view on object representations in the infant mind: non-discursive indexes that operate within a language of thought, & which get development of a more complex object concept off the ground www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
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Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
For folks asking why bother commenting because the OMB won't care: comments help build cases for the courts by explicitly laying out harms. That's why it's really important to have your comments be as specific as possible. Also, contact your senators and reps! They actually do care about this.
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Elizabeth Bonawitz @ebonawitz.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Right! Furthermore, the OMB has to read & respond to all new comments (this slows them down, forces them to engage with the potential impact of these policies). And additionally, a strong showing by the public tells politicians we care about this and so they pay attention and care more too.
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Bethany Brookshire @beebrookshire.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
There's an OMB rule change that would require political oversight of scientific grants, and could pull any that don't "reflect presidential priorities" Another country has tried this before! It was the USSR and it was called Lysenkoism. By @thsaey.bsky.social www.sciencenews.org/article/omb-...
sciencenews.org
Here’s what happens when you put politicians in charge of science
Proposed federal rules would rely on political appointees to decide how a lot of U.S. science gets done. History shows the consequences of such actions.
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Jenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
I see this often among my grantees. Uncertainty about maintaining funding on a grant (even thought it has been found meritorious in peer review, high priority in programmatic review, and was already awarded) makes conducting the science extremely challenging. substack.com/@27unihted/n...
substack.com
An unstable research environment is undermining scientific advances and public trust
Concern 4 of the Bethesda Declaration: One Year Later
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Jennifer Hu @jennhu.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
What's more nonsensical: smashing a pumpkin using a number, or growing flowers inside a sneeze? Our paper on graded inconceivability is out now in Cognition! Come for the cognitive science 🧠🔍, stay for the whimsy 🌼🧚! 🔗Journal link: bit.ly/gradedInconCog
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Tomer Ullman @tomerullman.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Now out (for realz) in Cognition: "People Make Graded Judgments About The Inconceivable" (by Hu, Sosa, & me) Free preprint: www.tomerullman.org/papers/grade... Journal link: bit.ly/gradedInconCog @jennhu.bsky.social @cognitionjournal.bsky.social
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Elizabeth Bonawitz @ebonawitz.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
🧵 For US colleagues: Many of you may have already seen discussion of OMB’s proposed revisions to the Uniform Guidance for federal financial assistance, Docket OMB-2026-0034. The proposed changes could have significant implications for federally funded research.
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Elizabeth Bonawitz @ebonawitz.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
As of today, I am officially a Full Professor. I would not wish pursuing the tenure-race twice on even my greatest enemies (you know who you are), but I am profoundly grateful to the mentors, colleagues, trainees, & incredible friends that have helped me along the way. share.google/QcorDYWiI5OI...
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UCI CPIP @ucipopcenter.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Candice Odgers, psychology and CPIP affiliate, has spent 25 years studying adolescent mental health. In a TED Talk, she challenges what she calls a dangerous gap between the scary stories adults tell about teens and what the research actually shows. go.ted.com/candiceodgers
go.ted.com
What we're getting wrong about teens and tech
For years, the warning has been: smartphones are destroying a generation. But developmental psychologist Candice Odgers says that decades of data on teens tells a different story — violence, alcohol u...
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Alison Gopnik @alisongopnik.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
An excellent talk from Candice Odgers about teen mental health, tech and what to do about it.
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Tobias Gerstenberg @tobigerstenberg.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
New paper in Cognitive Psychology on how people combine visual 👀, auditory 👂, and haptic information 🖐️ to make causal judgments. Led by Elyse Chase (www.elysechase.com), with Kevin Smith, and Sean Follmer. 📜 authors.elsevier.com/a/1nHnI2Hxok...
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Rebecca Saxe @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
The OMB has proposed rules that would, among other things, have political appointees override peer review and allow sudden grant termination. This morning I wrote a comment on this proposal in my own words. It only took a few minutes. You can do the same: www.regulations.gov/document/OMB...
regulations.gov
Regulations.gov
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McSweeney's @mcsweeneys.net · 14/06/2026
"Acquiring one grape costs Alex $2 billion. Alex offers to sell Mike one grape a month for the next 12 months for $1 billion per grape. Alex asks for the full $12 billion up front and provides Mike with one grape for the first month..."
buff.ly
AI Economics for Dummies
“Xavier owns an apartment that he rents out at a loss of $1 billion/month. Seeing this success, he decides to make financial commitments to construct $850 bi...
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Elizabeth Bonawitz @ebonawitz.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Darmok and Jalad at Potomac
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Society for Philosophy and Psychology @socphilpsych.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
⭐️From Elizabeth Lapidow, Amberley Stein, Giovanni Thomas & Caren Walker: Young Children Use Causal Knowledge to Guide Question Asking
doi.org
Young children use causal knowledge to guide question asking
Abstract. Question asking is essential for learning in childhood. But options for possible questions are nearly infinite. We investigate whether causal kno
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elizabethginexi.bsky.social @elizabethginexi.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Here is another thing you should do to oppose OMB’s proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule (OMB-2026-0034). Pressure congress. They have the power to stop it! 5calls.org/issue/federa...
5calls.org
Oppose OMB's Political Attacks on Scientific Research ⭑ 5 Calls
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), led by Project 2025 architect Russell Vought, has proposed sweeping rule changes to the federal grantmaking …
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Naomi Oreskes @naomioreskes.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Hey everyone: this is important: please take a few minutes to post a comment objecting to this brazen attempt by #Trump administration to politicize ALL science: www.regulations.gov/document/OMB...
regulations.gov
Regulations.gov
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Colette Delawalla, PhD @cdelawalla.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
THE OFFICIAL @standupforscience.net GUIDE FOR TALKING TO ANYONE ABOUT THE OMB RULE PROPOSAL!! www.standupforscience.foundation/policy-and-a...
standupforscience.foundation
How To Talk to Anyone About OMB-2026-0034 — Your Site Title
Written By: Colette Delawalla, PhD, CEO
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Society for Philosophy and Psychology @socphilpsych.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
⭐️From Emily Liquin: More Time and Effort, Same Curiosity: Expected Effort Does Not Impact Curiosity
doi.org
More Time and Effort, Same Curiosity: Expected Effort Does Not Impact Curiosity
Abstract. Why do people feel curious about some questions but not others? Recent accounts of curiosity argue that curiosity should be highest when learning is likely to occur and likely to be rapid. H...
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Adani Abutto @adani.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Ever wondered what you need to do to blow away journal reviewers and academic talk audiences with content that is both maximally fun AND maximally informative? Tune in & you might just learn the secret formula... 👀 Thank you for humoring me and coming on!! @ebonawitz.bsky.social
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Elizabeth Bonawitz @ebonawitz.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Super fun chatting with Adani @adani.bsky.social You can check out our convo below.
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elizabethginexi.bsky.social @elizabethginexi.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Calling all Scientists! Research Administrators! Deans! Fans of Science! No one is coming to save us. Here is your assignment. I have written a step by step, easy to understand "how-to" document to help you comment on the proposed OMB rule. elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/what-we-ne...
elizabethginexi.substack.com
What We Need to do NEXT: OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule (OMB 2026-10817)
What OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule Means in Practice
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Tomer Ullman @tomerullman.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
audio version courtesy of @ebonawitz.bsky.social here: on.soundcloud.com/CYE0rKB2RZAZ...
soundcloud.com
MLLamentAudioTrack
Part of your World Parody Lyrics by Tomer Ullman
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elizabethginexi.bsky.social @elizabethginexi.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Summary of Key Changes in OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule. Russell Vought is going destroy American Science. elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/summary-of...
elizabethginexi.substack.com
Summary of Key Changes in OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule
Russell Vought is going destroy American Science
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Colette Delawalla, PhD @cdelawalla.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Of course, @standupforscience.net is taking action. MARK YOU CALENDAR for our EMERGENCY SCIENCE MEETING June 2nd at 4pm et. We will be giving an overview of the rule and assigning EVERY SCIENTIST IN AMERICA their marching orders. Register here: events.standupforscience.net/stand-up-for...
events.standupforscience.net
Emergency Science Meeting by Stand Up for Science
[discussing OMB-2026-0034?]
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McSweeney's @mcsweeneys.net · 29/05/2026
"I am told by several lesser gods that the boulder understands the seriousness of the moment, though I will grant that the stone has not said this to me directly."
buff.ly
I, Sisyphus, Am Ninety-Five Percent of the Way There
“The remaining 5 percent concerns only the final portion of the hill, the tendency of the boulder to inevitably roll back down to the very beginning, the ete...
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Tomer Ullman @tomerullman.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Review request Spouse with open milk 🤝 "smell this and tell me if it's bad?"
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Elizabeth Bonawitz @ebonawitz.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
🤔
two back-to-back article posts from wired one saying AI just isn't right and the other saying to get good at AI so people think you are one
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Dannagal Goldthwaite Young @dannagal.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
I’m posting a lot about Colbert, but it’s because I am much sadder about his tenure ending than I imagined. It just says something so sad about the nature of this political moment. Yet, I’m also so thrilled for him to have the freedom to do whatever his heart desires.
While journalists often ask me about the “partisan” nature of Colbert’s show, I suggest that this frame is a misunderstanding of Colbert and his project. It is not that Colbert is partisan. It is that the version of the party that currently controls all three branches of government is anti-democratic, illiberal, and homogeneous. MAGA is a movement that embraces illiberalism over pluralism, greed over generosity, and individualism over collectivism.
If Stephen has become a foil, it is not to a political party but to an entire value set.

The challenge that Colbert encountered in being dubbed a partisan — for being pro-democracy and anti-authoritarian — is the same challenge that scholars like me are struggling with in this moment of illiberalism. Scholars and scientists and lawyers and journalists — all being told that speaking up for liberalism, pluralism, and freedom of expression are signs of political bias.
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