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Eric Pedersen

@ericjpedersen.bsky.social
2.3K followers 828 following 285 posts

Associate prof of biology prof at Concordia University. Lost in the wilds between ecology, statistics, and dynamic systems. Always interested in chatting all things GAM- and nonlinear-system related.

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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Canadian negotiators will be pushing hard for a moratorium on Europeans calling anything "poutine" until they have been properly trained in how to make a proper cheese curd
Banner hanging in Leipzig train station advertising "Kabadische Poutine" for 7.20€, with a picture of fries covered in what looks like salsa and salad dressing
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Vincent Arel-Bundock @vincentab.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Big news! 🎉 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚜 1.0.0 for #Rstats is out. It’s a big number and it feels like a big step. I wrote a blog on the challenges of interpreting statistical models, SPEED, cool new features, the future, and a 5 year package development and writing odyssey. arelbundock.com/posts/margin...
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Stylized picture of a lion turtle from Legend of Korra. Back covered in for forest
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Carolyn 🇨🇦 @carolynp.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Meme from Lord of the Rings. Gimli: never thought I’d die fighting side by side with Doug Ford. Legolas: I’m gonna rip out all the bike lanes. Gimli: Christ alive you’re the worst.
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Like cosy murder mysteries? Like alt history? Like dark examinations of how the path to fascism is easily hidden beneath middle class gentile politeness? Read Farthing by @bluejo.eurosky.social www.jowaltonbooks.com/books/the-sm...
jowaltonbooks.com
Farthing | Jo Walton -- Science Fiction and Fantasy Author
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Everyone should read Ducks at least once in their life. And also everything else by @katebeaton.bsky.social www.goodreads.com/book/show/59...
goodreads.com
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands
Celebrated cartoonist Kate Beaton vividly presents the …
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Michael Samonek @samonek.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
A huge part of my interest in "indie" Animation comes from being exposed to weird-ass projects funded by the National Film Board.
The Big Snit (1985)
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
"One Great City": Best love song for a city from a punk rocker who became a folk poet. I fall in love again with the lyrics all over again every time I hear it youtu.be/YdxzNy-apdY?...
youtu.be
One Great City!
YouTube video by The Weakerthans - Topic
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Kent Lind @camasonian.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
We have data on this. The blue is all the non-ag human use:
Colorado River usage chart
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
I have (somehow) reached a new low point in the journal spam I'm getting. I just got an invite from the "Online Journal of Conference Proceedings". They're on the brink of releasing a "highly anticipated issue", and just need my submission by August 10th!
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Danielle Navarro @djnavarro.net · 18/07/2026
And so after a very brief hiatus, version 0.7.0 of "learning statistics with R" exists. Full rebuild in quarto, stylistic fixes, "epilogues from 2026" to comment on how the world changed since original publication, and as an added bonus, no longer misgenders the author learningstatisticswithr.com
learningstatisticswithr.com
Learning Statistics with R
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Ramin Nasibov @nasibov.me · 17/07/2026
I’m so happy for them
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lauren @lauren.rotatingsandwiches.com · 08/07/2026
You just deleted 600 unread emails. Finally, inbox zero. Phew! You refresh the app. There are 600 more unread emails. There will always be 600 more emails. You close your laptop in frustration and look at your phone, only to find there are 600 more emails there too. You cannot escape 600 more emails
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
This case highlights a core issue with grades that LLMs have brought to the fore: we are using grades to try to measure/do too many different things: 1. learning+readiness for later material 2. teaching effectiveness 3. Sorting by latent ability 4. Effort put into class 5. as a tool to open doors
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Stephen Wild @stephenjwild.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Today's ragebait for the professors who follow me. 3 points: 1) if I am a student, a take home exam is implicitly open-book. Using ChatGPT is fine and no different. 2) the professor changed the rules after the fact. The students should be pissed 1/2
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Grant McDermott @gmcd.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭 v0.7.0 now available on CRAN 🎉 This is big release, with loads of new features. Same tiny footprint, though ;-) Short highlight thread below, borrowing examples from our gallery: grantmcdermott.com/tinyplot/vig...
https://github.com/grantmcdermott/tinyplot/blob/main/vignettes/gallery_figs/bubble-quakes.Rhttps://github.com/grantmcdermott/tinyplot/blob/main/vignettes/gallery_figs/simpsons-paradox.Rhttps://github.com/grantmcdermott/tinyplot/blob/main/vignettes/gallery_figs/barplot-meat.Rhttps://github.com/grantmcdermott/tinyplot/blob/main/vignettes/gallery_figs/spineplot-titanic.R
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Ben Bolker @bbolker.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
I found this surprisingly thoughtful and balanced: r-statistics.co/R-vs-Julia.h... (although some of the labeling on Figure 2 is a little confusing)
r-statistics.co
R vs Julia for Statistics: Julia Is Faster, But Is That What Matters?
Julia benchmarks faster than R on tight loops, but R ships 21,000+ statistical packages and a huge community. Honest trade-offs with real benchmark code.
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Frédéric Barraquand @fredbarraquand.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
And we are already open to submissions! Journal Bsky account coming up soon.
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Julia M. Rohrer @dingdingpeng.the100.ci · 22/05/2026
I tried making Canadian butter tarts 🍁 will have to tweak some parameters but the taste is already very very good. Thanks for the inspiration @ericjpedersen.bsky.social
9 butter tarts on a cooling rack
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Francisco Rodriguez-Sanchez @frodsan.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
#StatsPubs No matter how many times you read it, this paper on hierarchical GAMs keeps giving. Clear model explanations together with R code (mgcv). So useful! doi.org/10.7717/peer... Thanks for writing @ericjpedersen.bsky.social, D. Miller, @gsimpson.bsky.social @noamross.net
In this paper, we discuss an extension to two popular approaches to modeling complex structures in ecological data: the generalized additive model (GAM) and the hierarchical model (HGLM). The hierarchical GAM (HGAM), allows modeling of nonlinear functional relationships between covariates and outcomes where the shape of the function itself varies between different grouping levels. We describe the theoretical connection between HGAMs, HGLMs, and GAMs, explain how to model different assumptions about the degree of intergroup variability in functional response, and show how HGAMs can be readily fitted using existing GAM software, the mgcv package in R. We also discuss computational and statistical issues with fitting these models, and demonstrate how to fit HGAMs on example data. All code and data used to generate this paper are available at: github.com/eric-pedersen/mixed-effect-gams.
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Stephen Wild @stephenjwild.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
I did not know this.
A chart showing estimated percent of the population with dementia, by age group. There is a large difference between older cohorts and younger cohorts.
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Josh Fruhlinger @jfruh.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
the British monarch gives a regular speech to parliament and in the room where they make them wait before going on there’s a framed copy of Charles I’s death warrant. just a fun historical fact, no reason to bring it up
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
(possibly hot) take: public libraries are the most consistently innovative and progressive institutions in the western world. Definitely beating out universities or tech companies
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
I've been working with NCV this last week; it's a powerful tool for modelling data with dependencies that are poorly/inefficiently modelled via stochastic process priors like cov functions or low-rank smoothers. However, it's a complex topic, so I thought I'd summarize the key ideas in a thread 1/n
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ArtButMakeItSports @artbutmakeitsports.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
The Garden of Earthly Delights (detail), by Hieronymus Bosch, 1480-1505, 📸 by @alexbrandon
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David Nir @davidnir.com · 02/04/2026
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Stephen Collins @stephencollins.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
I think the clocks in UK go back tonight. Or forward. Not sure. Is it forward
1 [Nurse talking to camera]
This is usually our busiest time of year at the centre 

2 [Show a sign outside a medical institution reading:]

Centre for Adults Who Still Can’t Get Their Heads Round Daylight Savings

3 
NURSE:
We have a spike in admissions when BST starts

4 
CONFUSED PATIENT BEING LAID DOWN BY NURSES:
Is it forward or back?

NURSE:
Lie down love

5 
We often see the same patients ever year

PATIENT:
So it’s like… time travel?

DOCTOR:
No

6 Every year we try to explain BST to them in a fun and memorable way

[The patients are sat around a fun show, with people dressed in bunny suits jumping around a giant clock] 

BUNNY: And now I *spring forward*...

7
[Bunny springs forward one hour on clock]

8 
PATIENT WATCHING SHOW:
I don’t get it

9 
The hardest patients are the Summer Time refusers

10 PATIENT [sat strapped to a chair as a doctor talks to him through a screen, through a tannoy]

PATIENT: But why is it better?

DOCTOR [talking through microphone]: 

Because it complicates things.

11 
PATIENT: 
How is that good?

DOCTOR: 
It makes you more tired.

12 

DOCTOR [to assistant]:
Fetch the cattle prod

[Ends]
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Hi all. I am very excited that after 6 years I finally got my phylogenetic comparative methods book and online exercises online. Feel free to use and share. The book is here: nhcooper123.github.io/pcm-primer/. Note that it is not finished, we had to abandon it before the sunk costs fallacy broke us
nhcooper123.github.io
Phylogenetic Comparative Methods
Phylogenetic Comparative Methods
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Nicolas Mouquet @nmouquet.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
‪ 🌳 Do you want to contribute to research on how humans perceive forests? Take this quick, anonymous 10-min survey 🌲 👉 www.biodiful.org#/forest This will help us explore how people experience forest biodiversity! Please share on 🦋 & tag @biodiful.bsky.social to reach more participants 🙏💚 🌐🌍🦤🦑🪴🍁🧪
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
You know what trend I would love to see? Animated remakes of classic but flawed live action films. "Del Toro's stop-motion Neverending Story". "Miyazaki's Cloud Atlas"
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Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Americans: we live in a fallen state—embroiled by sin, cheating, lying, and evil. You cannot trust anyone, not even those who claim to know you best Canadians: I love my neighbors and my friends!
A picture of PEW poll on global attitude survey, saying the % who rate the morality and ethics of people in their country as good vs bad, where the US has the worst rankings and Canada the best
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
This is like someone drawing a frowny face on their pet rock then feeling sorry for it
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Richard McElreath 🐈‍⬛ @rmcelreath.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
these memes are fresh
lobsters fighting meme, both lobsters and the cheering people all labeled "STATISTICIAN"
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Julia M. Rohrer @dingdingpeng.the100.ci · 09/02/2026
iDiv Leipzig is organizing a symposium for early career researchers from all fields interested in scientific integrity & reproducibility. Some good stuff, e.g.: @haesleinhuepf.bsky.social on generative AI for science, @rmcelreath.bsky.social on a guerilla approach to scientific workflow.>
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Mrs. Detective Pikajew, Esq. @clapifyoulikeme.favrd.social · 07/02/2026
tumblr post:

lesbuchanan
Summer Olympics: Who can run the fastest? :)
Who can swim the fastest? :) Who can do the best somersault? :)
Winter Olympics: WHO CAN MAKE IT TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS ICE SLIDE OF DEATH AND SURVIVE?? WHO CAN GET AROUND THE RINK WITHOUT GETTING THEIR HANDS SLICED OFF BY EVERYONE ELSE'S FEET BLADES?? CAN THIS GUY DO A 1080 DEGREE
FLIP WITHOUT DYING??
reblog by
legionoftuna
Summer Triathlon: Don't run too fast, you have to save your energy for a swim and a bike ride! :)
Winter Biathlon: I see you've been skiing for five miles now here's your gun
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Gavin Simpson @gsimpson.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
🚨 GAMs have moved on—so it’s time for an update. On March 3, 2026 (17:00–19:00 CET) I’ll be livestreaming an updated introduction to Generalized Additive Models in R 📺 YouTube livestream link: youtube.com/live/A9U8e1K... #RStats #mgcv #GAMs #gratia #statistics 🧪
youtube.com
What's new in the world of Generalized Additive Models
YouTube video by Bottom of the Heap
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Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
I will probably get told off for sharing this - but it does give some perspective on why I was under so much pressure to leave Monkey Cage - I accept my career is dead so…. skepchick.org/2026/01/the-...
skepchick.org
The BBC Chose Transphobia over Science
Transcript: Over the holidays, there was some news out of the UK that I wanted to highlight, lest it be lost in the news black hole that is Christmas and New Year: the British Broadcasting Corporat…
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
We must never let it revealed to the world that Hawaiian pizza is a Canadian invention
cbc.ca
Canadian inventor of Hawaiian pizza defends pineapple after Iceland's president disses fruit topping | CBC Radio
After the president of Iceland announced he was fundamentally opposed to pineapple on pizza, we decided to call up Sam Panopoulos, the Canadian inventor of the Hawaiian pie, to vouch for his creation.
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
I'm slightly disturbed about what Germans seem to think Canadian food consists of
Picture of a menu labelled at the top as "Canadian steakhouse", featuring such Canadian foods as "pasta bolognese", "burger and sandwich" and "salad"Photo of the outside of a restaurant called "Ontario Restaurant Café", along a cobblestone street in the old city of Dresden
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Carly Ziter @carlyziter.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Really enjoying #BES2025. Things I appreciate: - Morning plenaries (gets people in on time, doesn’t leave morning speakers w/ empty rooms) - Good length coffee breaks (30 min!) - Vegan lunch served on site - Posters across all career stages & spread across rooms - Strong presence of journals/editors
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Nordic Society Oikos @nordicoikos.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
What's on your #BES2025 schedule today? We will be at the How to get published-workshop together with the @britishecologicalsociety.org and the @ecologicalsociety.bsky.social to talk about just that! And if you can't make it today, the same workshop is taking place tomorrow.
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Richard Sever @richardsever.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
"It may be uncomfortable to conclude that a widely used study design has been producing spurious results. But the evidence is in, and telling uncomfortable truths is a part of doing science." Problems with twin studies. theinfinitesimal.substack.com/p/the-missin...
theinfinitesimal.substack.com
The missing heritability question is now (mostly) answered
Not with a bang but with a whimper
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Marissa Lingen @marissalingen.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
Okay I want to say more about this, specifically I want to say: lampshading is a technique to use carefully. What's lampshading? it's when the author says, yeah, I know this is a problem, I acknowledge it but I'm not going to solve it. Throw a lampshade on it, it's a lamp.
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
I wasn't going to repost this until he mentioned his melancholy
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International Initiative for Theoretical Ecology @iite-ecotheory.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
📣Tomorrow our next series of online seminars restarts: Chris Klausmeier (MSU) will present: ⭐Microbial cross-feeding: coexistence and collapse, spatial patterns and population cycles⭐ Free and open to all: Zoom link: iite.info/seminar/ Global Times: www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/f...
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
And the Michaelis-Menten model is the same one we use in ecology to model type-II predator functional responses! Enzymes function a lot like predators, "feeding" on reactants
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Eric Pedersen @ericjpedersen.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
What scientific paper do you find yourself re-reading because you love how it's written? One of mine is Mallet 2012: "The struggle for existence: How the notion of carrying capacity, K, obscures the links between demography, Darwinian evolution, and speciation" dash.harvard.edu/entities/pub...
dash.harvard.edu
The struggle for existence. How the notion of carrying capacity, K, obscures the links between demography, Darwinian evolution and speciation
Question: Population ecology and population genetics are treated separately in most textbooks. However, Darwin’s term the ‘struggle for existence’ included both natural selection and ecological compet...
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