iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Lorena Gibson @lorenagibson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

New blog post: Bringing "The Good Ancestor Game" by Tina Ngata and Tāwhana Chadwick into my undergraduate anthropology class. The game invited role-playing, collective storytelling, and joyful learning, and was the highlight of my teaching year anthropod.net/2026/09/18/t...

anthropod.net

Teaching “Anthropology for Liberation” in 2025 with “The Good Ancestor Game” by Tina Ngata and Tāwhana Chadwick

Playing this game in class was the highlight of my 2025 teaching year.

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Tina @tinangata.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Indigenous Futurism + DnD RPG + Matariki + Solar Punk + Decolonisation = THE GOOD ANCESTOR GAME! Get your friends and whanau together and start imagining a decolonised Aotearoa! FREE TO DOWNLOAD here! tinyurl.com/GoodAncestors

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Lorena Gibson @lorenagibson.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

New blog post: redesigning assessments for my course Anthropology for Liberation. A game design option for the final project was a success. Asking students to write a formal AI use position statement was not: anthropod.net/2026/07/27/t...

anthropod.net

Teaching “Anthropology for Liberation” Part 2: Redesigning assessments

This is the (overdue!) second part of a series reflecting on changes I made to my undergraduate course Anthropology for Liberation at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in 2025. In P…

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Lorena Gibson @lorenagibson.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

reading checkpoint: last: The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook by Matt Dinniman (audiobook narrator Jeff Hays) current 1: The Elements of Academic Style by Eric Hayot (highly recommend) current 2: Neurotribes by Steve Silberman current 3: the bone people by Keri Hulme (audiobook narrator Ruby Solly)

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Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 15/01/2025

Strongly encourage people to follow @hebagowayed.bsky.social so you can see later iterations of this series. Some people are skeptical of all the GFM requests flying around, especially the repeat mass tagging. Well here is someone who is talking to people and telling you their stories.

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Lorena Gibson @lorenagibson.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

“ASAA/NZ is especially concerned about the impact of the changes on Māori research & the reframing of research value as one attuned solely to economic growth & scientific pragmatism. The core issues we face as a society … are complex & require diverse disciplinary perspectives.” tinyurl.com/3jarbz3s

asaanz.org

ASAA/NZ statement on the abolition of Marsden Fund Humanities and Social Sciences panels — Association of Social Anthropologists of Aotearoa New Zealand

The Association of Social Anthropologists of Aotearoa/New Zealand (ASAA/NZ) is dismayed by the government’s decision to abolish the Marsden Fund’s Social Sciences and Humanities panels. We are deeply ...

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Nicola Gaston @nicgaston.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

First thing written. Need to walk it off and then will write the longer follow up 🤷‍♀️ #MarsdenSchmarsden

I am horrified by today’s announcement. I am absolutely disgusted by the way that the kind of science I, and my colleagues do – as physical scientists involved in research that is purposeful, focused on solutions to climate and sustainability challenges, that do have real economic value – is being weaponised against our colleagues in the humanities and the social sciences.

The work that our colleagues in the humanities and social sciences do is incredibly important. We can do all the work in developing clean technologies we want, but if we don’t understand the barrriers to people purchasing that tech? It becomes useless.

We need scholars who work in the arts, in the social sciences, who ask questions about who we are and why. We need these people not only so that they may publish their work – and it is fair to consider that esoteric at times – but so they may teach the next generation. Teaching should never be reduced to repeating what is contained in decades old textbooks, but must be based in active scholarship – in asking research questions of relevance to our times today, and to our society.

And in any case, can it really be any more esoteric than quantum physics? In my experience, when I look at the work of my colleagues in the humanities and social scientists, it is always far more based in the needs of now and here that anything.

Science that has economic impact is already privileged in our funding system. It has access to funding through MBIE, both via Endeavour programmes and Smart Ideas funding. Health research has its own funding mechanism, through the Health Research Council. We could argue about the relative amounts of funding that are awarded through these different mechanisms, but the fact remains: the Marsden Fund is the only funding source that operates even-handedly across disciplines.

The Marsden Fund is not a partisan beast. It was set up by Simon Upton, when he was the responsible Minister for the National Government in 1992. It was established to support research excellence – based on discipline specific assessment of what excellence is – because it has long been understood by scientists, and in scientific communities, that the path from fundamental research to impact is a long and unpredictable one. Trying to ‘pick winners’ when funding fundamental science is a fools task: the impact is real, but it is measurable only at a collective level.

The context we are currently in, with our Science and University funding systems being reviewed, is also important. There are significant changes on the cards in the next years, and we all understand that. Changes to the PBRF or to the overheads paid to our universities might change the overall equation in terms of funding the vital work done by the humanities and social scientist in Aotearoa New Zealand. But none of those decisions have yet been made public. As it stands, this decision is an outrageous indictment on the research funding system in Aotearoa, and our collective understanding of what scholarship is.

Scientists who take pride in your work on ‘fundamental’, or ‘blue skies’ topics? Watch out. You will be next if we let this stand.
“

Professor Nicola Gaston, FRSNZ
Usual disclaimer that I am CD of MacD and currently funded by Marsden.

I’m also really fucking mad but you don’t have to print that bit. Will go take a walk – thanks for the opportunity to comment.
N

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Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles @siouxsiew.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

It’s a dark day for research in Aotearoa New Zealand and the ramifications for the country are huge. Minister Judith Collins has just announced our blue-skies funder will no longer fund humanities & social science research and that 50% of what is funded must have economic benefit.

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Kerim Friedman 傅可恩 @kerim.one · 26/11/2024

The latest issue of my newsletter, Triptych, is out. This week: The fall of Rome The end of apartheid Voter despair

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Rebecca T @rjthomson.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Hīkoi sinage game was strong. If you have hīkoi signs, don't throw them away. Take them to the National Library of NZ (Molesworth St). The library is collecting. This is a part of NZ'S history. Toitū te Tiriti

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Toitū Te Tiriti 🖤🤍❤️

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Kerim Friedman 傅可恩 @kerim.one · 16/11/2024

While @bsky.app *feels* like old Twitter, it is actually very different in some fun and interesting ways. I'm going to start a thread where I share tips and tricks for using the app, as well as some information about the company behind the app and their goals and philosophy.

media.tenor.com

a drawing of a cat and a blue butterfly by debbie olicone

Alt: a drawing of a cat and a blue butterfly by debbie olicone

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David Hood @thoughtfulnz.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

I have Settings - Accessibility Settings - Require alt text before posting switched on to make sure my distracted future self does the right thing.

Screenshot showing Settings, Accessibility Settings, Require alt text before posting switched on

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Louisa @louisathelast.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

Hey new users— we’ve been trying to build a strong culture of expecting alt text. Take it from me, because I’ve heard from them: there are blind people on this app and they appreciate being included. You can also turn on a setting that prevents you from posting images without it, if you forget

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Matthew Wolf-Meyer @mw-m.bsky.social · 19/09/2024

I’ve tried to put together a non-exhaustive list of anthropologists on bluesky together. Did I miss anyone? Should I add you? go.bsky.app/GYEM3YK #anthropology #anthrosky

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Falastin Flip @tameeolivefern.bsky.social · 29/12/2023

🚨 To NZers: Over 210 Palestinians were killed by Israeli airstrikes on their homes in the last 24hrs in Gaza. Our govt hasn’t called to end this genocide immediately yet. Pls join this weekend’s protests to ask our govt to do the right thing on your behalf

Palestine rallies this wknd

SATURDAY 30/12

Nelson 10:30am - 1903 Square
Whanganui 11am - Riverside markets
New Plymouth 1pm - The landing
Palmerston North 2pm - The square
Hamilton 1pm - End of Wairere dr
Tauranga 11am - Mt Drury, Hopukiore
Auckland 11am - Aotea square
Whangarei 10am - Town basin by Hundertwasser bldg
Chch/Lyttleton 1pm - Albion Square, Lyttleton

SUNDAY 31/12

Hastings 12pm - clock tower

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Maggie Tokuda-Hall @maggietokudahall.bsky.social · 21/12/2023

apparently Densho has been facing a lot of backlash for publishing my very gently stated essay so I'm re-sharing it bc honestly if "treat these people like people" is SO offensive to you that you demand it be taken down, I am uninterested in the rest of your opinions. densho.org/catalyst/jus...

densho.org

Justifying the Unjustifiable: Why Japanese Americans Must Stand with Palestine - Densho: Japanese Am...

Author Maggie Tokuda-Hall shares why her values as a Jew and a Japanese American compel her to stand with Palestine.

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Sarah Silverman @sarahesilverman.bsky.social · 20/12/2023

I've been doing more guest speaking lately, and had a few thoughts on working w/neurodivergent speakers. Many campuses are (rightly) looking for speakers w/lived experience of neurodivergence, but might not know how to approach the interaction inclusively sarahemilysilverman.com/2023/12/20/t...

sarahemilysilverman.com

Thoughts on inviting a neurodivergent guest to your campus

Over the past 6 months or so I’ve been doing more invited talks and consulting (mostly related to Neurodiversity, disability, and inclusion). Over that time, I have interacted with a bunch of differ...

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Grant Jun Otsuki @otsuki3c.bsky.social · 16/12/2023

The video of the keynote from this past 4S is now on YouTube. "Aloha `Āina for Our Future" by Prof. Kamanamaikalani Beamer of the University of Hawai`i. youtu.be/HweQRiVK7VQ?... #4SHonolulu

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Kerim Friedman 傅可恩 @kerim.one · 20/12/2023

The blog may be shutting down, but I'm not! How to find me and keep up with my writing going forward. As well as some of my best posts from the past 18 years of anthropology blogging.

anthrodendum.org

Looking back, looking forward | anthro{dendum}

The blog may be shutting down, but I’m not! I started blogging in 2001 and my personal blog, Keywords, is still going strong. Check out this recent post about the movie Killers of the Flower Moon. I...

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Lorena Gibson @lorenagibson.bsky.social · 20/12/2023

A recent post by Ryan on the soon-to-close anthropology blog anthro{dendum} (anthrodendum.org/2023/12/14/t... ) reminded me that I have a blog so I wrote a thing about how I teach our introductory cultural anthropology course: anthropod.net/2023/12/20/t...

anthropod.net

Teaching ‘how to anthropology’ alongside ‘how to university’ in an introductory cultural ant...

I have taught our large introductory cultural anthropology course (ANTH 101) on and off since 2014, and every couple of years I redesign it based on conversations with colleagues, research into learni...

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Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition @ponekeantifa.bsky.social · 17/11/2023

On December 2nd, anti-choice conservatives are marching to Parliament because they want abortion to be illegal again. We must stand up and show Aotearoa that Pōneke remains vigilant, and we won’t let the new government turn the clock back on our reproductive rights. Join us, 1PM, Te Aro Park.

PRO-CHOICE MARCH
Stand up for reproductive rights! Counter-protest the anti-abortion rally!
Saturday 2 December, 1PM Te Aro Park (Dixon Street)
@ponekeantifa

PRO-CHOICE MARCH
We believe that everyone has the right to access safe, supported abortion.
On December 2nd, anti-choice conservatives are marching to Parliament because they want abortion to be illegal again.
We must stand up and show Aotearoa that Pōneke remains vigilant, and we won’t let the new government turn the clock back on our reproductive rights.
Saturday 2 December, 1PM Te Aro Park (Dixon Street)
@ponekeantifa

PRO-CHOICE MARCH
Saturday 2 December, 1PM Te Aro Park (Dixon Street)
Gather with us to share kōrero and march, to challenge those who oppose people's right to abortion & stand up for human rights!
NEVER GOING BACK
@ponekeantifa

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