iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

My Department is hiring an Assistant Professor of Natural Resource Policy (link in comments)!

Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

"[S]cience, even the highest-quality science, can never tell us what should be done." I don't do this often, but I published an Op-Ed. I guess that's what you do after a pet peeve festers too long!?? mountainjournal.org/grizzly-bear...

mountainjournal.org

Op-Ed: The Forgotten Key to Wildlife Management: Values - Mountain Journal

Science alone won’t get the politics out of wildlife management. We shouldn’t want it to.

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Reposted by Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD

Mark Lubell @envpolicycenter.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Got a short term project that would benefit from a team of grad students working on it? Apply to be a policy clinic partner. mailchi.mp/ucdavis/requ...

mailchi.mp

Policy Clinic Request for Proposals

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Jay Van Bavel, PhD @jayvanbavel.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

NYU is hiring two postdocs at the Center for Social Media, AI & Politics: csmapnyu.org/jobs And a grant manager in Sociology with the Social Science Research Hub: uscareers-nyu.icims.com/jobs/15327/g... I'm part of both groups--please share with anyone who is interested!

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Seeking applicants to a qualitative social science post-doc position - located at Purdue University, but collaborating with me and others on the human dimensions of white-tailed deer and cwd management. www.schooljobs.com/careers/ummi...

schooljobs.com

Job Opportunities | University of Montana, Helena College & UM Western

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Big news in the Metcalf house… Today, Libby was officially named Dean of the College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana & Director of the Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station. More to share in coming days, but I’m just so damn humbled to watch this Wonder Woman!

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Good coverage of our human dimensions of wildlife study on the dynamic effects of social identity on attitudes! "Pack Politics: How Political Identity can Twist Perception of Wolves - Study shows that partisan misperceptions about opponents may lead to conflict, even when consensus is possible"

mountainjournal.org

Pack Politics: How Political Identity can Twist Perception of Wolves - Mountain Journal

Study shows that partisan misperceptions about opponents may lead to conflict, even when consensus is possible

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Solid mix of pride and embarrassment to be featured in the inaugural YouTube episode of A New Angle podcast talking about the human dimensions of wolf and wildlife conservation. "The big (bad?) wolf with Dr. Alex Metcalf" www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VZa...

youtube.com

The Big (Bad?) Wolf with Dr. Alex Metcalf

YouTube video by A New Angle

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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 06/01/2026

Most Americans actually like wolves, but when researchers reminded people of their political identities, Democrats became more friendly to wolves and Republicans far more opposed. It’s an interesting study in how politics and social identity can fuel partisan polarization. buff.ly/aA10yEP

theconversation.com

Americans generally like wolves − except when we’re reminded of our politics

New research shows how identity-driven assumptions can turn common ground into conflict.

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Ironically on January 6th, we have a new paper out about political identities and how they divide us on the topic of wolves. doi.org/10.1111/cobi...

doi.org

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

A couple years back I started to wonder how much of MT is owned by corporate entities, the role of really big properties, & the consequences for public trust wildlife management. Today we published some answers and how things have (and haven’t) changed over the past 20 years:

doi.org

Private Ownership of Public Trust Wildlife Habitat in Montana, U.S.A. (2004–2023) - Environmental Management

Habitat ownership in the U.S. is primarily private, complicating management of public trust wildlife. Under this configuration, the rights and interests of private landowners can be at odds with those...

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

🚨 New Lab paper! 🚨 Contrary to assumptions & media narratives, most people have positive attitudes toward wolves & are tolerant of them. This is true around the world & even here in MT where 74% of Montanans are tolerant or very tolerant of wolves. 1/ conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Increasing tolerance of wolves in Montana, United States (2012–2023)

There is little reliable human dimensions data on people's attitudes toward wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains despite global interest in wolf management in the area, and limited information glob...

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Absolute rock star Claire McAtee presenting her senior honors thesis in human dimensions of Wildlife Biology!

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Consider that MT is 40% public land. This means animals are harvested on public land at 150% the rate of private. Thats assuming an even distribution of animals across ownerships - which is false. If we could account for the concentration on private, the rate would be higher.

montanaoutdoor.com

Half of successful Montana elk hunters fill their tags on public land

Five bull elk stood just out of reach on public land, a reminder that in hunting, luck and licensing often decide success...

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Reposted by Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD

Paul Fairie @paulisci.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women 🧵

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Jay Van Bavel, PhD @jayvanbavel.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

The so-called debunking of “cult psychology” from the recent paper on When Prophecy Fails is misleading. Check out the comments on this thread, where philosophers point out where the key premises of the book replicate in the vast majority of similar cults & a huge replication of dissonance theory.

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

When I first read this quote years ago it made no sense to me. I wish that hadn’t changed.

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Society for Conservation Biology @society4conbio.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Registration is NOW OPEN for the Conservation Marketing (ConsMark) Conference 2025! 🗓️ Date: December 3 & 4 🔗 Register today: lnkd.in/eBbCVZUu #conservation #marketing #conference

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Everything in academia just seems to be moving so slowly these days. I’ve complained about journal reviews, but grant announcement and reviews, hiring paperwork, student issues, accounting processes, policy changes … it’s like everything is in quicksand.

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Kristian Steensen Nielsen @kristiansn89.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

🔥 The never-ending narrative… This week, I’ve once again heard prominent climate researchers dismiss individual action as either irrelevant or a distraction instigated by the fossil fuel industry. Here’s a 🧵 on why this argument frustrates me to no end and why I think it misses the bigger picture.

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Reposted by Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD

Wilhelm Hofmann @wilhelmhofmann.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Further robust evidence suggesting green nudges at the individual level are unlikely to make a difference. As we recently suggested, it is time to abandon the prevailing success focus and rather think of this body of evidence as pointing to the many structural constraints people are facing, and

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

I have four (!) papers that have been in review so long that my mind, energy, and entire lab has moved on yet they still linger waiting for the minor-ist of edits to make their way through the never ending gauntlet of reviewer/AE/editor back and forth checkboxing. Good lord this system is broken.

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Sechindra Vallury @sechindra.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Multiple funded Ph.D. and Master's positions in my lab. Topics broadly cover climate and agricultural adaptation, and energy & water governance (U.S. & Global South). Apply by Dec 1, 2025. Details: www.sechindravallury.com/graduate-opp... Please share with prospective students!

sechindravallury.com

Agriculture & Environmental Sustainability

Funded Ph.D. and Master's positions at UGA.

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Reposted by Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD

Jay Van Bavel, PhD @jayvanbavel.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

People across the political spectrum suddenly agree that social media can lead to political violence and online calls for civil war have skyrocketed I explain how social media rewards negativity, division and hostility--and what we can all do about it: www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/social-med...

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

These “America divided” and “Surge of violence” headlines can manifest a reality that doesn’t exist. They’re irresponsible, dangerous, and false. Don’t listen. Here’s a Republican pollster’s take: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/o...

nytimes.com

Opinion | Politicians Are Polarized. American Voters, Not So Much.

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

A dynamic that's informed my research seems too relevant today: Democrats & Republicans WAY over-estimate each other's support for violence. Like by 250-400%! The danger is that assuming OTHERS support violence means YOU support more violence. Correcting these false assumptions takes down the tone.

doi.org

Correcting inaccurate metaperceptions reduces Americans’ support for partisan violence | PNAS

Scholars, policy makers, and the general public have expressed growing concern about the possibility of large-scale political violence in the Unite...

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

The “Met-ells” Lab’s first MS student Anna Baize absolutely nailing her talk on prioritizing bear attractants using decision science! Pareto frontier! #Pathways2025

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Great talk by @danialnayeri.bsky.social on why and when different people support the complicated topic of killing wildlife to achieve conservation outcomes! #Pathways2025

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Brianna Lipp, Human Dimensions of Wildlife MS student in the Lab, absolutely CRUSHING her talk on social identity theory in wildlife research at #Pathways2025

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

As my students know all too well, this is one of my top frustrations. We spend nearly all the time/money figuring out how big the hole is in the side of the ship and trying to convince others we measured right, and nearly none understanding how to rally people to fix the damn hole. Great piece!

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James Holland Jones @juemos.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

My department is hiring an assistant professor of environmental behavioral sciences. The research area is open but we are particularly interested in people with research on collective action or computational social sciences. Happy to answer questions about the Doerr School or the department.

facultypositions.stanford.edu

Stanford | Faculty Positions: Details - Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Social Sciences (Environmental Behavioral Sciences)

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Dr. Aaron Thierry @thierryaaron.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

"Scientists and modelers have not merely warned of the #ClimateCrisis - they have also, often unwittingly, contributed to it by reinforcing an uncritical faith in technological salvation & sidelining more structural social transformations" www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.com

In tech we trust: A history of technophilia in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) climate mitigation expertise

This article examines the technocentric bias that characterizes climate mitigation literature, focusing on the reports of the IPCC's Working Group III…

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Reposted by Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD

Ecosystems and People @esandpeople.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Which behaviours help birds most — and can be changed? Activist behaviours (e.g. donating, spreading enthusiasm) rank highest in impact & changeability. A new framework for targeted conservation planning: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #BirdConservation #BehaviourChange

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

In person written assessments were the only things I could come up with last semester to help students actually learn. A few more ideas in here, but more needed. Please share if you’ve seen!

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Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Those of us in STEM must vocally affirm that the humanities are our allies, and no department is expendable. Arguing we can survive by cutting whole disciplines isn’t just inhumane, it’s nonsensical. The humanities tell us why we’re here in the first place, and what to do about it! This isn’t hard!

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Early word we'll have funding to recruit a Post-Doc in the Human Dimensions of Wildlife space - specifically working on hunter behaviors in deer management across several midwestern states. On the ground work, experiments, many academic & agency partners! Spread the word to any potential applicants.

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

I do this (most) every month, ever since my 6th grade teacher - one of my most favorite teachers of all time - introduced me - including this morning!

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 31/07/2025

🍎🧪🎢🧬 Any excuse to share this masterpiece: Mustached Bats Vs The Doppler Effect Congratulations Tom!

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Alexander L. Metcalf, PhD @metcalfhdlab.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Glad my institution has converted nearly every system to Microsoft - the functionality may be questionable but the security is shotty.

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