iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Rebecca Meagher @rkmeagher.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

As someone who was just told screening mammograms where I live are booking for *2028*, I really hope they make progress with this quickly!

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Science for Animal Welfare @scifaw.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Free e-copies of “Assessing Animal Welfare - A Guide to the Valid Use of Indicators of Affective States” are available for applicants in low-income countries working in animal welfare, thanks to funding from Coefficient Giving and a discount from Wiley. Apply by 15 November ow.ly/6lYi50ZNnNt

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tunes to make you run away @whippoorwont.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

"people are anthropomorphizing LLMs because they are so astonishingly good at processing human thought and language" people will anthropomorphize a chair if you put the stitches in the right place.

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Marco Festa-Bianchet 🇨🇦 @marcofesta.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

5 former chairs of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, myself included, raise alarm over the Carney gov't proposed 'major projects' initiative. It will lead to extinctions, likely including southern resident killer whales www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

cbc.ca

Proposed changes to endangered species law would 'stab it to death,' says scientist | CBC News

The former chairs of a panel that advises the federal government on endangered wildlife have published an open letter highlighting concerns over proposed changes to the Species At Risk Act, which they...

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Science for Animal Welfare @scifaw.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

🔬 New funding opportunity! Apply for a $100,000 USD Systematic Review Grant from AAALAC International and Science for Animal Welfare. Support evidence-based best practices for laboratory animal welfare. Deadline: 1 Nov 2026. 🔗 ow.ly/9l1h50ZAr8I #ResearchFunding #SystematicReview

A teal and cream promotional graphic advertising a Systematic Review Grant. Text reads: "Systematic Review Grant". Amount: up to $100,000. Topic: laboratory animal welfare and best management practices. Closes: 1 November 2026. Science for Animal Welfare and AAALAC International logos are displayed along the bottom of the graphic.

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Rebecca Meagher @rkmeagher.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Today I learned BC has lakes officially named "Another Lake" "And Another Lake". apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/n... Thank you social media. 😆

apps.gov.bc.ca

BC Geographical Names

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Elodie Mandel-Briefer @ebriefer.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Mason, Nielsen and Mendl’s great textbook on animal emotions is out, with a chapter on vocal indicators by former postdoc A. Villain & me. We follow the book’s format, exploring responsiveness & selectivity of vocalisations as indicators (3 years In press but hopefully still up to date).

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Vocal Signals

This chapter analyses if, based on current evidence, vocalisations have construct validity as indicators of emotional valence across species. It then explores the responsiveness and selectivity of vo...

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Rebecca Meagher @rkmeagher.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

I wrote a chapter for this with my excellent colleague Carole Fureix at University of Bristol, on reward sensitivity and affect (particularly boredom and depression). I think it's a very useful book.

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Marco Festa-Bianchet 🇨🇦 @marcofesta.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Letter from 5 former chairs of COSEWIC to Canadian gov't expressing alarm over plans to ignore Species at Risk Act and other environmental legislation if they feel like it. Liberals will let orcas go extinct to subsidize big oil, Imagine what a future tory gov't may do 😱 www.sfu.ca/~amooers/sci...

sfu.ca

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Rebecca Meagher @rkmeagher.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

How animals perceive the world matters for their welfare, and for trying to work with them. This review covers what we know and don't know about cattle sensory systems & what this means for management. Thanks to @drmariarorvang.bsky.social for inviting me to be part of it! doi.org/10.1016/j.ap... 🐄

doi.org

Redirecting

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Julie Blommaert @drjulieb.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

I mean I know I’m biased as a weird little nerd with her own weird little niche interests but this is factually correct There’s literally other weird little nerds who studied this stuff

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Pavel @spavel.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Thinking about why women might not want to use a product that has forced itself into every software interface to confidently shout things that are wrong

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Rebecca Meagher @rkmeagher.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Worrying example of what's going on in higher ed. I noted lots of the comments are supportive of the prof - I'm not sure university leadership are reading people's feeling about new tech or even education correctly.

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COST Action - Positive animal welfare (LIFT) @liftcostaction.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

📢 We’ve launched a LIFT survey to support the development of Positive Animal Welfare (PAW) indicators for farm animals. We are requesting input from farm managers and farmers’ associations, working with dairy cattle, beef cattle, pigs, layer poultry, broiler poultry, sheep and goats.

liftanimalwelfare.eu

Surveys - LIFT - COST ACTION CA21124

COST Action LIFT 1st Round Stakeholder Consultation (until 31st of July 2026). Positive animal welfare is beyond good physical health and without animal

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Rebecca Meagher @rkmeagher.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

@owlstown.com Please add my academic website to the Owlstown Academic Gallery.<br><br>URL: rebecca-meagher.owlstown.net

rebecca-meagher.owlstown.net

Rebecca K. Meagher

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Rebecca Meagher @rkmeagher.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

This local nerd just got to fill out her long form!

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Rebecca Meagher @rkmeagher.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Currently at the stage of planning trial where we have to figure out what kind of trouble young cattle might get into in a new space... including risk of them pulling the fire alarm!

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Rebecca Meagher @rkmeagher.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

New paper! Review of how social factors might influence hens' use of enrichment. Jessica Gill led this paper while she was working on her MSc in our department. doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...

media.tenor.com

a group of white chickens with red crests

Alt: Cartoon of a group of white chickens with red crests popping up one by one

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Coach Finstock @coachfinstock.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Aesop: I TOLD YOU

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Rebecca Meagher @rkmeagher.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

This is the kind of news I needed today.

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McSweeney's @mcsweeneys.net · 13/03/2026

"While this hippo-centric challenge is unique to our university, we have long prided ourselves on being trailblazers in academia, and I hope you will join me in applauding our incredible institution and its recent stewardship of the world’s third-largest land mammal."

buff.ly

A Message from Your University President on the Recent Hippopotamus Attacks

Dear Faculty, Staff, Students, and AI Summarization Tools, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your patience as we explore innovative soluti...

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psudonym @psudonym.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Don’t let them take silly away from you

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Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 27/02/2026

When academia's stars mistreat people, they're "punished" with relief from teaching, mentoring, and service responsibilities. This frees them to spend more time on the more valued work of research. And dumps less valued responsibilities onto colleagues, making it harder for them to become stars.

In a statement to The Crimson, Summers wrote that the decision to leave was “difficult” and that he remained “grateful to the thousands of students and colleagues I have been privileged to teach and work with since coming to Harvard as a graduate student 50 years ago.”

“Free of formal responsibility, as President Emeritus and a retired professor, I look forward in time to engaging in research, analysis, and commentary on a range of global economic issues,” he added.

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Scott Forbes🇨🇦 @theecologyprof.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

I've been a wildlife biologist for more than 4 decades and I can't tell the difference between tundra and trumpeter swans (with confidence) on the wing. We brought back trumpeter swans from the brink: this could put all that work at risk. I too oppose a swan hunt in MB. 🪶🦢 www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

cbc.ca

Group of Manitoba wildlife experts, hunters urge public to oppose proposed swan, dove hunts | CBC News

Six Manitoba hunters and wildlife experts have grouped together to voice their opposition to proposed hunting seasons for two migratory birds in Manitoba, and they're asking other concerned members of...

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Rebecca Meagher @rkmeagher.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

It has been a really stressful few days to care about Canadian sports.

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Dr Manu Saunders FRES @manusaunders.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

On this day that supports inclusive futures for women and girls in science, let's not forget all the women that were sidelined, ignored, or forced out of science because they: - had children - prioritised family/caring - did science differently - questioned boundaries & norms - fought the patriarchy

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Rokey @rokey.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Is it possible to experience disgust fatigue? Because I feel like I'm there.

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Matt Williams @matthewmatix.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

The absolute state of academic spam

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PAN Works @panworks.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Applications are now open for Mahouts Elephant Foundation's Asian Elephant Behavior and Community-Driven Conservation field-course! Join PAN Works' own Dr. Liv Baker in Thailand to explore the science of animal behaviour and well-being in conservation. #animals #wellbeing #conservation #elephants

medium.com

Mahouts Elephant Foundation: 2026 Field Course

Applications are now open!

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Rebecca Meagher @rkmeagher.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Really nice clear explanations of why boredom is still a problem in our times and why a one-time "do nothing for 8 hours" isn't going to fix it from @jamesdanckert.bsky.social here: nautil.us/why-the-do-n... (Thanks for the shout out, as always!)

nautil.us

Why the Do Nothing Challenge Doesn’t Do Much for You

Why the Do Nothing Challenge Doesn’t Do Much for You: Boredom lab researcher James Danckert says our collective obsession is misplaced.

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Dalhousie University @dalhousie.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

A big opportunity for researchers thinking about what’s next. Dalhousie University is recruiting up to 30 tenure and tenure-track faculty supported by the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative. Strong support, big ambition. Apply by Jan 23: buff.ly/tfhDaUS

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Rebecca Meagher @rkmeagher.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Personally, I think a country having a history of harming people doesn't mean they should not try to be humane and kind in the present. Growth and learning is also part of being human. www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/...

saltwire.com

PNI Atlantic News

Home page for Home

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𝐔𝐧𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐛 @johnxuandou.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

This is one of the most beautiful things I have witnessed, the craft here is impeccable.

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Celeste Labedz @celestelabedz.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

You are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to regret listening to this bird:

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Prof Rachel Oliver @profrachelgan.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

This article suggests the possibility of training AI on pre-existing proposals and their review reports, scores and related decisions. I.e. training them on a system which is known to preferentially award larger amounts of money to white men. What could possibly go wrong?

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Timothy Hopkins @geologyrocks.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

New research reports that cats meow more frequently when greeting male owners. It’s hypothesized that men “require more explicit vocalizations to notice and respond to the needs of their cats.” In other words, the researchers are suggesting that many cats have concluded that men don’t always listen

nytimes.com

To Get a Man’s Attention, Meow Harder

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T. Ryan Gregory 🇨🇦 @tryangregory.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Fund the scientists who are already here. Fund basic science. Fund the scientists who are already here. Fund basic science. Fund the scientists who are already here. Fund basic science. Fund the scientists who are already here. Fund basic science. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...

theglobeandmail.com

Is this the moment Canada gets serious about science and the economy?

The federal budget includes $1.7-billion to attract international researchers and support Canadian R&D and IP protections

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Jane Casey @janecasey.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

I just love science people.

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Rachel Dale @drracheldale.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

While I wouldn't go as far as calling this tool use, it's certainly a clever way of acquiring food (check out the video in the article) 🐺 #wolf

science.org

Have wild wolves learned to use tools?

Video captures a lone female pulling crab traps out of the water, but does it count as tool use?

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Rebecca Meagher @rkmeagher.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Yes please, Outlook, could you cancel some meetings for me?

Microsoft pop up saying "Looks like you have a lot of meetings this week. Would you like to reserve some time for focused work?"

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Nathan Kalman-Lamb @nkalamb.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

The Canadian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Research is launching a US-style attack on EDI in Tri-Council funding. As part of this attack, they are demanding disclosure of confidential demographic info + reviewer comments of all Canadian researchers who have applied b/w 2000-2025.

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas:
I'm tabling the following motion:
That the committee request the three funding councils, namely the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), as part of the study on the impact of federal funding allocation criteria on research excellence in Canada, to provide it with the disaggregated data of all submitted applications, whether funded or not, for all student and faculty funding programs from the master's level onwards for applications made between 2020 and 2025. That this data include (1) demographic data of applicants and collaborators, including applicants' responses to the equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) questionnaire, (2) the institutions and departments of applicants, including the institutions of collaboration, (3) the language of the application, (4) all data regarding the type of application and project content (application year, grant program, discipline, title, summary, amount requested by the applicant), as well as (5) the identity of the evaluation committee, comments, opinions, scores assigned to applications for each criterion, and (6) the outcome of the application and the amount awarded. That the three funding councils submit all this data to the committee within 15 days following the adoption of this motion, in an Excel spreadsheet format.

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RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

A Great Grey Shrike perched on a thorny branch under a pale overcast sky, black mask across its eyes and a sharp beak.
Known as the ‘butcher bird’.
Impales its prey on thorns and barbed wire.
Shrieks.
9/10
Looks innocent but runs a tiny horror franchise.

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