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Siân Harris

@sianharris.bsky.social
1.6K followers 600 following 275 posts

Communications about research, international development, publishing, inequity, climate change, politics. Works for @uob-ieu.bsky.social & others Opinions mine. Bristol, UK. (she)

PostsRepliesMedia
Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
AI companies buying up and destroying old second hand physical books, scanning contents to train their models. futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com
AI Companies Are Buying Antique Books, Ingesting Their Contents to Train Models, and Then Destroying Them at Incredible Scale, Even If Almost No Copies Remain
AI companies are quietly obtaining rare books, ingesting their contents, and then destroying them -- even if they're exceedingly rare.
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Adam Tranter @adamtranter.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Cities dismantled their tram networks to become “motor cities of the future”. The result? You could travel further within 30 mins via public transport in 1957 than you can in 2026. Cities are seeking billions to rebuild networks. Incredible piece of work this.
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Today marks end of 3-year contract with @countermetrics.bsky.social. It's been v interesting immersing myself in world of usage metrics, & learning about weaving along the way, both thanks to @tashamc.bsky.social! Proud of having been part of COUNTER's journey. Will continue to watch with interest.
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Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
So excited to see this! Over 4 episodes I cover the hugely alarming conclusions of the Joint Intelligence Ctte Report, shamefully suppressed by Government, & explore its implications for our food and water security. @nebriefing.bsky.social @climatemajority.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social
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Northern & proud 👊 @gazlancs.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Unbelievable, just when you think they can't sink any lower Sky news have doorstepped Count Binfaces family😆
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Liz Webster 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧🇪🇺 @lizwebster.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
🤩 🤩 🤩 Count Binface odds slashed from 50:1 to 5:1 overnight and Daily Mail poll has him in the lead for #ClactonElection @countbinface.bsky.social Vote here 🔗 www.dailymail.com/news/article...
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
In all the excitement about Farage vs Binface I forgot that it's annual London marathon rejection day. Best wishes to all who celebrate!
A screenshot of an email with a photo of lots of runners and text saying: "Not this time.We're sorry, Sian!
We’re sorry that you didn’t get a 2027 Double TCS London Marathon place via the random ballots for both the Saturday and Sunday."
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Today is an exciting day for @greenparty.org.uk supporters in South Gloucestershire as we get our first district councillor. Welcome to @southglosgreens.bsky.social Sean!
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
This is a really exciting and important piece of work from some of my colleagues at @uob-ieu.bsky.social.
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Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
MP’s must step up to oppose this
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Prof. Ian Walker @ianwalker.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
So much about this has me screaming into my motonormativity cushion. Why further subsidise all the wealthy people who drive? Why NOT subsidise the poorer people who don't drive?
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Way Too Online Person @smoothedjaguar.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Love how a month ago the Sensibles were yelling at Hannah Spencer for saying MPs were out of touch, and now they’re all insisting that actually MPs should be able to drink as much as they want at work, which is an offence that would get ordinary people sacked on the spot.
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
This is a really exciting development from @countermetrics.bsky.social. AI has rapidly changed the online landscape, with inevitable effects on e-resource usage. Brilliant work by our AI working group, the many people who responded to our consultation and, of course, @tashamc.bsky.social.
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
This is great. Baby steps back towards our neighbours and undoing one of the mainly needless extras that accompanied the extreme Brexit zeal.
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Last month the US got more of its electricity from renewable than from natural gas for the first time. www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
canarymedia.com
In a first, renewables beat natural gas on US grid last month
It’s just one month, but it’s a sign of where the U.S. is headed as renewable energy — namely solar — surges onto the grid.
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Jenny Cohn @jennycohn.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis, has called the Lamp “a Catholic version of the New Yorker.” Today the Lamp published an article titled, “Is Donald Trump Antichrist?” 1/ thelampmagazine.com/blog/is-dona...
thelampmagazine.com
Is Donald Trump Antichrist?
Is Donald Trump antichrist? Whether he is, at minimum, simply one in a long line of “types” that runs from Cain and Nimrod on is not, I think, an…
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Paul Guinnessy @paulguinnessy.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
If you wondered why it was that last week felt particularly tough to get through, even with the hope of Integrity and the Artemis mission, @queen-christina.bsky.social has a list to remind you why. And it doesn't even include the attacks on the Pope and Trump's post that he is Jesus Christ.
christinapatterson.substack.com
The dark side of the moon - and us
Another busy week on Planet Earth
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Olga Nesterova @onestpress.onestnetwork.com · 13/04/2026
Pezeshkian: Your Excellency Pope Leo XIV, on behalf of the great nation of Iran, I condemn the insult to Your Excellency and declare that the desecration of Jesus (peace be upon him), the Prophet of peace and brotherhood, is unacceptable to any free person. I wish glory for you from Allah.
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Interesting video. Plus, do read the subtitles for a novel alternative to bleeping out the bad words.
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The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
🕐 Who decides what gets researched about body clocks and mental health? Until now, mostly researchers. A new study asked patients, carers and clinicians instead. First ever top 10 research priorities. 👇 buff.ly/H4iYkj8 #CircadianRhythms #MentalHealth #BodyClock
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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
This is absolutely nuts
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
CNN reporting a "regional source" saying there may be some kind of ceasefire deal tonight. edition.cnn.com/2026/04/07/w...
edition.cnn.com
Live updates: Trump threatens ‘a whole civilization will die tonight’ ahead of his Iran deadline | CNN
Trump’s warning comes ahead of his 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to make a deal, as the US also struck military targets on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island. Follow live news updates.
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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
We're on the verge of a genocidal, nuclear war that our supposed "ally" has said he's ready to unleash. Would it be too much to ask for the Prime Minister to have something to say about it? Or do? Suspend US bases on UK soil now.
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scarletbegonia @scarletbegonia67.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
[Hypothetically, if three Republicans crossed the aisle and voted with Democrats, they could change control of the entire U.S. House overnight.] Read & Circulate. If you live in a district w/ an exiting GOP Rep, put the pressure on! open.substack.com/pub/defiance...
open.substack.com
It would take only THREE House Republicans to stop Trump. Will any have the courage?
Dozens of GOP Members of Congress are retiring. If a few decided to switch sides — even just temporarily — they could save democracy from a madman.
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
This is heartbreaking. And totally avoidable. Sadly, one of many heartbreaking and totally avoidable policy moves by the Trump administration. History will not judge them kindly.
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
'An attempt to re-colonise'. This is what the president of Nigeria's Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof Chris Piwuna, has called the plan to open a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria. guardian.ng/education/as...
guardian.ng
ASUU vows showdown over FG’s Coventry University deal
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has vowed to resist the Federal Government’s plan to establish a campus of a
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Interesting shift in #OA policy from CRUK. news.cancerresearchuk.org/2026/04/01/w...
news.cancerresearchuk.org
Why we won’t be funding open access publishing any more - Cancer Research UK - Cancer News
The open access movement was bold and promising, but ultimately disappointing. Now is the time to stop and call for a new way to make publishing work…
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
#uksg2026
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
This is an encouraging picture compared with a decade ago. ##uksg2026
Slide saying:
The geography of scientific research is changing.
A key piece of data on this slide is 60% of the world's scientific articles has authors in low- and middle-income countries.
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Look, mum, we're on a massive powerpoint slide!! It's grim though. It's so grim. here's that webpage: qmucu.org/qmul-transfo... #UKHE #uksg2026
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Sobering slides about state of higher education in UK, and particularly implications for arts and social sciences, and by extension for scholarly books. ##uksg2026
Selection of UK headlines highlighting university funding cuts and job losses.Selection of negative headlines about studying degrees, especially arts and social sciences.
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Good morning from a sunny Glasgow at #uksg2026. Come and see @countermetrics.bsky.social on our shiny new booth.
Three turquoise and white chairs sit around a round white coffee table. On the table is a knitted basket full of sweets. Behind the table are two stand-up banners. The left hand banner says COUNTER Metrics countermetrics.org. Code of Practice - the standard for usage metrics. Support, Education, Tools, Verification, Events.
The right hand banner has the same COUNTER name and URL. It then says: Defined by members, Trusted by everyone. For when you need to compare apples with apples, not beachballs.
There is also a QR code for 'Join today!' https://www.countermetrics.org/.
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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
A few days ago we announced 200,000 members. The Green Party has 215,000! 🚀 Join us making hope normal again: Join.greenparty.org.uk
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Following on from discussions about community engagement last week at #r2rconf, I've gathered together some of the approaches we take in @countermetrics.bsky.social.
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
Very clear that for Starmer, 'sectarian voting' is when British Muslims don't vote Labour, and for many others, it is just when British Muslims vote.
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Fa-ghoul-tha Christie @joelnb.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Zack Polanski, Hannah Spencer, the Greens writ large: 'Wouldn't it be nice if things were nice?' Starmer, Labour broadly, most of the UK press: 'We must fight this insane destructive extremism with every bone in our bodies'
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Gorton and Denton was 127th on the list of Green Party target seats. To win by such a margin there suggests there is much bigger potential for Green gains in May's local elections than most people expect bylinetimes.com/2026/02/27/h...
bylinetimes.com
Hope Beats Hate: Green Party Defeats Reform and Labour in Huge Gorton and Denton By-Election Victory
A concerted political and media campaign to scare voters about a “Green Menace” winning this by-election failed, reports Adam Bienkov
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Delighted with the new Green MP in Parliament. Huge congratulations Hannah! If you want to be part of inclusive, positive politics focused on tackling injustice and protecting the environment, please visit join.greenparty.org.uk
join.greenparty.org.uk
Join the Green Party
Join the Green Party from just £6 a year. Become a member today - join the only party standing up for people and planet.
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Net migration in all of 2025 (Jan-Dec) will be revealed in May 2026: it is clearly well below net 205k of year to June 2025; and could well be lowest outside pandemic since 2010 (150k in 2012-13) + since 1998 (140k) Ministers still saying net migration is still comparatively high - but it isn't
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Sara Rouhi @rouhiroo.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
@frontiersmedia.bsky.social presenting #R2RConf on #AI in #ResearchIntegrity. It is NOT an emerging technology. We tell ourselves that so we're ok with "with still have time" approach. We need scenario planning now. It's here now, are we prepared?
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Simon Bains @simonjbains.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
ChatGPT training data is 93% English language says Nikesh Gosalia. Is AI democratising access to scholarly publishing or encoding colonialism at scale? The evidence suggests we are heading down a dangerous path #R2RConf
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Sara Rouhi @rouhiroo.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
This is not a metaphor for #colonialism. It is colonialism. #NikeshGosalia #R2RConf And every minute it gets worse. Compounding with each new training instance. AI is being optimized for specific user base. Non-english speakers not "seen" in these tools. #academicsky #AI #sciencesky
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Simon Bains @simonjbains.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
The positive message is that it’s solvable. It’s not a technical problem, it’s a choice. #R2RConf
Slide showing the 4 solution areas to focus on to solve the problem: technical, publisher, policy/governance, individual actions.
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Very important presentation on how AI can exacerbate the inequities that are already huge in the global scholarly communication system. #r2rconf
Slide showing the 7 injustices of AI in STM publishing: 
- AI tools simply perform worse in non-English languages. 
- Cultural bias.
- Knowledge gaps.
- Language laundering.
- Reinforcement of publication barriers.
- Economic inequality. 
- Epistemic injustice.
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Sara Rouhi @rouhiroo.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
#NikeshGosalia kicking off #R2RConf session on #AI impact on global south - fascinating story of "Shirley cards" used by Kodak to calibrate for color of their printers. They KNEW the whole time that it didn't work on brown/black ppl. Techonly changed when chocolate makers didn't like how it looked.
nga.gov
The “Shirley Card” Legacy: Artists Correcting for Photography’s Racial Bias | National Gallery of Art
Whiteness has been the default in color photographs, but artists like John Akomfrah work toward a “uniquely Black image.”
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
#r2rconf Related to @loupeck.bsky.social's question about whether a little alcohol is good for you, see this insight from some epidemiologists I work with at @uob-ieu.bsky.social - ieureka.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2023/08/08/i.... The short answer is it’s unlikely to be beneficial to our health.
ieureka.blogs.bristol.ac.uk
Is a little bit of alcohol good for you? – IEUREKA!
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Really interesting discussion about AI in scholarly communications at #r2rconf - but many of the points made are not about the benefits of AI tools for scholarly communications. Benefits of AI in research is a different question.
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Looks interesting. Downloaded to read on my train to Researcher to Reader
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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Labour lost three by-elections yesterday - all to different parties mobilising disaffected voters on their liberal left flank: Greens (see below), Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru. Starmer/McSweeney strategy of marginalizing the left flank to go after socially con Reform curious continues to backfire
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Siân Harris @sianharris.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Who decided that every modern book that is romantic fiction needs to have 'hilarious' or 'laugh-out-loud' on the book's cover and all over their descriptions? Do the people who write these descriptions actually read the books? And do they have a very odd sense of humour?
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