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Signe Mežinska

@signemezinska.bsky.social
394 followers 744 following 110 posts

Medical ethics, research ethics and bioethics in Latvia. Associate professor at the University of Latvia. FAMILY project family-project.eu, BEYOND project beyondbadapples.eu, TRUSTPARENCY project trustparency-project.eu

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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Paldies Medicīnas vēstures muzejam par diskusijas rosināšanu un uzaicinājumu piedalīties. Tēma, manuprāt, ir ārkārtīgi svarīga. satori.lv/event/diskus...
satori.lv
Diskusija "Neērtais zinātnes mantojums. Ko darīt ar pagātnes pētījumiem?"
Paula Stradiņa Medicīnas vēstures muzejā
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
This strongly reminds me of some of the current political tendencies in Latvia: "[..] grant language is being rewritten to steer funding priorities towards favoured themes such as economic competitiveness, innovation and national security." www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Six principles for supporting academic freedom in universities
Many academics are concerned about threats to independent enquiry in higher education. Here’s how it can be protected while taking legitimate concerns into account.
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Vēlēšanu rezultāts nav briesmīgākais no tiem, ko varēja iedomāties. Vienlaikus akadēmisko vidi, NVO un, iespējams, arī medijus sagaida grūti laiki.
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
No surprise. Sham scientific societies are as shameless as predatory journals.
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Ir tomēr arī pozitīva stastistika par Latviju.
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Valsts kontrole @valstskontrole.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
🔵 #PēcRevīzijas secinām – bērnu ambulatorā veselības aprūpe Latvijā ir prioritāte likumā, taču praksē bērniem nav vienlīdzīgas un savlaicīgas pieejas pakalpojumiem.
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Ja bērnu veselības aprūpi tiešām uzskatām par prioritāti (kādai tai neapšaubāmi ir jābūt), tad šie secinājumi būtu steidzami jāņem vērā. Vienlīdzīga veselības aprūpes pieejamība, it īpaši bērniem, ir viens no demokrātiskas un liberālas sabiedrības pamatiem.
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Prieks, ka Veģetāriete iztulkota latviski. Lasīju angliski. Noteikti iesaku.
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
How your email finds me (especially when it was obviously generated by AI).
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Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 29/07/2026
I get that most ppl won't know this, but this website is a News Corp site and this journalist in particular is a really really nasty piece of work. Please share the original @404media.co that NC is copying for clicks www.404media.co/ai-companies...
404media.co
AI Companies Are Buying Tons of Old Books Because They're Free of AI Slop
ISBNdb, a company that sources printed books for AI companies to turn into training data, tells clients “the optics problem is real.”
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
This is more than worrying. www.space.com/space-explor...
space.com
Private companies could ruin the night sky for the entire world, and international law can't stop them
"The regulatory environment and regulatory framework has significant gaps and holes in it. Essentially, the technology is outpacing the regulatory environment."
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Māris Jansons @marisjansons.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Gētes institūts bija sākums. Tagad tas jau ir plašāk - lietovelreiz.lv
lietovelreiz.lv
Lieto Vēlreiz
Lieto Vēlreiz - iespējas lietas nomāt, remontēt, koplietot un samainīt. Tā samazināsim vajadzību pirkt jaunu, ietaupīsim naudu un radīsim mazāk atkritumu.
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Šo gribētu redzēt arī Latvijā - bibliotēkas arī kā instrumentu un citu derīgu lietu "thēkē" jeb krātuves. Protams, labas iestrādes ir, it īpaši saistībā ar digitālo pieejamību, bet šujmašīnu, šķiet, tomēr nevar dabūt www.bbc.com/future/artic...
bbc.com
Not just books - how renting a sewing machine from the library can improve democracy
Finland's libraries are increasingly being valued not by how many books they lend, but how they help societies function.
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Christopher J Stevens @metaphysiology.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
The Thomas House in Dublin announcing they will no longer accept AI generated posters or flyers. The Thomas House is beside, as they say here, Ireland's biggest Art College, namely NCAD. This is the way... to keep humans creative. #AIslop #refuseresist
Poster from the Dublin music venue and pub The Thomas House saying they will not accept AI generated posters or flyers for concerts.

"We understand bands can be skint but relying on some earth killing app from some paedo island billionaire is not the way. We got by without it and we'll get by again. IF YOU'RE STUCK WE'LL HELP."

"THANKS, HUMANS."
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Michael Okun @michael-okun.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Over the last month I saw that human editors are now stripped of control. I could no longer stop the system from auto-inviting "reviewers" with zero relevant expertise. Even worse - the AI began actively revoking the invitations I manually sent out to actual, qualified experts.
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Michael Okun @michael-okun.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
When Frontiers started automating the editorial process, I stayed. I reasoned that as long as the automation could be turned off, human editors can still ensure rigorous, high-quality peer review. This now became impossible - the system has been entirely hijacked by algorithms.
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Michael Okun @michael-okun.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
I’ve officially resigned as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience. It used to be a reputable journal, but became a case study in how forced automation destroys academic integrity. 👇
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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
look how much craftsmanship we've lost in clothing in just a hundred years
A man in the 19th century wearing a chicken suit. It has feathers, a full on tail, and even shoes shaped like chicken feetA chicken suit currently for sale. It's just a smooth white zip-up onesie with no tail, no chicken feet, and just some flappy thing under the arms and some striped leggings. Pathetic
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Graham Kendall @grahamkendall.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Should ethics be a university ranking indicator? Global rankings (such as QS and THES) influence university behaviour far more than many institutions would like to admit. Universities change strategy, allocate resources, restructure priorities and set targets based on ranking methodologies. 🧵
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
If you are still considering where to go this summer, BBC advertises Latvia. I recommend :) www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Visai politiskajai jezgai pa vidu arī laba ziņa - beidzot (beidzot!) Saeima pieņēma Biobanku likumu. Izpētīju savā epastā, ka darba grupa tika izveidota 2016. gadā. 🥂https://lvportals.lv/dienaskartiba/389747-saeima-pienem-biobanku-likumu-stiprinot-pamatus-precizijas-medicinas-attistibai-2026
lvportals.lv
Saeima pieņem Biobanku likumu, stiprinot pamatus precīzijas medicīnas attīstībai - LV portāls
Saeima šodien, 14. maijā, galīgajā lasījumā pieņēma Biobanku likumu, kas nosaka vienotu tiesisko regulējumu biobanku darbībai Latvijā, veicinot pētniecības attīstību un precīzijas medicīnas ieviešanu.
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Plenary session: Q. How different should African code for research integrity be? A. Principles are universal, but there still are nuances that might need a "homegrown" approach. #WCRI2026
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Very interesting presentations on research security. How is/is not research security assessment connected to research ethics evaluation? Should there be a connection? #WCRI2026
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Great questions from the audience during WCRI2026: how much are journals earning from paper mill products and how it influences their willingness to detect paper mill products? #WCRI2026
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Dr. Elīna Reitere @elinareitere.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Venēcijā - tas ir kultūras trops un standartsituācija, kas ir variēta dažādu jomu mākslasdarbos. Tādējādi Kriša Salmaņa plakāts - protesta rīks pret Krievijas dalību Venēcijas mākslas biennālē un citos kultūras pasākumos - #BiennaleArte2026 #inminorkeys
Uz sarkanas Kremļa sienas uzraksts "Death in Venice".
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Greg Priest @gregpriest.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
For #PhilSky aficionados, here’s a cartoon from a recent @newyorker.com:
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Anna Žabicka, Dr.phil. @zabicka.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Paula Stradiņa Medicīnas vēstures muzejs š.g. 8.-9. jūnijā aicina klausītājus apmeklēt starptautisku simpoziju "Reproductive Health in Fragile Democracies: Bodies, Technologies and Futures". Apmeklējums bez maksas ar iepriekšēju reģistrāciju (līdz ~07.05.). Reģ.forma šeit: www.mvm.lv/en/what-s-on...
mvm.lv
Reproductive Health in Fragile Democracies
Symposium
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Our newest paper.
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Michael Prinzing @mprinzing.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Philosophy was mostly "armchair" in the mid-20th century—but it's not anymore! Philosophers have increasingly cited empirical sources and discussed empirical data and evidence. In fact, as of the 2020s, non-empirical philosophy has become the minority.
A graph showing the percentage of philosophy articles that cited empirical sources each year between 1970 and 2024. That proportion has increased from approximately 10% in the 1970s to over 50% in the 2020s.
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Solid Evidence @solidevidence.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
I hope no one needs an MRI this year. The world's largest producer of liquified helium is in Qatar and is shut off. We just got a notice that our supply for the year will be at least cut in half. No one could have predicted this (unless they thought about it).
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Insta Science @instascience.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
This rarely-seen Glass Octopus was caught by an underwater robot during an expedition off the Phoenix Islands.
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
To celebrate International Women’s Day, read a good book by a female author about strong women. My suggestion: The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave. www.goodreads.com/book/show/46...
goodreads.com
The Mercies
After a storm has killed off all the island's men, two …
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ian bremmer @ianbremmer.com · 06/03/2026
always loved this book
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John Peters @johnthejack.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
From my point of view, this seems very important. The metaphors we use when we speak and think about generative AI matter. If we frame it as a tool, tutor or assistant, it raises particular concerns. www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/gene...
timeshighereducation.com
Generative AI is not just a tool for learning. It shapes how students think
Framing this technology as a helpful ‘tool’ disguises how much it guides every element of critical thinking that academics seek to cultivate, says James Garvey
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Kevin Mitchell @wiringthebrain.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
The strongest version of this illusion I’ve seen! Absolute head-wrecker!
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
www.bbc.com/culture/arti...
bbc.com
11 of the Winter Olympics' most striking images - as classical artworks
As the 2026 Winter Olympics close, the BBC rounds up some of the most stunning photos captured from the Games, and compares them to historic works of art.
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Simon Kuestenmacher @simongerman600.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
I'll count this hilarious @bergerandwyse cartoon as a map 😉 🗺️ 🐦️
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Today is UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science! Hope you are celebrating! Here are some forgotten heroes. www.lostwomenofscience.org
lostwomenofscience.org
Home | Lost Women of Science
Discover Lost Women of Science, a platform dedicated to telling the stories of remarkable women in STEM who have been lost to history.
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Jānis Kollis @kollis.id.lv · 05/02/2026
Starp citu, te ir brīnišķīgs resurss, kur paskatīties, vai kaut ko nevar aizstāt ar Eiropas produktiem. Labi saprotu, ka tāda lieta, kā Zoom vai Teams aizstāšana ir grūta, jo vajag panākt, lai to akceptētu visas iesaistītās puses, bet tomēr. Varianti ir, un ir gandrīz visam. european-alternatives.eu
european-alternatives.eu
European Alternatives
We help you find European alternatives for digital service and products, like cloud services and SaaS products.
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Ja ir taisnība, ka piektdien LU notikušajā konferencē par šī projekta rezultātiem nebija iespējas uzdot jautājumus un debatēt, tad rodas bažas par akadēmiskās brīvības principa ievērošanu. Zinātniska konference pēc būtības ir vieta debatēm.
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Loved this. In general, I really enjoy McEwan’s writing. This 2006 book offers a one-day insight into the life and mind of a London-based neurosurgeon. www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
goodreads.com
Signe Mežinska's review of Saturday
5/5: Loved this. In general, I really enjoy McEwan’s writing. This book offers a one-day insight into the life and mind of a London-based neurosurgeon. His Saturday takes an unexpected turn (no spoile...
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Christina Jewett @by-cjewett.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
NEW: Kennedy's plan to study Hep. B vaccine in African babies has been suspended by Guinea-Bissau. Experts say the trial is unethical in a nation where 1 in 5 kids are exposed to Hep. B, which can take decades off their lives. HHS: the trial is "paused." www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/h...
nytimes.com
Kennedy Plan to Test a Vaccine in West African Babies Is Blocked
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Mycology is amazing. "Every year, doctors at a hospital in the Yunnan Province of China brace themselves for an influx of people with an unusual complaint. The patients come with a strikingly odd symptom: visions of pint-sized, elf-like figures..." www.bbc.com/future/artic...
bbc.com
'They saw them on their dishes when eating': The mushroom making people hallucinate dozens of tiny humans
Only recently described by science, the mysterious mushrooms are found in different parts of the world, but they give people the same exact visions.
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The Embassy of Good Science @embassysci.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Wondering why it's so important to empower educators in research ethics? 🤔 Our irecs team from the AUMC Train-the-Trainer event share their insights on this key topic for advancing research integrity. Watch now to hear their perspectives! ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY7u... #ResearchEthics
youtube.com
Research ethics – why train educators?
YouTube video by The Embassy of Good Science
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Svētku pusdienas Eiropas Padomes ēdnīcā.
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
Great reading: "But the kids know, and they know that the other kids know, and they know that we don’t know shit. Children have always looked for a world without us. With the advent of the Internet, they have found one lying in the rubble." unpublishablepapers.substack.com/p/where-do-t...
unpublishablepapers.substack.com
Where Do the Children Play?
On the need for a world without us
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
JVLMA zinātniskā un radošā darba prorektore Diāna Zandberga līdz galam nesaprot studētāju mērķus:"Lūk, visi ieraudzīja tikai šo naudas summu, un tas kļuva par to varbūt pat mērķi, jo citus gadus visi stājās ar domu attīstīt sevi, sasniegt augstākus mākslinieciskus mērķus." www.lsm.lv/raksts/kultu...
lsm.lv
Mūzikas akadēmija uzņem doktorantus bez finansējuma likumā paredzētajam atalgojumam
Jāzepa Vītola Latvijas Mūzikas akadēmija (JVLMA) uzņēmusi budžeta grupā doktorantus, pirms tam neaprēķinot, cik daudziem spēs maksāt 1000 eiro atalgojumu mēnesī, kā to nosaka jaunais doktorantūras mod...
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Maastricht University has withdrawn a 2022 news release that claimed overweight and obesity cost Dutch society 79 billion euros annually, due to a calculation error. Additionally, questions have been raised about undisclosed conflicts of interest. nltimes.nl/2025/11/11/m...
nltimes.nl
Maastricht Uni retracts €79 billion obesity cost claim over conflict-of-interest
Maastricht University has withdrawn a 2022 news release claiming that overweight and obesity cost Dutch society 79 billion euros annually, after investigations revealed the figure was significantly in...
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Signe Mežinska @signemezinska.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
This is alarming and unacceptable. Europe continues to uphold a strong ethical stance on embryo editing, while the US remains worryingly unpredictable. www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/31/1...
technologyreview.com
Here’s the latest company planning for gene-edited babies
Entrepreneurs say it’s time to safety-test designer baby technology.
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