Reposted by Kate BowlesTressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Right, okay everybody, I’ve had a lot of meetings and talks this week and I have to share some top line thoughts. Things are quite a bit worse than i am usually willing to share with people because panic does no good. It’s kinda bad. The baddies have the wind at their back. No denying that. 101315221
Reposted by Kate Bowlesrom comrade @savasavasava.myatproto.social · 07/09/2026there’s a certain kind of person who says this as though it’s an easy thing to do 3256
Reposted by Kate BowlesJLRay @jlray.bsky.social · 05/07/2026Baudrillard spinning in his grave so fast he torpedoes out of the hillside and remains airborne, lasers shooting out of his eyes with such force earth is cleanly cut in two 182081412
Reposted by Kate BowlesBen Williamson @benpatrickwill.bsky.social · 24/04/2026From journal editing experience this tracks. In 2022 our journal got ~300 submissions. In 2025? 1300. So far this year? 500 and we're not even out of April yet. The AI trickle is now a stream, yet T&F are *still* seeking new big tech partners to flog papers for AI training rather than *helping us* 17933
Reposted by Kate BowlesGreg Jericho @grogsgamut.bsky.social · 09/02/2026The world is so much poorer for not having Jon Kudelka in it 27759187
Reposted by Kate BowlesLuke Pearson @lukelpearson.bsky.social · 30/01/2026"Why aren't media as outraged about the Perth bomb attack as there were over the Bondi shootings?" Dude, they aren't even as outraged as they were when Adam Goodes threw an imaginary boomerang. 312847
Reposted by Kate BowlesKristen Radtke @kristenradtke.bsky.social · 27/01/2026I wrote about my childhood friend Alexi Pretti. Please read it and share it and remember him as a human being. @theverge.comtheverge.comI grew up with Alex PrettiThe kind-hearted ICU nurse shot by ICE agents was my childhood best friend. 496171906829
Reposted by Kate BowlesCharlie Jones @charliepsych.bsky.social · 25/12/2025It’s good to feel a bit of time to slow down & appreciate the people we love, the people who shape us, the people we miss, people who maybe aren't around any more. Maybe some nostalgia for times gone by. A sense of knowing, amidst all the noise, that it’s our relationships that matter. 0111
Reposted by Kate BowlesAustralian Academy of the Humanities @humanitiesau.bsky.social · 26/11/2025It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Emeritus Professor Graeme Turner AO FAHA FQA — one of Australia’s most influential humanities scholars and a towering figure in the Academy’s history. humanities.org.au/our-communit... 12515
Reposted by Kate BowlesMark Hurst @markhurst.bsky.social · 23/04/2025My thoughts on AI's intrusions in education, quoting @audreywatters.bsky.social & @biblioracle.bsky.social On resisting AI intrusions: buttondown.com/creativegood...buttondown.comOn resisting AI intrusionsFor several years I’ve been following Paul Salopek, a National Geographic explorer, on his Out of Eden Walk around the world. Paul has been on Techtonic a... 0275
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 28/02/2025Albanese? Wong? Anything to say about anything? I know we just learned that AUKUS is beyond him, and I know we’re very keen to say we have no doubt they would defend us under ANZUS, but is this the moral quality of the ally we are choosing, or just the one we’re afraid of losing? 020
Reposted by Kate BowlesBrigid Russell @brigidrussell51.bsky.social · 11/02/2025People who condemn well-intentioned approaches to diversity, equity, and inclusion out of hand are presuming their so-called "meritocracy" operates on a level playing-field. Such an argument entirely misses the point that prevailing sources of money, power, and privilege dominate. 0122
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 24/01/2025So glad this morning to find @brigidrussell51.bsky.social and @charliepsych.bsky.social here. I’m still never quite sure what to say in this space so I’m really taken with the consistency of their reflections. 220
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 23/01/2025Australian universities need to be thinking seriously about this question of social license. It’s not new, it’s just got a new hat. And it’s going to pop up everywhere in the election year. A smart defense will need to go beyond stock images of sciencing. futurecampus.com.au/2025/01/23/h...futurecampus.com.auHE’s hottest topic emerges - Future CampusAs US higher education institutions brace for the Trump administration’s promised reforms, designed to radically reshape the sector to better align with the values of their supporter base, the importa... 021
Reposted by Kate BowlesLouise Milligan @milliganreports.bsky.social · 23/01/2025Okay friends, you know what to do. Welcome the formidable @louiseadler1.bsky.social to Bluesky. An *awkward gesture* has brought has brought her from X to greener pastures. Louise is brave, big-hearted, funny and smart. Publisher of my first book on Pell, Cardinal, now runs Adelaide Writers’ Week. 2538977
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 18/01/2025Revealing thread on the return of the barely repressed, edtech inevitabilism. Inevitabilistic projections are sparkly because they’re shallow. No one writing (or prompting) this kind of prose needs to trouble themselves with risk. 020
Reposted by Kate BowlesBrenna Clarke Gray @brennacgray.bsky.social · 17/01/2025One of the early panel discussions I did on Generative AI turned to the question of labour saving for faculty. A big topic was taking on the writing that no one wants to do or read anyway. The specific example was reporting out on sabbaticals and grants. Why not automate that hoop with ChatGPT? 161
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 06/01/2025“The goal of this change, in Meta's words, was to "limit … the content [teenagers] see, and help ensure their time is well spent.” Something something footy netball swimming Aussie Aussie Aussie. 020
Reposted by Kate BowlesAsher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 04/01/2025Introduce the clumsy obvious AI accounts first, then while people are distracted slip the far harder-to-spot version into the ecosystem 57110
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 22/12/2024Overheard yesterday in small independent local bookstore. “My son told me the name of the book and I’ve forgotten it.” Long pause. All of us browsing held our breath. “Percy something?” “Oh yes, we have those, which one?” I’m surprised we didn’t all cheer, as we were thinking it. 010
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 19/12/2024Thinking hard about what Lorna is saying about the radical praxis of decelerating in the context of this beautiful writing from @agnesbosanquet.bsky.social: theslowacademic.com/2024/11/30/s...theslowacademic.comSlow reading – senses, nature, longingI am just scraping into November with this slow reading post. Here in the southern hemisphere the weather is heating up (too much); the school, university and work year is ending; and we are hurtli… 272
Reposted by Kate BowlesIoana Cerasella Chis @cerasellachis.bsky.social · 17/12/2024The UK's HSE in its reply to the University of Birmingham SMT's response to Birmingham UCU's complaint: 'I do not consider that your reply provides sufficient assurance that work-related stress is being suitably managed by the University'. 'we will be inspecting the University [..] in the new year' 312068
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 15/12/2024The name of this product is the red flag for the conversations higher education is failing to have about its own labour market. The business problem being solved here isn’t the workload of the privileged, that’s just bait. www.alldayta.comalldayta.comAll Day TAAll Day TA is an AI EdTech company focused on higher education that enables professors to build customized AI teaching assistants for their courses. Available 24/7, it provides students with instant, ... 192
Reposted by Kate BowlesAustralian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) @alhr.bsky.social · 15/12/2024As the remaining Bali 9 members return home, ALHR’s thoughts are with the loved ones of Andrew Chan & Myuran Sukumaran - young men who had been demonstrably rehabilitated after 10 years imprisonment but who were executed. We must continue to work towards the worldwide abolition of the death penaltyirreversible.is 111625
Reposted by Kate BowlesLitbowl @litbowl.bsky.social · 12/12/2024From Raymond Carver's book, All of Us: bookshop.org/a/862/978037... #poem #poetry #raymondcarver #writers #books 03711
Reposted by Kate BowlesBrenna Clarke Gray @brennacgray.bsky.social · 10/12/2024I dream of a world where instead of saying “hey, AI can write this grant exit report no one wants to read” we ask “what is a more meaningful way to report out about grants?” We automate busy work instead of abolishing it and boil the oceans in the process. 111
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 10/12/2024“professional incentives” is the thing to notice. Why have universities incentivised fast and frequent paywalled publication? What metrics of individual and institutional gain/game have made higher education so ripe for AI uplift? Looking forward to what Mark has to say. 181
Reposted by Kate BowlesMatthew Kirschenbaum @mkirschenbaum.bsky.social · 09/12/20241. It’s not possible to keep “AI” out of “the humanities” so long as the humanities inhabit an institution. 2. AI is first/foremost an amplification of—the operationalization of—long-standing forces acting on (within) that institution. 3. It’s not about the technology. It’s about the capital. 417635
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 09/12/2024“High levels of internet usage and heavy media multitasking are associated with decreased grey matter in prefrontal regions” — the problem being this is overwhelmingly a description of work itself. Is there a work safety case being built here? Is work really rotting our brains? Is it? 010
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 07/12/2024The next thing for Australia’s attempts to decide who uses social media in this country and the circumstances in which they do, is that we’re on about being first (see also: sport) but we’re far from alone. Changes in the US will continue to change things here. Either way. All ways. 010
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 07/12/2024Thing I’m still stuck on: the legislative focus is logically Australians under 16, but the legislative target is the media platforms they can access. This means platforms will have to take reasonable steps to check citizenship as well. And that’s going to need govt ID, surely. 2103
Reposted by Kate BowlesClaire Field @clairefield.bsky.social · 29/11/2024I can’t believe I never thought about this before 🤦♀️ Because of the differences in average graduate earnings across states and territories - the time taken to pay off student loans is worsening the inequality between the states - The Australia Institute australiainstitute.org.au/post/the-inc...australiainstitute.org.auThe time taken to pay off HECS is worsening the inequality between the statesThe increased cost of university degrees has amplified the difference in time it takes to pay off a degree in each state - and can make it more attractive to work elsewhere. 2112
Reposted by Kate BowlesCarceral Abolition @carceralabolition.bsky.social · 04/12/2024Trans youth are already among Australia’s most marginalised people. The social media ban could make this worse theconversation.com/trans-youth-...theconversation.comTrans youth are already among Australia’s most marginalised people. The social media ban could make this worseYoung trans people in Australia have much higher rates of suicide, mental health struggles and anxiety disorders – but many find refuge in social media. 001
Reposted by Kate BowlesKatgallow @katgallow.bsky.social · 03/12/2024Meanwhile, in Qld, they will be sentenced as adults. 2156
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 03/12/2024As “under 16” is being encoded into social media policy as “childhood”, take a look at the Australian children serving your takeaway and packing your groceries. They’re being paid 36.8% of the adult minimum wage, and very big businesses depend on them. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...theguardian.comGrill’d was able to pay Arda $3 less than minimum wage. Unions want this youth ‘loophole’ abolishedAdvocates argue it’s time for young people’s wages to rise but business groups claim paying more will push some companies into insolvency 14927
Reposted by Kate BowlesCheryl Brown @cherylbrown.bsky.social · 02/12/2024Enjoying listening to a “voice from home” at #ascilite2024 @czernie.bsky.social talking about Higher Education for Good and @helenbeetham.bsky.social conversation around what a Good University could/should be. More from Laura here czernie.weebly.com 1184
Reposted by Kate BowlesColin Simpson @gamerlearner.bsky.social · 01/12/2024I think it says something about how third space staff work that the tech people thought the lapel mic was missing after the last session but we had actually just put it back on the charger and that is so rarely done that they didn't think to look there #3SS 241
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 29/11/2024Yes. However the implementation of this works out, Australian parents are being stirred up to block future expert input on means and risks. “Let's go back to old-school days where kids communicated, played outdoors, just had the childhood that we had.” www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11...abc.net.auFor some parents, the 'blanket rule' of Australia's under-16 social media ban can't come soon enoughFrom the end of next year, children under 16 will be banned from social media in Australia. So how do parents feel about enforcing the nation's controversial new laws? 040
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 28/11/2024On online age assurance risks to LGBTIQA+ teens: techpolicy.press/age-verifica...techpolicy.pressConsidering Age Verification and Impacts on LGBTQ+ Youth | TechPolicy.PressMariel Povolny explores how age assurance measures impact LGBTQ+ youth and alternative approaches to protect their agency in online spaces. 020
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 28/11/2024Australia will (checks notes) require all social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prove all adult account holders are not children under 16 using methods such as (checks notes) er (flips page) well, not yet sure about that actually. Good grief. 040
Reposted by Kate BowlesLenore Taylor @lenoret.bsky.social · 27/11/2024Don't often hear a pollie say this; "I have a confession to make. ... I’ve realised I was wrong and changed my mind." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comWhy I’ve changed my mind about the social media bill – and why other parents should too | Andrew WilkieThe ban is a blunt instrument that will silence the voices of young people instead of placing the onus on tech companies to protect them 1930797
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 27/11/2024We also underestimate how much parents when polled want to be able to control or prevent many different things and are prepared for now to call them all “social media”. Phones, group chats, unknown friends, poor sleep habits, stress. All these worrying things are now Social Media. 240
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 26/11/2024US colleges cutting majors to manage the education market they’ve created. This is becoming familiar in Australia where we’re stuck between full marketisation and curriculum by government design, and somehow also responsible for migration and housing supply. www.cbsnews.com/news/us-coll...cbsnews.comU.S. colleges slash majors in effort to cut costs, leaving some students scramblingA wave of program cuts at large and small U.S. colleges is creating turmoil for students enrolled in programs suddenly upended. 010
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 26/11/2024First rate. Behind the tech and justice challenges of the bill itself is this nostalgia for a golden past when Aussie kids played footy with their real mates. Whose memory is this? Whose childhood are we trying to reclaim? Who does all this sporty storytelling leave out? 130
Kate Bowles @sokate.bsky.social · 26/11/2024Despite three dissenting reports from different points of the political compass, malarkey looks set to continue, committing all Australians (and likely quite a few non Australians)* to proving their age by unspecified means. *international students, for instance 000