The hottest Academia Substack posts right now

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SPSP Censorship 2.0: "We Are Above the Rules"

Unsafe Science • 79 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🚌 Education Academia Research Publication Ethics Social media
  1. Individuals who believe they are above the rules can be harmful to society or organizations.
  2. SPSP did not abide by professional guidelines for retraction, choosing to make up reasons to retract papers.
  3. There was a discrepancy in how SPSP handled different posters, allowing some politically motivated content while taking down others.

Update to "Jews don't Count......Or Do They?"

Fisted by Foucault • 223 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics DEI Speech Academia Anti-Semitism
  1. The fight between US universities and its donor class over free speech on campus is intensifying.
  2. The battle includes issues of ideological capture, free speech limitations, and the role of the donor class in academia.
  3. The conflict also reveals concerns about DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) and the potential impact on different groups within universities.
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"Crowned Masterpieces of Eloquence" Introduction

Anarchonomicon • 707 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🚌 Education History Literature Politics Academia
  1. The collection 'Crowned Masterpieces of Eloquence' provides a unique window into early 1900s speeches and reveals the power of oratory in shaping history.
  2. While oratory may be a lost art today, historical speeches have the ability to surprise and enlighten readers with perspectives from different eras.
  3. Trump's distinct persona and communication style, though not a classical orator, stand out in a field of polished, scripted politicians, showing a different approach to public speaking.

On Cultivating “Genius” (Part I)

if not, Paris • 530 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Literature Language Academia Art
  1. The term 'genius' and language have been questioned by structuralists and post-structuralists, blurring clear meanings.
  2. Academic discourse can prioritize sounding smart over communicating effectively, leading to confusion and inadequacy.
  3. Academia's cultivation of 'genius' can limit new ideas and perspectives, impacting the understanding of genius in the 21st century.

41 Years in UX: A Career Retrospective

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 60 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🕹 Technology User Experience Academia Inventions Startups Web Design
  1. Jakob Nielsen has had a long career in UX since 1983, with a consistent mission of making computers user-friendly.
  2. He transitioned from academia to real-world UX work, influenced by his experiences with different computers and usability.
  3. Key achievements include pioneering discount usability, writing a popular book on web usability, and raising public awareness about UX.

Talking research integrity at Stanford

Science Forever • 19 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🔬 Science Research Integrity Academia Publications Errors
  1. Research integrity issues are systemic, not just due to individual mistakes. Institutions must take responsibility for addressing these problems.
  2. Tools like Proofig help catch errors in papers, emphasizing the importance of correcting mistakes promptly.
  3. Reducing stigma around correcting papers, proactive responses from institutions, and encouraging a culture of self-correction are crucial for improving research integrity.

The cult of positive thinking comes for academe

The Recovering Academic • 356 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🚌 Education Academia Leadership Student experience Critical Thinking
  1. Positive thinking originated as an antidote to Puritanism and is about trying to think positively as a practice or discipline.
  2. In academia, positive thinking can enable gaslighting where university leaders may manipulate or undermine faculty concerns to align with their personal visions.
  3. Negative thinking, while often seen in a bad light, can be essential for seeking truth and survival by challenging assumptions and serving as a tool for vigilantly assessing reality.

3 Reasons Why You Should Watch Lucky Hank

The Recovering Academic • 257 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture TV shows Literature Academia Satire
  1. The show brings attention to how higher education has shifted towards treating students as customers, focusing on job outcomes over learning.
  2. It highlights the pressure and pathology in the publishing world, showing how success can lead to narcissism and a relentless pursuit of acclaim.
  3. The series sheds light on the power dynamics and control issues within academia, portraying the absurdity and corporate influences in higher education leadership.

Harvard achieves scientific consensus by eliminating those who disagree

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 12 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Governance COVID-19 Academia Freedom
  1. Harvard achieves scientific consensus by eliminating dissenting voices, creating an atmosphere of intimidation and silencing.
  2. There is a lack of transparency at Harvard regarding decisions, like dropping the COVID vaccination mandate, leading to questions about accountability.
  3. The message from Harvard to their faculty is clear: Follow instructions without questioning to avoid repercussions, which raises concerns about academic freedom.

Ancient Rome, Heavy Metal, and The Academy

Cosy Moments • 13 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Music Literature Academia Gender Entertainment
  1. The author reflects on how being a heavy metal guitar player shaped his dedication to mastering music, comparing guitar players to mythical figures like Hercules.
  2. An overview of the book 'Classical Antiquity in Heavy Metal Music' is shared, highlighting the intersection of classics and heavy metal as a topic of discussion in academia.
  3. Critiques are made on the analysis included in the book, questioning the focus on gender, political analysis, music lyrics, and the relevance of studying classics through the lens of modern music culture.

Meet the New Book Burners

Unsafe Science • 97 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia Authoritarianism Ethics Diversity Free speech
  1. Authoritarianism in academia is rising, leading to concern about the suppression of liberal democracy.
  2. Book burning is not just about literal burning of books, but also includes attempts to censor work deemed harmful.
  3. Prominent academics endorsing book burning practices and authoritarian behaviors pose ironic situations in academic fields.

Who Agrees with Hitler?

Unsafe Science • 223 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Issues Political Ideology Academia Activism Partisanship
  1. The study found that people were more likely to agree with negative statements when they were about white people compared to other racial groups.
  2. Political affiliation influenced the level of agreement with negative statements, with liberals showing higher agreement with anti-white sentiments.
  3. The research highlighted how tribalism and prejudice can influence attitudes towards different demographic groups.

On the communist origins of diversity, equality, and inclusion ideology

Heterodox STEM • 220 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
💾 History Communism Totalitarianism Ideology Academia Antisemitism
  1. The communist origins of diversity, equality, and inclusion ideology can be traced back to Lenin and Soviet history.
  2. Lenin promoted reducing high salaries and creating ideological control in Soviet Union which has parallels to current movements in academia.
  3. There are alarming similarities between the practices of diversity, equality, and inclusion initiatives in academia and the ideological control in the Soviet Union, leading to the censorship of ideas and persecution of dissent.

Guest post: Jenn Zuko

The Recovering Academic • 217 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Theater Academia Gender Dynamics
  1. The author reflects on the challenges faced as an adjunct theatre professor and the lack of recognition or support received after many years of service.
  2. The narrative highlights the profound impact of the decision to leave, detailing the mixed reactions and emotional moments during the announcement.
  3. Despite the author's anticipation of theatrical reactions to their resignation, the reality was met with unexpected, mostly silent responses during a faculty meeting.

American Political Science Review Issues "Expression of Concern" Following Karlstack Investigation

Karlstack • 173 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia Scandal Corruption Investigation Research
  1. American Political Science Review issued an 'Expression of Concern' following an investigation by Karlstack.
  2. The investigation revealed errors in a published article, including unreliable core findings due to missing data.
  3. The lack of accountability in academia, particularly in the field of Political Science, was highlighted.

Why University Matters Beyond Jobs and Skills

Theory Matters • 16 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🚌 Education University Academia Teaching Higher education
  1. Universities are facing financial struggles due to a decline in student numbers, both domestic and international.
  2. There is a shift in the perception of universities, moving away from being seen as places of intellectual exploration to mere stepping stones for jobs.
  3. There is a call for universities to prioritize intellectual experiences over skill-building, avoid becoming 'skills factories,' and uphold honesty and standards.

Why History's "Alone" reminds me of graduate school

The Recovering Academic • 138 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Survival Nature Reality TV Academia Literature
  1. Survival shows like 'Alone' and the academic world of graduate school both promote a self-reliant mentality, but this mindset can be isolating and self-defeating in real life.
  2. Growing up close to nature can instill a deep connection with the environment, but nostalgia for a primitive past can sometimes cloud the reality of the present.
  3. The use of technology in survival scenarios, like on 'Alone', can be contradictory and may not accurately reflect historical survival methods. Invention often arises from abundance, not scarcity.

A psychology PhD's journey from academe to human factors engineering

The Recovering Academic • 59 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
💼 Business Psychology Engineering Academia Career transition
  1. Ashley Ruba transitioned successfully from academia to the industry, showcasing the value of building online professional relationships.
  2. The academic job market can be challenging and unmeritocratic, leading to difficulties in securing faculty positions despite impressive achievements.
  3. Ashley Ruba's journey highlights the importance of exploring career options outside of academia, especially when facing challenges like limited job prospects and the impact of external factors.

Cancel Culture Questions, Part 1

Dreams in the Which House • 98 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Cancel Culture Public Discourse Media Academia Literature
  1. Cancel culture cases aren't just about celebrities, but also impact many less known individuals
  2. The fear of self-censorship due to cancel culture is not well-supported, especially as it often stems from prominent figures and lacks widespread factual basis
  3. Criticism of cancel culture narratives should involve more thorough fact-checking and not rely solely on anecdotes for evidence