The hottest Academia Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Burn Academia Down?

Unsafe Science • 45 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🚌 Education Academia
  1. There are concerns about censorship in academia that need to be addressed. People should be able to share and discuss ideas freely without fear of being shut down.
  2. Some believe that the current academic system is failing and might require a complete overhaul. It's suggested that starting fresh could lead to better ideas and practices.
  3. Engaging with diverse perspectives can enhance the learning experience. Encouraging different viewpoints can help improve critical thinking and innovation.

The Fossil Record So Far

Living Fossils • 14 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Academia
  1. Emotions are important because they help us understand our experiences and motivate us to take action. They are adaptations that have been useful throughout human history.
  2. A lot of our modern problems come from living in environments that are very different from what our ancestors knew. This mismatch can lead to various forms of psychological distress.
  3. There is a need for reform in academic psychology to better understand human behavior and mental health. Using evolutionary principles can provide a better foundation for understanding these issues.

Who Agrees with Hitler?

Unsafe Science • 223 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia
  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 Academia
  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.
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The New Expanded Illustrated Orwelexicon: DSM 666

Unsafe Science • 48 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🔬 Science Academia
  1. The New Expanded Illustrated Orwelexicon introduces new words to highlight biases and issues in psychology and academia. It aims to make these concepts clearer and more accessible.
  2. This resource shows how language can shape our understanding of societal problems. By using specific terms, it helps pinpoint dysfunctions within various fields.
  3. Overall, the Orwelexicon encourages critical thinking about psychology and social science. It invites people to reflect on how words influence perceptions and beliefs.

So you want to be a UX researcher?

UX Psychology • 79 implied HN points • 27 Mar 22
🕹 Technology Academia
  1. Before transitioning to UX research, consider if it aligns with your interests and flexibility needs, as it differs from academic research.
  2. Networking with UX professionals, establishing an online presence, and engaging in enterprise activities can help you break into the industry.
  3. Developing transferrable skills, learning more about UX through various resources, and crafting an industry-focused CV are crucial steps for transitioning from academia to UX research.

The Path of Heterodoxy

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 87 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🔬 Science Academia
  1. Being unconventional in the academic world can lead to resistance and pushback from those in power, but staying true to your discoveries and principles is important.
  2. Challenging orthodox beliefs and standing by your heterodox views may result in alienation and hostility, but it can also lead to personal growth and self-discovery.
  3. Navigating the path of heterodoxy requires courage, resilience, and a willingness to face criticism and rejection, but in the end, it can lead to finding a community of like-minded individuals and true allies.

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

Karlstack • 173 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia
  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.

SPSP Censorship 2.0: "We Are Above the Rules"

Unsafe Science • 79 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🚌 Education Academia
  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.

A Sign of the Times

The Good Science Project • 85 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🔬 Science Academia
  1. Billionaires are investing in organizations to attract scientists from universities.
  2. The new trend focuses on speeding up research innovation and breakthroughs.
  3. Both universities and philanthropists need to reevaluate how research funding is utilized.

Materials of Fraud

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 14 implied HN points • 20 May 25
🚌 Education Academia
  1. AI is making it easier for students to cheat in school. Many students use AI tools to write essays or complete assignments without actually doing the work themselves.
  2. Recent incidents of academic fraud show how high the stakes are for getting published in top journals. The pressure to perform can lead some researchers to cheat to meet their goals.
  3. Cheating is influenced by economic factors, like the perceived benefits of doing well versus the risks of being caught. This creates a situation where more people might try to cheat, especially in competitive environments.

Meet the New Book Burners

Unsafe Science • 97 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia
  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.

S&T: 'A conversation with Sydney Brenner: How academia and publishing are destroying scientific innovation' - Elizabeth Dzeng's 2014 Interview

James W. Phillips' Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 16 May 23
🔬 Science Academia
  1. Sydney Brenner and his colleagues made significant contributions to biology, including establishing the genetic code and using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism.
  2. Young scientists face challenges in today's academic environment, such as pressure to publish in high-impact journals and the need for funding for risky, innovative research.
  3. There is a growing movement towards open access publishing and a reevaluation of the metrics used to judge research quality in academia.

Being a Professor is a (Product and Reinforcer of) Privilege

Symbolic Capital(ism) • 19 implied HN points • 19 Jul 23
🚌 Education Academia
  1. Being a tenure-track professor comes with high occupational prestige, pleasant working conditions, and superior job security, offering a lifestyle privilege.
  2. The requirements for becoming a tenure-line professor create barriers for the majority of the U.S. population, favoring elite backgrounds and credentials from prestigious institutions for academic success.
  3. Current academic evaluation practices, such as journal publications, citations, and grant opportunities, often prioritize institutional prestige and professional connections over genuine scholarly merit, reinforcing privileges within academia.

A few points of business

Philosophy bear • 78 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Academia
  1. The author recently completed their PhD, but is waiting for feedback before celebrating.
  2. Their PhD thesis can be requested, but may not include corrections based on feedback.
  3. The author experienced a health scare, but further examination revealed no serious issues.

My defense

Holly Elmore • 19 implied HN points • 22 Aug 23
🔬 Science Academia
  1. The author shares a popular post discussing Baker's Law and the evolution of sex.
  2. The author provides a recorded rehearsal of their defense lecture.
  3. The author includes links to the slides and dissertation for further reference.

No Academy for Trad Men

Holodoxa • 39 implied HN points • 05 Jan 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia
  1. Scruton's successful academic and public career as a conservative thinker prompts reflection on the lack of conservative presence in the academy and the importance of intellectual diversity.
  2. Scruton's work in aesthetics emphasizes the importance of art in evoking emotion and engaging the imagination, connecting individuals to universality and timelessness.
  3. Despite facing ideological challenges and limited institutional support due to his conservative views, Scruton's respectable erudition and distinctive conservatism allowed him to operate successfully in academia, signaling challenges for aspiring conservative intellectuals.

41 Years in UX: A Career Retrospective

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 60 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Academia
  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.

(Ad-free Video) Origins Podcast: The War on Science Interviews: Day 1, Richard Dawkins

Critical Mass • 7 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
🔬 Science Academia
  1. A series of 20 interviews will be released, featuring various authors discussing their perspectives on the challenges facing science today. This is to promote understanding of how current issues affect scientific progress.
  2. The discussions will cover a range of topics like academic free speech, the impact of social justice on research, and the need for sound scientific principles in universities. The goal is to spark important conversations about these challenges.
  3. The project aims to unify voices in academia to combat what is seen as an attack on science and scholarship. This effort is crucial for restoring trust and integrity in scientific inquiry.

AI’s Brain Drain

Technically Optimistic • 2 HN points • 03 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Academia
  1. Tech companies are attracting a significant number of academics, leading to a shortage of educators for the next generation of AI innovators.
  2. Academic researchers are facing challenges accessing resources like compute power and data, which are essential for AI advancements, with many turning to industry partnerships or shifting to tech company jobs.
  3. There is a need for government support to allow academics to focus on fundamental AI research without solely profit-driven motivations, in order to maintain tech leadership, national security, and economic benefits.

Marked Absent

Outlandish Claims • 1 HN point • 10 Jul 24
🚌 Education Academia
  1. In language, marking certain traits as different or special allows us to understand norms. This concept of 'markedness' plays a significant role in societal perceptions.
  2. An unmarked system can hide problems or biases. For example, schools being seen as the norm might overlook issues like sexual abuse within them.
  3. Standardized education doesn't always equate to real-life success. Studies show homeschooled children, often considered 'marked,' can perform similarly or better academically.

Modern Monetary University Plagiarism Theory

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 43 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
💰 Finance Academia
  1. Academia has a deep-seated issue of plagiarism and flawed economic theories affecting central bank policies.
  2. The monetary policy is on a dangerous path, leading to high debt, inflation, and mismanagement.
  3. The consequences of economic academic circle-jerks will have profound impacts when the flawed policies unravel.

Into the Universe of Technical Images

Never Met a Science • 38 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Academia
  1. Deleting social media accounts can lead to feeling much better mentally and emotionally.
  2. Transitioning from written content to technical images can be a powerful way to communicate complex ideas.
  3. Exploring new mediums like video lectures can enhance the reach and impact of academic research beyond traditional formats.

Maarten Boudry | The War on Science Interviews | Day 3

Critical Mass • 4 implied HN points • 27 Jul 25
🔬 Science Academia
  1. There will be 20 interviews released that discuss serious issues affecting science and academia. Each interview will focus on different topics related to the current state of science.
  2. The conversations bring attention to problems like cancel culture and the impact of social justice activism in academic fields. These issues are seen as threats to scientific progress.
  3. The initiative aims to spark discussions about restoring trust and excellence in science. It's important to address both internal and external challenges facing the scientific community.

Orwell Comes to Campus: The Ideology of Settler Colonialism

The Octavian Report • 8 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia
  1. Settler colonialism is a theory that explains how some societies have replaced indigenous populations. It highlights a history where settlers took land and resources, often causing harm to native peoples.
  2. The term 'settler' now includes not just the original settlers but anyone who lives in those areas and isn't indigenous, which can lead to complicated discussions about who belongs where.
  3. Many people today use the idea of settler colonialism to criticize modern issues like inequality and environmental exploitation, seeing them as ongoing results of historical injustices.

Janice Fiamengo | The War on Science Interviews | Day 12

Critical Mass • 3 implied HN points • 05 Aug 25
🔬 Science Academia
  1. There will be 20 interviews with authors from The War on Science released daily. Each interview will cover important issues affecting science.
  2. Topics include the corruption of science in universities, the impact of cancel culture, and the need for free speech in academia.
  3. These discussions aim to spark conversation about restoring trust and excellence in science and scholarship.

Elizabeth Weiss | The War on Science Interviews | Day 8

Critical Mass • 3 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
🔬 Science Academia
  1. The interviews will cover important topics about the challenges facing science today, particularly in academia. It's about the impact of activism and how it affects research and scholarship.
  2. A group of well-known scholars will speak frankly about these issues, hoping to spark discussions and find solutions. They want to bring back trust and excellence in scientific work.
  3. There's a recognition that while external threats to science exist, internal problems within universities also need attention. Both aspects are crucial for preserving the integrity of science.

John Armstrong | The War on Science Interviews | Day 6

Critical Mass • 3 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🔬 Science Academia
  1. A series of 20 interviews with authors from 'The War on Science' book will be released daily, starting from July 22. These interviews will cover serious topics about science and academia.
  2. The discussions highlight problems like ideological corruption in science, the impact of social justice activism, and issues related to gender and medicine. The goal is to spark conversation on how to restore trust in science.
  3. The book addresses ongoing internal issues in academia and calls for greater awareness and action to protect sound science against various challenges.

Niall Ferguson | The War on Science Interviews | Day 2

Critical Mass • 2 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
🔬 Science Academia
  1. There will be 20 interviews released daily with authors from the book 'The War on Science', discussing important issues in academia. Each interview will cover topics like the corruption of science and free speech.
  2. The discussions will highlight how current social justice movements and ideologies are affecting scientific progress. They will also call for a return to sound science and scholarship in universities.
  3. The overall goal is to provoke conversation about restoring trust and excellence in scientific inquiry, addressing both internal university issues and external threats to science.

My Favourite Spoof Papers

By Reason Alone • 29 implied HN points • 22 Apr 23
🔬 Science Academia
  1. Academia has a tradition of publishing joke papers to make serious points.
  2. Some papers have humorous names and content that push the boundaries.
  3. Spoof papers address serious topics in a funny way to provoke critical thinking.

Why University Matters Beyond Jobs and Skills

Theory Matters • 16 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🚌 Education Academia
  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.