Akin Unver
@akinunver.bsky.social
Assoc. Prof of International Relations at Ozyegin University, Istanbul. Data Science, Emerging Tech, War, TechnoPolitics. P.I. of DE-CONSPIRATOR (HorizonEU). Associate Editor; @gsqjournal.bsky.social Fellow; Carnegie Endowment Fellow. (akinunver.org)
Pinned
Akin Unver
@akinunver.bsky.social
· Jun 11
Since COVID, I recorded a ton of introductory lectures on data science, and data cleaning/visualization on Excel and R on Youtube. Finally managed to curate the most useful ones for beginners/newcomers and put them up on my website. Hope these will be of some benefit:
www.akinunver.org/teaching
www.akinunver.org/teaching
Reposted by Akin Unver
The Summer Institute in Computational Social Science (SICSS) Istanbul 2026 returns back!
Application link: lnkd.in/diPw3uMY
Application deadline: 2 March 2026
Announcement of decisions: Mid-April
22 - 30 June: 'Pre-SICSS Bootcamp'
6 - 17 July: Residential SICSS retreat
Application link: lnkd.in/diPw3uMY
Application deadline: 2 March 2026
Announcement of decisions: Mid-April
22 - 30 June: 'Pre-SICSS Bootcamp'
6 - 17 July: Residential SICSS retreat
January 20, 2026 at 7:31 PM
The Summer Institute in Computational Social Science (SICSS) Istanbul 2026 returns back!
Application link: lnkd.in/diPw3uMY
Application deadline: 2 March 2026
Announcement of decisions: Mid-April
22 - 30 June: 'Pre-SICSS Bootcamp'
6 - 17 July: Residential SICSS retreat
Application link: lnkd.in/diPw3uMY
Application deadline: 2 March 2026
Announcement of decisions: Mid-April
22 - 30 June: 'Pre-SICSS Bootcamp'
6 - 17 July: Residential SICSS retreat
Check out past SICSS_Istanbul curricula: lnkd.in/dNAKTMqJ
Learning materials from SICSS_Istanbul 2023: lnkd.in/g6Bwyqd
Help us spread the news!
Learning materials from SICSS_Istanbul 2023: lnkd.in/g6Bwyqd
Help us spread the news!
January 20, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Check out past SICSS_Istanbul curricula: lnkd.in/dNAKTMqJ
Learning materials from SICSS_Istanbul 2023: lnkd.in/g6Bwyqd
Help us spread the news!
Learning materials from SICSS_Istanbul 2023: lnkd.in/g6Bwyqd
Help us spread the news!
The Summer Institute in Computational Social Science (SICSS) Istanbul 2026 returns back!
Application link: lnkd.in/diPw3uMY
Application deadline: 2 March 2026
Announcement of decisions: Mid-April
22 - 30 June: 'Pre-SICSS Bootcamp'
6 - 17 July: Residential SICSS retreat
Application link: lnkd.in/diPw3uMY
Application deadline: 2 March 2026
Announcement of decisions: Mid-April
22 - 30 June: 'Pre-SICSS Bootcamp'
6 - 17 July: Residential SICSS retreat
January 20, 2026 at 7:31 PM
The Summer Institute in Computational Social Science (SICSS) Istanbul 2026 returns back!
Application link: lnkd.in/diPw3uMY
Application deadline: 2 March 2026
Announcement of decisions: Mid-April
22 - 30 June: 'Pre-SICSS Bootcamp'
6 - 17 July: Residential SICSS retreat
Application link: lnkd.in/diPw3uMY
Application deadline: 2 March 2026
Announcement of decisions: Mid-April
22 - 30 June: 'Pre-SICSS Bootcamp'
6 - 17 July: Residential SICSS retreat
Reposted by Akin Unver
Bilim Akademisi Genç Bilim İnsanları Ödül Programı (BAGEP) 2026 başvuruları açıldı!
Son gün 23 Ocak 2026.
Detaylar ve başvuru formu bağlantıda.
bilimakademisi.org/bagep-2026-b...
Son gün 23 Ocak 2026.
Detaylar ve başvuru formu bağlantıda.
bilimakademisi.org/bagep-2026-b...
BAGEP 2026 başvuruları açıldı! - Bilim Akademisi
Bilim Akademisi Genç Bilim İnsanları Ödül Programı (BAGEP) 2026 Son başvuru: 23 Ocak 2026 – 18.00 BAGEP yönergesi ve protokolünü buradan, BAGEP Etik Beyanı’nı buradan görebilirsiniz. Bilim Akademisi t...
bilimakademisi.org
December 16, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Bilim Akademisi Genç Bilim İnsanları Ödül Programı (BAGEP) 2026 başvuruları açıldı!
Son gün 23 Ocak 2026.
Detaylar ve başvuru formu bağlantıda.
bilimakademisi.org/bagep-2026-b...
Son gün 23 Ocak 2026.
Detaylar ve başvuru formu bağlantıda.
bilimakademisi.org/bagep-2026-b...
For years, I've been trying to find a quick-start guide for new lab assistants to get up to speed with R. Many tutorials are either too easy or too difficult, so I created a more realistic learning progression myself. Should be useful not just for students but PIs and lab managers as well.
November 14, 2025 at 12:22 PM
For years, I've been trying to find a quick-start guide for new lab assistants to get up to speed with R. Many tutorials are either too easy or too difficult, so I created a more realistic learning progression myself. Should be useful not just for students but PIs and lab managers as well.
Part 3 - Download messy data as CSV and API, and learn how to clean, format and visualize complex datasets: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHPG...
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Part 3 - Download messy data as CSV and API, and learn how to clean, format and visualize complex datasets: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHPG...
Part 2 - Create/modify Comma Separated Values-based dataframes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Y6...
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Part 2 - Create/modify Comma Separated Values-based dataframes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Y6...
As our world descends further into chaos, I have three new lecture videos geared towards data science newcomers. In three videos, I show you how to:
Part 1 - Download R and find your way around RStudio: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2eJ...
Part 1 - Download R and find your way around RStudio: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2eJ...
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
As our world descends further into chaos, I have three new lecture videos geared towards data science newcomers. In three videos, I show you how to:
Part 1 - Download R and find your way around RStudio: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2eJ...
Part 1 - Download R and find your way around RStudio: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2eJ...
Reposted by Akin Unver
Interesting.
"Grokipedia’s generation process elaborates on existing material...rather than producing substantively new or more rigorously sourced knowledge"
"[Grokipedia] mirrors Wikipedia’s informational scope but... favor[s] narrative expansion over citation-based verification"
"Grokipedia’s generation process elaborates on existing material...rather than producing substantively new or more rigorously sourced knowledge"
"[Grokipedia] mirrors Wikipedia’s informational scope but... favor[s] narrative expansion over citation-based verification"
November 3, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Interesting.
"Grokipedia’s generation process elaborates on existing material...rather than producing substantively new or more rigorously sourced knowledge"
"[Grokipedia] mirrors Wikipedia’s informational scope but... favor[s] narrative expansion over citation-based verification"
"Grokipedia’s generation process elaborates on existing material...rather than producing substantively new or more rigorously sourced knowledge"
"[Grokipedia] mirrors Wikipedia’s informational scope but... favor[s] narrative expansion over citation-based verification"
this, but for reviewer-2
November 3, 2025 at 5:28 PM
this, but for reviewer-2
Reposted by Akin Unver
"Academic" is just a fancy job title for Elsevier's content creators.
October 13, 2025 at 8:56 AM
"Academic" is just a fancy job title for Elsevier's content creators.
Reposted by Akin Unver
NEW -
Interstate Conflict Increases the Appeal of Undemocratic Candidates - https://cup.org/3Lx7bjx
"undemocratic candidates are evaluated more positively under conflict compared to peace"
- @kristianvsf.bsky.social & Lasse Laustsen
#OpenAccess
Interstate Conflict Increases the Appeal of Undemocratic Candidates - https://cup.org/3Lx7bjx
"undemocratic candidates are evaluated more positively under conflict compared to peace"
- @kristianvsf.bsky.social & Lasse Laustsen
#OpenAccess
October 28, 2025 at 8:50 AM
NEW -
Interstate Conflict Increases the Appeal of Undemocratic Candidates - https://cup.org/3Lx7bjx
"undemocratic candidates are evaluated more positively under conflict compared to peace"
- @kristianvsf.bsky.social & Lasse Laustsen
#OpenAccess
Interstate Conflict Increases the Appeal of Undemocratic Candidates - https://cup.org/3Lx7bjx
"undemocratic candidates are evaluated more positively under conflict compared to peace"
- @kristianvsf.bsky.social & Lasse Laustsen
#OpenAccess
Data science people; which free APIs do you use to teach students how to use them? I'm searching for some free (can be registration-based) APIs I can use to teach students how to get and use API keys to get some good online open data. 😇
October 20, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Data science people; which free APIs do you use to teach students how to use them? I'm searching for some free (can be registration-based) APIs I can use to teach students how to get and use API keys to get some good online open data. 😇
Reposted by Akin Unver
Meta AI adviser spreads disinformation about shootings, vaccines and trans people
Meta AI adviser spreads disinformation about shootings, vaccines and trans people
Critics condemn Robby Starbuck, appointed in lawsuit settlement, for ‘peddling lies and pushing extremism’
A prominent anti-DEI campaigner appointed by Meta in August as an adviser on AI bias has spent the weeks since his appointment spreading disinformation about shootings, transgender people, vaccines, crime, and protests.
Robby Starbuck, 36, of Nashville, was appointed in August as an adviser by Meta – owner of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other tech platforms – in an August lawsuit settlement. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 12, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Meta AI adviser spreads disinformation about shootings, vaccines and trans people
Reposted by Akin Unver
This looks almost painfully relevant right now 👇
New paper out with @dasalgon.bsky.social: “Far-Right Agenda Setting: How the Far Right influences the Political Mainstream” doi.org/10.1017/S1475676525100066 #openaccess in @ejprjournal.bsky.social🧵
October 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM
This looks almost painfully relevant right now 👇
Reposted by Akin Unver
celebrities as lord of the rings characters: thread
October 11, 2025 at 10:48 PM
celebrities as lord of the rings characters: thread
Reposted by Akin Unver
Breaking news: ICE stops family at gunpoint—smash car window on top of newborn baby.
"I was screaming that there was a baby. But they didn’t care," cried mother.
“I covered my baby with my body—I was so scared he was going to be hurt because glass was landing on him."
"I was screaming that there was a baby. But they didn’t care," cried mother.
“I covered my baby with my body—I was so scared he was going to be hurt because glass was landing on him."
October 3, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Breaking news: ICE stops family at gunpoint—smash car window on top of newborn baby.
"I was screaming that there was a baby. But they didn’t care," cried mother.
“I covered my baby with my body—I was so scared he was going to be hurt because glass was landing on him."
"I was screaming that there was a baby. But they didn’t care," cried mother.
“I covered my baby with my body—I was so scared he was going to be hurt because glass was landing on him."
Reposted by Akin Unver
Munich drone sightings force airport to cancel flights in latest Europe disruption
Munich drone sightings force airport to cancel flights in latest Europe disruption
The German airport was forced to suspend operations, in the latest drone disruption to European aviation
Drone sightings over Munich airport on Thursday evening forced air traffic control to suspend operations, leading to the cancellation of 17 flights and disrupting travel for nearly 3,000 passengers in the German city.
Another 15 arriving flights were diverted to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna and Frankfurt, the airport said in a statement, marking the latest drone disruption to European aviation after sightings temporarily shut airports in Denmark and Norway last week. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 3, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Munich drone sightings force airport to cancel flights in latest Europe disruption
Reposted by Akin Unver
MADELEINE DEAN: The president is unhinged. He's unwell
JOHNSON: A lot of folks on your side are too
D: Oh my god, please. That performance in front of the generals?
J: I didn't see it
D: It's so dangerous! Our allies are looking elsewhere. Our enemies are laughing. You have a POTUS who's unwell.
JOHNSON: A lot of folks on your side are too
D: Oh my god, please. That performance in front of the generals?
J: I didn't see it
D: It's so dangerous! Our allies are looking elsewhere. Our enemies are laughing. You have a POTUS who's unwell.
October 2, 2025 at 12:40 AM
MADELEINE DEAN: The president is unhinged. He's unwell
JOHNSON: A lot of folks on your side are too
D: Oh my god, please. That performance in front of the generals?
J: I didn't see it
D: It's so dangerous! Our allies are looking elsewhere. Our enemies are laughing. You have a POTUS who's unwell.
JOHNSON: A lot of folks on your side are too
D: Oh my god, please. That performance in front of the generals?
J: I didn't see it
D: It's so dangerous! Our allies are looking elsewhere. Our enemies are laughing. You have a POTUS who's unwell.
Reposted by Akin Unver
Awarding scientific grants based on scientific merit? That pales in comparison to my strategy, giving grants based on political loyalty
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
September 28, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Awarding scientific grants based on scientific merit? That pales in comparison to my strategy, giving grants based on political loyalty
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
Reposted by Akin Unver
Britain may already be at war with Russia, former head of MI5 says
Britain may already be at war with Russia, former head of MI5 says
Eliza Manningham-Buller points to extent of cyber-attacks and other hostile activity orchestrated by Moscow
Britain may already be at war with Russia because of the depth and intensity of cyber-attacks, sabotage and other hostile activity orchestrated by Moscow against the UK, according to a former head of MI5.
Eliza Manningham-Buller, who led the domestic spy agency two decades ago, said she agreed with comments made by the Russia expert Fiona Hill, who argued in a Guardian interview earlier this year that Moscow was at war with the west. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 29, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Britain may already be at war with Russia, former head of MI5 says
As our world descends further into chaos, I have two new introductory tutorials on data science with R for first timers www.linkedin.com/posts/akinun...
Basic Data Operations with R for Beginners | Akin Unver
Ever wanted to “get into” data science but felt like the entry requirements included a PhD, three nervous breakdowns, and a minor in alchemic sorcery?
You’ve sat through “introductory” R/Python lectu...
www.linkedin.com
September 25, 2025 at 8:19 PM
As our world descends further into chaos, I have two new introductory tutorials on data science with R for first timers www.linkedin.com/posts/akinun...
Reposted by Akin Unver
“52% of all autocratization episodes become U-Turns, which increases to 73% when focusing on the last 30 years. The vast majority of U-Turns (90%) lead to restored or even improved levels of democracy”
V-Dem data
V-Dem data
When autocratization is reversed: episodes of U-Turns since 1900
The world is in a “wave of autocratization.” Yet, recent events in Brazil, the Maldives, and Zambia demonstrate that autocratization can be halted and reversed. This article introduces “U-Turn” as ...
www.tandfonline.com
September 20, 2025 at 4:05 PM
“52% of all autocratization episodes become U-Turns, which increases to 73% when focusing on the last 30 years. The vast majority of U-Turns (90%) lead to restored or even improved levels of democracy”
V-Dem data
V-Dem data
Reposted by Akin Unver
"More professors in the United States have been fired for controversial views in the past week than any other week in all of American history." www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...
Censorship Is the Authoritarian’s Dream
The right to free expression must include the right to say horrible and evil things.
www.insidehighered.com
September 20, 2025 at 3:35 PM
"More professors in the United States have been fired for controversial views in the past week than any other week in all of American history." www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...
Reposted by Akin Unver
The Orbanization of America…
“Two independent journalistic voices, CBS News and CNN, could soon be combined into something potentially almost unrecognizable, something way too close to what is served up on a daily basis by the Murdochs.” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/o...
“Two independent journalistic voices, CBS News and CNN, could soon be combined into something potentially almost unrecognizable, something way too close to what is served up on a daily basis by the Murdochs.” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/o...
Opinion | The Billionaire Trump Supporter Who Will Soon Own the News
www.nytimes.com
September 18, 2025 at 2:43 PM
The Orbanization of America…
“Two independent journalistic voices, CBS News and CNN, could soon be combined into something potentially almost unrecognizable, something way too close to what is served up on a daily basis by the Murdochs.” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/o...
“Two independent journalistic voices, CBS News and CNN, could soon be combined into something potentially almost unrecognizable, something way too close to what is served up on a daily basis by the Murdochs.” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/o...