bergelsonlab
@bergelsonlab.bsky.social
Official account for the Bergelson Lab at Harvard, sporadically maintained by the PI:).
Just a lab, trying to figure out how babies learn language, somehow caught in the crosshairs of gov't admin battles.
Just a lab, trying to figure out how babies learn language, somehow caught in the crosshairs of gov't admin battles.
Reposted by bergelsonlab
The ACM Digital Library, where a LOT of computing-related research is published (I'd say at least 75% of my own publications), is now not only providing (without consent of the authors and without opt-in by readers) AI-generated summaries of papers, but they appear as the *default* over abstracts.
December 16, 2025 at 11:31 PM
The ACM Digital Library, where a LOT of computing-related research is published (I'd say at least 75% of my own publications), is now not only providing (without consent of the authors and without opt-in by readers) AI-generated summaries of papers, but they appear as the *default* over abstracts.
Reposted by bergelsonlab
Many thanks to cofounder @asinclair.bsky.social & the entire SCIMaP team (scienceimpacts.org) for collaborative work to confront federal cuts to science and medical research; together, our effort was recognized as a 2025 Public Health Hero in @thenation.com.
a 🧵
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
a 🧵
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
The Public Health Heroes of 2025
The Trump administration wants to destroy our health infrastructure. These warriors aren't letting that happen without a fight.
www.thenation.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Many thanks to cofounder @asinclair.bsky.social & the entire SCIMaP team (scienceimpacts.org) for collaborative work to confront federal cuts to science and medical research; together, our effort was recognized as a 2025 Public Health Hero in @thenation.com.
a 🧵
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
a 🧵
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by bergelsonlab
"We and our students can choose not to use these technologies. Just like we have banned smoking from public spaces, we could foster that process of banning both by choosing to individually quit smoking & by demanding regulation of the tobacco industry” Guest et al. (2025) zenodo.org/records/1706...
December 20, 2025 at 9:22 AM
"We and our students can choose not to use these technologies. Just like we have banned smoking from public spaces, we could foster that process of banning both by choosing to individually quit smoking & by demanding regulation of the tobacco industry” Guest et al. (2025) zenodo.org/records/1706...
Reposted by bergelsonlab
This research on using AI during note taking looks important. Students like using the AI and they find it easier. But the cognitive offloading decreases comprehension and memory.
Students often prefer less effective techniques for studying. They sometimes avoid the harder work that actually works.
Students often prefer less effective techniques for studying. They sometimes avoid the harder work that actually works.
Pre-registered RCT showing secondary students achieved higher reading comprehension scores when taking notes compared to using an LLM and to a lesser extent LLM+Note-taking > LLM (comparisons of Note-taking v. Notes+LLM are somewhat wonky). #PsychSciSky #AcademicSky #EduSky
Effects of LLM use and note-taking on reading comprehension and memory: A randomised experiment in secondary schools
Students' rapid uptake of Generative Artificial Intelligence tools, particularly large language models (LLMs), raises urgent questions about their eff…
doi.org
December 19, 2025 at 4:13 PM
This research on using AI during note taking looks important. Students like using the AI and they find it easier. But the cognitive offloading decreases comprehension and memory.
Students often prefer less effective techniques for studying. They sometimes avoid the harder work that actually works.
Students often prefer less effective techniques for studying. They sometimes avoid the harder work that actually works.
Reposted by bergelsonlab
My response to anything over the next two weeks
December 18, 2025 at 6:10 PM
My response to anything over the next two weeks
Reposted by bergelsonlab
Very excited to share the first empirical paper from LEVANTE: we describe the LEVANTE core tasks, a set of nine open source tasks for measuring learning and development in kids ages 5-12 years.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
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osf.io/preprints/ps...
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December 18, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Very excited to share the first empirical paper from LEVANTE: we describe the LEVANTE core tasks, a set of nine open source tasks for measuring learning and development in kids ages 5-12 years.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
🧵
osf.io/preprints/ps...
🧵
Reposted by bergelsonlab
Today's list of HHS grant terminations includes 7 programs run by American Academy of Pediatrics that RFK Jr. killed out of spite. Programs to:
- Reduce sudden infant sleep deaths
- Screen newborns for hearing loss
- Treat babies with birth defects
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- Reduce sudden infant sleep deaths
- Screen newborns for hearing loss
- Treat babies with birth defects
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December 18, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Today's list of HHS grant terminations includes 7 programs run by American Academy of Pediatrics that RFK Jr. killed out of spite. Programs to:
- Reduce sudden infant sleep deaths
- Screen newborns for hearing loss
- Treat babies with birth defects
🧵
- Reduce sudden infant sleep deaths
- Screen newborns for hearing loss
- Treat babies with birth defects
🧵
Reposted by bergelsonlab
I'll forever be reminded of this blog post blog.genesmindsmachines.com/p/if-your-ra...
If your random seed is 42 I will come to your office and set your computer on fire🔥
Figuratively. More likely you'll get a stern talking to.
blog.genesmindsmachines.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:19 PM
I'll forever be reminded of this blog post blog.genesmindsmachines.com/p/if-your-ra...
Reposted by bergelsonlab
Ending a $5 million research study when it is 70% complete does not save $1 million, it wastes $4 million.
When a project loses federal funding before completion, finding alternative resources is challenging. Most philanthropies do not have comparable resources.
🧪 www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...
When a project loses federal funding before completion, finding alternative resources is challenging. Most philanthropies do not have comparable resources.
🧪 www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...
December 17, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Ending a $5 million research study when it is 70% complete does not save $1 million, it wastes $4 million.
When a project loses federal funding before completion, finding alternative resources is challenging. Most philanthropies do not have comparable resources.
🧪 www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...
When a project loses federal funding before completion, finding alternative resources is challenging. Most philanthropies do not have comparable resources.
🧪 www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...
Reposted by bergelsonlab
I'm told that HHS has just terminated all funding agreements with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Here's a letter HHS sent canceling one of the grants, relating to work on birth defects. Canceled because the project "emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion as key foundational components"
Here's a letter HHS sent canceling one of the grants, relating to work on birth defects. Canceled because the project "emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion as key foundational components"
December 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I'm told that HHS has just terminated all funding agreements with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Here's a letter HHS sent canceling one of the grants, relating to work on birth defects. Canceled because the project "emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion as key foundational components"
Here's a letter HHS sent canceling one of the grants, relating to work on birth defects. Canceled because the project "emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion as key foundational components"
dear students, you don't have to beg questions. Ask them! Pose them! Begging ain't it. #AcademicSky
December 17, 2025 at 9:56 PM
dear students, you don't have to beg questions. Ask them! Pose them! Begging ain't it. #AcademicSky
Reposted by bergelsonlab
It's disability history month in the UK. Here's my favourite sketch and something to think about.
December 17, 2025 at 11:55 AM
It's disability history month in the UK. Here's my favourite sketch and something to think about.
code review as russian literature:
each unhappy script is unhappy in its own way.
each unhappy script is unhappy in its own way.
December 16, 2025 at 9:10 PM
code review as russian literature:
each unhappy script is unhappy in its own way.
each unhappy script is unhappy in its own way.
ooh, intriguing. will read the paper with interest!
Our paper on the ☀️ "summer slide" 🛝 is out now @pnas.org!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Summer slide is a replicable phenomenon across diverse datasets that's more than "forgetting" school material in vacation months, but effects of socioeconomic inequality are ➡️ 7x bigger! ⬅️
#PsychSciSky #DevPsy
🧵👇
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Summer slide is a replicable phenomenon across diverse datasets that's more than "forgetting" school material in vacation months, but effects of socioeconomic inequality are ➡️ 7x bigger! ⬅️
#PsychSciSky #DevPsy
🧵👇
December 16, 2025 at 7:47 PM
ooh, intriguing. will read the paper with interest!
Reposted by bergelsonlab
NSF now planning to let POs largely decide what gets funded, and to send PIs reviews that are only 3-5 sentences long. They don't have to use outside reviewers (except maybe 1) and don't have to convene panels. (1/5)
NSF pares down grant-review process, reducing influence of outside scientists
Memo cites overburdened staff, but some say move also aims to elevate White House priorities
www.science.org
December 15, 2025 at 11:45 PM
NSF now planning to let POs largely decide what gets funded, and to send PIs reviews that are only 3-5 sentences long. They don't have to use outside reviewers (except maybe 1) and don't have to convene panels. (1/5)
Reposted by bergelsonlab
Two things:
*They are only cutting these funds in seven states that lean Democratic
*Support for people with disabilities was a relatively bipartisan position. Trump has repeatedly made clear he does not see them as people worthy of support or dignity.
*They are only cutting these funds in seven states that lean Democratic
*Support for people with disabilities was a relatively bipartisan position. Trump has repeatedly made clear he does not see them as people worthy of support or dignity.
"A program for deafblind children helped 3-year-old Annie Garner, born with poor vision and no ears, learn to communicate. The Trump administration cut the program’s funding over diversity goals."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/15/u...
Born Deaf and Blind, She’s Caught in Trump’s Anti-Diversity Crusade
www.nytimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Two things:
*They are only cutting these funds in seven states that lean Democratic
*Support for people with disabilities was a relatively bipartisan position. Trump has repeatedly made clear he does not see them as people worthy of support or dignity.
*They are only cutting these funds in seven states that lean Democratic
*Support for people with disabilities was a relatively bipartisan position. Trump has repeatedly made clear he does not see them as people worthy of support or dignity.
Reposted by bergelsonlab
It needs to be said.
It's the guns.
It needs to be said over and over until we finally do something to stop the corruption that has led to this insanity.
It's the guns.
It needs to be said over and over until we finally do something to stop the corruption that has led to this insanity.
December 14, 2025 at 1:16 AM
It needs to be said.
It's the guns.
It needs to be said over and over until we finally do something to stop the corruption that has led to this insanity.
It's the guns.
It needs to be said over and over until we finally do something to stop the corruption that has led to this insanity.
Reposted by bergelsonlab
I teach Sociology of Childhood, and when we talk about school shootings, my students tell me about how they also do these checks in their classes--noting locks on doors, thinking about how to escape and where to hide. I hate that they have to mind those risks while trying to learn.
Each semester I go in my classroom and I try to figure out what we would use to block the doors, if it would be safe to crawl out the windows, where we could hide if there was a mass shooter in campus. It’s such an indictment of this country how we have normalized these preventable tragedies.
December 14, 2025 at 12:28 AM
I teach Sociology of Childhood, and when we talk about school shootings, my students tell me about how they also do these checks in their classes--noting locks on doors, thinking about how to escape and where to hide. I hate that they have to mind those risks while trying to learn.
those of you aghast at how young you look in photos from 10 years ago clearly haven't looked at a folder of data and relevant code, graphs, etc. that you made 10 years ago and it shows #AcademicSky
December 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
those of you aghast at how young you look in photos from 10 years ago clearly haven't looked at a folder of data and relevant code, graphs, etc. that you made 10 years ago and it shows #AcademicSky
Reposted by bergelsonlab
I'm teaching Statistical Rethinking again starting Jan 2026. This time with live lectures, divided into Beginner and Experienced sections. Will be a lot more work for me, but I hope much better for students.
I will record lectures & all will be found at this link: github.com/rmcelreath/s...
I will record lectures & all will be found at this link: github.com/rmcelreath/s...
December 9, 2025 at 1:58 PM
I'm teaching Statistical Rethinking again starting Jan 2026. This time with live lectures, divided into Beginner and Experienced sections. Will be a lot more work for me, but I hope much better for students.
I will record lectures & all will be found at this link: github.com/rmcelreath/s...
I will record lectures & all will be found at this link: github.com/rmcelreath/s...
we're just heard from an SRO that for a grant review they're likely only discussing the top 30-35% instead of the usual 50% based on prelim scores. Anyone know what this means does to percentile calculations & paylines? E.g. Fs at NICHD have paylines ~30th-35th% but if fewer are discussed..? #NIH
December 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
we're just heard from an SRO that for a grant review they're likely only discussing the top 30-35% instead of the usual 50% based on prelim scores. Anyone know what this means does to percentile calculations & paylines? E.g. Fs at NICHD have paylines ~30th-35th% but if fewer are discussed..? #NIH
anyone else have the experience in grad school of feeling a little guilty that you hadn't fully read every single paper in your citations list (but had at least skimmed it & read the real abstract of the real article you cited)? oh what sweet summer children we were.
Let me tell you a story. Perhaps you can guess where this is going... though it does have a bit of a twist.
I was poking around Google Scholar for publications about the relationship between chatbots and wellness. Oh how useful: a systematic literature review! Let's dig into the findings. 🧵
I was poking around Google Scholar for publications about the relationship between chatbots and wellness. Oh how useful: a systematic literature review! Let's dig into the findings. 🧵
December 9, 2025 at 2:42 PM
anyone else have the experience in grad school of feeling a little guilty that you hadn't fully read every single paper in your citations list (but had at least skimmed it & read the real abstract of the real article you cited)? oh what sweet summer children we were.
Reposted by bergelsonlab
So...my undergrad thesis student is doing a quality analysis of studies found in meta-analyses. She identified a few and we contacted the authors to request their effect sizes and other variables for the studies in their papers.
Here's what happened:
scientiapsychiatrica.com/index.php/Sc...
Here's what happened:
scientiapsychiatrica.com/index.php/Sc...
The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis | Scientia Psychiatrica
Introduction: The proliferation of social media has raised significant concerns about its potential effects on the mental health of adolescents. This meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive asse...
scientiapsychiatrica.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:11 PM
So...my undergrad thesis student is doing a quality analysis of studies found in meta-analyses. She identified a few and we contacted the authors to request their effect sizes and other variables for the studies in their papers.
Here's what happened:
scientiapsychiatrica.com/index.php/Sc...
Here's what happened:
scientiapsychiatrica.com/index.php/Sc...
Reposted by bergelsonlab
I missed this from a couple of weeks ago, but if you're an NIH-funded investigator, please read.
Peer review will exist to make things look legitimate, but can, and will, be over-ruled. Funding decisions, ultimately, will be done by political appointees.
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
Peer review will exist to make things look legitimate, but can, and will, be over-ruled. Funding decisions, ultimately, will be done by political appointees.
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
Implementing a Unified NIH Funding Strategy to Guide Consistent and Clearer Award Decisions | Grants & Funding
grants.nih.gov
December 5, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I missed this from a couple of weeks ago, but if you're an NIH-funded investigator, please read.
Peer review will exist to make things look legitimate, but can, and will, be over-ruled. Funding decisions, ultimately, will be done by political appointees.
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
Peer review will exist to make things look legitimate, but can, and will, be over-ruled. Funding decisions, ultimately, will be done by political appointees.
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
Reposted by bergelsonlab
Just finished my last class of the semester🎉Reminded of how much I love teaching this academic writing class for grad students. We focus on improving our writing but also reducing anxiety and becoming a more consistent & productive writer
Some of the students favorite writing tips/learnings below:
Some of the students favorite writing tips/learnings below:
December 5, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Just finished my last class of the semester🎉Reminded of how much I love teaching this academic writing class for grad students. We focus on improving our writing but also reducing anxiety and becoming a more consistent & productive writer
Some of the students favorite writing tips/learnings below:
Some of the students favorite writing tips/learnings below: