Dr Gemma Hughes
@gemhughes.bsky.social
Social scientist. Co-Director Centre for Healthcare Innovation, Policy & Management, University of Leicester School of Business. Editor-in-Chief Journal of Health Services Research & Policy https://journals.sagepub.com/home/HSR
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
Let's start this new blogging year with a pop, ah no, slop! I explore the linguistic productivity of #slop in the context of the emergence of #AI slang #linguistics makingsciencepublic.com/2026/01/02/f...
From sloppers to slopocalypse: The lexical productivity of AI slop
At the end of last year, I wrote a blog post in which I dissected the word ‘enshittification’, a staple of AI slang. At the beginning of this year, I want to do the same for enshittification’s conc…
makingsciencepublic.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Let's start this new blogging year with a pop, ah no, slop! I explore the linguistic productivity of #slop in the context of the emergence of #AI slang #linguistics makingsciencepublic.com/2026/01/02/f...
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
Happy new year! If your eyes glaze over when people start talking philosophy in research, then read this! Proud to have been a co-author on this paper explaining why the assumptions we make about the world matter for our research bjgp.org/content/76/7...
‘You can mix your methods, but you can’t mix your paradigms’: a guide to ontology and epistemology for the confused researcher
Research is an attempt to find out something useful about the world. Whether we like it or not, how we choose our methods, conduct data analysis, and draw conclusions flow from our underpinning assump...
bjgp.org
January 2, 2026 at 7:28 AM
Happy new year! If your eyes glaze over when people start talking philosophy in research, then read this! Proud to have been a co-author on this paper explaining why the assumptions we make about the world matter for our research bjgp.org/content/76/7...
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
STRENGTHEN PRIMARY CARE.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Huge rise in number of people in England’s A&Es for coughs or hiccups
Lack of prompt access to primary care blamed for rise in hospital cases of minor ailments including blocked noses
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:19 AM
STRENGTHEN PRIMARY CARE.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
"Everything changes, nothing is lost", stone mandala by land artist Katie Griesar #WomensArt
#NewYear2026
#NewYear2026
January 1, 2026 at 9:15 AM
"Everything changes, nothing is lost", stone mandala by land artist Katie Griesar #WomensArt
#NewYear2026
#NewYear2026
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
It seems to be the time for Annoying Yearly Achievements, and while I wasn't planning to post one, I found I needed to go back to this article to explain something - which, I guess, is an indicator other people may find it useful:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
(P.S. please cite if so)
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
(P.S. please cite if so)
What is social science if not critical?
This short article represents a contribution to the debate on the motion “Social science is explanation, or it is nothing.” While in the format of parliamentary debating the contribution would fall o...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:12 AM
It seems to be the time for Annoying Yearly Achievements, and while I wasn't planning to post one, I found I needed to go back to this article to explain something - which, I guess, is an indicator other people may find it useful:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
(P.S. please cite if so)
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
(P.S. please cite if so)
Merry Christmas 🎄
December 24, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Merry Christmas 🎄
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar
Window 20
‘Winter Sunrise’
Artist: SR Badmin
Window 20
‘Winter Sunrise’
Artist: SR Badmin
December 20, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar
Window 20
‘Winter Sunrise’
Artist: SR Badmin
Window 20
‘Winter Sunrise’
Artist: SR Badmin
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
Winter Landscape, 1880 by Finnish landscape painter Fanny Churberg #womensart
December 19, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Winter Landscape, 1880 by Finnish landscape painter Fanny Churberg #womensart
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
Christi Belcourt, contemporary Métis visual artist known for her paintings which depict floral patterns inspired by Métis and First Nations historical beadwork art #WomensArt
December 19, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Christi Belcourt, contemporary Métis visual artist known for her paintings which depict floral patterns inspired by Métis and First Nations historical beadwork art #WomensArt
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
Artist and Sami activist Britta Marakatt-Labba's embroidery of Sami culture, the indigenous people of Northern Europe and the Arctic #WomensArt
December 17, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Artist and Sami activist Britta Marakatt-Labba's embroidery of Sami culture, the indigenous people of Northern Europe and the Arctic #WomensArt
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
Call for papers on International Day of Persons with Disabilities - Special Issue on Disability and Health Services Research & Policy journals.sagepub.com/page/hsr/cal... guest editors include @tomshakespeare.bsky.social
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Call for papers on International Day of Persons with Disabilities - Special Issue on Disability and Health Services Research & Policy journals.sagepub.com/page/hsr/cal... guest editors include @tomshakespeare.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
HAPPY THURSDAY!🥳 We're delighted to announce our 3rd keynote for #QHRNConf26 - Dr Gemma Hughes (@gemhughes.bsky.social). Read more about her work (+give us a follow) here: tinyurl.com/bddfkrja
🗓️A gentle reminder that abstract submissions close in <1 month (1 Dec). More info: qhrn2026.exordo.com
🗓️A gentle reminder that abstract submissions close in <1 month (1 Dec). More info: qhrn2026.exordo.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:30 PM
HAPPY THURSDAY!🥳 We're delighted to announce our 3rd keynote for #QHRNConf26 - Dr Gemma Hughes (@gemhughes.bsky.social). Read more about her work (+give us a follow) here: tinyurl.com/bddfkrja
🗓️A gentle reminder that abstract submissions close in <1 month (1 Dec). More info: qhrn2026.exordo.com
🗓️A gentle reminder that abstract submissions close in <1 month (1 Dec). More info: qhrn2026.exordo.com
Crowdsourcing - best introductory paper/chapter on sociotechnical approaches? @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social
December 16, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Crowdsourcing - best introductory paper/chapter on sociotechnical approaches? @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
During the debate, I will pose a moral question.
“What human, social, and environmental cost are you willing to accept to help prepare your next publication or dashboard?”
We each need to decide this when considering whether to use an LLM to help with our research.
“What human, social, and environmental cost are you willing to accept to help prepare your next publication or dashboard?”
We each need to decide this when considering whether to use an LLM to help with our research.
December 15, 2025 at 9:12 AM
During the debate, I will pose a moral question.
“What human, social, and environmental cost are you willing to accept to help prepare your next publication or dashboard?”
We each need to decide this when considering whether to use an LLM to help with our research.
“What human, social, and environmental cost are you willing to accept to help prepare your next publication or dashboard?”
We each need to decide this when considering whether to use an LLM to help with our research.
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
Ongoing decimation of British universities part 252:
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
December 11, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Ongoing decimation of British universities part 252:
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
‘The patriarchy runs deep’: women still getting a raw deal in the workplace as equality remains a dream
‘The patriarchy runs deep’: women still getting a raw deal in the workplace as equality remains a dream
Women work longer and per hour earn a third of what men are paid, in figures that have changed little in 35 years, UN report shows
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:29 AM
‘The patriarchy runs deep’: women still getting a raw deal in the workplace as equality remains a dream
Call for papers on International Day of Persons with Disabilities - Special Issue on Disability and Health Services Research & Policy journals.sagepub.com/page/hsr/cal... guest editors include @tomshakespeare.bsky.social
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Call for papers on International Day of Persons with Disabilities - Special Issue on Disability and Health Services Research & Policy journals.sagepub.com/page/hsr/cal... guest editors include @tomshakespeare.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
'Morning Star' by contemporary Polish artist Karina Smigla-Bobinski. An installation of 200 arrows. #WomensArt
December 3, 2025 at 6:26 AM
'Morning Star' by contemporary Polish artist Karina Smigla-Bobinski. An installation of 200 arrows. #WomensArt
Where’s the pithy but scholarly article to send to people who need to have a long hard think about their uncritical adoption of AI? @jackiewalumbe.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Where’s the pithy but scholarly article to send to people who need to have a long hard think about their uncritical adoption of AI? @jackiewalumbe.bsky.social
This is so true, so simple. Why are more people not saying this?
If people in your team or organisation are using AI notetakers as a way of coping with too many meetings and a culture of presenteeism, there's not a technological fix for this. The answer is to have fewer, better organised meetings www.careful.industries/blog/2025-11...
November 28, 2025 at 10:45 AM
This is so true, so simple. Why are more people not saying this?
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
There is one more post to be written here, about how AI is now often an austerity technology, inserted into a human process to compensate for the fact that there is just not enough time and money, and many workers are expected to do more and more with less and less.
November 21, 2025 at 7:59 AM
There is one more post to be written here, about how AI is now often an austerity technology, inserted into a human process to compensate for the fact that there is just not enough time and money, and many workers are expected to do more and more with less and less.
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
"Imagine you stole all of the intellectual property in the world. And you're using it to help people write middling emails and make revenge porn about women, and also children. And you're powering this plagiarism and non-consensual porn machine by eating up what's left of humanity's carbon budget."
How to explain AI to your family this holiday season | CNN Business
Politics, football and movies are among the many topics that tend to come up around Thanksgiving. In 2025, a new question may arise at the table: Why the heck is everyone talking about AI, and what sh...
www.cnn.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:04 AM
"Imagine you stole all of the intellectual property in the world. And you're using it to help people write middling emails and make revenge porn about women, and also children. And you're powering this plagiarism and non-consensual porn machine by eating up what's left of humanity's carbon budget."
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
Are you worried about the devastating cuts we are seeing to arts, humanities & social sciences in UK universities? Last call for my lecture in Leicester this Thurs 27th Nov on the value of these subjects and how they support UK security, cohesion and prosperity www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
Shaping a Brighter Future
The first event in our Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series, delivered by Hetan Shah, Chief Executive, The British Academy
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Are you worried about the devastating cuts we are seeing to arts, humanities & social sciences in UK universities? Last call for my lecture in Leicester this Thurs 27th Nov on the value of these subjects and how they support UK security, cohesion and prosperity www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
Reposted by Dr Gemma Hughes
"[...] the more impossible it becomes to make that kind of choice, the smaller the space for learning for the joy of it becomes … well, then, it will eventually only be for the elite. Modern language degrees will be the domain of the rich."
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Universities blame ‘societal shift’ for axing foreign language degrees
Numbers taking languages at A-level and beyond has been falling for decades, although Duolingo says its app is most popular with young people
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:14 PM
"[...] the more impossible it becomes to make that kind of choice, the smaller the space for learning for the joy of it becomes … well, then, it will eventually only be for the elite. Modern language degrees will be the domain of the rich."
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...