Jehannine (J9) Austin
@j9austin.bsky.social
Genetic Counselor, Professor/Dept. Head at the University of British Columbia. Editor in Chief: Journal of Genetic Counseling. Prez of International Society of Psychiatric Genetics. Unceded Coast Salish Territories.
They/them
They/them
Pinned
Hi! Thought I’d introduce myself for new people 🙂 I’m a Canada-based researcher exploring clinical applications of genetics, especially in the context of psych conditions. I have depression/anxiety, I’m a genetic counselor, journal editor, I’m agender. I post here about all sorts! Nice to meet you!
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
In a rare case of Substack notes usefulness, I just learned that Sarah Kendzior (author of They Knew and a brilliant writer) got bounced from Bluesky. What the hell? new @sarahkendzior.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 4:09 AM
In a rare case of Substack notes usefulness, I just learned that Sarah Kendzior (author of They Knew and a brilliant writer) got bounced from Bluesky. What the hell? new @sarahkendzior.bsky.social
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
Worth noting that because Sim brought forward his proposal for a property tax freeze requiring millions in cuts with just weeks left in the budget process, this is not up for public debate and is not outlined in the documents available to councillors when they vote on this
SCOOP: Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is planning to eliminate the city's sustainability and climate department under the guise of a push to prevent increases to property taxes in his proposed 2026 budget.
Great source work by Marc Fawcett-Atkinson to uncover this
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/11/n...
Great source work by Marc Fawcett-Atkinson to uncover this
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/11/n...
Vancouver mayor plans to eliminate city's climate and sustainability department
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is planning to eliminate the city's sustainability and climate department under the guise of a push to prevent increases to property taxes. Canada's National Observer learned a...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Worth noting that because Sim brought forward his proposal for a property tax freeze requiring millions in cuts with just weeks left in the budget process, this is not up for public debate and is not outlined in the documents available to councillors when they vote on this
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
NEW: Councillors and sources inside the City of Vancouver say the city's mayor, Ken Sim, will put forth a budget Wednesday that will eliminate the city's celebrated climate and sustainability department.
Vancouver mayor plans to eliminate city's climate and sustainability department
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is planning to eliminate the city's sustainability and climate department under the guise of a push to prevent increases to property taxes. Canada's National Observer learned a...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:47 AM
NEW: Councillors and sources inside the City of Vancouver say the city's mayor, Ken Sim, will put forth a budget Wednesday that will eliminate the city's celebrated climate and sustainability department.
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
YES!!!!
"Linear algebraic sociopathy" (last post in the thread).
DAMN, but that's concise and accurate.
"Linear algebraic sociopathy" (last post in the thread).
DAMN, but that's concise and accurate.
Identifying flaws in GenAI unfortunately offers a pretext for claims that perfecting the product is just a matter of time & money. So pointing to chatbots’ role in,say, suicides can only go so far if we don’t also identify the systemic, irresolvable lack of Gen AI’s human commitment bc math has none
November 8, 2025 at 2:14 AM
YES!!!!
"Linear algebraic sociopathy" (last post in the thread).
DAMN, but that's concise and accurate.
"Linear algebraic sociopathy" (last post in the thread).
DAMN, but that's concise and accurate.
These are people who attended a white nationalist conference in Vancouver this summer. The Canadian anti hate network is asking for help identifying them… please help.
6/ You can help us identify the rest. If you know about any of these individuals, please contact us directly so we can engage in a verification process.
White Nationalist Networking: Help us Identify the Organizers and Guests
www.antihate.ca
November 10, 2025 at 1:09 PM
These are people who attended a white nationalist conference in Vancouver this summer. The Canadian anti hate network is asking for help identifying them… please help.
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
have you seen the video about teaching an octopus to play piano yet
it contains the breadth of human/cephalopod experience
youtu.be/PcWnQ7fYzwI?...
it contains the breadth of human/cephalopod experience
youtu.be/PcWnQ7fYzwI?...
November 9, 2025 at 4:15 AM
have you seen the video about teaching an octopus to play piano yet
it contains the breadth of human/cephalopod experience
youtu.be/PcWnQ7fYzwI?...
it contains the breadth of human/cephalopod experience
youtu.be/PcWnQ7fYzwI?...
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
While they’re still screwing about with SNAP, it’s a good idea to donate to pet shelters, too.
If you dare show up with “poor people shouldn’t have pets”, I will tear such a new one it generates a black hole.
apnews.com/article/pets...
If you dare show up with “poor people shouldn’t have pets”, I will tear such a new one it generates a black hole.
apnews.com/article/pets...
Families on SNAP worry about not just feeding themselves but also their pets
With SNAP benefits going out late, nonprofits are begging for pet food donations to prevent desperate owners from surrendering their dogs and cats to animal shelters.
apnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:06 PM
While they’re still screwing about with SNAP, it’s a good idea to donate to pet shelters, too.
If you dare show up with “poor people shouldn’t have pets”, I will tear such a new one it generates a black hole.
apnews.com/article/pets...
If you dare show up with “poor people shouldn’t have pets”, I will tear such a new one it generates a black hole.
apnews.com/article/pets...
Im here to report that I also met James Watson at cold spring harbor. I had organized a meeting there, it was 2016. I was *warned* that he might come for dinner (it was a WARNING ‼️). He indeed showed up for dinner and tho I’d been told he might come I didn’t clue in about who he was. 1/n
Bluetorial-Jim Watson
I met Jim Watson a few times but did not know him well. However, I was greatly influenced by his book “The Double Helix”. He was a complicated human being with some very, very bad features, but some good contributions.
What follows is my personal perspective.
1/41
I met Jim Watson a few times but did not know him well. However, I was greatly influenced by his book “The Double Helix”. He was a complicated human being with some very, very bad features, but some good contributions.
What follows is my personal perspective.
1/41
a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on
ALT: a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Im here to report that I also met James Watson at cold spring harbor. I had organized a meeting there, it was 2016. I was *warned* that he might come for dinner (it was a WARNING ‼️). He indeed showed up for dinner and tho I’d been told he might come I didn’t clue in about who he was. 1/n
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
Tech guys six months ago: haha yes we’re cutting all this WASTEFUL spending by eliminating medical research and USAID
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
November 8, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Tech guys six months ago: haha yes we’re cutting all this WASTEFUL spending by eliminating medical research and USAID
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
Yes, some people's legacies are complicated. For example, Watson. After all, though he was racist, don't forget his other traits. For example, he was also sexist. And also anti-semitic. And a data / idea thief. So let's not forget all the different facets.
November 8, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Yes, some people's legacies are complicated. For example, Watson. After all, though he was racist, don't forget his other traits. For example, he was also sexist. And also anti-semitic. And a data / idea thief. So let's not forget all the different facets.
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
With 2508 citations in 127 years, Student (1908) introducing the t-test wins for huge actual impact with moderate citation impact: www.jstor.org/stable/23315...
Now, how about huge actual impact and minimal citation impact?
Now, how about huge actual impact and minimal citation impact?
November 7, 2025 at 11:49 AM
With 2508 citations in 127 years, Student (1908) introducing the t-test wins for huge actual impact with moderate citation impact: www.jstor.org/stable/23315...
Now, how about huge actual impact and minimal citation impact?
Now, how about huge actual impact and minimal citation impact?
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
Something deeply fucked up when you can blindly break basic state functions and condemn millions to death and then people make you the richest man in the world instead of a pariah
November 7, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Something deeply fucked up when you can blindly break basic state functions and condemn millions to death and then people make you the richest man in the world instead of a pariah
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
This is not Miss World Chile. This is Ignacia Fernández, representative of Las Condes, a commune of Santiago, competing in Miss Mundo Chile (this is not the Miss World pageant, which has not happened yet, and indeed Miss Mundo Chile's finals are not until Sunday)
Miss World Chile did is in a metal band. This was her talent portion at Miss World
www.instagram.com/reel/DQuI2W7...
www.instagram.com/reel/DQuI2W7...
November 7, 2025 at 5:28 AM
This is not Miss World Chile. This is Ignacia Fernández, representative of Las Condes, a commune of Santiago, competing in Miss Mundo Chile (this is not the Miss World pageant, which has not happened yet, and indeed Miss Mundo Chile's finals are not until Sunday)
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
LLMs are now widely used in social science as stand-ins for humans—assuming they can produce realistic, human-like text
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
Computational Turing Test Reveals Systematic Differences Between Human and AI Language
Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used in the social sciences to simulate human behavior, based on the assumption that they can generate realistic, human-like text. Yet this assumption rem...
arxiv.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:13 AM
LLMs are now widely used in social science as stand-ins for humans—assuming they can produce realistic, human-like text
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
To put this in scale, Elon Musk's salary from Tesla alone could fund the SNAP program for the entire country into 2034.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk scored a resounding victory on Thursday as shareholders approved a pay package of as much as $878 billion over the next decade, endorsing his vision of morphing the EV maker into an AI and robotics juggernaut.
Tesla shareholders approve $878 billion pay plan for Elon Musk
Tesla CEO Elon Musk scored a resounding victory on Thursday as shareholders approved a pay package of as much as $878 billion over the next decade, endorsing his vision of morphing the EV maker into an AI and robotics juggernaut.
reut.rs
November 6, 2025 at 10:19 PM
To put this in scale, Elon Musk's salary from Tesla alone could fund the SNAP program for the entire country into 2034.
Im in this post and I don’t li…
no … actually, I DO like it, I feel seen! ❤️
no … actually, I DO like it, I feel seen! ❤️
I don't think most people understand that you can be an introvert AND still do public speaking. It just takes a lot of work getting up for it and it drains all your energy and you need to be alone to recharge.
Extrovert = social setting adds energy
Introvert = social setting drains energy
Extrovert = social setting adds energy
Introvert = social setting drains energy
November 6, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Im in this post and I don’t li…
no … actually, I DO like it, I feel seen! ❤️
no … actually, I DO like it, I feel seen! ❤️
Yaaaaayyyy!!!! 🥳🥳🥳
Good work all!
Now we can go back to focusing our attention on the anti-DEI aspect of all this….and fighting that just as hard, right?? 💪
Good work all!
Now we can go back to focusing our attention on the anti-DEI aspect of all this….and fighting that just as hard, right?? 💪
The 🇨🇦 Standing Committee on Science and Research passed a modified resolution this afternoon that the requested ricouncil applicant and reviewer data can be aggregated and anonymized. Thanks to the many researchers who signed letters pointing out legitimate data privacy concerns. 👏👏
November 6, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Yaaaaayyyy!!!! 🥳🥳🥳
Good work all!
Now we can go back to focusing our attention on the anti-DEI aspect of all this….and fighting that just as hard, right?? 💪
Good work all!
Now we can go back to focusing our attention on the anti-DEI aspect of all this….and fighting that just as hard, right?? 💪
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
1.7 billion for international recruitment, but cutting Tri-council funding? Double Ugh.
November 4, 2025 at 11:42 PM
1.7 billion for international recruitment, but cutting Tri-council funding? Double Ugh.
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
To clarify, I’m not against attracting international talent. I just don’t understand why we can’t do that (with less budget allocated) AND ALSO increase Tricouncil funding to support 🇨🇦 researchers?? #budget2025
It’s insulting to tell 🇨🇦 scientists we need international scientists to run to our rescue & ensure innovation.
🇨🇦 scientists have exceeded expectations with paltry funding. If the gov funded Tricouncil > & sustainably; imagine how innovative we’d already be!! /End
🇨🇦 scientists have exceeded expectations with paltry funding. If the gov funded Tricouncil > & sustainably; imagine how innovative we’d already be!! /End
November 5, 2025 at 4:12 AM
To clarify, I’m not against attracting international talent. I just don’t understand why we can’t do that (with less budget allocated) AND ALSO increase Tricouncil funding to support 🇨🇦 researchers?? #budget2025
Things we can do about this situation:
1. Read & sign the open letter (the letter keeps crashing but names are still being collected): docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
#AcademicSky #CanPoli
Thread, 1/n
1. Read & sign the open letter (the letter keeps crashing but names are still being collected): docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
#AcademicSky #CanPoli
Thread, 1/n
November 4, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Things we can do about this situation:
1. Read & sign the open letter (the letter keeps crashing but names are still being collected): docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
#AcademicSky #CanPoli
Thread, 1/n
1. Read & sign the open letter (the letter keeps crashing but names are still being collected): docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
#AcademicSky #CanPoli
Thread, 1/n
Reposted by Jehannine (J9) Austin
Just remember, the Liberals supported this too. If they think this will attract more researchers to Canada, they are smoking the dope they legalized. And once again, just like animal research, why is it @picardonhealth.bsky.social who needs to raise this publicly and not @u15ca.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Just remember, the Liberals supported this too. If they think this will attract more researchers to Canada, they are smoking the dope they legalized. And once again, just like animal research, why is it @picardonhealth.bsky.social who needs to raise this publicly and not @u15ca.bsky.social
The letter is crashing because so many people are trying to sign it (which is good). According to federally connected ethics peeps, the most important thing we can do if we are directly affected is to fill out this form and ask to make a formal complaint:
services.priv.gc.ca/demande-info...
services.priv.gc.ca/demande-info...
November 4, 2025 at 3:15 AM
The letter is crashing because so many people are trying to sign it (which is good). According to federally connected ethics peeps, the most important thing we can do if we are directly affected is to fill out this form and ask to make a formal complaint:
services.priv.gc.ca/demande-info...
services.priv.gc.ca/demande-info...
This workshop is awesome, I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you're like me and don't like the idea of small group work and or having to turn your camera on... YOU'RE IN LUCK! It requires none of those things... and what you learn is actively useful ... please attend!
We are not powerless in the face of rising hate and harassment. The last few years have shown us that only *we* can keep each other safe.
Do you know how to intervene safely and effectively? If you give me 1 hour of your team, I can teach you.
En français or in English! Weekday OR on a weekend!
Do you know how to intervene safely and effectively? If you give me 1 hour of your team, I can teach you.
En français or in English! Weekday OR on a weekend!
@julieslalonde | Linktree
Come learn bystander intervention with me - It's free!
linktr.ee
November 3, 2025 at 10:20 PM
This workshop is awesome, I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you're like me and don't like the idea of small group work and or having to turn your camera on... YOU'RE IN LUCK! It requires none of those things... and what you learn is actively useful ... please attend!