James Fern
@jamesfern.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer; SFHEA; Academic GenAI lead; #Sport #Exercise #Science #rstats #openscience #bayes #MUFC
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/10/1102
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/10/1102
Pinned
James Fern
@jamesfern.bsky.social
· Nov 17
A More-than-Human Ecology: Evolving Generative Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
The significant improvements in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) observed in recent years present higher education with both an opportunity and a significant challenge. Its successful integr...
www.mdpi.com
Seem to have picked up a bunch of new followers in the last couple of days. Hello! 👋
If you’re interested in GenAI and its potential role/impact in HE would love to hear your thoughts on this www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14.... 🤖📚
If you’re interested in GenAI and its potential role/impact in HE would love to hear your thoughts on this www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14.... 🤖📚
2025 favourite books. #books #blueskybooks
December 25, 2025 at 7:56 PM
2025 favourite books. #books #blueskybooks
Reposted by James Fern
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 1:51 PM
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
Reposted by James Fern
Always good advice, below. In addition, I've seen my papers cited for claims that are only tangentially related to the paper's main point(s). I'd like to see a "Highlights" type feature, for every paper, that is simply: "Here are the claims this paper can support."
Do not cite an academic paper unless you’ve read it
AI Is Inventing Academic Papers That Don't Exist -- And They're Being Cited in Real Journals
Academic articles from authors using large language model are creating an ecosystem of fake research that threatens human knowledge itself.
www.rollingstone.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Always good advice, below. In addition, I've seen my papers cited for claims that are only tangentially related to the paper's main point(s). I'd like to see a "Highlights" type feature, for every paper, that is simply: "Here are the claims this paper can support."
Have read lots of books and papers on the topics contained in “What Is Intelligence” by @blaiseaguera.bsky.social, and by some distance this is my favourite in terms of breadth, depth, practical examples, and a writing style that is immediately accessible. Can’t recommend highly enough.
In 1981, my father brought home my first computer, a Texas Instruments 99/4A. He was convinced computing would change the world. As "What Is Intelligence?" arrives in bookstores today, I’m reminded of how right he was.
December 21, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Have read lots of books and papers on the topics contained in “What Is Intelligence” by @blaiseaguera.bsky.social, and by some distance this is my favourite in terms of breadth, depth, practical examples, and a writing style that is immediately accessible. Can’t recommend highly enough.
Some pics from a long weekend trip, walking in Crickhowell, Wales.
November 13, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Some pics from a long weekend trip, walking in Crickhowell, Wales.
Reposted by James Fern
Reinstate Sarah Kendzior
November 12, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Reinstate Sarah Kendzior
Reposted by James Fern
Free Sarah Kendzior.
November 11, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Free Sarah Kendzior.
Reposted by James Fern
I agree with this bit at least: "Everyone else is racing as fast as possible to publish a Nature paper and get their next short-term contract. There’s no time to learn how to do science!"
I'm participating in an "Open Science Exploratory Roundtable" in the Max Planck Society later this week, so bumping my grumpy thoughts about open science again. I'm as curious as everyone else to see what a club of competitive narcissists who succeeded under the status quo (the MPG) can manage!
How can we reform science? I have some ideas. But I am not sure you’ll like them, because they don’t promise much. elevanth.org/blog/2025/07...
November 10, 2025 at 9:30 AM
I agree with this bit at least: "Everyone else is racing as fast as possible to publish a Nature paper and get their next short-term contract. There’s no time to learn how to do science!"
Reposted by James Fern
The editors of Neurology have allowed the authors of this paper to make a "correction", stating: "there were errors in the CIs for some estimates presented in the article".
How many CIs must be wrong before a journal loses confidence in a paper?
(Answer: more than 73, apparently!)
How many CIs must be wrong before a journal loses confidence in a paper?
(Answer: more than 73, apparently!)
Fun fact: it has been 56 days since I notified the editors of Neurology about glaring statistical errors in this peer-reviewed study on sweeteners and cognitive health.
No expression of concern, no correction, no retraction.
No expression of concern, no correction, no retraction.
"Sweeteners can harm cognitive health equivalent to 1.6 years of ageing, study finds"
Or does it? Let's take a look at this "study"...
www.theguardian.com/food/2025/se...
Or does it? Let's take a look at this "study"...
www.theguardian.com/food/2025/se...
November 6, 2025 at 10:28 PM
The editors of Neurology have allowed the authors of this paper to make a "correction", stating: "there were errors in the CIs for some estimates presented in the article".
How many CIs must be wrong before a journal loses confidence in a paper?
(Answer: more than 73, apparently!)
How many CIs must be wrong before a journal loses confidence in a paper?
(Answer: more than 73, apparently!)
Reposted by James Fern
Oops. Ooooooooooooops.
I do hope that nobody has been given or denied a job/promotion based on their SpringerNature citation counts in the past 15 years.
arxiv.org/pdf/2511.01675
h/t @nathlarigaldie.bsky.social
I do hope that nobody has been given or denied a job/promotion based on their SpringerNature citation counts in the past 15 years.
arxiv.org/pdf/2511.01675
h/t @nathlarigaldie.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Oops. Ooooooooooooops.
I do hope that nobody has been given or denied a job/promotion based on their SpringerNature citation counts in the past 15 years.
arxiv.org/pdf/2511.01675
h/t @nathlarigaldie.bsky.social
I do hope that nobody has been given or denied a job/promotion based on their SpringerNature citation counts in the past 15 years.
arxiv.org/pdf/2511.01675
h/t @nathlarigaldie.bsky.social
Reposted by James Fern
Overshooting 1.5°C wasn't 'inevitable.'
We've been pushed by fossil fuel giants & governments that pander to them.
Every delay, every oil field, every broken promise made this crisis worse.
Keir Starmer, will you promise to leave Rosebank undeveloped?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
We've been pushed by fossil fuel giants & governments that pander to them.
Every delay, every oil field, every broken promise made this crisis worse.
Keir Starmer, will you promise to leave Rosebank undeveloped?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Change course now’: humanity has missed 1.5C climate target, says UN head
Exclusive: ‘Devastating consequences’ now inevitable but emissions cuts still vital, says António Guterres in sole interview before Cop30
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Overshooting 1.5°C wasn't 'inevitable.'
We've been pushed by fossil fuel giants & governments that pander to them.
Every delay, every oil field, every broken promise made this crisis worse.
Keir Starmer, will you promise to leave Rosebank undeveloped?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
We've been pushed by fossil fuel giants & governments that pander to them.
Every delay, every oil field, every broken promise made this crisis worse.
Keir Starmer, will you promise to leave Rosebank undeveloped?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by James Fern
Open science people: This is the kind of thing some researchers are up against. 😬
Our ethics board has been trying to make it harder to post open data. They are very opposed to any data sharing even de-identified.
October 17, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Open science people: This is the kind of thing some researchers are up against. 😬
Could never get bored of playing Parkstone GC, one of the best in the country.
October 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Could never get bored of playing Parkstone GC, one of the best in the country.
Reposted by James Fern
This article manages to name her husband before it names… her.
October 3, 2025 at 11:15 AM
This article manages to name her husband before it names… her.
Reposted by James Fern
What @zackpolanski.bsky.social is saying is simply what anyone who pays attention to politics is witnessing
Starmer has played a key role in mainstreaming far-right politics, enabled by a mainstream media which still tiptoes around this terrible state of affairs
Starmer has played a key role in mainstreaming far-right politics, enabled by a mainstream media which still tiptoes around this terrible state of affairs
October 3, 2025 at 4:10 PM
What @zackpolanski.bsky.social is saying is simply what anyone who pays attention to politics is witnessing
Starmer has played a key role in mainstreaming far-right politics, enabled by a mainstream media which still tiptoes around this terrible state of affairs
Starmer has played a key role in mainstreaming far-right politics, enabled by a mainstream media which still tiptoes around this terrible state of affairs
Reposted by James Fern
"We're going to create superintelligence" How about making outlook search work first. How about that
October 3, 2025 at 5:18 PM
"We're going to create superintelligence" How about making outlook search work first. How about that
Reposted by James Fern
Pretty excited about this one. In this paper, we discuss the replication/credibility crisis, the factors that contribute to it, and clinical psychology's slow (really slow) progress in dealing with it. We offer a competency-based fraemwork for improving our training of future scholars.
1/2
1/2
The Open Science Movement and Clinical Psychology Training: Rigorous Science is Transparent Science: https://osf.io/s46wd
October 2, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Pretty excited about this one. In this paper, we discuss the replication/credibility crisis, the factors that contribute to it, and clinical psychology's slow (really slow) progress in dealing with it. We offer a competency-based fraemwork for improving our training of future scholars.
1/2
1/2
Reposted by James Fern
“The University of Miami School of Law’s new essay requires applicants to submit a detailed prompt for a generative AI large language model like ChatGPT to generate a ‘comprehensive analysis’ that will help them make an informed decision about which law school to attend.”
For these law school application essays, AI is required
Using artificial intelligence for admissions essays is often discouraged or prohibited. For aspiring attorneys hoping to land a seat at two U.S. law schools next fall, it's an opportunity to stand out from the crowd.
www.reuters.com
September 30, 2025 at 6:48 PM
“The University of Miami School of Law’s new essay requires applicants to submit a detailed prompt for a generative AI large language model like ChatGPT to generate a ‘comprehensive analysis’ that will help them make an informed decision about which law school to attend.”
Reposted by James Fern
Charts I don't like:
September 27, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Charts I don't like:
Predicted it before KO, was so obvious Henderson would dominate our midfield today, largely by himself.
He’s the player Amorim thinks Bruno is.
He’s the player Amorim thinks Bruno is.
I’m unfortunately expecting a Henderson masterclass against our midfield, we’ll make it so easy for him 🤦♂️ then they will have a field day in around our back 3.
Just have to hope we score quickly, and more than once!
Just have to hope we score quickly, and more than once!
September 27, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Predicted it before KO, was so obvious Henderson would dominate our midfield today, largely by himself.
He’s the player Amorim thinks Bruno is.
He’s the player Amorim thinks Bruno is.
Remember that clip of Rooney saying that when he started training with the Everton first team at 15 he couldn’t believe how bad the players were, and how much better he was than all of them.
That must be how Mainoo feels every day in training at United.
That must be how Mainoo feels every day in training at United.
Mainoo for Ugarte at half time to control the game
September 27, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Remember that clip of Rooney saying that when he started training with the Everton first team at 15 he couldn’t believe how bad the players were, and how much better he was than all of them.
That must be how Mainoo feels every day in training at United.
That must be how Mainoo feels every day in training at United.
Reposted by James Fern
I wonder why far-right leaders and their mainstream enablers are not targeting this minority which plays a key part in deciding the plight of the left behind...
It is a real mystery...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
It is a real mystery...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Privately educated still have ‘vice-like grip’ on most powerful UK jobs
Those in top roles are five times as likely to have been to private school than general population, study finds
www.theguardian.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:31 AM
I wonder why far-right leaders and their mainstream enablers are not targeting this minority which plays a key part in deciding the plight of the left behind...
It is a real mystery...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
It is a real mystery...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by James Fern
Education is the enemy of fascism.
September 16, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Education is the enemy of fascism.
Reposted by James Fern
My University has decided to close the #Statistics department along with several others. The public comment form opened up today: apc.unl.edu/fall-2025-bu...
Please feel free to explain how problematic it is to close a department teaching #datascience #rstats #python in this day and age.
Please feel free to explain how problematic it is to close a department teaching #datascience #rstats #python in this day and age.
Fall 2025 Budget Reduction Feedback Form | Academic Planning Committee | Nebraska
apc.unl.edu
September 15, 2025 at 4:54 PM
My University has decided to close the #Statistics department along with several others. The public comment form opened up today: apc.unl.edu/fall-2025-bu...
Please feel free to explain how problematic it is to close a department teaching #datascience #rstats #python in this day and age.
Please feel free to explain how problematic it is to close a department teaching #datascience #rstats #python in this day and age.