Lauren Smith, PhD
@lkmsmith.bsky.social
SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow; Adjunct Professor @ RRU
Climate, emotions, behaviour change, gender, planetary (and death) care
She/They 🌈🍁
Climate, emotions, behaviour change, gender, planetary (and death) care
She/They 🌈🍁
Pinned
Lauren Smith, PhD
@lkmsmith.bsky.social
· Nov 19
Hello!
I study how emotions (from fear to awe) influence climate behaviour, to hopefully get ppl to make better choices + policy. I also like thinking about environmental work as care work, and all the related 'things' (like gender inequity) that entails.
Most importantly, I have a hairless kitten
I study how emotions (from fear to awe) influence climate behaviour, to hopefully get ppl to make better choices + policy. I also like thinking about environmental work as care work, and all the related 'things' (like gender inequity) that entails.
Most importantly, I have a hairless kitten
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
Statement by the International Contact Research Network responding to the recent Bloomberg article on Miles Hewstone and sexual harrassment.
"First and foremost, we stand by the victims of these abuses."
#AcademicSky #PhdSky #SocialPsyc
"First and foremost, we stand by the victims of these abuses."
#AcademicSky #PhdSky #SocialPsyc
ICRN response to evidence of abuse within our community
In this letter, our Chair and Executive Committee share their reflections and commitments following the reporting of sexual abuse within our field.
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Statement by the International Contact Research Network responding to the recent Bloomberg article on Miles Hewstone and sexual harrassment.
"First and foremost, we stand by the victims of these abuses."
#AcademicSky #PhdSky #SocialPsyc
"First and foremost, we stand by the victims of these abuses."
#AcademicSky #PhdSky #SocialPsyc
At LONG last, the final chapter from my PhD has been published in PLOS Water! This was a true #interdisciplinary challenge finding the right home but glad to finally be able to share how threatening #water #communications influence #GenderBias regarding water managers
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Human dimensions in water crisis management: Gender bias in water manager appraisals and implications for water decision-making
Climate change increases water crises’ frequency and intensity, requiring more effective solutions and water management. Environmental scholars have found gender-diverse teams make more sustainable, e...
doi.org
November 20, 2025 at 6:15 PM
At LONG last, the final chapter from my PhD has been published in PLOS Water! This was a true #interdisciplinary challenge finding the right home but glad to finally be able to share how threatening #water #communications influence #GenderBias regarding water managers
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
Reminder that Starbucks’ CEO made 6,666x more than the company's median employee in 2024.
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reminder that Starbucks’ CEO made 6,666x more than the company's median employee in 2024.
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
Take a moment to consider the 250 million people who have been forcibly displaced by climate disasters over the past 10 years…70,000 per day, on average.
If you aren’t one of these unfortunate people, I invite you to consider what you can do to help one or more of them. They need us.
If you aren’t one of these unfortunate people, I invite you to consider what you can do to help one or more of them. They need us.
Climate disasters displaced 250 million people in past 10 years, UN report finds
Floods, storms and droughts have uprooted people across the globe as rising temperatures intensify conflict and hunger
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Take a moment to consider the 250 million people who have been forcibly displaced by climate disasters over the past 10 years…70,000 per day, on average.
If you aren’t one of these unfortunate people, I invite you to consider what you can do to help one or more of them. They need us.
If you aren’t one of these unfortunate people, I invite you to consider what you can do to help one or more of them. They need us.
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
"Rosalind Franklin, a talented scientist, had to work in an atmosphere of constant sexism.
In an obit, a reminder of Watson's rise and fall with DNA - including his problematic treatment of women and communities of color.
#academicsky
www.npr.org/2025/11/07/n...
In an obit, a reminder of Watson's rise and fall with DNA - including his problematic treatment of women and communities of color.
#academicsky
www.npr.org/2025/11/07/n...
James Watson, who co-discovered the structure of DNA, has died at age 97
James Watson, who co-discovered the structure of DNA has died at age 97. He was a scientific superstar until he made racist remarks that made him an outcast.
www.npr.org
November 8, 2025 at 12:28 PM
"Rosalind Franklin, a talented scientist, had to work in an atmosphere of constant sexism.
In an obit, a reminder of Watson's rise and fall with DNA - including his problematic treatment of women and communities of color.
#academicsky
www.npr.org/2025/11/07/n...
In an obit, a reminder of Watson's rise and fall with DNA - including his problematic treatment of women and communities of color.
#academicsky
www.npr.org/2025/11/07/n...
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
Brava: “If I don’t file a complaint, then what message does that send to all Mexican women?” Ms. Sheinbaum said at her daily news conference, noting sexual harassment was a crime… “If this can happen to the president, what’s going to happen to all the young women & women across our country?”
Mexico’s President Presses Charges Against Man Who Groped Her on the Street
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Brava: “If I don’t file a complaint, then what message does that send to all Mexican women?” Ms. Sheinbaum said at her daily news conference, noting sexual harassment was a crime… “If this can happen to the president, what’s going to happen to all the young women & women across our country?”
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
Latest Emissions Gap Report of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) finds relentless rise in emissions since 2020 rules out even theoretical routes to the 1.5°C goal.
#Climate
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
#Climate
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
For the first time, climate models show the 1.5°C goal is dead
Governments have failed to limit global warming. What comes next?
www.economist.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Latest Emissions Gap Report of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) finds relentless rise in emissions since 2020 rules out even theoretical routes to the 1.5°C goal.
#Climate
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
#Climate
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
Should 'sisters' be doing it by themselves when it comes to gender equality initiatives? Not really, no!
"It [also] matters whether the approach is arguing for a 'we-change' or a 'she-change'.”
Open Access: doi.org/10.1111/pops...
BSky author: @shellkryan.bsky.social
"It [also] matters whether the approach is arguing for a 'we-change' or a 'she-change'.”
Open Access: doi.org/10.1111/pops...
BSky author: @shellkryan.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Should 'sisters' be doing it by themselves when it comes to gender equality initiatives? Not really, no!
"It [also] matters whether the approach is arguing for a 'we-change' or a 'she-change'.”
Open Access: doi.org/10.1111/pops...
BSky author: @shellkryan.bsky.social
"It [also] matters whether the approach is arguing for a 'we-change' or a 'she-change'.”
Open Access: doi.org/10.1111/pops...
BSky author: @shellkryan.bsky.social
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
Major new report just released showing that total #water use in US homes, businesses, institutions, and water distribution systems could be reduced by 25% to 60% through improvements in efficiency.
pacinst.org/announcement...
pacinst.org/announcement...
New Pacific Institute Report Finds Huge Potential to Save Water Across the U.S. Through Efficiency - Pacific Institute
First-of-its-kind national assessment shows efficiency can cut municipal and industrial water use by 25% to 60%, strengthening the economy and … New Pacific Institute Report Finds Huge Potential to Sa...
pacinst.org
October 28, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Major new report just released showing that total #water use in US homes, businesses, institutions, and water distribution systems could be reduced by 25% to 60% through improvements in efficiency.
pacinst.org/announcement...
pacinst.org/announcement...
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
**PARTICIPANTS NEEDED** Are you a Latino/a or Hispanic undergraduate in engineering? Do you have a condition that significantly limits your daily activities?
Join my study on #DisabledLatinxs in #engineering, a topic with little to no available research. All participants will be compensated.
Join my study on #DisabledLatinxs in #engineering, a topic with little to no available research. All participants will be compensated.
October 21, 2025 at 8:13 PM
**PARTICIPANTS NEEDED** Are you a Latino/a or Hispanic undergraduate in engineering? Do you have a condition that significantly limits your daily activities?
Join my study on #DisabledLatinxs in #engineering, a topic with little to no available research. All participants will be compensated.
Join my study on #DisabledLatinxs in #engineering, a topic with little to no available research. All participants will be compensated.
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
"Qualitative Research: Advancing the Social and Behavioral Sciences" by @margaretrroller.bsky.social & Zachary Smith. The true definition of qualitative research resides in the complexity of the lived experience & the researcher's exploration of this complexity, academic.oup.com/poq/article/...
Qualitative Research: Advancing the Social and Behavioral Sciences
Public opinion and social science researchers are motivated by their mission to gain an understanding of people’s attitudes and behavior, and, in so doing,
academic.oup.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:24 PM
"Qualitative Research: Advancing the Social and Behavioral Sciences" by @margaretrroller.bsky.social & Zachary Smith. The true definition of qualitative research resides in the complexity of the lived experience & the researcher's exploration of this complexity, academic.oup.com/poq/article/...
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
The 1st Canadian Conference on #OpenScience and #OpenScholarship is happening October 9 -10, 2025!
PKP, @erudit.org, and #CoalitionPublica are pleased to be partner contributors to this event.
Livestreaming will be on!
Details: oscanada.github.io/en/
#OSCanada #CanadaSky #AcademicChatter
PKP, @erudit.org, and #CoalitionPublica are pleased to be partner contributors to this event.
Livestreaming will be on!
Details: oscanada.github.io/en/
#OSCanada #CanadaSky #AcademicChatter
October 9, 2025 at 1:32 AM
The 1st Canadian Conference on #OpenScience and #OpenScholarship is happening October 9 -10, 2025!
PKP, @erudit.org, and #CoalitionPublica are pleased to be partner contributors to this event.
Livestreaming will be on!
Details: oscanada.github.io/en/
#OSCanada #CanadaSky #AcademicChatter
PKP, @erudit.org, and #CoalitionPublica are pleased to be partner contributors to this event.
Livestreaming will be on!
Details: oscanada.github.io/en/
#OSCanada #CanadaSky #AcademicChatter
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
"Time is experienced on an emotional level as well as a cognitive one"
"Guilt, shame, regret, and nostalgia look back to the past; pride, joy, anger, and sadness are felt in the present; and hope, anxiety, and fear look to the future."
"Guilt, shame, regret, and nostalgia look back to the past; pride, joy, anger, and sadness are felt in the present; and hope, anxiety, and fear look to the future."
October 2, 2025 at 10:15 PM
"Time is experienced on an emotional level as well as a cognitive one"
"Guilt, shame, regret, and nostalgia look back to the past; pride, joy, anger, and sadness are felt in the present; and hope, anxiety, and fear look to the future."
"Guilt, shame, regret, and nostalgia look back to the past; pride, joy, anger, and sadness are felt in the present; and hope, anxiety, and fear look to the future."
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
Tired of capitalism controlling deathcare? Same. That’s why we’re building a community that is reimagining deathcare, and we need volunteers (and volunteer wranglers) to make it happen.
Interested in volunteering? Learn more and apply here: www.orderofthegooddeath.com/volunteer/
Interested in volunteering? Learn more and apply here: www.orderofthegooddeath.com/volunteer/
October 2, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Tired of capitalism controlling deathcare? Same. That’s why we’re building a community that is reimagining deathcare, and we need volunteers (and volunteer wranglers) to make it happen.
Interested in volunteering? Learn more and apply here: www.orderofthegooddeath.com/volunteer/
Interested in volunteering? Learn more and apply here: www.orderofthegooddeath.com/volunteer/
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
Tradwife culture is not just aiming to restore “traditional” gender roles, according to researchers of extremism. It is also a force in formulating a new model of womanhood: one that incorporates strong religious identity, a specific feminine aesthetic, and far-right ideas.
Sourdough and submission in the name of God: How tradwife content fuses femininity with anti-feminist ideas
Tradwives influencers’ throw-back aesthetics mask a divisive ideology about women’s roles, two scholars of extremism explain.
buff.ly
September 23, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Tradwife culture is not just aiming to restore “traditional” gender roles, according to researchers of extremism. It is also a force in formulating a new model of womanhood: one that incorporates strong religious identity, a specific feminine aesthetic, and far-right ideas.
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
🧪 NEW STUDY: microplastics may play a role in osteoporosis.
• MPs found inhuman bone tissue
• animal studies show MPs induce cell senescence, promote osteoclastogenesis, impair bone marrow cells.
• MP accumulation in bones impair microarchitecture
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
• MPs found inhuman bone tissue
• animal studies show MPs induce cell senescence, promote osteoclastogenesis, impair bone marrow cells.
• MP accumulation in bones impair microarchitecture
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Effects of microplastics on the bones: a comprehensive review - Osteoporosis International
A growing role for the skeleton in human health and longevity emerged recently. However, knowledge regarding the effects of new risk factors, linked to modern life, for bone diseases is not documented...
link.springer.com
September 21, 2025 at 1:32 PM
🧪 NEW STUDY: microplastics may play a role in osteoporosis.
• MPs found inhuman bone tissue
• animal studies show MPs induce cell senescence, promote osteoclastogenesis, impair bone marrow cells.
• MP accumulation in bones impair microarchitecture
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
• MPs found inhuman bone tissue
• animal studies show MPs induce cell senescence, promote osteoclastogenesis, impair bone marrow cells.
• MP accumulation in bones impair microarchitecture
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Would love to see something like this for Canada and the USA. Anyone know of anything?
#fossilfuels #followthemoney #climate
@pennytangey.bsky.social
#fossilfuels #followthemoney #climate
@pennytangey.bsky.social
Fossil fuel corps aren't only sponsoring Sports, they're buying consent by sponsoring Arts, Community, Conservation, Education, Health, Journalism, & Research activities as well
If you don't like being played for a fool, check out @pennytangey.bsky.social's database of what ff corps are sponsoring
If you don't like being played for a fool, check out @pennytangey.bsky.social's database of what ff corps are sponsoring
September 17, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Would love to see something like this for Canada and the USA. Anyone know of anything?
#fossilfuels #followthemoney #climate
@pennytangey.bsky.social
#fossilfuels #followthemoney #climate
@pennytangey.bsky.social
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
Hi, I’m Julie Cruse. I created AcademicAbuse.com – a dashboard of data, resources & tools to help survivors of academic abuse survive and safely speak out. (1/9 🧵)
🪜 🎓 📜 🍎 ♀️ 👩🏾🔬 👩🏼🔬 👩🏾🎓 #PhDSky #Blackademia #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky #MeToo #HigherEd #PhDChat #TimesUpHigherEd
🪜 🎓 📜 🍎 ♀️ 👩🏾🔬 👩🏼🔬 👩🏾🎓 #PhDSky #Blackademia #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky #MeToo #HigherEd #PhDChat #TimesUpHigherEd
September 1, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Hi, I’m Julie Cruse. I created AcademicAbuse.com – a dashboard of data, resources & tools to help survivors of academic abuse survive and safely speak out. (1/9 🧵)
🪜 🎓 📜 🍎 ♀️ 👩🏾🔬 👩🏼🔬 👩🏾🎓 #PhDSky #Blackademia #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky #MeToo #HigherEd #PhDChat #TimesUpHigherEd
🪜 🎓 📜 🍎 ♀️ 👩🏾🔬 👩🏼🔬 👩🏾🎓 #PhDSky #Blackademia #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky #MeToo #HigherEd #PhDChat #TimesUpHigherEd
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
Pipelines won’t unite Canada. Clean energy will.
Betting, once again, on the same fossil-fuel horse might be what keeps Canada from becoming the energy superpower it could be, write Andréanne Brazeau and Charles-Édouard Têtu
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/29/o...
Betting, once again, on the same fossil-fuel horse might be what keeps Canada from becoming the energy superpower it could be, write Andréanne Brazeau and Charles-Édouard Têtu
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/29/o...
Pipelines won’t unite Canada. Clean energy will
Betting, once again, on the same fossil-fuel horse might be what keeps Canada from becoming the energy superpower it could be.
www.nationalobserver.com
July 29, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Pipelines won’t unite Canada. Clean energy will.
Betting, once again, on the same fossil-fuel horse might be what keeps Canada from becoming the energy superpower it could be, write Andréanne Brazeau and Charles-Édouard Têtu
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/29/o...
Betting, once again, on the same fossil-fuel horse might be what keeps Canada from becoming the energy superpower it could be, write Andréanne Brazeau and Charles-Édouard Têtu
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/29/o...
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
We're hiring! Please share with your networks!
The Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of assistant professor in the field of demography of health and aging beginning in August 2026
jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/assista...
The Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of assistant professor in the field of demography of health and aging beginning in August 2026
jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/assista...
Assistant Professor - Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.Job Category:FacultyEmployment Type:Regula...
jobs.wisc.edu
July 29, 2025 at 4:41 PM
We're hiring! Please share with your networks!
The Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of assistant professor in the field of demography of health and aging beginning in August 2026
jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/assista...
The Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of assistant professor in the field of demography of health and aging beginning in August 2026
jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/assista...
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
🚨 How do exposure to extreme weather events and the subjective attribution of these events to climate change relate to climate policy support across the world? 🔥🌎
Find out more in our OA article published in Nature Climate Change 👇 1/7 🧵 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Find out more in our OA article published in Nature Climate Change 👇 1/7 🧵 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Extreme weather event attribution predicts climate policy support across the world - Nature Climate Change
Literature produced inconsistent findings regarding the links between extreme weather events and climate policy support across regions, populations and events. This global study offers a holistic asse...
www.nature.com
July 1, 2025 at 10:38 AM
🚨 How do exposure to extreme weather events and the subjective attribution of these events to climate change relate to climate policy support across the world? 🔥🌎
Find out more in our OA article published in Nature Climate Change 👇 1/7 🧵 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Find out more in our OA article published in Nature Climate Change 👇 1/7 🧵 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
Research-integrity sleuths say their work is being ‘twisted’ to undermine science
“I am very worried about how the work we do in pointing out bad papers is currently being misused, or even weaponized, to convince the general public that all science is bad” @elisabethbik.bsky.social
“I am very worried about how the work we do in pointing out bad papers is currently being misused, or even weaponized, to convince the general public that all science is bad” @elisabethbik.bsky.social
Research-integrity sleuths say their work is being ‘twisted’ to undermine science
Some sleuths fear that the business of cleaning up flawed studies is being weaponized against science itself.
www.nature.com
July 26, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Research-integrity sleuths say their work is being ‘twisted’ to undermine science
“I am very worried about how the work we do in pointing out bad papers is currently being misused, or even weaponized, to convince the general public that all science is bad” @elisabethbik.bsky.social
“I am very worried about how the work we do in pointing out bad papers is currently being misused, or even weaponized, to convince the general public that all science is bad” @elisabethbik.bsky.social
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
A 2016 metastudy of 102 samples representing 56,984 firms finds that employee ownership is positively associated with productivity.
These findings align with a growing body of research showing that businesses owned by their workers tend to be more productive than other companies.
These findings align with a growing body of research showing that businesses owned by their workers tend to be more productive than other companies.
Employee ownership and firm performance: a meta‐analysis
Employee ownership has been an area of significant practitioner and academic interest for the past four decades. Yet, empirical results on the relationship between employee ownership and firm perform....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
July 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
A 2016 metastudy of 102 samples representing 56,984 firms finds that employee ownership is positively associated with productivity.
These findings align with a growing body of research showing that businesses owned by their workers tend to be more productive than other companies.
These findings align with a growing body of research showing that businesses owned by their workers tend to be more productive than other companies.
Reposted by Lauren Smith, PhD
One really consistent pattern whenever I look at the energy and financial data for large big tech companies is that energy + revenue are being decoupled. They keep having to buy more and more energy each year to make the same $1 of revenue.
This is a pretty new thing
ketanjoshi.co/2025/05/31/t...
This is a pretty new thing
ketanjoshi.co/2025/05/31/t...
July 22, 2025 at 9:45 AM
One really consistent pattern whenever I look at the energy and financial data for large big tech companies is that energy + revenue are being decoupled. They keep having to buy more and more energy each year to make the same $1 of revenue.
This is a pretty new thing
ketanjoshi.co/2025/05/31/t...
This is a pretty new thing
ketanjoshi.co/2025/05/31/t...