Dr Manu Saunders
@manusaunders.bsky.social
Ecologist. Mum. Writer.
Senior Lecturer Uni New England (Australia).
Editor in Chief: Insect Conservation and Diversity.
Anaiwan Country. My words. She/her.
https://ecologyisnotadirtyword.com
https://saundersecologylab.com/
Senior Lecturer Uni New England (Australia).
Editor in Chief: Insect Conservation and Diversity.
Anaiwan Country. My words. She/her.
https://ecologyisnotadirtyword.com
https://saundersecologylab.com/
Pinned
Equity, Ethics, and genAI in Academia
Generative AI tools are openly accessible, increasingly normalised, and mostly inequitable. They’re a great example of a marketing success benefiting a specific industry that has quickly ignited a …
ecologyisnotadirtyword.com
New blog: we need more policies and guidelines that help us navigate professional disagreements and conflicts over genAI use and deliver fair and equitable outcomes for individuals #AcademicSky #HigherEd ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/2026/01/30/e...
Not funny that unis are encouraging staff and students to defer 'teaching and learning' decisions to this
It’s so funny to think about the fact that there’s people out there deferring every life decision to this
February 14, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Not funny that unis are encouraging staff and students to defer 'teaching and learning' decisions to this
Reposted by Dr Manu Saunders
Massive boom in conference submissions (chock full of AI fabrications) due to LLM adoption is NOT "increased researcher productivity"
It is research integrity failure, knowledge degradation, disciplinary suicide
It is research integrity failure, knowledge degradation, disciplinary suicide
How AI slop is causing a crisis in computer science
Preprint repositories and conference organizers are having to counter a tide of ‘AI slop’ submissions.
www.nature.com
February 14, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Massive boom in conference submissions (chock full of AI fabrications) due to LLM adoption is NOT "increased researcher productivity"
It is research integrity failure, knowledge degradation, disciplinary suicide
It is research integrity failure, knowledge degradation, disciplinary suicide
If you've ever wondered about Expectations in Academia, there are still people reviewing grant applications who think an applicant is not worth funding because they let their 'excellent' research trajectory slow down in recent years due to *having a child* #AcademicSky
February 12, 2026 at 10:34 AM
If you've ever wondered about Expectations in Academia, there are still people reviewing grant applications who think an applicant is not worth funding because they let their 'excellent' research trajectory slow down in recent years due to *having a child* #AcademicSky
Disappointing that this year's UN theme promotes the idea that AI is gender inclusive and equitable, without any recognition of caveats, risks, environmental impacts, and equity implications... www.un.org/en/observanc...
International Day of Women and Girls in Science | United Nations
The purpose of the day is to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls.
www.un.org
February 11, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Disappointing that this year's UN theme promotes the idea that AI is gender inclusive and equitable, without any recognition of caveats, risks, environmental impacts, and equity implications... www.un.org/en/observanc...
On this day that supports inclusive futures for women and girls in science, let's not forget all the women that were sidelined, ignored, or forced out of science because they:
- had children
- prioritised family/caring
- did science differently
- questioned boundaries & norms
- fought the patriarchy
- had children
- prioritised family/caring
- did science differently
- questioned boundaries & norms
- fought the patriarchy
February 11, 2026 at 9:39 AM
On this day that supports inclusive futures for women and girls in science, let's not forget all the women that were sidelined, ignored, or forced out of science because they:
- had children
- prioritised family/caring
- did science differently
- questioned boundaries & norms
- fought the patriarchy
- had children
- prioritised family/caring
- did science differently
- questioned boundaries & norms
- fought the patriarchy
Reposted by Dr Manu Saunders
We wrote a whole paper on this in 2017, on the women who often leave the field sciences as their only route to get away from harassment
anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
February 6, 2026 at 2:06 AM
We wrote a whole paper on this in 2017, on the women who often leave the field sciences as their only route to get away from harassment
anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
New report from @copyright.com.au 'Hidden risks of GenAi in the workplace'
More employees are using genAI tools for work and uploading third party material, but few understand the terms and ethics of these tools.
www.copyright.com.au/licences-per...
More employees are using genAI tools for work and uploading third party material, but few understand the terms and ethics of these tools.
www.copyright.com.au/licences-per...
Latest research - Copyright Agency
www.copyright.com.au
February 5, 2026 at 11:49 AM
New report from @copyright.com.au 'Hidden risks of GenAi in the workplace'
More employees are using genAI tools for work and uploading third party material, but few understand the terms and ethics of these tools.
www.copyright.com.au/licences-per...
More employees are using genAI tools for work and uploading third party material, but few understand the terms and ethics of these tools.
www.copyright.com.au/licences-per...
Reposted by Dr Manu Saunders
I’m furious at AI because it steals our work, consumes vast resources and produces mediocrity, but along the way it also traumatises the people - mainly in the developing world - who are paid a pittance to train it. Theft, abuse, environmental destruction, all to make rich men richer. Burn it all.
‘In the end, you feel blank’: India’s female workers watching hours of abusive content to train AI
Women in rural communities describe trauma of moderating violent and pornographic content for global tech companies
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:34 AM
I’m furious at AI because it steals our work, consumes vast resources and produces mediocrity, but along the way it also traumatises the people - mainly in the developing world - who are paid a pittance to train it. Theft, abuse, environmental destruction, all to make rich men richer. Burn it all.
Our backyard has another 'first' record for an insect species in Armidale @inaturalist.bsky.social, Amphirhoe sloanei(?). So many possible reasons for 'firsts', eg few people looking; less common species; dispersal from the coast (random or migration)... we'll probably never know #wildoz #ozinverts
February 5, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Our backyard has another 'first' record for an insect species in Armidale @inaturalist.bsky.social, Amphirhoe sloanei(?). So many possible reasons for 'firsts', eg few people looking; less common species; dispersal from the coast (random or migration)... we'll probably never know #wildoz #ozinverts
Reposted by Dr Manu Saunders
Equity, Ethics, & genAI
“students & staff are reminded of the risks & advised of ‘prohibited’ uses at the same time as inhouse genAI tools are actively promoted […] ethical responsibility is passed on to staff & students, with few clear guidelines...” ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/2026/01/30/e...
“students & staff are reminded of the risks & advised of ‘prohibited’ uses at the same time as inhouse genAI tools are actively promoted […] ethical responsibility is passed on to staff & students, with few clear guidelines...” ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/2026/01/30/e...
Equity, Ethics, and genAI in Academia
Generative AI tools are openly accessible, increasingly normalised, and mostly inequitable. They’re a great example of a marketing success benefiting a specific industry that has quickly ignited a …
ecologyisnotadirtyword.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Equity, Ethics, & genAI
“students & staff are reminded of the risks & advised of ‘prohibited’ uses at the same time as inhouse genAI tools are actively promoted […] ethical responsibility is passed on to staff & students, with few clear guidelines...” ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/2026/01/30/e...
“students & staff are reminded of the risks & advised of ‘prohibited’ uses at the same time as inhouse genAI tools are actively promoted […] ethical responsibility is passed on to staff & students, with few clear guidelines...” ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/2026/01/30/e...
Reposted by Dr Manu Saunders
Solar provided 59% of electricity in the Australian national (east coast) grid between 9am and 6pm over the past week. It was 30% of total generation.
Life moves pretty fast etc.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Life moves pretty fast etc.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Australia’s grid now relies on renewable energy as much as coal. Those who doubted it look foolish
Solar met the majority of electricity demand between 9am and 6pm in the past week as much of the country cranked air conditioners
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Solar provided 59% of electricity in the Australian national (east coast) grid between 9am and 6pm over the past week. It was 30% of total generation.
Life moves pretty fast etc.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Life moves pretty fast etc.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Dr Manu Saunders
We all have opinions about using genAI, but what happens when our collaborators, students or stakeholders hold different views? I've already run into several of the challenges @manusaunders.bsky.social identifies here.
Equity, Ethics, and genAI in Academia
Generative AI tools are openly accessible, increasingly normalised, and mostly inequitable. They’re a great example of a marketing success benefiting a specific industry that has quickly ignited a …
ecologyisnotadirtyword.com
January 30, 2026 at 12:49 PM
We all have opinions about using genAI, but what happens when our collaborators, students or stakeholders hold different views? I've already run into several of the challenges @manusaunders.bsky.social identifies here.
Reposted by Dr Manu Saunders
Very thoughtful piece asking important questions that we will increasingly face - esp those of us who are "conscientious objectors." We need to start discussing these questions & to push our institutions to address them.
New blog: we need more policies and guidelines that help us navigate professional disagreements and conflicts over genAI use and deliver fair and equitable outcomes for individuals #AcademicSky #HigherEd ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/2026/01/30/e...
Equity, Ethics, and genAI in Academia
Generative AI tools are openly accessible, increasingly normalised, and mostly inequitable. They’re a great example of a marketing success benefiting a specific industry that has quickly ignited a …
ecologyisnotadirtyword.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Very thoughtful piece asking important questions that we will increasingly face - esp those of us who are "conscientious objectors." We need to start discussing these questions & to push our institutions to address them.
Reposted by Dr Manu Saunders
"Boundaries are blurred when an organisation or institution claims to prohibit genAI use for writing assessments or research outputs, but supports and encourages its use for almost every other teaching, learning and research activity."
A really good article here...
A really good article here...
New blog: we need more policies and guidelines that help us navigate professional disagreements and conflicts over genAI use and deliver fair and equitable outcomes for individuals #AcademicSky #HigherEd ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/2026/01/30/e...
Equity, Ethics, and genAI in Academia
Generative AI tools are openly accessible, increasingly normalised, and mostly inequitable. They’re a great example of a marketing success benefiting a specific industry that has quickly ignited a …
ecologyisnotadirtyword.com
January 30, 2026 at 12:33 PM
"Boundaries are blurred when an organisation or institution claims to prohibit genAI use for writing assessments or research outputs, but supports and encourages its use for almost every other teaching, learning and research activity."
A really good article here...
A really good article here...
New blog: we need more policies and guidelines that help us navigate professional disagreements and conflicts over genAI use and deliver fair and equitable outcomes for individuals #AcademicSky #HigherEd ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/2026/01/30/e...
Equity, Ethics, and genAI in Academia
Generative AI tools are openly accessible, increasingly normalised, and mostly inequitable. They’re a great example of a marketing success benefiting a specific industry that has quickly ignited a …
ecologyisnotadirtyword.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:14 AM
New blog: we need more policies and guidelines that help us navigate professional disagreements and conflicts over genAI use and deliver fair and equitable outcomes for individuals #AcademicSky #HigherEd ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/2026/01/30/e...
Reposted by Dr Manu Saunders
1. The thing about science that these jokers don't understand is that science cannot be vibe-coded.
Whatever its flaws, the point with vibe coding is that you're trying to quickly make something that sorta works, where you can immediately sorta see if it sorta works and then sorta use it.
Whatever its flaws, the point with vibe coding is that you're trying to quickly make something that sorta works, where you can immediately sorta see if it sorta works and then sorta use it.
“The idea is to put ChatGPT front and center inside software that scientists use to write up their work in much the same way that chatbots are now embedded into popular programming editors.
It’s vibe coding, but for science.”
It’s vibe coding, but for science.”
OpenAI’s latest product lets you vibe code science
Prism is a ChatGPT-powered text editor that automates much of the work involved in writing scientific papers.
www.technologyreview.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:09 PM
1. The thing about science that these jokers don't understand is that science cannot be vibe-coded.
Whatever its flaws, the point with vibe coding is that you're trying to quickly make something that sorta works, where you can immediately sorta see if it sorta works and then sorta use it.
Whatever its flaws, the point with vibe coding is that you're trying to quickly make something that sorta works, where you can immediately sorta see if it sorta works and then sorta use it.
i.e. humans
As deepfakes blur the line between truth and fiction, we’ll need a new class of forensic experts to determine what’s real, what’s fake and what can be proved in court
How digital forensics could prove what’s real in the age of deepfakes
As deepfakes blur the line between truth and fiction, we’ll need a new class of forensic experts to determine what’s real, what’s fake and what can be proved in court
www.scientificamerican.com
January 25, 2026 at 11:03 AM
i.e. humans
Extreme heatwave for most of SE Australia this week. Here in Armidale, previously cool temperate summer rainfall, it is so hot and dry our dirt is cracking while gardens still appear green. Stay safe, put your birdbaths in the shade and keep them full www.weatherzone.com.au/news/intense...
Intense heatwave spreading across Australia, catastrophic fire danger in SA on Saturday
An intense and prolonged heatwave will sweep across Australia from this weekend into next week.
www.weatherzone.com.au
January 24, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Extreme heatwave for most of SE Australia this week. Here in Armidale, previously cool temperate summer rainfall, it is so hot and dry our dirt is cracking while gardens still appear green. Stay safe, put your birdbaths in the shade and keep them full www.weatherzone.com.au/news/intense...
Thanks Robin! It's a common journey for academic parents, hopefully systems will change.
January 23, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Thanks Robin! It's a common journey for academic parents, hopefully systems will change.
Survey conducted by one for-profit publishing company. Respondents were authors/reviewers/editors of said company and were incentivised to respond... Not actually evidence that 'more than half of researchers' use AI for peer review #AcademicSky www.nature.com/articles/d41...
More than half of researchers now use AI for peer review — often against guidance
A survey of 1,600 academics found that more than 50% have used artificial-intelligence tools while peer reviewing manuscripts.
www.nature.com
January 23, 2026 at 10:03 AM
Survey conducted by one for-profit publishing company. Respondents were authors/reviewers/editors of said company and were incentivised to respond... Not actually evidence that 'more than half of researchers' use AI for peer review #AcademicSky www.nature.com/articles/d41...
New blog, after a hiatus: not groundbreaking stuff, but I muse on how having a child changed my work priorities and made me realise how holes in the equity net can easily drop new parents out of the academic network #AcademicSky ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/2026/01/22/h...
How my academic life changed after I had my first child
I’ve missed writing. It’s been just over four years since I became a parent and almost two years since I wrote an actual blog. Priorities change, emotions change, life changes. Absolutely normal.…
ecologyisnotadirtyword.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:33 AM
New blog, after a hiatus: not groundbreaking stuff, but I muse on how having a child changed my work priorities and made me realise how holes in the equity net can easily drop new parents out of the academic network #AcademicSky ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/2026/01/22/h...
Thank you! And congrats and all the best for number 2!
January 22, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Thank you! And congrats and all the best for number 2!
New post: It's been a while between blogs, but I'm still here ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/2026/01/22/h...
How my academic life changed after I had my first child
I’ve missed writing. It’s been just over four years since I became a parent and almost two years since I wrote an actual blog. Priorities change, emotions change, life changes. Absolutely normal.…
ecologyisnotadirtyword.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:39 AM
New post: It's been a while between blogs, but I'm still here ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/2026/01/22/h...
Reposted by Dr Manu Saunders
Using multiple lines of evidence, we show that feral cats and red foxes are strongly implicated in most Australian mammal extinctions and in the ongoing imperilment of numerous extant species. academic.oup.com/bioscience/a...
A large collaborative effort to rebut Wallach and Lundgren (2025).
A large collaborative effort to rebut Wallach and Lundgren (2025).
January 21, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Using multiple lines of evidence, we show that feral cats and red foxes are strongly implicated in most Australian mammal extinctions and in the ongoing imperilment of numerous extant species. academic.oup.com/bioscience/a...
A large collaborative effort to rebut Wallach and Lundgren (2025).
A large collaborative effort to rebut Wallach and Lundgren (2025).