Dr Georgia Grainger
@sniphist.bsky.social
Irish in Edinburgh
PhD in the history of vasectomy ✂️🍒
Working in performing arts policy/advocacy.
Disabled (EDS & POTS)
sí/í, she/her
PhD in the history of vasectomy ✂️🍒
Working in performing arts policy/advocacy.
Disabled (EDS & POTS)
sí/í, she/her
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
Sinn Féin has lost contact with senator Chris Andrews, who was aboard the Spectre as part of the Sumud Flotilla aiming to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, some of vessels of which have seemingly been boarded by Israel tonight.
@virginmedianews.bsky.social
@virginmedianews.bsky.social
October 1, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Sinn Féin has lost contact with senator Chris Andrews, who was aboard the Spectre as part of the Sumud Flotilla aiming to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, some of vessels of which have seemingly been boarded by Israel tonight.
@virginmedianews.bsky.social
@virginmedianews.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
It’s easy to scoff at this, but Oxford generating artificial intelligence is how the British Empire was run
NEW: Oxford will be the first UK university to give all staff and students free ChatGPT Edu access, from this academic year.
ChatGPT Edu is built for education, with enhanced privacy and security.
ChatGPT Edu is built for education, with enhanced privacy and security.
September 20, 2025 at 11:35 AM
It’s easy to scoff at this, but Oxford generating artificial intelligence is how the British Empire was run
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
Two trials will be repeated endlessly despite always producing the same results:
1) Does UBI work? (yes)
2) Does AI improve productivity? (no)
1) Does UBI work? (yes)
2) Does AI improve productivity? (no)
M365 Copilot fails to up productivity in UK government trial
: AI tech shows promise writing emails or summarizing meetings. Don't bother with anything more complex
www.theregister.com
September 6, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Two trials will be repeated endlessly despite always producing the same results:
1) Does UBI work? (yes)
2) Does AI improve productivity? (no)
1) Does UBI work? (yes)
2) Does AI improve productivity? (no)
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
Did you know that in the 70s, the British Army created Satanic Panic stories in Northern Ireland. They used blood from the mess hall, set up altars etc and then contacted the media
i am almost 40 and i literally do not have any point in my life where the right wing has not been doing moral panics about imaginary child abuse while institutionally working to enable real abuse of real children. if it's not the satanic panic it's fucking pronouns.
September 1, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Did you know that in the 70s, the British Army created Satanic Panic stories in Northern Ireland. They used blood from the mess hall, set up altars etc and then contacted the media
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
"Eugenics was rooted in rational modern science then" needs re-stating. Far too many people describe eugenics as a "pseudoscience", but it wasn't to those who studied it, wrote books and papers, formed societies and argued its benefits.
But that was also rooted in „rational“, modern science then and these eugenicist elements are still present in science today. I think it’s dangerous, as Gourevitch does, to act as if this logics aren’t deeply rooted in specific forms of modernity, rationality and science.
August 31, 2025 at 5:56 PM
"Eugenics was rooted in rational modern science then" needs re-stating. Far too many people describe eugenics as a "pseudoscience", but it wasn't to those who studied it, wrote books and papers, formed societies and argued its benefits.
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
Or the SNP, or Plaid, or any of the NI Parties, or...
Reform UK, which has a grand total of four MPs, was just given an uninterrupted platform for an hour and a half on the BBC and Sky News channels, in order to talk about its plans for mass deportations
When was the last time the Greens (with four MPs) or the Lib Dems (with 72) were given the same?
When was the last time the Greens (with four MPs) or the Lib Dems (with 72) were given the same?
August 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Or the SNP, or Plaid, or any of the NI Parties, or...
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
I think this is all true, but I also think about the number of people who have assumed my PhD (in history) took a long time because it takes that long to memorize all those facts. They eschew skill building, of course, but also confuse knowledge accumulation/regurgitation with knowledge production.
Something that I have been thinking about with attribution of "PhD level intelligence" or "PhD level expertise" to a machine is that it reflects an increasing trend among these AI bros and their sycophants to want the products of highly skilled training without actually doing any of the work.
August 9, 2025 at 8:16 PM
I think this is all true, but I also think about the number of people who have assumed my PhD (in history) took a long time because it takes that long to memorize all those facts. They eschew skill building, of course, but also confuse knowledge accumulation/regurgitation with knowledge production.
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
‘I’m a lesbian and feminist. I’ve been harmed by men. So I wouldn’t fight for trans people if it hurt women’s rights. Yet I’m called a groomer and a misogynist’
Rebecca Don Kennedy, head of the Equality Network, on how dark it’s got for trans people in Britain www.heraldscotland.com/news/2541309...
Rebecca Don Kennedy, head of the Equality Network, on how dark it’s got for trans people in Britain www.heraldscotland.com/news/2541309...
It’s so f*****g tedious and soul-destroying as it’s so unjust'
Rebecca Don Kennedy runs the Equality Network. She talks candidly to our Writer at Large about the attacks, abuse and hate she’s suffered…
www.heraldscotland.com
August 24, 2025 at 8:13 AM
‘I’m a lesbian and feminist. I’ve been harmed by men. So I wouldn’t fight for trans people if it hurt women’s rights. Yet I’m called a groomer and a misogynist’
Rebecca Don Kennedy, head of the Equality Network, on how dark it’s got for trans people in Britain www.heraldscotland.com/news/2541309...
Rebecca Don Kennedy, head of the Equality Network, on how dark it’s got for trans people in Britain www.heraldscotland.com/news/2541309...
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
Academic historians rarely speak up like this but have made an exception in speaking in support of trans people in the UK and against the current trans exclusionary situation over there.
Not just a few historians but hundreds signed this.
www.thepinknews.com/2025/05/02/h...
Not just a few historians but hundreds signed this.
www.thepinknews.com/2025/05/02/h...
Warning from historians over government's treatment of trans people
Over 350 historians and academics have urged the government to turn back on its growing attacks on trans rights in the UK.
www.thepinknews.com
August 17, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Academic historians rarely speak up like this but have made an exception in speaking in support of trans people in the UK and against the current trans exclusionary situation over there.
Not just a few historians but hundreds signed this.
www.thepinknews.com/2025/05/02/h...
Not just a few historians but hundreds signed this.
www.thepinknews.com/2025/05/02/h...
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
Sorry why is “economics” deemed “career related” in comparison to history?? Both of these topics have direct careers that follow from their study, and both send students into a wide range of future jobs (how many economics graduates become economists, exactly?)
'Just 40,900 students entered to take history, compared with 41,900 taking economics and 43,000 for physics. Maths remains the most popular A-level with 105,000 entries this year, up by more than 4% compared with 2024.'
Both 'Just' and 'career-related' doing heavy lifting here. 1/2
Both 'Just' and 'career-related' doing heavy lifting here. 1/2
A-level results in England expected to return to near pre-pandemic levels
Career-focused subjects such as business studies and economics to surpass traditional academic disciplines like history in popularity
www.theguardian.com
August 11, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Sorry why is “economics” deemed “career related” in comparison to history?? Both of these topics have direct careers that follow from their study, and both send students into a wide range of future jobs (how many economics graduates become economists, exactly?)
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
Obviously a lie, since the definition of PhD-level expertise, standard across universities worldwide, is that you can produce original knowledge.
OpenAI claims new GPT-5 model boosts ChatGPT to ‘PhD level’
GPT-5's release comes as tech firms continue to compete in an effort to claim the world's most advanced AI.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 7, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Obviously a lie, since the definition of PhD-level expertise, standard across universities worldwide, is that you can produce original knowledge.
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
Key genetic differences found in people with #ME/CFS the latest news from The University of Edinburgh on the key findings of the @decodemestudy.bsky.social
The very first large #GWAS study on #pwME www.ed.ac.uk/news/key-gen...
The very first large #GWAS study on #pwME www.ed.ac.uk/news/key-gen...
Key genetic differences found in people with ME/CFS | News | The University of Edinburgh
Scientists have discovered that people diagnosed with ME/CFS have significant differences in their DNA, offering the first robust evidence that genes contribute to a person’s chance of developing the ...
www.ed.ac.uk
August 6, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Key genetic differences found in people with #ME/CFS the latest news from The University of Edinburgh on the key findings of the @decodemestudy.bsky.social
The very first large #GWAS study on #pwME www.ed.ac.uk/news/key-gen...
The very first large #GWAS study on #pwME www.ed.ac.uk/news/key-gen...
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
So, just to reiterate: PLEASE REGULATE THE USE OF EXTERNAL CONSULTANCIES, Government.
We all had a good laugh today, but it wasn't worth the millions this will have cost in tuition fee money going to some consultancy that is about to do exactly the same two towns over.
We all had a good laugh today, but it wasn't worth the millions this will have cost in tuition fee money going to some consultancy that is about to do exactly the same two towns over.
Self-inflicted embarrassment for the University of Warwick — first it rebrands hyper-generically, then someone totally unhinged decides the *front page of the uni website* should say ‘Learn more about our Brand’.
July 22, 2025 at 4:13 PM
So, just to reiterate: PLEASE REGULATE THE USE OF EXTERNAL CONSULTANCIES, Government.
We all had a good laugh today, but it wasn't worth the millions this will have cost in tuition fee money going to some consultancy that is about to do exactly the same two towns over.
We all had a good laugh today, but it wasn't worth the millions this will have cost in tuition fee money going to some consultancy that is about to do exactly the same two towns over.
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
now google each of those six universities and “redundancies”
Exeter, Galway, Queen’s, Birmingham, Warwick, Kent, and UKRI’s KTN…
If anyone wondered where the same obsession with ‘modernising’ the crest, speaking in abstract nouns, and questionable colour schemes for these originated:
If anyone wondered where the same obsession with ‘modernising’ the crest, speaking in abstract nouns, and questionable colour schemes for these originated:
July 31, 2025 at 8:20 AM
now google each of those six universities and “redundancies”
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
I strongly recommend Lesley Hall’s website and blog for really thorough rooting out of zombie factoids (especially on the history of sex) www.lesleyahall.net/factoids.htm
July 30, 2025 at 8:42 AM
I strongly recommend Lesley Hall’s website and blog for really thorough rooting out of zombie factoids (especially on the history of sex) www.lesleyahall.net/factoids.htm
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
Yep!! PhD students are often extremely good at catching these zombie factoids because they are tenacious, buried in footnotes and have *time* to root stuff out. But at some point stuff just gets footnoted to the most prominent historian who repeated the claim, and nobody bothers to look it up.
From my own academic research, even pre LLMs there was a huge danger of zombie factoids that begin in a respectable publication by mistake and then get reprinted for decades because no one is backtracing to the original source. Once bad info gets into the system it can take years to clear it out.
I've seen numerous examples of this in recent days - we're at a point where some reporters are using LLMs as a source and not even remotely properly factchecking, but also where LLM generated material is making its way into other material and being unknowingly reproduced by others.
July 30, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Yep!! PhD students are often extremely good at catching these zombie factoids because they are tenacious, buried in footnotes and have *time* to root stuff out. But at some point stuff just gets footnoted to the most prominent historian who repeated the claim, and nobody bothers to look it up.
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
NHS Fife’s lawyer Jane Russell KC says Ms Peggie is not paying for her own case and she asks who is paying for it.
Ms Peggie’s lawyer Naomi Cunningham objects to this and says it is “of no relevance and it’s privileged”. Employment Judge Sandy Kemp agrees and the question is withdrawn.
Ms Peggie’s lawyer Naomi Cunningham objects to this and says it is “of no relevance and it’s privileged”. Employment Judge Sandy Kemp agrees and the question is withdrawn.
July 29, 2025 at 2:03 PM
NHS Fife’s lawyer Jane Russell KC says Ms Peggie is not paying for her own case and she asks who is paying for it.
Ms Peggie’s lawyer Naomi Cunningham objects to this and says it is “of no relevance and it’s privileged”. Employment Judge Sandy Kemp agrees and the question is withdrawn.
Ms Peggie’s lawyer Naomi Cunningham objects to this and says it is “of no relevance and it’s privileged”. Employment Judge Sandy Kemp agrees and the question is withdrawn.
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
“We’re committed to diversity and inclusion. But for our entry level, part-time job on a fixed term contract, we won’t consider shortlisting anyone who hasn’t done this exact job before.”
July 24, 2025 at 10:59 AM
“We’re committed to diversity and inclusion. But for our entry level, part-time job on a fixed term contract, we won’t consider shortlisting anyone who hasn’t done this exact job before.”
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
If u ask me what’s the situation in gaza :
July 24, 2025 at 8:25 AM
If u ask me what’s the situation in gaza :
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
What's the betting this study has been written by people who think "History" just means "synthesizing the information in printed sources"
This incredibly worrying study suggests Historians are the 2nd most likely occupation to be supplanted by AI.
That’s despite the fact that current AI history output is wildly unreliable, unsourced, hallucinates fale events, sources, and previous historians!!
Yay 😬😩🤪
arxiv.org/pdf/2507.07935
That’s despite the fact that current AI history output is wildly unreliable, unsourced, hallucinates fale events, sources, and previous historians!!
Yay 😬😩🤪
arxiv.org/pdf/2507.07935
arxiv.org
July 24, 2025 at 8:10 AM
What's the betting this study has been written by people who think "History" just means "synthesizing the information in printed sources"
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
Stop Trump Scotland protest details – 26 July
Aberdeen
Noon, Saturday 26th July
Union Terrace Gardens
Edinburgh
Noon, Saturday 26th July
at the US Consulate,
3 Regent Terrace, EH7 5BW
stoptrump.org.uk/stop-trump-s...
Aberdeen
Noon, Saturday 26th July
Union Terrace Gardens
Edinburgh
Noon, Saturday 26th July
at the US Consulate,
3 Regent Terrace, EH7 5BW
stoptrump.org.uk/stop-trump-s...
Stop Trump Scotland protest details – 26 July
Stop Trump Coalition
stoptrump.org.uk
July 22, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Stop Trump Scotland protest details – 26 July
Aberdeen
Noon, Saturday 26th July
Union Terrace Gardens
Edinburgh
Noon, Saturday 26th July
at the US Consulate,
3 Regent Terrace, EH7 5BW
stoptrump.org.uk/stop-trump-s...
Aberdeen
Noon, Saturday 26th July
Union Terrace Gardens
Edinburgh
Noon, Saturday 26th July
at the US Consulate,
3 Regent Terrace, EH7 5BW
stoptrump.org.uk/stop-trump-s...
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
⏳Final week to sign up to the Green Party.
🗳️ Vote for Bold Leadership on August 1st.
🗳️ Vote for Bold Leadership on August 1st.
July 23, 2025 at 6:46 AM
⏳Final week to sign up to the Green Party.
🗳️ Vote for Bold Leadership on August 1st.
🗳️ Vote for Bold Leadership on August 1st.
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
ICYMI in the Warwick Uni rebrand hilarity: apparently this is the brain behind the branding. Trying to read this interview is like trying to sip from a firehose of bullshit. I assume these are written (generated?) answers, because surely no actual human being talks like this bsky.app/profile/mich...
I can't quite believe it, but, it appears that the person responsible for this at the University of Warwick has had a Vogue photoshoot about the rebrand, explaining his 'journey from the world of luxury [goods marketing] into higher education' vogue.sg/university-o...
July 23, 2025 at 9:45 AM
ICYMI in the Warwick Uni rebrand hilarity: apparently this is the brain behind the branding. Trying to read this interview is like trying to sip from a firehose of bullshit. I assume these are written (generated?) answers, because surely no actual human being talks like this bsky.app/profile/mich...
Reposted by Dr Georgia Grainger
A tipping point has been reached.
Gaza is now starving to death in front of the whole world.
Those who facilitated and justified this abomination were given ample warning for 21 months.
You have no excuses, and nowhere to hide: you will be held to account for what you've done.
Gaza is now starving to death in front of the whole world.
Those who facilitated and justified this abomination were given ample warning for 21 months.
You have no excuses, and nowhere to hide: you will be held to account for what you've done.
Gaza health ministry says 33 people dead from malnutrition in last 48 hours
New figures from the Hamas-run ministry include 12 children who have died, as the UN says Israel must allow aid into Gaza.
www.bbc.com
July 22, 2025 at 12:03 PM
A tipping point has been reached.
Gaza is now starving to death in front of the whole world.
Those who facilitated and justified this abomination were given ample warning for 21 months.
You have no excuses, and nowhere to hide: you will be held to account for what you've done.
Gaza is now starving to death in front of the whole world.
Those who facilitated and justified this abomination were given ample warning for 21 months.
You have no excuses, and nowhere to hide: you will be held to account for what you've done.