Stephen Hill
@srhastraea.bsky.social
Cognitive psych interested in distributed cognition, memory, weird and non-weird beliefs, cognitive biases, conspiracy belief, misinformation, scientific vs lay cognition, climate change, open science, metascience, 4eCognition.
From Aotearoa/New Zealand
From Aotearoa/New Zealand
Reposted by Stephen Hill
Triggered by claims the "AI in education debate" is caught in a deadlock and by some academics worried that "AI critics: are over-anxious about *possible* rather than empirically documented effects, here are what I think are some worthwhile critical projects about AI in education 🧵
February 1, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Triggered by claims the "AI in education debate" is caught in a deadlock and by some academics worried that "AI critics: are over-anxious about *possible* rather than empirically documented effects, here are what I think are some worthwhile critical projects about AI in education 🧵
Reposted by Stephen Hill
Last night New Zealand had a pretty spectacular meteorite.
Here is one view from Marlborough, facing South.
(not mine, from Facebook)
Here is one view from Marlborough, facing South.
(not mine, from Facebook)
January 31, 2026 at 3:02 AM
Last night New Zealand had a pretty spectacular meteorite.
Here is one view from Marlborough, facing South.
(not mine, from Facebook)
Here is one view from Marlborough, facing South.
(not mine, from Facebook)
Reposted by Stephen Hill
Yep, the video in this linked article shows the view not from my place. I saw it over the Eastern Hutt Hills, through the canopy of our kōwhai. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/meteorite...
Meteorite spotted flying over Wellington
PredictWind webcam at the Heretaunga Boating Club in Petone, Wellington NZ captures a meteorite.
Video / PredictWind
www.nzherald.co.nz
January 31, 2026 at 5:28 AM
Yep, the video in this linked article shows the view not from my place. I saw it over the Eastern Hutt Hills, through the canopy of our kōwhai. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/meteorite...
Reposted by Stephen Hill
NZ has fallen into a 'crisis and response' pattern on climate disaster, experts say. Billions have been spent on storm recovery since 2023, while key climate adaptation funding and planning tools have been cut.
My story looking at last week’s storms
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
My story looking at last week’s storms
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
January 29, 2026 at 6:10 PM
NZ has fallen into a 'crisis and response' pattern on climate disaster, experts say. Billions have been spent on storm recovery since 2023, while key climate adaptation funding and planning tools have been cut.
My story looking at last week’s storms
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
My story looking at last week’s storms
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by Stephen Hill
A bit of my new Listener column. Auckland Council's single biggest item of capital expenditure in FY2025 was paying out the owners of homes ruined by the floods in 2023 (absurdly characterised in the Herald as a "splurge"). It's all very real.
January 29, 2026 at 8:04 PM
A bit of my new Listener column. Auckland Council's single biggest item of capital expenditure in FY2025 was paying out the owners of homes ruined by the floods in 2023 (absurdly characterised in the Herald as a "splurge"). It's all very real.
Reposted by Stephen Hill
There it is. Always, always follow the money. When insurers say they can't cover you because of climate change impacts you can finally understand it is real and is causing harm today.
Yes, this is a sub-tweet.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Yes, this is a sub-tweet.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Insurer temporarily halts new policies in Westport due to flood risk
The decision will be the first of many as the full force of climate change arrives, a researcher says.
www.rnz.co.nz
January 28, 2026 at 7:59 PM
There it is. Always, always follow the money. When insurers say they can't cover you because of climate change impacts you can finally understand it is real and is causing harm today.
Yes, this is a sub-tweet.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Yes, this is a sub-tweet.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by Stephen Hill
MBIE has announced the board members of Research Funding New Zealand, the new org that will make funding decisions for NZ's "major public investments in science, innovation and technology"
My initial response: 😬🤔🙄WTF
Why are three of them Aus-based? Why such a strong Agri lean? ⚛️🧪👩🔬
My initial response: 😬🤔🙄WTF
Why are three of them Aus-based? Why such a strong Agri lean? ⚛️🧪👩🔬
Biographical Information RFNZ Board members | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Biographies for the Research Funding New Zealand Board.
www.mbie.govt.nz
January 28, 2026 at 7:25 AM
MBIE has announced the board members of Research Funding New Zealand, the new org that will make funding decisions for NZ's "major public investments in science, innovation and technology"
My initial response: 😬🤔🙄WTF
Why are three of them Aus-based? Why such a strong Agri lean? ⚛️🧪👩🔬
My initial response: 😬🤔🙄WTF
Why are three of them Aus-based? Why such a strong Agri lean? ⚛️🧪👩🔬
Reposted by Stephen Hill
1. From lung cancer to climate change, capitalist governments are notoriously slow to recognize and remedy the negative externalities generated by corporate activity.
Generative AI is no exception. Large language models are proving a disaster in numerous spheres of public life.
Generative AI is no exception. Large language models are proving a disaster in numerous spheres of public life.
January 28, 2026 at 6:59 AM
1. From lung cancer to climate change, capitalist governments are notoriously slow to recognize and remedy the negative externalities generated by corporate activity.
Generative AI is no exception. Large language models are proving a disaster in numerous spheres of public life.
Generative AI is no exception. Large language models are proving a disaster in numerous spheres of public life.
Reposted by Stephen Hill
good riddance to Minister Judith Collins, who orchestrated the present gutting of New Zealand's science funding establishment
I've not seen or heard any coverage today that mentions this tiny detail, affecting 100s of millions of public dollars and endangering NZ's entire intellectual community
I've not seen or heard any coverage today that mentions this tiny detail, affecting 100s of millions of public dollars and endangering NZ's entire intellectual community
Judith Collins resigns after a near quarter century in politics
She has been in Parliament for more than 20 years, as the MP for Clevedon, and then Papakura.
www.stuff.co.nz
January 28, 2026 at 1:05 AM
good riddance to Minister Judith Collins, who orchestrated the present gutting of New Zealand's science funding establishment
I've not seen or heard any coverage today that mentions this tiny detail, affecting 100s of millions of public dollars and endangering NZ's entire intellectual community
I've not seen or heard any coverage today that mentions this tiny detail, affecting 100s of millions of public dollars and endangering NZ's entire intellectual community
Reposted by Stephen Hill
But here's the thing. The most highly retweeted tweets from this period… ON X... EVEN AFTER DHS WAS TRYING TO SHIFT THE NARRATIVE… contained frames that were sympathetic to the victim, and blaming ICE for the “murder” or "execution" of the victim. In other words, the RW spin machine wasn’t working.
January 28, 2026 at 1:29 AM
But here's the thing. The most highly retweeted tweets from this period… ON X... EVEN AFTER DHS WAS TRYING TO SHIFT THE NARRATIVE… contained frames that were sympathetic to the victim, and blaming ICE for the “murder” or "execution" of the victim. In other words, the RW spin machine wasn’t working.
Reposted by Stephen Hill
Slashing all Marsden grants to social science and humanities another Judith Collins legacy www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Government's Marsden Fund cuts: All humanities, social sciences research funding slashed
Cutting all research funding for the fields is a massive step backwards, critics say.
www.rnz.co.nz
January 28, 2026 at 1:32 AM
Slashing all Marsden grants to social science and humanities another Judith Collins legacy www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by Stephen Hill
This may be a pointless post, but I found 272 MW geothermal, 119 MW wind, and 416 MW solar commissioned in 2024-25, generating about 3 TWh annually.
In the previous 15 years, 483 MW geothermal, 824 MW wind, & 372 MW solar generating 7 TWh.
The Minister's claim is false.
In the previous 15 years, 483 MW geothermal, 824 MW wind, & 372 MW solar generating 7 TWh.
The Minister's claim is false.
January 28, 2026 at 12:30 AM
This may be a pointless post, but I found 272 MW geothermal, 119 MW wind, and 416 MW solar commissioned in 2024-25, generating about 3 TWh annually.
In the previous 15 years, 483 MW geothermal, 824 MW wind, & 372 MW solar generating 7 TWh.
The Minister's claim is false.
In the previous 15 years, 483 MW geothermal, 824 MW wind, & 372 MW solar generating 7 TWh.
The Minister's claim is false.
Reposted by Stephen Hill
Want to work at the interface of science and journalism - helping make complex topics accessible to the public of Aotearoa New Zealand? Then check out our new job opening here: www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/01/27/w...
We're hiring: Kaimanaaki Pāpāho | Media Advisor role - Science Media Centre
The Science Media Centre (SMC) is looking for a media advisor to join our dedicated team working to improve the reach, relevance and accuracy of news media reporting on science and related topics in Aotearoa...
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz
January 27, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Want to work at the interface of science and journalism - helping make complex topics accessible to the public of Aotearoa New Zealand? Then check out our new job opening here: www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/01/27/w...
Reposted by Stephen Hill
Collaborative groups often outperform single individuals in complex problem solving. A new paper examined how to create the right incentives to promote this kind of collective intelligence.
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
January 27, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Collaborative groups often outperform single individuals in complex problem solving. A new paper examined how to create the right incentives to promote this kind of collective intelligence.
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
Reposted by Stephen Hill
This article from 2024 documents what got cut from the Climate Emergency Response Fund, including -
Hapori Māori programme to improve evidence available to Māori communities about climate change, adaptation, and resilience. Savings: $23m
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Hapori Māori programme to improve evidence available to Māori communities about climate change, adaptation, and resilience. Savings: $23m
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Budget 2024: What survived and what was cut from Climate Emergency Response Fund
Funding cuts affect research on how to shrink farming greenhouse gases, a programme for establishing native forests and work on bringing in a price on agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.
www.rnz.co.nz
January 27, 2026 at 2:49 AM
This article from 2024 documents what got cut from the Climate Emergency Response Fund, including -
Hapori Māori programme to improve evidence available to Māori communities about climate change, adaptation, and resilience. Savings: $23m
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Hapori Māori programme to improve evidence available to Māori communities about climate change, adaptation, and resilience. Savings: $23m
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by Stephen Hill
Kia ora Bsky buddies with some work news: working alongside the fabulous Izzy Fenwick I'm now Chief Advisor for a new independent philanthropically funded NZ climate foundation that is soon to launch. More soon!
2026 is for climate.
Over the last few years - here in New Zealand and around the world - we’ve seen climate science undermined, climate ambition weakened, and climate language softened, avoided, or…...
2026 is for climate.
Over the last few years - here in New Zealand and around the world - we’ve seen climate science undermined, climate ambition weakened, and climate language softened, avoided, or ...
www.linkedin.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Kia ora Bsky buddies with some work news: working alongside the fabulous Izzy Fenwick I'm now Chief Advisor for a new independent philanthropically funded NZ climate foundation that is soon to launch. More soon!
Reposted by Stephen Hill
It costs NZD $1105 to renounce British citizenship. For a lot of NZ folks who've been automatically cursed with Britizenship by their British born parents, the new Brit rules will mean they need a UK Passport ($220) or get a Certificate of Entitlement from the UK ($1373) for your NZ passport. Mad.
January 24, 2026 at 1:03 AM
It costs NZD $1105 to renounce British citizenship. For a lot of NZ folks who've been automatically cursed with Britizenship by their British born parents, the new Brit rules will mean they need a UK Passport ($220) or get a Certificate of Entitlement from the UK ($1373) for your NZ passport. Mad.
Reposted by Stephen Hill
Airport book policy making is totally a thing. We have a live case- banning social media for under 16s.
@joxley.jmoxley.co.uk hits the mark.
And as with anything when you look at the actual data the picture is far more complex. Parent brain is not enough.
open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...
@joxley.jmoxley.co.uk hits the mark.
And as with anything when you look at the actual data the picture is far more complex. Parent brain is not enough.
open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...
Airport Book Brain
How faddish ideas keep seducing.
open.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:03 AM
Airport book policy making is totally a thing. We have a live case- banning social media for under 16s.
@joxley.jmoxley.co.uk hits the mark.
And as with anything when you look at the actual data the picture is far more complex. Parent brain is not enough.
open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...
@joxley.jmoxley.co.uk hits the mark.
And as with anything when you look at the actual data the picture is far more complex. Parent brain is not enough.
open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...
Reposted by Stephen Hill
The Australian Senate Select Committee on Information Integrity on Climate & Energy has published my 75pp submission on the history of fossil capital's systemic global disinformation war via the #AtlasNetwork thinktanks against climate science, policy & clean energy.
www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStor...
www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStor...
January 21, 2026 at 7:49 AM
The Australian Senate Select Committee on Information Integrity on Climate & Energy has published my 75pp submission on the history of fossil capital's systemic global disinformation war via the #AtlasNetwork thinktanks against climate science, policy & clean energy.
www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStor...
www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStor...
Reposted by Stephen Hill
This is embarrassing and we are fucking doomed.
January 23, 2026 at 4:33 AM
This is embarrassing and we are fucking doomed.
Reposted by Stephen Hill
This week has shown (once again) that extreme weather events in a changing climate pose growing risks to Aotearoa's communities and ecosystems.
We're developing tools to prepare for extreme weather events, and we're looking for a masters student to help → www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/posts/master...
We're developing tools to prepare for extreme weather events, and we're looking for a masters student to help → www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/posts/master...
Masters scholarship on the impacts of extreme climate events
Applications are invited for a masters scholarship at the University of Canterbury on the impacts of extreme climate events for coastal systems and communities.
www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz
January 23, 2026 at 2:03 AM
This week has shown (once again) that extreme weather events in a changing climate pose growing risks to Aotearoa's communities and ecosystems.
We're developing tools to prepare for extreme weather events, and we're looking for a masters student to help → www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/posts/master...
We're developing tools to prepare for extreme weather events, and we're looking for a masters student to help → www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/posts/master...
Reposted by Stephen Hill
A man has lost two years of AI-assisted grant applications, and you're laughing and making "all my apes" jokes?
Yeah, laughing like a drain. Sorry.
Yeah, laughing like a drain. Sorry.
When two years of academic work vanished with a single click
After turning off ChatGPT’s ‘data consent’ option, Marcel Bucher lost the work behind grant applications, teaching materials and publication drafts. Here’s what happened next.
www.nature.com
January 23, 2026 at 3:02 AM
A man has lost two years of AI-assisted grant applications, and you're laughing and making "all my apes" jokes?
Yeah, laughing like a drain. Sorry.
Yeah, laughing like a drain. Sorry.
Reposted by Stephen Hill
life ending and infrastructure destroying floods are now an annual occurrence in new zealand. there is no political recognition of this new reality, and thus there is no resourcing for its prevention. we are not ready
January 22, 2026 at 8:26 AM
life ending and infrastructure destroying floods are now an annual occurrence in new zealand. there is no political recognition of this new reality, and thus there is no resourcing for its prevention. we are not ready
Reposted by Stephen Hill
Hey Aotearoa/New Zealand academics: Here's something good you can do today!
Only 1 of 8 universities in AoNZ has left X. I think it should be 8 of 8.
(So far 10 of 37 Australian public unis left X - you're behind 😬)
Full grade report for AoNZ unis, and what you can do to help, follows.
Only 1 of 8 universities in AoNZ has left X. I think it should be 8 of 8.
(So far 10 of 37 Australian public unis left X - you're behind 😬)
Full grade report for AoNZ unis, and what you can do to help, follows.
Want to do something good for change today?
➡️Are you an academic, a student, or an alumna/alumnus of an Australian University?
Of 37 Australian public universities, 9 have already deleted or inactivated their accounts on X. I don’t see why we can’t get that to 100%!
(See end for what you can do)
➡️Are you an academic, a student, or an alumna/alumnus of an Australian University?
Of 37 Australian public universities, 9 have already deleted or inactivated their accounts on X. I don’t see why we can’t get that to 100%!
(See end for what you can do)
January 18, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Hey Aotearoa/New Zealand academics: Here's something good you can do today!
Only 1 of 8 universities in AoNZ has left X. I think it should be 8 of 8.
(So far 10 of 37 Australian public unis left X - you're behind 😬)
Full grade report for AoNZ unis, and what you can do to help, follows.
Only 1 of 8 universities in AoNZ has left X. I think it should be 8 of 8.
(So far 10 of 37 Australian public unis left X - you're behind 😬)
Full grade report for AoNZ unis, and what you can do to help, follows.
Reposted by Stephen Hill
➡️Universities which Fail (Still actively posting on X):
(none 😀)
There are no unis in AoNZ currently active on X!
So let's get them to admit it - why not at least put up a notice that the account is no longer active?
(none 😀)
There are no unis in AoNZ currently active on X!
So let's get them to admit it - why not at least put up a notice that the account is no longer active?
January 18, 2026 at 11:01 PM
➡️Universities which Fail (Still actively posting on X):
(none 😀)
There are no unis in AoNZ currently active on X!
So let's get them to admit it - why not at least put up a notice that the account is no longer active?
(none 😀)
There are no unis in AoNZ currently active on X!
So let's get them to admit it - why not at least put up a notice that the account is no longer active?