Dr James Kite
@jdkite.bsky.social
Academic with Prevention Research Collaboration at Uni of Sydney. Cyclist. Swans fan.
I have never been able to get my head around why we let this system exist. Research money is limited and yet we give so much of it to pay a third party to host it on a website and charge us for the privilege to read it. Madness
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
November 12, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I have never been able to get my head around why we let this system exist. Research money is limited and yet we give so much of it to pay a third party to host it on a website and charge us for the privilege to read it. Madness
Reposted by Dr James Kite
The Drain of Scientific Publishing details very clearly how for-profit publishers making >30% profit margins have corrupted any solution the research community has attempted.
Let's cut ourselves free.
Drain: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Strain: bit.ly/StrainQSS
Oligopoly: bit.ly/OligSciPub
12/12
Let's cut ourselves free.
Drain: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Strain: bit.ly/StrainQSS
Oligopoly: bit.ly/OligSciPub
12/12
The Drain of Scientific Publishing
The domination of scientific publishing in the Global North by major commercial publishers is harmful to science. We need the most powerful members of the research community, funders, governments and ...
arxiv.org
November 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
The Drain of Scientific Publishing details very clearly how for-profit publishers making >30% profit margins have corrupted any solution the research community has attempted.
Let's cut ourselves free.
Drain: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Strain: bit.ly/StrainQSS
Oligopoly: bit.ly/OligSciPub
12/12
Let's cut ourselves free.
Drain: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Strain: bit.ly/StrainQSS
Oligopoly: bit.ly/OligSciPub
12/12
All the pushback amounts to is “I like driving fast”. No alternative proposals other than more education (which puts the blame for deaths/injuries solely on drivers), no evidence of how this would be detrimental other than vague claims of ‘economic disaster’. Typical of a car-obsessed politic
Pushback over proposal to lower speed limits on Australia’s country roads to between 70 and 90km/h
Pushback over proposal to lower speed limits on Australia’s country roads to between 70 and 90km/h
Federal infrastructure department analysis recommends reducing default speed limits on regional roads from 100km/h
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A proposal to reduce default speed limits on regional roads from 100km/h to between 70 and 90km/h is facing backlash, with some Labor MPs joining Nationals in criticising the policy.
The federal infrastructure department has undertaken consultation on a “regulatory impact analysis”, released in September, as part of the National Road Safety Action Plan. That analysis was open to public submissions, which closed on 10 November. It is up to individual states and territories to implement their own road rules. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:11 AM
All the pushback amounts to is “I like driving fast”. No alternative proposals other than more education (which puts the blame for deaths/injuries solely on drivers), no evidence of how this would be detrimental other than vague claims of ‘economic disaster’. Typical of a car-obsessed politic
Reposted by Dr James Kite
I'd appreciate help circulating this survey, part of our overall work on neurodivergence.
This one is on behalf of the graduate deans, to develop better supervision guidelines.
You can help by boosting and circulating the link in your various networks 🙏 redcap.unisq.edu.au/surveys/?s=D...
This one is on behalf of the graduate deans, to develop better supervision guidelines.
You can help by boosting and circulating the link in your various networks 🙏 redcap.unisq.edu.au/surveys/?s=D...
Developing guidelines for supervising Neurodivergent HDR students
redcap.unisq.edu.au
November 10, 2025 at 9:15 PM
I'd appreciate help circulating this survey, part of our overall work on neurodivergence.
This one is on behalf of the graduate deans, to develop better supervision guidelines.
You can help by boosting and circulating the link in your various networks 🙏 redcap.unisq.edu.au/surveys/?s=D...
This one is on behalf of the graduate deans, to develop better supervision guidelines.
You can help by boosting and circulating the link in your various networks 🙏 redcap.unisq.edu.au/surveys/?s=D...
Reposted by Dr James Kite
“Without Indigenous engagement, and ideally self-determination, in the evaluation process, evaluation findings would be of little value to organisations providing services to First Nations people” - Summer May Finlay
Identifying best practice in evaluation of Indigenous programs
First Nations people should be meaningfully involved in the evaluation of Indigenous-focused programs, according to a new publication. The article,
www.croakey.org
November 2, 2025 at 7:48 AM
“Without Indigenous engagement, and ideally self-determination, in the evaluation process, evaluation findings would be of little value to organisations providing services to First Nations people” - Summer May Finlay
This is really interesting. It’s going to be a challenge to enforce this, not least because the definition of ‘influencer’ is fluid, but I get why they’ve gone down this path.
New law in China now requires influencers "to prove professional qualifications for discussing topics such as finance, medicine, law, or education.
Platforms ... will be held liable for verifying these credentials, with fines as high as 100,000 yuan." www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/china-influe...
Platforms ... will be held liable for verifying these credentials, with fines as high as 100,000 yuan." www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/china-influe...
Not Verified? Not Welcome. China’s Influencer Policy Sends a Message
Influencers now need to prove professional qualifications for discussing topics such as finance, medicine, law, or education. Platforms like Douyin, Weibo, and Bilibili will be held liable for verifyi...
www.globalbrandsmagazine.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:45 AM
This is really interesting. It’s going to be a challenge to enforce this, not least because the definition of ‘influencer’ is fluid, but I get why they’ve gone down this path.
@harvilla.bsky.social thought you might find this amusing. Cheat sheet: Albanese is the Australian prime Minister and Ley is leader of the opposition (aka the ‘Coalition’)
Sussan Ley goes after Anthony Albanese’s Joy Division T-shirt as the Coalition tears itself apart, again
Sussan Ley goes after Anthony Albanese’s Joy Division T-shirt as the Coalition tears itself apart, again
While the opposition leader criticised the prime minister’s clothing as a ‘profound failure of judgment’, Albanese posted he was ‘getting things done’
Sussan Ley, faced with internal turmoil over climate and environment issues while trying to extinguish simmering challenges from a disgruntled backbench who want to philosophically reshape the very party she leads, has elevated a critical new political issue to the top of the national agenda.
The prime minister’s decision to wear a Joy Division T-shirt. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:10 AM
@harvilla.bsky.social thought you might find this amusing. Cheat sheet: Albanese is the Australian prime Minister and Ley is leader of the opposition (aka the ‘Coalition’)
Very nice piece from @joshbutler.bsky.social pointing out the strange choice to attack Albos clothing choices. There’s so much you could go after him on - why Ley thought this would be a winner is baffling
Sussan Ley goes after Anthony Albanese’s Joy Division T-shirt as the Coalition tears itself apart, again
Sussan Ley goes after Anthony Albanese’s Joy Division T-shirt as the Coalition tears itself apart, again
While the opposition leader criticised the prime minister’s clothing as a ‘profound failure of judgment’, Albanese posted he was ‘getting things done’
Sussan Ley, faced with internal turmoil over climate and environment issues while trying to extinguish simmering challenges from a disgruntled backbench who want to philosophically reshape the very party she leads, has elevated a critical new political issue to the top of the national agenda.
The prime minister’s decision to wear a Joy Division T-shirt. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Very nice piece from @joshbutler.bsky.social pointing out the strange choice to attack Albos clothing choices. There’s so much you could go after him on - why Ley thought this would be a winner is baffling
Reposted by Dr James Kite
"There isn't a reasonable scenario where we grant some rich people control over the planet's thermostat and everything turns out fine."
My latest:
My latest:
Letting Silicon Valley Geoengineer the Atmosphere Will End Badly
We already have plenty of evidence of what happens when things better left to governments — which in this case might decide to never flip the switch at all — are ceded to private industry.
www.gravityisgone.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:41 PM
"There isn't a reasonable scenario where we grant some rich people control over the planet's thermostat and everything turns out fine."
My latest:
My latest:
Great read. How best to respond to AI use is a tricky issue but this highlights some key problems with demands for disclosure
oerc.ox.ac.uk/ai-centre/ai...
oerc.ox.ac.uk/ai-centre/ai...
Opinion piece: AI disclosure? Maybe it's nunya. | AI Competency Centre
Our AI Consultant Kelly Webb-Davies explores the pitfalls of enforcing AI disclosure
oerc.ox.ac.uk
October 23, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Great read. How best to respond to AI use is a tricky issue but this highlights some key problems with demands for disclosure
oerc.ox.ac.uk/ai-centre/ai...
oerc.ox.ac.uk/ai-centre/ai...
Reposted by Dr James Kite
“If you get hit by a car travelling at 50km/h, you’ve only got a 1.5-in-10 chance of surviving. If it’s going 30km/h you’ve got a nine-in-10 chance.”
“But it was not enough to put up a sign that says 30km/h…there also needed to be design changes to slow down traffic.”
Speed is always a factor.
“But it was not enough to put up a sign that says 30km/h…there also needed to be design changes to slow down traffic.”
Speed is always a factor.
Switching 50km/h speed limits to 30km/h would protect cyclists while barely affecting commutes, research finds
One expert says a cyclist hit by a car travelling 50km/h has about a one-in-10 chance of surviving, while at 30km/h it is a nine-in-10 chance
www.theguardian.com
October 15, 2025 at 11:15 PM
“If you get hit by a car travelling at 50km/h, you’ve only got a 1.5-in-10 chance of surviving. If it’s going 30km/h you’ve got a nine-in-10 chance.”
“But it was not enough to put up a sign that says 30km/h…there also needed to be design changes to slow down traffic.”
Speed is always a factor.
“But it was not enough to put up a sign that says 30km/h…there also needed to be design changes to slow down traffic.”
Speed is always a factor.
Reposted by Dr James Kite
Ultra-processed food - the eternal enemy of the people. And, apparently, testicles.
Or...is it? My new piece.
gidmk.substack.com/p/is-ultra-p...
Or...is it? My new piece.
gidmk.substack.com/p/is-ultra-p...
Is Ultra-Processed Food Destroying Men's Health?
The details of a new study on ultra-processed food.
gidmk.substack.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Ultra-processed food - the eternal enemy of the people. And, apparently, testicles.
Or...is it? My new piece.
gidmk.substack.com/p/is-ultra-p...
Or...is it? My new piece.
gidmk.substack.com/p/is-ultra-p...
Reposted by Dr James Kite
Time to Shut the Shops: Experts Call for Fewer Tobacconists
A new editorial in the @anzjph.bsky.social highlights the urgent need to reduce the number of tobacco and nicotine retailers in Australia.
Anita Dessaix | @drbfreeman.bsky.social | Raglan Maddox | Emily Stone
A new editorial in the @anzjph.bsky.social highlights the urgent need to reduce the number of tobacco and nicotine retailers in Australia.
Anita Dessaix | @drbfreeman.bsky.social | Raglan Maddox | Emily Stone
October 2, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Time to Shut the Shops: Experts Call for Fewer Tobacconists
A new editorial in the @anzjph.bsky.social highlights the urgent need to reduce the number of tobacco and nicotine retailers in Australia.
Anita Dessaix | @drbfreeman.bsky.social | Raglan Maddox | Emily Stone
A new editorial in the @anzjph.bsky.social highlights the urgent need to reduce the number of tobacco and nicotine retailers in Australia.
Anita Dessaix | @drbfreeman.bsky.social | Raglan Maddox | Emily Stone
Quite the take!
In an extraordinary submission to the Senate, the Public Service Commissioner has blamed transparency for #RoboDebt. He argues for more secrecy to make life easier for public servants as they advise and influence ministers on how we are governed. #auspol michaelwest.com.au/too-much-tra...
Fat Cats say what? Too much transparency caused Robodebt scandal - Michael West
In an extraordinary pitch for a public servant scrutiny void, senior public servants have blamed Robodebt on transparency.
michaelwest.com.au
October 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Quite the take!
Reposted by Dr James Kite
man Australian universities are really just collapsing like a dying star hey
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
University caught out using AI to wrongly accuse students of cheating with AI
An Australian university has accused thousands of its students of cheating with artificial intelligence. The problem? Many have done nothing wrong.
www.abc.net.au
October 8, 2025 at 8:48 PM
man Australian universities are really just collapsing like a dying star hey
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
Reposted by Dr James Kite
Now that the Deloitte report, about the government's unlawful administration of mutual obligations, is making international headlines, it's worth looking at what's actually in it (apart from AI slop) and WHY it was actually commissioned
A thread👇
A thread👇
October 9, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Now that the Deloitte report, about the government's unlawful administration of mutual obligations, is making international headlines, it's worth looking at what's actually in it (apart from AI slop) and WHY it was actually commissioned
A thread👇
A thread👇
Reposted by Dr James Kite
University of Technology Sydney responds to concerns about planned cuts to public health www.croakey.org/university-o... #publichealth
University of Technology Sydney responds to concerns about planned cuts to public health
www.croakey.org
October 3, 2025 at 1:25 AM
University of Technology Sydney responds to concerns about planned cuts to public health www.croakey.org/university-o... #publichealth
Reposted by Dr James Kite
There's a really nice new study using phone data from Americans who relocated from one city to another to look at the effect of walkable environments on physical activity. E.g., people move TO New York and walk more, they move FROM New York and walk less www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Countrywide natural experiment links built environment to physical activity - Nature
By analysing the smartphone data of 2,112,288 participants, in particular observing and comparing the activity of the same individual in two different environments, we find that increases in the walkability of environments result in increases in daily physical activity, providing evidence of the importance of the built environment on physical health.
www.nature.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:41 AM
There's a really nice new study using phone data from Americans who relocated from one city to another to look at the effect of walkable environments on physical activity. E.g., people move TO New York and walk more, they move FROM New York and walk less www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Dr James Kite
😳
”The commission revealed at the inquiry it had not consulted with the creative industry or modelled either the impact of that recommendation or the benefit the industry injects into the economy.”
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
”The commission revealed at the inquiry it had not consulted with the creative industry or modelled either the impact of that recommendation or the benefit the industry injects into the economy.”
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Productivity commission under fire for failing to consult Australian artists about copyright issues around AI recommendations
Productivity Commission under fire for failing to consult Australian artists about copyright issues around AI recommendations
www.theguardian.com
September 30, 2025 at 8:50 AM
😳
”The commission revealed at the inquiry it had not consulted with the creative industry or modelled either the impact of that recommendation or the benefit the industry injects into the economy.”
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
”The commission revealed at the inquiry it had not consulted with the creative industry or modelled either the impact of that recommendation or the benefit the industry injects into the economy.”
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
And that’s why we in the Democratic Party are going to direct every available resource to destroying our own candidates who want to do something about inequality or other crazy things like that
Portland is not "war ravaged." This is delusional and dangerous.
Sending troops into American cities doesn't make our communities safer — it just stokes fear and stirs up chaos.
Trump is plunging further into authoritarianism every single day.
Sending troops into American cities doesn't make our communities safer — it just stokes fear and stirs up chaos.
Trump is plunging further into authoritarianism every single day.
September 28, 2025 at 12:09 AM
And that’s why we in the Democratic Party are going to direct every available resource to destroying our own candidates who want to do something about inequality or other crazy things like that
I’m proud to have signed this letter. Public health is important!
Public health cuts at UTS put students, staff and communities at risk: open letter www.croakey.org/public-healt... #publichealth
Public health cuts at UTS put students, staff and communities at risk: open letter
www.croakey.org
September 26, 2025 at 6:30 AM
I’m proud to have signed this letter. Public health is important!
Reposted by Dr James Kite
Public health cuts at UTS put students, staff and communities at risk: open letter www.croakey.org/public-healt... #publichealth
Public health cuts at UTS put students, staff and communities at risk: open letter
www.croakey.org
September 26, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Public health cuts at UTS put students, staff and communities at risk: open letter www.croakey.org/public-healt... #publichealth
This must be why I always kill my house plants. It’s an instinct
“Slow Wi-Fi? Add houseplants to the list of suspects” www.theregister.com/2025/09/23/s...
Slow Wi-Fi? Add houseplants to the list of suspects
: Pass the tinfoil hat
www.theregister.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:17 AM
This must be why I always kill my house plants. It’s an instinct
Climate change & poverty are thrilled that they are being ignored
Health Minister Mark Butler admits black market tobacco is now the single biggest threat to public health.
Health minister concedes tobacco black market has 'exploded'
Health Minister Mark Butler admits black market tobacco is now the single biggest threat to public health.
www.abc.net.au
September 26, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Climate change & poverty are thrilled that they are being ignored
An interesting read. Not sure I agree that critical voices are being excluded from the conversation (at least at my institution) but the questions posed are valid and worthy of consideration regardless
“Either we have copyright law or we don’t. Either plagiarism and the theft of intellectual property are anathema to higher education or they aren’t. We’re either modeling academic honesty and integrity to our students or we aren’t.” —@thetattooedprof.bsky.social
www.chronicle.com/article/some... 1/n
www.chronicle.com/article/some... 1/n
Advice | Sometimes We Resist AI for Good Reasons
Why higher ed needs to listen to the contrarians in setting policies on using tools like ChatGPT in faculty work.
www.chronicle.com
September 24, 2025 at 10:44 PM
An interesting read. Not sure I agree that critical voices are being excluded from the conversation (at least at my institution) but the questions posed are valid and worthy of consideration regardless