Laura Morris
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lhmorris.bsky.social
Laura Morris
@lhmorris.bsky.social
83 followers 59 following 31 posts
usually posting about global development, current events, evidence in policy, health economics, and misc nerd stuff. (she/her) https://scholar.harvard.edu/lauramorris
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lhmorris.bsky.social
wow, I wonder what the pay is for a principal volunteer
Volunteers with more experience may be appointed as Principal or Senior Research Officer. Candidates with experience in the insurance sector are preferred.
October 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM
lhmorris.bsky.social
From the mailing lists: I see the *last* bubble is going so well they can afford to pay people with specialist skills www.linkedin.com/comm/jobs/vi...
LinkedIn job ad from Blockchain & Climate Institute: UNPAID VOLUNTEER - Economist / Econometrician / Research Officer Benefits you will get from volunteering with BCI are enormous and some include: • You will hone or learn new skills including research, presentation, writing, professional etiquette, • Your mind will be mentally stimulated, hence providing you a sense of purpose; • You will advance and boost your professional career by helping you to make professional connections and giving you real-world experience at the intersection between climate and emerging technologies; and • Help you develop long-lasting professional relationships with others. People who come together to make the world a better place forge close connection. Requirements Education & Training • An undergraduate degree in (Environmental) Economics, Econometrics or a closely related subject, or equivalent professional experience (essential); and • A postgraduate degree or equivalent research experience (desirable). Relevant Experience • Proven ability to undertake economic and/or econometric analysis in feasibility studies; • Experience of working in a target-driven role; • Experience in building constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders and colleagues, especially in the insurance sector; • Experience of working independently and within teams to drive forward projects using own initiative; and • Experience in designing, planning and facilitating independent/academic research and the ability to meet tight deadlines. We are looking for passionate volunteers Economists / Econometricians / Research Officers with a desire to contribute their skills towards tackling environmental and climate change issues. We seek applications from candidates who take a methodological approach to their work, have experience conducting independent research and analysis, and enjoy engaging with stakeholders and developing strategic partnerships. The role will involve driving research projects end-to-end, conducting independent economic research and analysis, providing research support to members of working groups, producing written reports and briefing materials for speeches and presentations, and turning actions into impacts to shape climate policy on a global platform. Volunteers with more experience may be appointed as Principal or Senior Research Officer. Candidates with experience in the insurance sector are preferred. Responsibilities • Providing economic/econometric analyses to support research projects across a range of sectors, including renewable energy, carbon trading, natural resource management, and biodiversity and conservation, particularly for developing-country governments; • Conducting research and analysis of both primary and secondary data using a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods; • Presenting findings as high-quality research outputs including written reports, breifing documents, concept notes and presentations; • Generating opportunities for strategic partnerships and engaging with key stakeholders; and • Attending meetings, conferences and events to promote the BCI.
October 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM
lhmorris.bsky.social
I once put this meme in some seminar slides and I regret nothing, in fact every day I regret it even less than nothing

(by @janelleshane.com, previously posted on twitter: twitter.com/janellecshan...)
Four panel meme of Anakin and Padme in a field Anakin: We're using AI instead of biased humans Padme, smiling: What did you train the AI on? Anakin: [silent] Padme, concerned: What did you train the AI on?
August 11, 2025 at 11:57 AM
lhmorris.bsky.social
The student speeches and Abraham Vergese’s address were all excellent, but I was deeply charmed by the Latin address.
LATIN SALUTATORY (too long for full alt) Hereditatibus Peregrinis Praeses Garber, aestimatissimi decani, sapientissimi professores, honestissimi hos-pites, amici, familiae, et carissimi condiscipuli: salvete omnes! Honor mihi maximus est vos adloqui. Oratio illa non tantum quo facultatis carente, sed etiam cohorte insuefactorum discipulorum antiquitatis qui linguam Latinam legere scribereque sed non dicere audireque possunt, sine translatione intellegi non potest, imprimis me. Itaque omnes audientes expectatis unam modo iocosam sen-tentiam in Anglice (ventura est, nolite trepidare). Horologia aspicitis et clare putatis quando Abraham Verghese, immo aliquis loquens in Anglice, dictaturus sit! Quis ratio loquendi Latine?! Patientiam rogo; rationem proferam. Ante illam diem gaudii maximi, vincula nos iungentia obscura erant. Condiscipuli nostri non tam vicini quam peregrini. Discipuli humanitatum iter fecerunt ad Area Harvardiana, dum discipuli scientiarum naturalium in exilium eunt ad ripam ulteri-orem ingentis fluvii Caroliani, gravioris quam Rubico. Illa tempora inusitata ubi convenimus — in sectione discussionis GenEd — terribilia erant. Horribile dictu! Visi sumus dicere "barbari ad portas!" cum clamabamus aut "mathematicus in classe litterarum!" aut "concentrator studiorum socialium conatur 'coding'!" O tempora! O mores! Non nos intellegimus, et orator equidem linguam tantam obscuram dicit ut aliquis audiens jure exclamet "what is this guy saying!?" Quot res peregrinas discimus, tot linguas peregrinas dicimus. Alii linguam historiae loquun-tur, alii linguam Pythonis vel C++, alii microbion, alii stellarum. Universa lingua saepe caremus. Multae hereditates nostrae in aeternum dividentur? ….. Ut pius Aeneas olim suae cohortis animas confirmavit, nune vos adhortor: "durate, et vosmet rebus servate secundis." Usque ad res illas secundas: Valete! ENGLISH TRANSLATION (excerpts, too long for full alt) On Foreign Inheritances … Oh, the times! Oh, the customs! We do not understand each other, and indeed, even "what is this guy saying!?" As we study foreign subjects, so do we speak foreign lan-guages. Some speak the language of history, others the language of Python or C++, some that of microbes, others that of stars. We often lack a common language. Will our many inheritances be forever separated? Not at all! We speak many foreign languages; but we stand together, and we learn together, we cheer on our athletes and Olympians together, and most importantly, we condemn those detestable Yalies together and their savage tyrant "Handsome Dan." In the same way, the Latin language is familiar to some and unfamiliar to others, but it is one inheritance handed down as a benefit for all. Foreign inheritances strengthen the ties that bind us together. Perhaps you have heard from the seat of power that your inheritance is not worthy of praise, but that it is alien or confusing or lesser. To you, I say this: neither powers nor princes can judge your inheritance. Neither powers nor princes can take your inheritance away. And neither powers nor princes can change the truth and deny that diversity is our strength. What is the reason for speaking Latin? It is this: to remember that every inheritance, however unfamiliar, adds to our fortunes. The cultivation of a better world demands all languages. It demands all of us. The ship of the world will not be righted by the eyebrow-raising hyper-critic complaining that the believer in justice has stepped out of the marching column of ignorance, but by the artist who becomes a prophet of a better world, by the doctor who cares for those wounded by the whips and chains of the world, and by the student of history who tears out the familiar inequities of the world by the root. We will right it, together.
June 1, 2025 at 7:38 PM
lhmorris.bsky.social
I finally picked up my diploma this week, speaking of! Very nice to see people but a weird collective vibe to be back for a visit in the week the government was making it so additonally clear they didn’t value me or my brilliant friends, co-researchers and teachers, despite the university’s efforts.
Me (white femme with short brown hair) in a crimson PhD gown and soft academic cap, holding my diploma in a large Harvard stamped envelope, standing next to Widener library with the corner of Harvard Yard in the background An inflatable globe with Europe and Africa visible, on top of a morning exercises programme: Order of Exercises for the Three Hundred Seventy-Fourth Commencement MAY 29, 2025 CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
June 1, 2025 at 7:38 PM
lhmorris.bsky.social
Went for farmers market lunch with a friend sitting opposite this sign and spent a fun few minutes trying to identify languages without googling - sannu da zuwa is Hausa, which delighted me!
Sign at Birkbeck College with ‘welcome’ in 40-50 global languages. The symbol on one side of the sign is a stylised owl because they specialise in evening classes.
April 3, 2025 at 4:08 PM
lhmorris.bsky.social
Will get a paper copy eventually, but this was nice to see in a very cold week (albeit not Boston-cold)
An electronic PhD diploma (mine, Harvard Public Policy aka Rationem Publicam) in Latin with a thumbs up emoji superimposed
November 22, 2024 at 5:25 PM