Malaika D'Souza
@malaikads.bsky.social
science nerd studying avian disease transmission
Doctoral Candidate @ University of Canterbury 🇳🇿 | MSc Ecology & Conservation @unigroningen 🇳🇱 | BSc Zoology & Biochem @ St Xavier's College Mumbai 🇮🇳
Doctoral Candidate @ University of Canterbury 🇳🇿 | MSc Ecology & Conservation @unigroningen 🇳🇱 | BSc Zoology & Biochem @ St Xavier's College Mumbai 🇮🇳
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
Every "Christchurch is cool now" article is illustrated with a photo of a pedestrianised street with a tram, meanwhile every local election the discourse is like "rip out the cycle lanes, then turn the botantic gardens into a car park? It's worth a least considering"
www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedeta...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedeta...
Once branded the world's unluckiest city, Christchurch is now the 'capital of cool'
Our second biggest city is experiencing the type of revival that should make the rest of New Zealand envious.
www.rnz.co.nz
October 19, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Every "Christchurch is cool now" article is illustrated with a photo of a pedestrianised street with a tram, meanwhile every local election the discourse is like "rip out the cycle lanes, then turn the botantic gardens into a car park? It's worth a least considering"
www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedeta...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedeta...
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
When she was just 26 Florence Merriam wrote the first guide to birding with binoculars in 1889. And she slipped in this incredible feminist gem:
July 29, 2025 at 2:14 AM
When she was just 26 Florence Merriam wrote the first guide to birding with binoculars in 1889. And she slipped in this incredible feminist gem:
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
I wanted to paint Queen Anne's Lace.
Thought it would be a good idea. Turns out this is not true.
I placed a dragonfly on it (much easier) and surrounded it with 'Jack go to bed at noon' (much easier).
Now I'm just content to grow it.
Thought it would be a good idea. Turns out this is not true.
I placed a dragonfly on it (much easier) and surrounded it with 'Jack go to bed at noon' (much easier).
Now I'm just content to grow it.
July 20, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I wanted to paint Queen Anne's Lace.
Thought it would be a good idea. Turns out this is not true.
I placed a dragonfly on it (much easier) and surrounded it with 'Jack go to bed at noon' (much easier).
Now I'm just content to grow it.
Thought it would be a good idea. Turns out this is not true.
I placed a dragonfly on it (much easier) and surrounded it with 'Jack go to bed at noon' (much easier).
Now I'm just content to grow it.
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
It is not a political statement to note the fact that science enhances our well being, expands our knowledge of the world, and drives economic growth 🧪
July 15, 2025 at 10:17 PM
It is not a political statement to note the fact that science enhances our well being, expands our knowledge of the world, and drives economic growth 🧪
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
This may also be true for sciences.
The problem isn't that generativeAI will get so good it will replace artists. It can't and never will.
The problem is that uncreative and incurious people will flood every venue with so much regurgitated slop that no artist has a chance of ever being seen or found.
The problem is that uncreative and incurious people will flood every venue with so much regurgitated slop that no artist has a chance of ever being seen or found.
July 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
This may also be true for sciences.
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
re: genAI placeholders
-good placeholders are blatant enough there's no risk of leaving it in release
-using gazillion dollar anti-environment tech to meet the nonexistent problem of throwaway placeholders is like buying tanks to crack peanut shells, it's very not a problem and that's not a solution
-good placeholders are blatant enough there's no risk of leaving it in release
-using gazillion dollar anti-environment tech to meet the nonexistent problem of throwaway placeholders is like buying tanks to crack peanut shells, it's very not a problem and that's not a solution
I'm getting real tired of not being able to trust that a video game doesn't have AI crap in it:
aftermath.site/the-alters-ai-...
aftermath.site/the-alters-ai-...
July 2, 2025 at 3:46 PM
re: genAI placeholders
-good placeholders are blatant enough there's no risk of leaving it in release
-using gazillion dollar anti-environment tech to meet the nonexistent problem of throwaway placeholders is like buying tanks to crack peanut shells, it's very not a problem and that's not a solution
-good placeholders are blatant enough there's no risk of leaving it in release
-using gazillion dollar anti-environment tech to meet the nonexistent problem of throwaway placeholders is like buying tanks to crack peanut shells, it's very not a problem and that's not a solution
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
Infectious Disease Modelling starter pack update! Many more modellers have joined Bluesky recently so this update is overdue. Pls keep on sending suggestions! (bio should contain experience relevant for this pack)
IDModelling pack 1: go.bsky.app/86Ao1a5
IDModelling pack 2 : go.bsky.app/2oBB7KX
IDModelling pack 1: go.bsky.app/86Ao1a5
IDModelling pack 2 : go.bsky.app/2oBB7KX
July 1, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Infectious Disease Modelling starter pack update! Many more modellers have joined Bluesky recently so this update is overdue. Pls keep on sending suggestions! (bio should contain experience relevant for this pack)
IDModelling pack 1: go.bsky.app/86Ao1a5
IDModelling pack 2 : go.bsky.app/2oBB7KX
IDModelling pack 1: go.bsky.app/86Ao1a5
IDModelling pack 2 : go.bsky.app/2oBB7KX
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
the main function of an LLM ai is to produce *plausible human output*
someone who tries out chatgpt and comes back saying it's useful is a bit like someone who visits a psychic and comes back saying they're legit
it shouldn't be surprising that something intended to trick people can trick people
someone who tries out chatgpt and comes back saying it's useful is a bit like someone who visits a psychic and comes back saying they're legit
it shouldn't be surprising that something intended to trick people can trick people
June 21, 2025 at 2:11 AM
the main function of an LLM ai is to produce *plausible human output*
someone who tries out chatgpt and comes back saying it's useful is a bit like someone who visits a psychic and comes back saying they're legit
it shouldn't be surprising that something intended to trick people can trick people
someone who tries out chatgpt and comes back saying it's useful is a bit like someone who visits a psychic and comes back saying they're legit
it shouldn't be surprising that something intended to trick people can trick people
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
Parasite becomes aggressive.
Sure all the musicians looking at our £0.0003 Spotify payouts for our work are delighted this is what our fans’ money went towards instead, and the fans equally pleased.
Artists are always very in favour of war, traditionally.
Sure all the musicians looking at our £0.0003 Spotify payouts for our work are delighted this is what our fans’ money went towards instead, and the fans equally pleased.
Artists are always very in favour of war, traditionally.
June 22, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Parasite becomes aggressive.
Sure all the musicians looking at our £0.0003 Spotify payouts for our work are delighted this is what our fans’ money went towards instead, and the fans equally pleased.
Artists are always very in favour of war, traditionally.
Sure all the musicians looking at our £0.0003 Spotify payouts for our work are delighted this is what our fans’ money went towards instead, and the fans equally pleased.
Artists are always very in favour of war, traditionally.
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
NEW SCIENCE! 🚨🚨🚨🧪🪶🌐
Our paper is now online at @natecoevo.nature.com! “Geographic redistributions are insufficient to mitigate exposure to climate change in North American birds”. We know birds are moving north with climate change, but what are the consequences?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our paper is now online at @natecoevo.nature.com! “Geographic redistributions are insufficient to mitigate exposure to climate change in North American birds”. We know birds are moving north with climate change, but what are the consequences?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
June 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
NEW SCIENCE! 🚨🚨🚨🧪🪶🌐
Our paper is now online at @natecoevo.nature.com! “Geographic redistributions are insufficient to mitigate exposure to climate change in North American birds”. We know birds are moving north with climate change, but what are the consequences?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our paper is now online at @natecoevo.nature.com! “Geographic redistributions are insufficient to mitigate exposure to climate change in North American birds”. We know birds are moving north with climate change, but what are the consequences?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
tried this on Firefox and it works perfectly!
Regular reminder that it doesn't have to be like this and you can deactivate AI overviews in your Google searches!
June 8, 2025 at 5:31 AM
tried this on Firefox and it works perfectly!
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
Light tuned to the avian eye elicits early detection and escape from an approaching aircraft | royalsocietypublishi... | Royal Society Open Science | #ornithology 🪶
June 5, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Light tuned to the avian eye elicits early detection and escape from an approaching aircraft | royalsocietypublishi... | Royal Society Open Science | #ornithology 🪶
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
Economical Louisiana crawfish farming are the product of government and university research and instruction materials and consultation provided free of charge. They control 90% of the market. Be sure to mention this to your relative at the crawfish boil.
youtube.com/watch?v=v5BL...
youtube.com/watch?v=v5BL...
June 3, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Economical Louisiana crawfish farming are the product of government and university research and instruction materials and consultation provided free of charge. They control 90% of the market. Be sure to mention this to your relative at the crawfish boil.
youtube.com/watch?v=v5BL...
youtube.com/watch?v=v5BL...
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
Cool funding opportunity for a new PhD student in ecology or evolution. www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons...
Simons Graduate Fellowships in Ecology and Evolution
The purpose of these awards is to provide support for students entering U.S.-based Ph.D. programs with a plan to perform research in ecology and evolution. While we will consider all projects in ecolo...
www.simonsfoundation.org
June 2, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Cool funding opportunity for a new PhD student in ecology or evolution. www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons...
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
The Flanderization of ghibli in the public mind is just so insane to me. Acting like it’s entirely wholesome and cutesy but is really overtly anti capitalist, depict the horrors of war and environmental decline, and have TONS of body horror and depictions of death and disease. it legit annoys me
June 2, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The Flanderization of ghibli in the public mind is just so insane to me. Acting like it’s entirely wholesome and cutesy but is really overtly anti capitalist, depict the horrors of war and environmental decline, and have TONS of body horror and depictions of death and disease. it legit annoys me
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
Every businessy guy I have ever met who finds out about Crash Course tells me that we're not just decreasing our revenue by not building a paywalled business, we're also decreasing our impact. This is wrong...and this video shows why.
complexly.info/CCcoin25-6
complexly.info/CCcoin25-6
June 1, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Every businessy guy I have ever met who finds out about Crash Course tells me that we're not just decreasing our revenue by not building a paywalled business, we're also decreasing our impact. This is wrong...and this video shows why.
complexly.info/CCcoin25-6
complexly.info/CCcoin25-6
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
Sorry everyone, turns out it's too hard to go to Mars. Instead we're bringing Mars to you. It's gonna be desolate and shitty here now
March 16, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Sorry everyone, turns out it's too hard to go to Mars. Instead we're bringing Mars to you. It's gonna be desolate and shitty here now
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
But here's the part that most ignore. Both energy and water would be scarce on Mars, so humans there would need to live in a way that minimized usage of both.
Most of the people advocating for colonizing Mars absolutely refuse to live that way. (9/)
Most of the people advocating for colonizing Mars absolutely refuse to live that way. (9/)
March 5, 2025 at 3:32 PM
But here's the part that most ignore. Both energy and water would be scarce on Mars, so humans there would need to live in a way that minimized usage of both.
Most of the people advocating for colonizing Mars absolutely refuse to live that way. (9/)
Most of the people advocating for colonizing Mars absolutely refuse to live that way. (9/)
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
Was overjoyed to help host one of my scientific inspirations, @neilshubin.bsky.social as the invited speaker for this year! Also had my books signed :)
March 4, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Was overjoyed to help host one of my scientific inspirations, @neilshubin.bsky.social as the invited speaker for this year! Also had my books signed :)
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
🌊 Fully-funded graduate opportunity! Join Apoqnmatulti'k (Mi'kmaw for "we help each other") to study gaspereau movements in the Bras d’Or Lake through @dalhousieu.bsky.social. Work with Mi’kmaw, local, & western scientific knowledge systems. www.apoqnmatultik.ca/new-blog/msc...
March 4, 2025 at 8:28 PM
🌊 Fully-funded graduate opportunity! Join Apoqnmatulti'k (Mi'kmaw for "we help each other") to study gaspereau movements in the Bras d’Or Lake through @dalhousieu.bsky.social. Work with Mi’kmaw, local, & western scientific knowledge systems. www.apoqnmatultik.ca/new-blog/msc...
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
From @yepicurus on instagram
February 28, 2025 at 1:21 AM
From @yepicurus on instagram
Reposted by Malaika D'Souza
My drawing below illustrates the importance of spatial ecology for stability: if we ignore space, it's like everyone dancing on the tip of a pin. When space is included (and complex dynamics, too), diversity is easily sustained.
January 5, 2025 at 2:45 PM
My drawing below illustrates the importance of spatial ecology for stability: if we ignore space, it's like everyone dancing on the tip of a pin. When space is included (and complex dynamics, too), diversity is easily sustained.