Shobita Parthasarathy
@shobitap.org
Science & tech politics/policy incl patents. Author: next book on politics of inclusive innovation/tech for equity. #STS scholar. Prof & Director, Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, U of Michigan. Expert Voices columnist, Science. shobitap.org
Pinned
Shobita Parthasarathy
@shobitap.org
· Sep 18
Beware the drive to scale technology
When it comes to technology, scalability—its capacity to be standardized and then distributed en masse and across contexts—is the ultimate goal. Scientists and engineers view scalability as the route ...
www.science.org
I am a new Expert Voices columnist @science.org and my first article just came out! In it, I argue that scaling technology has a dark side, particularly when it comes to alleviating inequality and injustice. And I suggest what scientists, engineers, and policymakers can do about it.
Reposted by Shobita Parthasarathy
We're hiring in history of science at UW Madison! TT Assistant Professorship with a focus on water. Joint appointment between the History and Integrated Liberal Studies depts, and part of a university-wide hiring cluster on earth/sustainability science. jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/profess... #STS #HSMT
Professor of History - Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.Job Category:FacultyEmployment Type:Regula...
jobs.wisc.edu
November 6, 2025 at 7:37 PM
We're hiring in history of science at UW Madison! TT Assistant Professorship with a focus on water. Joint appointment between the History and Integrated Liberal Studies depts, and part of a university-wide hiring cluster on earth/sustainability science. jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/profess... #STS #HSMT
Dear Senators @kshaheen.bsky.social @kaine.senate.gov @cortezmasto.senate.gov @durbin.senate.gov @rosen.senate.gov @fetterman.senate.gov @hassan.senate.gov @senangusking.bsky.social
a cartoon girl in a blue dress is kneeling in a field holding a bag
ALT: a cartoon girl in a blue dress is kneeling in a field holding a bag
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Just left messages for Peters and Slotkin.
An important point, even if your Senator is not on list:
Shaheen (D-NH), Ossoff (D-GA), Peters (D-MI), Kelly (D-AZ), Hassan (D-NH), Welch (D-VT), Baldwin (D-WI), and Slotkin (D-MI).
Retirees and bad instincts (Plus GA and AZ)
Shaheen (D-NH), Ossoff (D-GA), Peters (D-MI), Kelly (D-AZ), Hassan (D-NH), Welch (D-VT), Baldwin (D-WI), and Slotkin (D-MI).
Retirees and bad instincts (Plus GA and AZ)
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Just left messages for Peters and Slotkin.
Reposted by Shobita Parthasarathy
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
We underestimate Ratatouille's influence in stimulating the US appetite for haute cuisine.
November 9, 2025 at 4:44 PM
We underestimate Ratatouille's influence in stimulating the US appetite for haute cuisine.
In between #4 and #5 I would add-
4a: Does the world REALLY need another book?
4b: Huh, there are some interesting things here. Someone should write a book about this.
4c: Terror
4d: seemingly endless loop between 4a-4c.
4a: Does the world REALLY need another book?
4b: Huh, there are some interesting things here. Someone should write a book about this.
4c: Terror
4d: seemingly endless loop between 4a-4c.
November 9, 2025 at 11:47 AM
In between #4 and #5 I would add-
4a: Does the world REALLY need another book?
4b: Huh, there are some interesting things here. Someone should write a book about this.
4c: Terror
4d: seemingly endless loop between 4a-4c.
4a: Does the world REALLY need another book?
4b: Huh, there are some interesting things here. Someone should write a book about this.
4c: Terror
4d: seemingly endless loop between 4a-4c.
Reposted by Shobita Parthasarathy
This essay is wonderfully written, and lays bare the media’s impoverished understanding of objectivity, i.e., reporting on “both sides”—which the right manipulates to its advantage.
A charming essay by the former chair of Africana studies at Bowdoin College about the New York Times crafting elitist propaganda.
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:40 PM
This essay is wonderfully written, and lays bare the media’s impoverished understanding of objectivity, i.e., reporting on “both sides”—which the right manipulates to its advantage.
Reposted by Shobita Parthasarathy
A charming essay by the former chair of Africana studies at Bowdoin College about the New York Times crafting elitist propaganda.
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:56 PM
A charming essay by the former chair of Africana studies at Bowdoin College about the New York Times crafting elitist propaganda.
Apparently we are MAGFW. I asked a vinery guide in France about whether the Tr#mp tariffs were affecting vineyards. He said no.
Instead, he said, US wine importers are leaving the business.
Making America Great without Foreign Wine.
Instead, he said, US wine importers are leaving the business.
Making America Great without Foreign Wine.
November 7, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Apparently we are MAGFW. I asked a vinery guide in France about whether the Tr#mp tariffs were affecting vineyards. He said no.
Instead, he said, US wine importers are leaving the business.
Making America Great without Foreign Wine.
Instead, he said, US wine importers are leaving the business.
Making America Great without Foreign Wine.
It’s getting harder to refuse facial recognition on Delta flights. If you want to do this, be sure to have your boarding pass and ID/passport ready so you don’t annoy the people behind you.
November 2, 2025 at 1:02 AM
It’s getting harder to refuse facial recognition on Delta flights. If you want to do this, be sure to have your boarding pass and ID/passport ready so you don’t annoy the people behind you.
Reposted by Shobita Parthasarathy
Eminently reasonable proposed principles for professors’ use of AI, from a student refusinggenai.wordpress.com/2025/08/29/a...
October 31, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Eminently reasonable proposed principles for professors’ use of AI, from a student refusinggenai.wordpress.com/2025/08/29/a...
If billionaires can fund the military, why can't they fund SNAP?
October 31, 2025 at 3:03 PM
If billionaires can fund the military, why can't they fund SNAP?
Reposted by Shobita Parthasarathy
will kim is still in ICE detention
will taeheung kim, a korean american scientist and doctoral candidate with a green card, is still being detained by ICE. he's been in detention since July 21, first at SFO for over a week and then in various ICE facilities all over the country.
October 30, 2025 at 7:39 PM
will kim is still in ICE detention
AI could never produce this masterpiece.
October 30, 2025 at 12:18 AM
AI could never produce this masterpiece.
DTW airport’s response to Kristi N@em:
October 29, 2025 at 6:27 PM
DTW airport’s response to Kristi N@em:
Like his in-laws?????
Vance says it is "totally reasonable and acceptable" for people to not want to live next door to people who speak a different language than they do
October 29, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Like his in-laws?????
Good thing facial recognition tech is totally accurate especially in communities of color. 🙄
New: Videos show ICE/CBP agents are scanning peoples' faces on the street to verify citizenship. ICE has tool to instantly look up unprecedented number of databases with just a photo
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
ICE and CBP Agents Are Scanning Peoples’ Faces on the Street To Verify Citizenship
Videos on social media show officers from ICE and CBP using facial recognition technology on people in the field. One expert described the practice as “pure dystopian creep.”
www.404media.co
October 29, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Good thing facial recognition tech is totally accurate especially in communities of color. 🙄
Migraine demonstrates how messed up research funding and pharmaceutical policy is (even before Tr@mp came along). It affects millions, but there is little research and the drugs are either old or expensive (so most insurance cos won’t pay). Full disclosure: I have it. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
Opinion | Your Headache Is Serious. Science Should Take It Seriously.
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Migraine demonstrates how messed up research funding and pharmaceutical policy is (even before Tr@mp came along). It affects millions, but there is little research and the drugs are either old or expensive (so most insurance cos won’t pay). Full disclosure: I have it. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
As people increasingly use AI—especially with institutional support—it is getting harder for scholars (esp junior) to practice informed refusal. I am guiding my students how to still say no, and explain how it violates their ethical and environmental principles. A movement starts from below!
October 29, 2025 at 1:56 PM
As people increasingly use AI—especially with institutional support—it is getting harder for scholars (esp junior) to practice informed refusal. I am guiding my students how to still say no, and explain how it violates their ethical and environmental principles. A movement starts from below!
Reposted by Shobita Parthasarathy
I have been meaning to do this, thank you.
It’s a great day to donate to Wikipedia.
"Wednesday, as part of his ongoing war against Wikipedia because he does not like his page, Elon Musk launched Grokipedia, a fully AI-generated “encyclopedia” that serves no one and nothing other than the ego of the world’s richest man." www.404media.co/grokipedia-i...
October 28, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I have been meaning to do this, thank you.
Reposted by Shobita Parthasarathy
I need to increase my donation.
It’s a great day to donate to Wikipedia.
"Wednesday, as part of his ongoing war against Wikipedia because he does not like his page, Elon Musk launched Grokipedia, a fully AI-generated “encyclopedia” that serves no one and nothing other than the ego of the world’s richest man." www.404media.co/grokipedia-i...
October 28, 2025 at 6:17 PM
I need to increase my donation.
Uhm…many immigrant communities (including S Asians) refer to female elders as “aunts” and male elders as “uncles”. Good thing NYC doesn’t have many of those voters. 🙄
October 28, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Uhm…many immigrant communities (including S Asians) refer to female elders as “aunts” and male elders as “uncles”. Good thing NYC doesn’t have many of those voters. 🙄
It’s a great day to donate to Wikipedia.
"Wednesday, as part of his ongoing war against Wikipedia because he does not like his page, Elon Musk launched Grokipedia, a fully AI-generated “encyclopedia” that serves no one and nothing other than the ego of the world’s richest man." www.404media.co/grokipedia-i...
Grokipedia Is the Antithesis of Everything That Makes Wikipedia Good, Useful, and Human
Grokipedia is not a 'Wikipedia competitor.' It is a fully robotic regurgitation machine designed to protect the ego of the world’s wealthiest man.
www.404media.co
October 28, 2025 at 5:24 PM
It’s a great day to donate to Wikipedia.
Reposted by Shobita Parthasarathy
New preprint alert! 🚨
“Let Them Eat Large Language Models: Artificial Intelligence and Austerity in the Neoliberal University”
“Let Them Eat Large Language Models: Artificial Intelligence and Austerity in the Neoliberal University”
October 25, 2025 at 5:05 PM
New preprint alert! 🚨
“Let Them Eat Large Language Models: Artificial Intelligence and Austerity in the Neoliberal University”
“Let Them Eat Large Language Models: Artificial Intelligence and Austerity in the Neoliberal University”