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thaophan.bsky.social
Thao Phan
@thaophan.bsky.social
1.5K followers 360 following 95 posts
Feminist STS, gender, race, algorithmic culture // Lecturer in Sociology (STS) at Australian National University// Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country
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thaophan.bsky.social
Thao Phan @thaophan.bsky.social · Dec 19
As an addendum to this🧵: I'm giving a talk (online) on drone delivery trials and the long history of science and technology testing in Australia next Jan for the Centre for Drones and Culture. Thanks to @amygaeta.bsky.social for the invite!

www.centrefordronesandculture.com/events/testi...
Reposted by Thao Phan
annasaunders.bsky.social
do not sleep on this absolute belter of an article
thaophan.bsky.social Thao Phan @thaophan.bsky.social · 17d
Good to see this bad boy out in the world!! New article from me on drone delivery, AI testbeds, and the long history science and technology testing in the colony.

Online first and gloriously open access ✨

doi.org/10.1177/2976...
November 8, 2025 at 11:16 AM
thaophan.bsky.social
Good to see this bad boy out in the world!! New article from me on drone delivery, AI testbeds, and the long history science and technology testing in the colony.

Online first and gloriously open access ✨

doi.org/10.1177/2976...
November 5, 2025 at 5:14 AM
thaophan.bsky.social
Singapore you delicious bastard, I'm coming for you! 🦀 🍜 ✨

Join me for a public lecture on:

Artificial Figures: gender-in-the-making in algorithmic culture

🗓️ Wed 19 November, 2 - 4pm
📍 Chinese Heritage Centre Auditorium, Nanyang Technical University

Register: blogs.ntu.edu.sg/aimeetshuman...
November 3, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Reposted by Thao Phan
tdneale.bsky.social
Melbourne-ite STS-ers, the local AusSTS node are doing a wee Summer Symposium on AFTERMATH - Mon 23 February 2026. If you are interested in coming along then please submit an abstract by 25 Nov 2025 ⏰https://forms.gle/9kwgnpDiE2HP61sF7?_imcp=1
AFTERMATH: AUSSTS MELBOURNE SUMMER SYMPOSIUM 2026
The Melbourne Node of AusSTS is holding a 1-day summer symposium for scholars to present and discuss works in progress. We welcome applications that broadly engage with Science and Technology Studies ...
forms.gle
October 29, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Reposted by Thao Phan
timmclellan.bsky.social
Private consultants are taking control of how public universities are evaluated and run.

My submission to the Senate university governance inquiry raises concerns about the impact of Nous Group and their dodgy UniForum data on our universities.

www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStor...

A thread
Image shows a screenshot of the conclusion of the linked Senate inquiry submission. This text can be found on page 10. The text is too long for alt text, but here is the first three quarters of the text: Conclusion Over the past decade, Nous Group’s UniForum data has quietly taken on the status of authoritative benchmark for the quality of a range of professional and academic services performed by public universities in Australia and across the world. This authoritative status is performed through scientific-looking graphs and scientific-sounding jargon designed to imply UniForum data is generated through rigorous methods and backed by expert consensus. This performance of authority is significant: it lends UniForum data an air of credibility and facticity that makes acting upon its results irresistible. When one begins to open the black box and examine how UniForum data is actually produced, however, it becomes difficult to justify the degree to which Australian university executives are relying upon it in their decision-making. My analysis is based on a review of publicly available documents, and it is therefore possible that Nous or its clients would point to things not in the public domain that address some of the conceptual and methodological flaws that I have highlighted in UniForum. But the fact that the underlying UniForum data and methodology is not in the public domain is itself one of the key causes for concerns. When the stakes are so high, it cannot be acceptable for Nous Group and its clients to simply tell university staff and governing councils, ‘trust us, these numbers are based on rigorous methods and analysis.’ The lack of rigor, external scrutiny, and transparency in UniForum’s underlying data and methodology would be a cause for concern in any public institution, but it is especially concerning in the context of universities where rigorous, transparent, and accountable knowledge production is a core part of what we do. ...
September 17, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Reposted by Thao Phan
eryk.bsky.social
Billionaire-owned “philosopher” Benjamin Bratton finally coming out as full technofash in this declaration of alliance with JD Vance & a16z — here’s his scathing rejection of those who “stand in the way” of corporate AI agendas nobody wants. www.noemamag.com/is-european-...
Is European AI A Lost Cause? Not Necessarily. | NOEMA
If Europe wants to build a new AI Stack it should stop listening to critics who claim to lead the way but only offer resistance.
www.noemamag.com
October 4, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Reposted by Thao Phan
dluitse.bsky.social
🚨The Critical AI Seminar Series returns in 2025/2026 ✨

This year we will have four talks and are beyond excited to welcome @amoorelouise.bsky.social & @alexcampolo.bsky.social, Fabian Offert, Helene Ratner & @nannathylstrup.bsky.social and @thaophan.bsky.social ✨

Sign up: bit.ly/uvacriticala...
Critical AI seminar series Register via https://bit.ly/uvacriticalai2526 Program and Invited Speakers: Upcoming seminars November 12, 5-6:30 PM (CEST): Invited talk by Louise Amoore and Alexander Campolo, ‘On reading machine learning‘ January 13, 5:30-7 PM (CEST): Invited talk by Fabian Offert on ‘Vector Media‘ March 18, 3-4:30 (CEST): Invited talk by Helene Ratner and Nanna Thylstrup on ‘Ecologies of evaluation’ May 20, 12-1:30 PM (CEST): Invited talk by Thao Phan on ‘Testing-in-the-wild’
September 10, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Reposted by Thao Phan
drdemography.com
Tough time for many at ANU. At around midday yesterday staff received a university-wide email. The language was ambiguous and could be read to say all forced redundancies would stop. I received many messages from people being forced out. Were they now safe?
I am writing to you today with three key updates for our community regarding the Renew ANU Program: 1. The University leaders have confirmed that all future changes under Renew ANU will be achieved without involuntary redundancies. This means that all future changes under Renew ANU will be achieved through our other mechanisms, including lift and shift/ realignments, continuation of the Recruitment Advisory Committee (RAC), natural attrition, and voluntary separations. We will continue to create greater accountability for senior leaders to ensure compliance with budget and resource allocation. 2. The University's timeline for future change has been brought forward from 31 October to today, Wednesday 20 August 2025. This means that under Renew ANU, no further change proposals will be released in 2025, and as expressed above, no further job losses will occur through involuntary redundancy. 3. Finally, the University will open a second Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) for the entire community next week, with details released via On Campus next Tuesday.
August 20, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Reposted by Thao Phan
dgrgrgs.bsky.social
Session 1 is a screening & discussion of the ‘AI in the Street: Drone Observatory’, a short film created & directed by Dr @thaophan.bsky.social (Australian National University) & Jeni Lee. We will be joined online by Thao to discuss their work & the creative practices behind producing the film.
A landscape poster advertising the AI in the Street Drone Observatory short film about drone delivery trials in Logan, Australia. Text below the title and subtitles reads 'Directed by Thao Phan and Jeni Lee'. The image shows a drone deliverying a white package via a cord into the lawned yard of a house, with at least one person looking on from the porch. The logos for the Emerging Technologies Research Lab, Monash University and the University of Warwick are in the righthand corner.
August 11, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Reposted by Thao Phan
humanitiesau.bsky.social
The Australian Academy of the Humanities is thrilled to announce feminist science and technology studies scholar Dr @thaophan.bsky.social from the Australian National University has won the 2025 Max Crawford Medal. humanities.org.au/power-of-the...
Dr Thao Phan wins 2025 Max Crawford Medal
Dr Thao Phan has won the 2025 Max Crawford medal for her work investigating dynamics of race and gender in algorithmic culture.
humanities.org.au
August 7, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Reposted by Thao Phan
karilancaster.bsky.social
Huge congratulations to @thaophan.bsky.social who has been awarded the 2025 Max Crawford Medal 🥳!
In addition to her exemplary feminist STS work on race and gender in algorithmic culture, Thao has contributed enormously to growing a vibrant STS community in Aus.
humanities.org.au/power-of-the...
Dr Thao Phan wins 2025 Max Crawford Medal
Dr Thao Phan has won the 2025 Max Crawford medal for her work investigating dynamics of race and gender in algorithmic culture.
humanities.org.au
August 6, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Reposted by Thao Phan
wombatscholar.bsky.social
Delighted to learn that Dr Thao Phan is awarded the 2025 Max Crawford medal, Australia's major prize for early-career humanities researchers! Pleasantly surprised it went to an STS scholar for the first time too. Such good news!
@thaophan.bsky.social @humanitiesau.bsky.social #STS
Dr Thao Phan wins 2025 Max Crawford Medal
Dr Thao Phan has won the 2025 Max Crawford medal for her work investigating dynamics of race and gender in algorithmic culture.
humanities.org.au
August 6, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Reposted by Thao Phan
admscentre.org.au
Congrats to Dr Thao Phan, winner of the Australian Academy of the Humanities 2025 Max Crawford Medal for her exemplary scholarship investigating dynamics of race and gender in algorithmic culture @thaophan.bsky.social #AlgorithmicCulture #MaxCrawfordMedal #GenderStudies
admscentre.org/47nJF1g
August 6, 2025 at 6:06 AM
thaophan.bsky.social
Join me, Joel Stern, and Nic Carah for what's shaping up to be a stimulating seminar on Automating Everyday Life!

⚡Wed 30 July, 3 - 5pm AEST
⚡Register for zoom details

I'll be talking about generative AI and the problem if representing political violence.

www.eventbrite.com.au/e/automating...
Automating Everyday Life
As everyday life has been digitalised, more and more of the things we do, like and consume are being automated.
www.eventbrite.com.au
July 27, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Reposted by Thao Phan
timmclellan.bsky.social
Day after this puff piece went out, I was called into a meeting to tell me I'm in a spill and fill along with three amazing friends and colleagues.

To the meeting, I wore Nanyang 205S Sneakers. For those who know, they are as much a style item as a Tesco Bag for Life. 👟
thaophan.bsky.social Thao Phan @thaophan.bsky.social · Jun 30
Shout out to the ANU Vice Chancellor's PR team for commissioning a puff piece so bad it tries to recuperate her public image by comparing her to corrupt millionaire Imelda Marcos and profiling her collection of designer shoes

www.canberratimes.com.au/story/900277...
July 4, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Reposted by Thao Phan
t-odonell.bsky.social
Please take the time to read and sign this open letter addressing CASS PhD & Masters students' concerns with the upcoming restructures of our college! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Open letter: Concerns regarding restructuring of the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
Letter to the Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the College of Arts and Social Sciences cc: University Council, Jason Clare MP, Senator David Pocock, Senator Katy Gallagher, Andrew Leigh MP, Alicia Payne MP...
docs.google.com
June 30, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Reposted by Thao Phan
nteuact.bsky.social
Staff at #ANU across multiple areas are getting called into meetings today ahead of job cuts being announced later this week.

The VC is happy to sit and take questions from @canberratimes.bsky.social, but not her own staff.

@nteunion.bsky.social has no confidence.
See the other face of ANU vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell
A frank interview with the woman shaking up the ANU.
www.canberratimes.com.au
June 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM
thaophan.bsky.social
Shout out to the ANU Vice Chancellor's PR team for commissioning a puff piece so bad it tries to recuperate her public image by comparing her to corrupt millionaire Imelda Marcos and profiling her collection of designer shoes

www.canberratimes.com.au/story/900277...
June 30, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Reposted by Thao Phan
kathyreid.au
Are you heading to @aussts.bsky.social #AusSTS25 #SignalsAndNoises in July in Melbourne? #STS

If so I hand-curated a Bluesky list of people I could find from the conference program:

bsky.app/profile/did:...
June 23, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Reposted by Thao Phan
ranjodhdhaliwal.com
On the 9th of July, at the National Communication Museum in Hawthorn, as a part of the @aussts.bsky.social 2025 conference, I will be talking about infrastructures of noise at the keynote panel along with Glen Berman, Dang Nguyen, Fabian Offert, and Kate Mannell. (3/4)
June 22, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Reposted by Thao Phan
ranjodhdhaliwal.com
On the 8th of July, Fabian Offert and I will be running a workshop on 'How to Train Your (Mental) Model' at RMIT Media Portal in Melbourne as a part of the 'Network Anarchy and Unstable Diffusions' program. (You can register at events.humanitix.com/how-to-train...) (2/4)
How to Train Your (Mental) Model: Workshop
How to Train Your (Mental) Model Workshop with Fabian Offert (UCSB) & Ranjodh Singh Dhaliwal (University of Basel).
events.humanitix.com
June 22, 2025 at 4:43 AM
thaophan.bsky.social
💎 NETWORK ANARCHY AND UNSTABLE DIFFUSIONS 💎

7 - 8 July
Naarm/Melbourne

@blueskychris.bsky.social
@ranjodhdhaliwal.com
@eryk.bsky.social
@admscentre.org.au
June 20, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Reposted by Thao Phan
ucu.org.uk
UCU members at @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social are striking today over University of Edinburgh plans to make £140million in cuts and threaten jobs

We're fighting against these reckless proposals

Share to show your support ✊
UCU members on Edinburgh picket line No More Cuts written in chalk UCU members on Edinburgh picket line
June 20, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Reposted by Thao Phan
admscentre.org.au
AI in the Street: Drone Observatory has won the STEAM Award at the New Media Film Festival in LA. Filmed in Logan, QLD, it explores life under drone delivery trials. Created by ADM+S researcher @thaophan.bsky.social & filmmaker Jeni Lee. admscentre.org/43VtZPE
Australian drone documentary wins STEAM Award at New Media Film Festival in LA - ADM+S Centre
AI in the Street: Drone Observatory, a short documentary by Dr Thao Phan and Jeni Lee exploring the lived experience of drone delivery in Logan, Queensland, has won the prestigious STEAM Award at the ...
admscentre.org
June 13, 2025 at 2:43 AM