Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

SFU Faculty of Health Sciences @sfu-fhs.bsky.social · 7h

FHS professor @jsnyder.bsky.social and alumnus Claire Wilson analyze how crowdfunding for a small ostrich arm in BC has rewarded and encouraged political polarization in Canada.

#SFUFHS #SFUResearch #Vaccination

The Conversation Canada @ca.theconversation.com · 1d

How anti-vaccine sentiment helped raise funds and saved the lives of some B.C. ostriches

Leveraging political hot topics can make crowdfunding campaigns more successful. A recent proposed ostrich cull garnered a lot of attention from high-profile people.

theconversation.com

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Jeremy Snyder @jsnyder.bsky.social · 1d

This piece builds on my research with Claire Wilson about how linking into politicized issues can supercharge litigation-related crowdfunding campaigns. As a result, savvy fundraisers may choose to exaggerate these political dimensions. @sfu-fhs.bsky.social

The Conversation Canada @ca.theconversation.com · 1d

How anti-vaccine sentiment helped raise funds and saved the lives of some B.C. ostriches

Leveraging political hot topics can make crowdfunding campaigns more successful. A recent proposed ostrich cull garnered a lot of attention from high-profile people.

theconversation.com

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Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 1d

@bethanylindsay.bsky.social of @theijf.org & Michelle Ghoussoub of CBC just published a detailed and disturbing investigation of research misconduct & violations of scholarly integrity involving a former UBC professor. They describe data fabrication & other major breaches. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

False hope, fabricated data: No public notice after UBC uncovered serious misconduct in medical study | CBC News

A celebrated Vancouver researcher used fabricated data and hid evidence of infected wounds to falsely claim his patented skin treatment could heal years-old bed sores in a matter of weeks, according t...

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · 1d

What happens when a celebrated scientist is accused of fabricating results to promote his patented product? We’ve obtained a leaked investigation report into misconduct at UBC, and we’re making the findings public for the first time.

theijf.org/ubc-misconduct

#bcpoli #science #CBC

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Jeremy Snyder @jsnyder.bsky.social · 1d

In @ca.theconversation.com, Claire Wilson and I discuss the incentive structure promoting political polarization in fundraisers. This can be seen in crowdfunding campaigns for an ostrich farm in BC that has profitably plugged into anti-vaccine sentiment in the US and Canada.

How anti-vaccine sentiment helped raise funds and saved the lives of some B.C. ostriches

Leveraging political hot topics can make crowdfunding campaigns more successful. A recent proposed ostrich cull garnered a lot of attention from high-profile people.

theconversation.com

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Jeremy Snyder @jsnyder.bsky.social · 1d

"These false claims gave patients and funders false hope by falsely claiming that Meshfill had quickly healed chronic pressure ulcer wounds. He also potentially endangered the health of future human trial subjects when Dr. Ghahary falsely claimed that there had been no adverse effects".

False hope, fabricated data: No public notice after UBC uncovered serious misconduct in medical study | CBC News

A celebrated Vancouver researcher used fabricated data and hid evidence of infected wounds to falsely claim his patented skin treatment could heal years-old bed sores in a matter of weeks, according t...

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

Maxwell Smith, PhD @maxwellsmith.bsky.social · 2d

"Staff with the CDC’s institutional review board, which reviews the design of studies, and the ethics office, which oversees all conflicts and interests for CDC leaders and advisory committee members, were also let go."

👀👀👀

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

‘Instability and whiplash’ as CDC slashes 1,300 jobs before reinstating half

Trump administration says 700 notices were sent in error, while former top CDC officer says ‘they didn’t think through what they were doing’

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

Dr. Regina Mueller @reginamueller.bsky.social · 5d

We’re excited to share a CfP for a Special Issue “Bioethics and Structural (In)justice” in Bioethics! We invite articles from all disciplines. Deadline: September 1, 2026
We can’t wait to read your contributions!
Regina Müller, Mirjam Faissner, Isabella Marcinski-Michel & Stefanie Weigold

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Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 8d

"The University of Toronto is taking steps to safeguard critical U of T research threatened by unexpected U.S. funding cuts — creating an emergency research fund that provides up to one year of bridge support to faculty most affected by the changes." temertymedicine.utoronto.ca/news/u-t-lau...

U of T launches emergency research fund to support faculty hit by U.S. cuts

The University of Toronto is taking steps to safeguard critical U of T research threatened by unexpected U.S. funding cuts – creating an emergency research fund that provides up to one year of bridge ...

temertymedicine.utoronto.ca

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Jeremy Snyder @jsnyder.bsky.social · 12d

Great piece on the massive conflicts of interest when private equity firms own IRBs that they then use to assess drug trials for their own companies.

@hollylynchez.bsky.social: "If you are just focused on turnaround time, that doesn’t tell you really anything about quality.”

How Private Equity Oversees the Ethics of Drug Research

www.nytimes.com

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Jeremy Snyder @jsnyder.bsky.social · 14d

"Neuroethics Canada director Judy Illes said Musk politics should not have any bearing on the clinical trial. While she said the global health cuts are troubling, they should be “compartmentalized” from Neuralink’s research in Canada."

Elon Musk's Neuralink brain chip clinical trial in Canada raises ethical questions

TORONTO — Some doctors and bioethicists are raising concerns about a Toronto hospital’s partnership with a company founded by U.S. billionaire Elon Musk. University Health Network announced earlier th...

vancouver.citynews.ca

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Jeremy Snyder @jsnyder.bsky.social · 17d

"At no point was I contacted by the central administration of the university as part of the review process. I was left in the dark as to the nature of the review being conducted, ...whether I was being investigated for potential discipline, and about when I might expect the review to be completed"

Florence Ashley @floralashes.bsky.social · 17d

"Why would it bow to antidemocratic pressures by placing a professor on leave without their request, consent, or involvement? That any university would do this is beyond comprehension and is cause for alarm about the future of academic freedom in Canada."

What Happened to the University’s Commitment to Free Expression? Charley Kirk, uAlberta, and Me | Centre for Free Expression

I was shocked when the University of Alberta administration informed me, one of its law professors, that I was being placed on non-disciplinary leave for my social media comments in the wake of Charli...

cfe.torontomu.ca

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Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

Florence Ashley @floralashes.bsky.social · 17d

"Why would it bow to antidemocratic pressures by placing a professor on leave without their request, consent, or involvement? That any university would do this is beyond comprehension and is cause for alarm about the future of academic freedom in Canada."

What Happened to the University’s Commitment to Free Expression? Charley Kirk, uAlberta, and Me | Centre for Free Expression

I was shocked when the University of Alberta administration informed me, one of its law professors, that I was being placed on non-disciplinary leave for my social media comments in the wake of Charli...

cfe.torontomu.ca

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Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

Holly Fernandez Lynch @hollylynchez.bsky.social · 18d

I don't want AI making ethics decisions about research, that's what human IRBs are and should be for. But there's a lot that AI could improve in the IRB space, from better protocol submissions to helping reviewers incorporate the research ethics literature and prior decisions. 1/

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Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

Ben Williamson @benpatrickwill.bsky.social · 20d

OpenAI's VP for education recently said the company wanted to become "core infrastructure" for schools and universities. Any infrastructure, though, always depends on habituating users to its technical affordances - so I've been trying to track how it's doing that 🧵 www.nytimes.com/2025/06/07/t...

Welcome to Campus. Here’s Your ChatGPT.

www.nytimes.com

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Jeremy Snyder @jsnyder.bsky.social · 20d

Hundreds of Ontario patients have been reimbursed for medical care in US since 2018, costing over $212 million. "We tend to look south as opposed to looking east and west, and if the provinces knew what each other were doing, then we might be able to cooperate more than we do".

Ontario's multimillion-dollar deal with American health clinics | CBC News

An exclusive CBC data analysis has found that since 2018, Ontario has spent over $200 million sending patients to U.S. clinics for procedures unavailable in Canada. The biggest expenditure under the p...

www.cbc.ca

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Jeremy Snyder @jsnyder.bsky.social · 22d

@stemcells.bsky.social on new trends in dental stem cell banking: "Some clinics and cell banking firms are already suggesting dental stem cell banking as a source of cells to treat specific health conditions yet there are no proven uses. It’s not clear that the cells involved are even stem cells".

Dental stem cell banking makes 'outrageous' claims in UK, practice is widespread in US - The Niche

Cell biologist discusses dental stem cell banking, what the cells actually are, the claims made by UK firms, and why there are issues here.

ipscell.com

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Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

Samantha Brennan @samanthabrennan.bsky.social · 23d

Call for Papers: 2026 Annual CPA Congress 🎓
Join us in Halifax, 6-9 June 2026! Share your work at Canada's premier philosophy conference.
📅 Deadline: 12 December
📍 Halifax, NS
🌊 Where ideas meet the Atlantic

#philsky

www.acpcpa.ca/articles/cal...

Call for Papers: Annual Meeting of The Canadian Philosophical Association

2026 Annual Meeting of The Canadian Philosophical Association, Dalhousie University, Halifax 6-9 Jun

www.acpcpa.ca

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Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

Simon Little 🍁 @simonplittle.ca · 23d

Osborne says more than 140 health-care workers from the U.S. — including 80 nurses and 38 doctors — have accepted positions with B.C. health authorities since the launch of its campaign in March 2025.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

B.C. has recruited more than 140 health-care workers from the U.S., minister says | CBC News

British Columbia Health Minister Josie Osborne says the province is "doing very well" in its recruiting drive of health care professionals from the United States, but admits that it will take time to ...

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 23d

This ought to be engraved somewhere.

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Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

Doug Saunders @dougsaunders.bsky.social · 26d

This would affect a lot of Canadians. Third largest H1B source country after India and China. Conversely, Canada might want to re-start its program to bring in highly talented H1B holders who suddenly find themselves unable to enter the States…

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/u...

Trump Says the U.S. Will Institute $100,000 Fee for Skilled Worker Visas

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

Dead McCoy 💀 @tedmccoy.bsky.social · Sep 15

My department, Sociology at the University of Calgary, is hiring FOUR (4) tenure track professors this fall in the areas of systemic justice and structural harm. Please help us to circulate this widely within your scholarly networks!

Assistant Professors - Sociology, Faculty of Arts in Calgary, AB, ...

careers.ucalgary.ca

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Jeremy Snyder @jsnyder.bsky.social · Sep 12

"After a screenshot was shared by a far-right media figure who described the comment as a reaction to Kirk’s assassination, Marshall denied that it was about Kirk but rather “atrocity denial in Gaza.” She tweeted her own screenshot of the post in what appears to be its original context".

PressProgress @pressprogress.ca · Sep 12

University of Toronto building shut down, police investigating threat, amid backlash to professor’s X post:

pressprogress.ca/university-o...

University of Toronto building shut down, police investigating threat, amid backlash to professor’s X post

While Ruth Marshall's comments were widely characterized as having concerned Charlie Kirk, evidence suggests a different context

pressprogress.ca

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Jeremy Snyder @jsnyder.bsky.social · Sep 8

Surgery wait times prompting GoFundMe campaigns:

"Inspired by a neighbour who used GoFundMe for a shoulder replacement, Bestard's wife, Marla Stiles, started one of their own. About 50 friends and family members chipped in $30,000 to cover private surgery at a Quebec clinic, plus travel expenses."

Why some Canadians are using their savings, GoFundMe to pay for private surgeries | CBC Radio

How much would you be willing, and able, to pay to get your knee or hip replaced? Calgarian Linda Slater's knee pain became unbearable during her two-year wait to see an orthopedic surgeon, so she dra...

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Jeremy Snyder

Bruce Arthur @brucearthur.bsky.social · Sep 5

When Carney was elected it was clear so many areas that required major investment, in the name of national protection and nation building: military, housing (public housing specifically), tariff supports, infrastructure (towards econonmic diversification), health care, but hugely, *education*

Alex Usher @alexusherhesa.bsky.social · Sep 5

Liberals to Canola industry (total export value: $7.7 billion): take $370 million, please!

Liberals to Post-Secondary Education (total export value $11B from tuition, more if you count foreign student spending in Canada): drop dead.

What kind of economy are we building, again?

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