Federico Andrade-Rivas
@federicoandrade.bsky.social
🇨🇴 in 🇨🇦 Assistant Professor Global Public Health, Geography, CU-Boulder
|Planetary health, human ecology, health geography, epidemiology| Engineer+Anthropologist Uniandes 🇨🇴 | MPH UCT 🇿🇦| PhD UBC + Postdoc UVic 🇨🇦|
https://federicoandrade.github.io/
|Planetary health, human ecology, health geography, epidemiology| Engineer+Anthropologist Uniandes 🇨🇴 | MPH UCT 🇿🇦| PhD UBC + Postdoc UVic 🇨🇦|
https://federicoandrade.github.io/
Pinned
"The times are urgent; let us slow down".
Bayo Akomolafe
Bayo Akomolafe
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
Dear funding agencies,
I know we all want to discover the wonder drug that will cure the horrible diseases, but to do that, we need to invest in basic, unsexy, foundational research on how the systems work. Funding can’t all be drug development.
Sincerely,
Looking for basic research grants.
I know we all want to discover the wonder drug that will cure the horrible diseases, but to do that, we need to invest in basic, unsexy, foundational research on how the systems work. Funding can’t all be drug development.
Sincerely,
Looking for basic research grants.
October 14, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Dear funding agencies,
I know we all want to discover the wonder drug that will cure the horrible diseases, but to do that, we need to invest in basic, unsexy, foundational research on how the systems work. Funding can’t all be drug development.
Sincerely,
Looking for basic research grants.
I know we all want to discover the wonder drug that will cure the horrible diseases, but to do that, we need to invest in basic, unsexy, foundational research on how the systems work. Funding can’t all be drug development.
Sincerely,
Looking for basic research grants.
Are you passionate about solutions-based research to help address planetary health challenges?
The Planetary GeoHealth Lab may be the right place for you!
Looking for 1-2 graduate students
Interested? Please fill out this form: federicoandrade.github.io
The Planetary GeoHealth Lab may be the right place for you!
Looking for 1-2 graduate students
Interested? Please fill out this form: federicoandrade.github.io
October 9, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Are you passionate about solutions-based research to help address planetary health challenges?
The Planetary GeoHealth Lab may be the right place for you!
Looking for 1-2 graduate students
Interested? Please fill out this form: federicoandrade.github.io
The Planetary GeoHealth Lab may be the right place for you!
Looking for 1-2 graduate students
Interested? Please fill out this form: federicoandrade.github.io
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
Work less, be more productive?
Study in 6 countries found 4-day work week led to:
⬆️wellbeing
⬇️burnout
⬆️job satisfaction
Likely due to better sleep, improved work ability & less fatigue. This was compared to companies that stayed with 5-day work week.
#publichealth
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Study in 6 countries found 4-day work week led to:
⬆️wellbeing
⬇️burnout
⬆️job satisfaction
Likely due to better sleep, improved work ability & less fatigue. This was compared to companies that stayed with 5-day work week.
#publichealth
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
July 29, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Work less, be more productive?
Study in 6 countries found 4-day work week led to:
⬆️wellbeing
⬇️burnout
⬆️job satisfaction
Likely due to better sleep, improved work ability & less fatigue. This was compared to companies that stayed with 5-day work week.
#publichealth
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Study in 6 countries found 4-day work week led to:
⬆️wellbeing
⬇️burnout
⬆️job satisfaction
Likely due to better sleep, improved work ability & less fatigue. This was compared to companies that stayed with 5-day work week.
#publichealth
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🤩
Here’s what an auroral substorm looks like directly overhead
July 1, 2025 at 10:44 PM
🤩
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
It is never helpful to remind one grieving of what they have not lost or of the fact that it could have been worse. We do not grieve what we have but what we do not have. We compare our loss to the good we had, not to the bad that never happened. The empty space is that — empty.
June 27, 2025 at 12:03 PM
It is never helpful to remind one grieving of what they have not lost or of the fact that it could have been worse. We do not grieve what we have but what we do not have. We compare our loss to the good we had, not to the bad that never happened. The empty space is that — empty.
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
Once again, to inject some research into this conversation...although millionaires often threaten to move if taxed, that tends not to actually happen. The millionaire tax flight thing is a myth.
See book below ⤵️
www.sup.org/books/sociol...
See book below ⤵️
www.sup.org/books/sociol...
June 27, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Once again, to inject some research into this conversation...although millionaires often threaten to move if taxed, that tends not to actually happen. The millionaire tax flight thing is a myth.
See book below ⤵️
www.sup.org/books/sociol...
See book below ⤵️
www.sup.org/books/sociol...
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
This is a Hall of Fame reader comment on a very reactionary op-ed about Zohran Mamdani's victory that was published in my local paper today.
June 25, 2025 at 7:31 PM
This is a Hall of Fame reader comment on a very reactionary op-ed about Zohran Mamdani's victory that was published in my local paper today.
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
Advice to incoming interns:
June 26, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Advice to incoming interns:
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
Congratulations, the universe sent you this dog because you have been chosen. Joy awaits. 13/10
June 26, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Congratulations, the universe sent you this dog because you have been chosen. Joy awaits. 13/10
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
It’s weather like this when you really start to realize how many streets have zero trees. ☀️🥵
More funding for more trees! 🌳
More funding for more trees! 🌳
June 25, 2025 at 10:02 PM
It’s weather like this when you really start to realize how many streets have zero trees. ☀️🥵
More funding for more trees! 🌳
More funding for more trees! 🌳
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
I challenge Sam Altman to climb K2 using an AI route shortener
"AllTrails has a new generative AI feature that can be asked to 'shorten my route' or 'make this more scenic.'
But the people in charge of searching for lost hikers say the feature is going to exacerbate an issue they’ve been warning about for years: hiking apps providing false information."
But the people in charge of searching for lost hikers say the feature is going to exacerbate an issue they’ve been warning about for years: hiking apps providing false information."
AllTrails launches AI route-making tool, worrying search-and-rescue members
One of the world’s most popular hiking apps has a new generative AI feature that can be asked to "shorten my route" or "make this more scenic." But the people in charge of searching for lost hikers sa...
www.nationalobserver.com
June 20, 2025 at 3:39 AM
I challenge Sam Altman to climb K2 using an AI route shortener
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
“Historically, no one lived past age 35”
"I’ve heard *so* many versions of this claim, including recently from a menopause doctor (implying menopause is not “natural” because noone lived long enough to go through it). Every time someone states this “fact,” a demographer loses a piece of their soul"
"I’ve heard *so* many versions of this claim, including recently from a menopause doctor (implying menopause is not “natural” because noone lived long enough to go through it). Every time someone states this “fact,” a demographer loses a piece of their soul"
There Were Still Old People When Life Expectancy Was 35.
A demography myth that won't die
jenndowd.substack.com
June 16, 2025 at 10:16 AM
“Historically, no one lived past age 35”
"I’ve heard *so* many versions of this claim, including recently from a menopause doctor (implying menopause is not “natural” because noone lived long enough to go through it). Every time someone states this “fact,” a demographer loses a piece of their soul"
"I’ve heard *so* many versions of this claim, including recently from a menopause doctor (implying menopause is not “natural” because noone lived long enough to go through it). Every time someone states this “fact,” a demographer loses a piece of their soul"
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
The first U.S. bishop appointed by Pope Leo XIV—a refugee himself—is mobilizing priests to accompany migrants at immigration court on June 20.
(Via Christopher Hale)
(Via Christopher Hale)
June 13, 2025 at 2:52 AM
The first U.S. bishop appointed by Pope Leo XIV—a refugee himself—is mobilizing priests to accompany migrants at immigration court on June 20.
(Via Christopher Hale)
(Via Christopher Hale)
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
🔴The ‘Millionaire Exodus’ the UK Media Told You About Never Actually Happened
The equivalent of 30 stories a day were published about an exodus of wealthy people that a new study finds was “non existent”
bylinetimes.com/2025/06/10/t...
The equivalent of 30 stories a day were published about an exodus of wealthy people that a new study finds was “non existent”
bylinetimes.com/2025/06/10/t...
The 'Millionaire Exodus' the UK Media Told You About Never Actually Happened
The equivalent of 30 stories a day were published about an exodus of wealthy people that a new study finds was "non existent"
bylinetimes.com
June 11, 2025 at 11:36 AM
🔴The ‘Millionaire Exodus’ the UK Media Told You About Never Actually Happened
The equivalent of 30 stories a day were published about an exodus of wealthy people that a new study finds was “non existent”
bylinetimes.com/2025/06/10/t...
The equivalent of 30 stories a day were published about an exodus of wealthy people that a new study finds was “non existent”
bylinetimes.com/2025/06/10/t...
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
Another excellent piece from a demographer, this time Stuart Gietel-Basten, on how "pronatalism is a dead end"
"Without addressing the root causes of low fertility—inequality, instability, and the incompatibility of work and family life—top-down efforts to “encourage” childbearing will fail"
"Without addressing the root causes of low fertility—inequality, instability, and the incompatibility of work and family life—top-down efforts to “encourage” childbearing will fail"
The politics of pronatalism and the two-child benefit cap - British Politics and Policy at LSE
Nigel Farage supports the scraping the two-child benefit cap as a way of encouraging people to have more children. But pronatalist policies that offer a one-off "baby bonus" are not effective.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
June 11, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Another excellent piece from a demographer, this time Stuart Gietel-Basten, on how "pronatalism is a dead end"
"Without addressing the root causes of low fertility—inequality, instability, and the incompatibility of work and family life—top-down efforts to “encourage” childbearing will fail"
"Without addressing the root causes of low fertility—inequality, instability, and the incompatibility of work and family life—top-down efforts to “encourage” childbearing will fail"
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
Ok, time for a short thread about this paper.
My sense over the past six months or so is that chain-of-thought prompting as used in e.g. ChatGPT o.3 improves substantially upon previous systems such as ChatGPT 4.o, at least for certain tasks.
But how revolutionary is it?
My sense over the past six months or so is that chain-of-thought prompting as used in e.g. ChatGPT o.3 improves substantially upon previous systems such as ChatGPT 4.o, at least for certain tasks.
But how revolutionary is it?
If I have time I'll put together a more detailed thread tomorrow, but for now, I think this new paper about limitations of Chain-of-Thought models could be quite important. Worth a look if you're interested in these sorts of things.
ml-site.cdn-apple.com/papers/the-i...
ml-site.cdn-apple.com/papers/the-i...
June 9, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Ok, time for a short thread about this paper.
My sense over the past six months or so is that chain-of-thought prompting as used in e.g. ChatGPT o.3 improves substantially upon previous systems such as ChatGPT 4.o, at least for certain tasks.
But how revolutionary is it?
My sense over the past six months or so is that chain-of-thought prompting as used in e.g. ChatGPT o.3 improves substantially upon previous systems such as ChatGPT 4.o, at least for certain tasks.
But how revolutionary is it?
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
Here's a baby otter to start your week.
June 9, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Here's a baby otter to start your week.
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
Tips For First-Time Hikers
theonion.com/tips-fo...
theonion.com/tips-fo...
June 9, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Tips For First-Time Hikers
theonion.com/tips-fo...
theonion.com/tips-fo...
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
I ran an experiment, simultaneously posting articles on Bluesky and X, and then testing to see how many people actually clicked and read them. The numbers on Bluesky are higher, both because the X algorithm downranks journalism, and because Bluesky attracts readers, not just shitposters.
June 9, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I ran an experiment, simultaneously posting articles on Bluesky and X, and then testing to see how many people actually clicked and read them. The numbers on Bluesky are higher, both because the X algorithm downranks journalism, and because Bluesky attracts readers, not just shitposters.
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
The AI industry is full of blatant lies, but the claim that we can reliably detect AI-generated writing is one of the worst. The idea that these pseudoscientific AI writing detectors are being used to justify punishing young people makes me incandescent with rage.
June 8, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The AI industry is full of blatant lies, but the claim that we can reliably detect AI-generated writing is one of the worst. The idea that these pseudoscientific AI writing detectors are being used to justify punishing young people makes me incandescent with rage.
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
Gorgeous, devastating writing by @tessairini.bsky.social telling the story of one of my grad school heroes, Daniel Janzen, witness the disappearance of life he's spent his career studying.
"We’re at a new point in human history,” Wagner says. Up until the last decade, “the major drivers of biodiversity losses around the planet were really land degradation and land loss, habitat loss. But I think now that climate change is by far exceeding that"
‘Half the tree of life’: ecologists’ horror as nature reserves are emptied of insects
A new point in history has been reached, entomologists say, as climate-led species’ collapse moves up the food chain even in supposedly protected regions free of pesticides
www.theguardian.com
June 5, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Gorgeous, devastating writing by @tessairini.bsky.social telling the story of one of my grad school heroes, Daniel Janzen, witness the disappearance of life he's spent his career studying.
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
We're looking for a new PhD candidate to join the lab. Please share 🌱😄
June 5, 2025 at 5:37 AM
We're looking for a new PhD candidate to join the lab. Please share 🌱😄
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
Tip for PhD applicants reaching out to prospective advisors: Don’t use an LLM to write these emails. It’s not a great first impression to express your admiration for a recent paper the faculty member published if that paper does not exist.
June 5, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Tip for PhD applicants reaching out to prospective advisors: Don’t use an LLM to write these emails. It’s not a great first impression to express your admiration for a recent paper the faculty member published if that paper does not exist.
Reposted by Federico Andrade-Rivas
Just sharing that this would make an amazing film and we need Taika Waititi to do it.
The bizarre story of when Australia went to war with emus—and lost
The bizarre story of when Australia went to war with emus—and lost
The bizarre story of when Australia went to war with emus—and lost
A military campaign meant to rid Western Australia of crop-destroying emus ended in failure. But the surreal showdown highlighted the birds’ critical role in the country’s ecosystem and cultural ident...
www.nationalgeographic.com
May 26, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Just sharing that this would make an amazing film and we need Taika Waititi to do it.
The bizarre story of when Australia went to war with emus—and lost
The bizarre story of when Australia went to war with emus—and lost