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Hisham Zerriffi

@hishamzerriffi.bsky.social

17K followers 7.6K following 2.4K posts

Energy Resources, Development and Environment Lab (ERDELab) PI, @UBCforestry Assc Dean EDI. Energy, equity, justice, climate change, bioenergy. But also TTRPGs and photography (https://pixelfed.social/i/web/profile/499807930552574625). he/him. .. more

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Environmental science 36%

Energy 18%

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Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · Nov 8

Hello new Bluesky followers!

A re-intro:

Academic in Forestry faculty but not a forester. Work on energy, land-use, climate, equity, justice. Often at intersection of energy & forests.

With a dash of TTRPGs, nerdy stuff and politics.

And photography:

portfolio.pixelfed.social/nomademoderne

@nomademoderne's Portfolio

portfolio.pixelfed.social

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Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 1h

Alleyway in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Also on my photo site at: pixelfed.social/p/nomademode...

A narrow alleyway that curves to the left. It’s framed by two walls, each painted in red on the bottom and the yellow (left) and off-white (right) about 3 feet from ground. The buildings in the alley are mainly brick. There is a motorcycle parked in the alley

Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 1h

“Your job is not to turn in completed assignments; it's to learn how to think.”

Ted Chiang‘s succinct summary of the issue with using AI in education.

I’m not a sports guy but the athlete metaphor he uses in this interview is pretty spot on.

The Incompatibilities Between Generative AI and Art: Q&A with Ted Chiang

cdh.princeton.edu

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Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 3h

Between the article on Chatfishing (people relying on GenAI for dating) and Peter Thiel’s stoned freshman philosophizing about apocalyptic Christian imagery in Watchmen and One Piece, I may be done with the internet for today.

My day started 20 minutes ago.

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Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 17h

These layoffs and then rehires are not the first ones of this Admin and seem to be equal parts:

-Complete incompetence and lack of understanding of the agency

-Taking on Silicon Valley “move fast and break things” attitudes

-Testing the limits to see if there is significant pushback

Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 17h

The Trump administration on Saturday scrambled to rescind layoffs of hundreds of CDC scientists who were mistakenly fired on Friday night in what appeared to be a substantial procedural lapse.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/h...

Trump Administration Is Bringing Back Scores of C.D.C. Experts Fired in Error

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Nina Jankowicz, Rosemary A. Joyce, John Mullahy , and 6 more Nina Jankowicz, Rosemary A. Joyce, John Mullahy, Robert C. Richards, Silvia Secchi, Glenn H. Shepard, Michael D. McDonald, Hisham Zerriffi, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 17h

Trump Administration Is Bringing Back Scores of C.D.C. Experts Fired in Error

www.nytimes.com

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Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 20h

Oh gee. Why didn’t I think of that?

Yes, calling people delusional is a great way to engage in a conversation.

Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 22h

And if you critique Carney on his climate inaction you get Liberal party stalwarts saying “read his book” or “read the platform” or “we need to deal with tariffs and inflation and appease the other side’s voters.”

Rethinking policy is important. But you got to replace it with *something*.

Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 1d

We have truly not yet figured out how to cope with a person or institution that is "aware" of climate change, "accepts the science", but then decides to continue actively worsening it anyway

We don't even have a word or a phrase for this!

theconversation.com/mark-carneys...

Mark Carney’s climate inaction is at odds with his awareness of climate change’s existential threat

Climate action no longer seems to be a priority for Prime Minister Mark Carney, despite his previous activism. This is bad news for Canadians and the climate.

theconversation.com

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Reposted by Catherine Baker, Hester Blum, Melanie C. Green , and 5 more Catherine Baker, Hester Blum, Melanie C. Green, Silvia Secchi, McKenzie Wark, Mary Jane Curry, Hisham Zerriffi, Suzanne Conklin Akbari

Katelyn Boo-urns @katelynburns.com · 1d

I wrote a little about some of the little details you might have missed in this video and why it hit me so hard as a trans person this morning:

www.burnsnotice.com/you-have-to-...

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Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 1d

Interesting that they talk about these reactors being better because they’ll use simpler tech and then cite high temp gas, molten salt and liquid sodium as examples. As I recall all three of those have had significant technical issues.

Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 1d

Halfway through this seminar on Sustainable Futures and thrilled with how it has been so far. Wonderful students and a series of phenomenal guest speakers.

Huge thanks so far to Holly, Duffy, @kevinjkircher.com, Taco, @agiang.bsky.social, @debcha.bsky.social who‘ve given them a lot to think about.

Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · Sep 1

"Exploring Sustainable Futures" through lenses of modeling/scenarios, planning and speculative fiction.

Can't wait to teach this new grad seminar starting Tuesday. Should be a ton of fun.

HMU if you are a modeler, a planner or a writer and interested in popping in to chat with the students. (1)

Course poster showing a person, hands on hips, staring at two diverging paths. There are circles showing a desert, an industrial scene and a forest. Text says:
FRST-V-532-C-101 Directed Studies in Forest Management
Exploring Sustainable Futures
Sustainability challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss
are “wicked problems” with long-term, uncertain outcomes. This
graduate seminar explores how we think about the future, who
shapes it, and how future-oriented thinking drives action today.
Through three lenses—scenario modeling, strategic planning,
and speculative fiction—we’ll examine how different disciplines
approach sustainable futures and how their interaction can
strengthen decision-making in the face of complexity.

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Reposted by Peter Thorne, Hisham Zerriffi, Karen O’Leary

Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 1d

Mark Carney’s climate inaction is at odds with his awareness of climate change’s existential threat

Climate action no longer seems to be a priority for Prime Minister Mark Carney, despite his previous activism. This is bad news for Canadians and the climate.

theconversation.com

69 190 510

Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 1d

Been DMing for kids for about five years now and it is an absolute trip!

Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 2d

Stay Alert Canadian Academics.

These hearings (a continuation from last session) on criteria for grant funding include numerous witnesses and briefs against Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Despite the evidence that addressing inequities will make Canadian research stronger. Can‘t be complacent.

Dr. Katja Thieme (she/they) @katjathieme.bsky.social · 3d

What is Steven Pinker’s expertise on systemic discrimination in the awarding of Canadian federal grants?

universityaffairs.ca/news/parliam...

Parliament reviews EDI for research grants - University Affairs

Witnesses testify for and against applying diversity criteria to scientific funding.

universityaffairs.ca

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Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 2d

100% this👇

A national postal service is a public good that provides equity in access. While I’m fine with paying for services, it should not be treated and run as one would a private company expected to cover costs or even make a profit.

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 2d

We could be treating Canada Post as not just an essential delivery service, but an essential social infrastructure in our communities.

Instead the government prefers to treat it as a costly burden that must be subject to death by a thousand cuts.

For isolated seniors, Canada Post delivers more than mail | CBC News

As the Canada Post strike hits the one-week mark, there are growing concerns for one group of Canadians who typically rely on the delivery service more than most — seniors.

www.cbc.ca

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Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 2d

It’s not actually that long. A good rebuttal to a number of persistent myths about renewables.

i think there’s a bit more nuance than is in here around fossil fuel discourse and politics regarding low income countries but the overall message is spot on.

Max Fawcett @maxfawcett.bsky.social · 2d

In which I debunk some very common (and popular) myths about renewable energy and the energy transition.

Warning: It's long, pedantic, and full of charts.

open.substack.com/pub/maxfawce...

When "blindingly obvious" facts about the energy transition are anything but

Debunking Don Wright's well-meaning interventions on the subject

open.substack.com

Reposted by Hisham Zerriffi

Max Fawcett @maxfawcett.bsky.social · 2d

In which I debunk some very common (and popular) myths about renewable energy and the energy transition.

Warning: It's long, pedantic, and full of charts.

open.substack.com/pub/maxfawce...

When "blindingly obvious" facts about the energy transition are anything but

Debunking Don Wright's well-meaning interventions on the subject

open.substack.com

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Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 2d

Yes. That is highest in the emissions reduction hierarchy. But various types of nature based solutions, including afforestatio, etc. and various types of community development projects need to be funded. Right now, offsets are a big chunk of that space. By “a better way” I mean how do we fund that?

Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 2d

I have definitely woken up after Funny Position sleeping and been very pissed off at the result

Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 2d

The Canadian healthcare system may have some deficiencies and is stressed but let’s remember it also often just works.

~7 months from diagnosis to specialist to minor non-urgent but needed surgery is not bad.

Best part? Wheeling right past that cashier window in the hospital without stopping.

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Reposted by Hisham Zerriffi

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 2d

For isolated seniors, Canada Post delivers more than mail | CBC News

As the Canada Post strike hits the one-week mark, there are growing concerns for one group of Canadians who typically rely on the delivery service more than most — seniors.

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by David G. Stewart, Silvia Secchi, Aaron Sojourner , and 3 more David G. Stewart, Silvia Secchi, Aaron Sojourner, Suzanne de Cheveigné, James Connelly, Hisham Zerriffi

Kevin J. CREATURE @kevinjkircher.com · 2d

Over 40% of corn grown in Indiana is used to make ethanol that cars burn. One acre of corn yields about 16,500 vehicle-miles per year of ethanol, which sounds high until you realize that one acre of solar yields about 2,700,000 vehicle-miles per year: 16,000% more driving for a given plot of land.

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Reposted by Shannon Vallor, Mary L. Dudziak, Zen Faulkes , and 2 more Shannon Vallor, Mary L. Dudziak, Zen Faulkes, Hisham Zerriffi, Finis Dunaway

Ted McCormick @tedmccormick.bsky.social · 3d

A striking thing about articles I’ve read claiming to “study the effects” of generative AI on student writing skills and consumption of information is that (1) they nearly always find the effects are negative and (2) most “conclusions” are still written assuming that we must use AI, for some reason.

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Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 3d

Huh. Learned something new today. Thanks!

Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 3d

Also, not really sure that the fighter (?) in the back is holding their sword the best way. But what do I know.

Any sword people on here? Is it usually a good idea to hold the blade of the sword as well? Even with gloves?

Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 3d

It really does seem unfair

Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 3d

You never know. Maybe there’s an underground river to raft down in the dungeon. 😂

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Reposted by Silvia Secchi, Hisham Zerriffi, Kate Jackson , and 1 more Silvia Secchi, Hisham Zerriffi, Kate Jackson, Dana Howard

Dane 🔜 NYCC AA L-34 @monkeyminion.com · 3d

I wrote a 15 page report on heraldic symbolism in medieval armor and weapon design for my art history class the night before it was due (8am class). Made up 90% of it (only found one book for reference) and got an A. GenAI could fucking never.

wrote 20 pages on Faulkner's The Bear four hours before final papers were due on trucker pills and coffee and cigarettes and got an A, fuck you.
You people couldn't hang with real slackers.
finn
wokeupchic • 4d
It's fuck Al till your homework due in 25 minutes

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Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 3d

“You Had One Job” ageing body edition

Me: Need to look left

Neck: no

Me: what? Why? It’s literally your job to keep my head up and swivel it around.

Neck: hurts to look left

Me: oh. Why???

Neck: you’re getting older and spent too long looking left yesterday. Wait a day or two and try again

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Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 3d

I am a very fortunate man.

I am about to spend a week or so housebound. And likely very bored.

My wife *who does not play role-playing games at all* surprised me with this single player game to keep me occupied.

I think she’s a keeper. :)

#TTRPG #NerdLife

Book showing a group of adventurers about to enter a dungeon. Text says: “Four Against Darkness: A solitaire dungeon-delving pen-and-paper game

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Reposted by David Murakami Wood, Hisham Zerriffi

Dr. Katja Thieme (she/they) @katjathieme.bsky.social · 3d

What is Steven Pinker’s expertise on systemic discrimination in the awarding of Canadian federal grants?

universityaffairs.ca/news/parliam...

Parliament reviews EDI for research grants - University Affairs

Witnesses testify for and against applying diversity criteria to scientific funding.

universityaffairs.ca

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