Author | Lightnews

My quick take on the Riyadh comedy festival

Sepehr Vakil @sepehrvakil.bsky.social · 22d

My quick take on the Riyadh comedy festival
open.substack.com/pub/sepehrva...

And debuting at Zanies tonight!

open.substack.com

Our SXSW 2026 Proposals: AI in Education and Comedy as Public Dialogue

Sepehr Vakil @sepehrvakil.bsky.social · Aug 16

I spend a lot of my time thinking about the future of AI in education, and about the role of comedy in our public discourse. We are trying to bring both of these conversations to #SXSW2026. Would appreciate everyone's support! Please vote and share. sepehrvakil.substack.com/p/our-sxsw-2...

Community voting closes on August 24.

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Blake Emerson @blakeprof.bsky.social · Aug 13

The lesson here is to litigate, not cower.

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Sepehr Vakil @sepehrvakil.bsky.social · Aug 14

that part

Blake Emerson @blakeprof.bsky.social · Aug 14

The thing about the Title VI funding terminations, on grounds of “antisemitism,” is that it’s not just illegal and pretextual, but it’s a sneering, racist insult against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - an intentional abuse of its powers to target minorities and equal education.

The magic and misery of camping with kids

Sepehr Vakil @sepehrvakil.bsky.social · Jul 15

I went camping with my boys, my mom, and some friends at Kankakee River State Park this past weekend. It was hot, buggy, sweaty, sticky, and the bathrooms were a crime scene. It was miserable but also magical. Parents know what I’m talking about.
sepehrvakil.substack.com/p/the-magic-...

At the risk of stating the obvious, I was reminded this weekend that parenting is not always about enjoying yourself in the moment.

Bombs over Tehran: a fathers day reflection

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Charles Logan @charleswlogan.bsky.social · Jun 26

*New publication alert*

I'm excited to share "Literacy as a Framework for Computing Education: Affordances, Constraints, and New Directions," a chapter @jmhiggs.bsky.social, @sepehrvakil.bsky.social, and I wrote for Literacies in the Platform Society: Histories, Pedagogies, and Possibilities. 🧵

The cover of the book "Literacies in the Platform Society: Histories, Pedagogies, and Possibilities" edited by T. Philip Nichols and Antero Garcia.

The chapter abstract. The abstract reads, "This chapter takes up the question of how we understand “literacies” in relation to platform technologies—and specifically, the benefits or drawbacks of extending the term to include competencies related to platformization. Merging insights from sociocultural literacy studies and computer science education research on “computational literacies,” we argue that there are both institutional and pragmatic challenges for literacy researchers to consider in choosing the terminology they use. Institutionally, while the interest of STEM fields in adopting the language of “literacy” may appear to lend prestige to literacy research (and researchers), it also risks reproducing “Great Divide” narratives that the field of sociocultural literacy studies has long critiqued. This relates to the pragmatic challenge that, in allowing the term “literacies” to be stretched too broadly, it may lose its capacity to explain those aspects of platforms and platformizations that are more closely associated with reading, writing, and textual practice. While there are no definitive lines to be drawn for when and how the term “literacies” ought to be used, the chapter offers questions and considerations to aid researchers and teachers in making their own determinations."

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Jules Siran @julessiran.bsky.social · Jun 27

Just received this exciting book by @sepehrvakil.bsky.social Mahdi Ganjavi, Mina Khanlardazeh @mitpress.bsky.social, undoubtedly destined to become an instant classic in the field. It’s jumping straight to the top of my reading list!

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Sepehr Vakil @sepehrvakil.bsky.social · Jun 17

Congratulations, Charles!!! Really excited for the great work you are doing and will continue to do in the AI ethics and education space. @charlesmok.bsky.social

Charles Logan @charleswlogan.bsky.social · Jun 16

I joined the Fancy Robe and Cap Club today, in no small part thanks to the advising of @sepehrvakil.bsky.social 😎

A photo of Dr. Sepehr Vakil and me dressed in our doctoral robes.

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Sepehr Vakil @sepehrvakil.bsky.social · Jun 15

Bombs over Tehran: a fathers day reflection
open.substack.com/pub/sepehrva...

To pre-game Father's Day, my friend Paymun and I took our sons to Climb Zone yesterday, a family entertainment center in Chicago.

open.substack.com

Using AI to plan a Chicago summer? I just may...

Sepehr Vakil @sepehrvakil.bsky.social · Jun 4

I'm excited for a Chicago summer with my kids. Can AI help me plan some fun activities? Maybe. sepehrvakil.substack.com/p/using-ai-t...

A few days ago, I was at an end-of-the-year picnic at my son's elementary school.

Reposted by Sepehr Vakil

MIT Press @mitpress.bsky.social · May 27

Co-authored by @sepehrvakil.bsky.social, Mahdi Ganjavi, and Mina Khanlarzadeh, "Revolutionary Engineers" details the cultural, political, and pedagogical history of an elite Iranian engineering institution in the years directly preceding the 1979 Iranian revolution:
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255219...

"Revolutionary Engineers: Learning, Politics, and Activism at Aryamehr University of Technology" by Sepehr Vakil, Mahdi Ganjavi, and Mina Khanlarzadeh on a plain background. A historical photo of several individuals at Aryamehr University of Technology is featured on the cover.

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Sepehr Vakil @sepehrvakil.bsky.social · Apr 26

thank you!

Sepehr Vakil @sepehrvakil.bsky.social · Apr 26

yup we're looking into all of our options now.

Sepehr Vakil @sepehrvakil.bsky.social · Apr 26

thank you Shani. Its a hard time but we'll get through this.

Sepehr Vakil @sepehrvakil.bsky.social · Apr 26

thank you! we have to!

CC @davidimiller.bsky.social @proftv.bsky.social

Sepehr Vakil @sepehrvakil.bsky.social · Apr 25

Our NSF grant was canceled at Northwestern

Sepehr Vakil @sepehrvakil.bsky.social · Apr 25

One week later, and the wounds are very, very fresh. Our NSF grant, which focused on educational justice for Black families in Evanston, was illegally canceled. Read more about it here: sepehrvakil.substack.com/p/our-nsf-gr...

Last Friday, our NSF grant was illegally terminated by the federal government.

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Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · Apr 20

🧪 Tip: You have the right to contest a grant termination, even though NSF says you don't. 🧵

On Friday, NSF terminated 402 grants (per Musk's DOGE).

The notification letters had one of the most egregious violations of fed regulations I've seen so far in these cases:

"not subject to appeal"

Megan Zahneis @mzahneis.bsky.social · Apr 18

Here's a copy of an NSF grant termination notice that went out today. "NSF is issuing this termination to protect the interests of the government pursuant...on the basis that they no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities." Not subject to appeal. #HigherEd #AcademicSky

Text of email: Dear [redacted],

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has undertaken a review of its award portfolio. Each award was carefully and individually reviewed, and the agency has determined that termination of certain awards is necessary because they are not in alignment with current NSF priorities. Effective immediately, the following are terminated: [redacted]

NSF is issuing this termination to protect the interests of the government pursuant to NSF Grant General Conditions (GC-1) term and condition entitled Termination and Enforcement; on the basis that they no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities. This is the final agency decision and not subject to appeal. Costs incurred as a result of this termination may be reimbursed, provided such costs would otherwise be allowable under the terms of the award and the governing cost principles. In accordance with your award terms and conditions, you have 30 days from the termination date to furnish a summary of progress under the award and an itemized accounting of allowable costs incurred prior to the termination date.

Sincerely, [redacted] Division Director
Office of Budget Finance and Award Management (BFA)
Division of Grants and Agreements (DGA)

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Sepehr Vakil @sepehrvakil.bsky.social · Apr 9

thank you Shuchi!!