Tina Adcock
@tinaadcock.bsky.social
Cultural and environmental historian of Canada and the Sub/Arctic. Author: *A Cold Colonialism: Modern Exploration and the Canadian North.* Co-editor: *Made Modern: Science and Technology in Canadian History.* Now researching energy and queer histories.
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Tina Adcock
@tinaadcock.bsky.social
· Jun 2
A Cold Colonialism
A Cold Colonialism - Modern Exploration and the Canadian North; A Cold Colonialism reframes exploration as a modern enterprise – one through which southern Canadians and Americans sought to exert cont...
www.ubcpress.ca
Delighted to announce that yesterday was publication day for *A Cold Colonialism: Modern Exploration and the Canadian North* 🥳
It feels great to have it out there. I look forward to hearing from readers 😃
Available from @ubcpress.bsky.social: www.ubcpress.ca/a-cold-colon...
#cdnhist #envhist
It feels great to have it out there. I look forward to hearing from readers 😃
Available from @ubcpress.bsky.social: www.ubcpress.ca/a-cold-colon...
#cdnhist #envhist
Reposted by Tina Adcock
Favorite recent or classic readings on the history of environmental movements, 19th and 20th C? This is for a senior seminar, US and Europe as geographical focus
#envhist
#envhist
December 8, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Favorite recent or classic readings on the history of environmental movements, 19th and 20th C? This is for a senior seminar, US and Europe as geographical focus
#envhist
#envhist
Reposted by Tina Adcock
I understand this mindset because this is what the tech world has told us we should aim for: specialized knowledge in a single field. But that’s not what creates well-rounded, empathetic ppl. The only way you learn that is a broad exposure to a variety of knowledge. We all need that in order to grow
If you are providing me with an education that is low utility in the world then it’s a disservice. My composition class spent four weeks on poetry. I’m sorry, but that only would’ve been useful if I wanted to be a poet. I don’t need to know iambic pentameter in order to be a victim advocate.
December 9, 2025 at 7:31 PM
I understand this mindset because this is what the tech world has told us we should aim for: specialized knowledge in a single field. But that’s not what creates well-rounded, empathetic ppl. The only way you learn that is a broad exposure to a variety of knowledge. We all need that in order to grow
Reposted by Tina Adcock
As I say here, this is not about saving the planet. The planet will be orbiting the sun long after we’re gone.
The question is, will there be a healthy, thriving human society on that planet? The answer to that question is very much up for grabs at this point.
The question is, will there be a healthy, thriving human society on that planet? The answer to that question is very much up for grabs at this point.
World must jointly tackle issues of climate change, pollution, UN says
The United Nations says the world needs a new way of thinking about environmental crises threatening the health of people and the planet
abcnews.go.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
As I say here, this is not about saving the planet. The planet will be orbiting the sun long after we’re gone.
The question is, will there be a healthy, thriving human society on that planet? The answer to that question is very much up for grabs at this point.
The question is, will there be a healthy, thriving human society on that planet? The answer to that question is very much up for grabs at this point.
Reposted by Tina Adcock
- your students will chose the easy A over the slow boring of hard boards that is actual learning
- your intellectual property is being stolen
- you are serving the bottom line of private equity as you undermine your own job security
- it gives admin more reasons to lay off front line staff
- your intellectual property is being stolen
- you are serving the bottom line of private equity as you undermine your own job security
- it gives admin more reasons to lay off front line staff
December 9, 2025 at 6:26 PM
- your students will chose the easy A over the slow boring of hard boards that is actual learning
- your intellectual property is being stolen
- you are serving the bottom line of private equity as you undermine your own job security
- it gives admin more reasons to lay off front line staff
- your intellectual property is being stolen
- you are serving the bottom line of private equity as you undermine your own job security
- it gives admin more reasons to lay off front line staff
Reposted by Tina Adcock
Last but not least - it undermines oh you know the purpose of higher education as a civic democratic institution and making the ghost of John Dewey very very mad at you
December 9, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Last but not least - it undermines oh you know the purpose of higher education as a civic democratic institution and making the ghost of John Dewey very very mad at you
Reposted by Tina Adcock
Reasons academics should contest universities’ AI campaigns: a manifesto
- chatbots are being trained to replace your teaching
- you are wasting time grading chatbot papers
- you are wasting time peer reviewing chatbot papers
- you are wasting time submitting papers reviewed by chatbots
- chatbots are being trained to replace your teaching
- you are wasting time grading chatbot papers
- you are wasting time peer reviewing chatbot papers
- you are wasting time submitting papers reviewed by chatbots
December 9, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Reasons academics should contest universities’ AI campaigns: a manifesto
- chatbots are being trained to replace your teaching
- you are wasting time grading chatbot papers
- you are wasting time peer reviewing chatbot papers
- you are wasting time submitting papers reviewed by chatbots
- chatbots are being trained to replace your teaching
- you are wasting time grading chatbot papers
- you are wasting time peer reviewing chatbot papers
- you are wasting time submitting papers reviewed by chatbots
Reposted by Tina Adcock
I used to do a thing on the other app where you describe a person you're holiday shopping for and I tell you a really good book they would like (usually history but other ones too). Y'all want to do that this year? Comment if so. 🎄
December 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I used to do a thing on the other app where you describe a person you're holiday shopping for and I tell you a really good book they would like (usually history but other ones too). Y'all want to do that this year? Comment if so. 🎄
Reposted by Tina Adcock
Even if we would stipulate that the *only* purpose of college is vocational training (ugh) if you think you, at 18 years old, not only know for sure what your future career will be but also know better than all the professors at a college what skills you will need for that career, why bother?
December 9, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Even if we would stipulate that the *only* purpose of college is vocational training (ugh) if you think you, at 18 years old, not only know for sure what your future career will be but also know better than all the professors at a college what skills you will need for that career, why bother?
Reposted by Tina Adcock
This is actually a good example of why the customer model is wrong.
I wouldn't have chosen poetry writing, but UNC made me take a class. And it absolutely made me become a much better writer, with an eye to concision and an ear now trained to the rhythm of words. I'm a better historian as a result.
I wouldn't have chosen poetry writing, but UNC made me take a class. And it absolutely made me become a much better writer, with an eye to concision and an ear now trained to the rhythm of words. I'm a better historian as a result.
If you are providing me with an education that is low utility in the world then it’s a disservice. My composition class spent four weeks on poetry. I’m sorry, but that only would’ve been useful if I wanted to be a poet. I don’t need to know iambic pentameter in order to be a victim advocate.
December 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
This is actually a good example of why the customer model is wrong.
I wouldn't have chosen poetry writing, but UNC made me take a class. And it absolutely made me become a much better writer, with an eye to concision and an ear now trained to the rhythm of words. I'm a better historian as a result.
I wouldn't have chosen poetry writing, but UNC made me take a class. And it absolutely made me become a much better writer, with an eye to concision and an ear now trained to the rhythm of words. I'm a better historian as a result.
Reposted by Tina Adcock
A couple weeks ago we got a lovely note from someone on the other side of the country thanking us profusely for ILLing a book to them. Curious, we looked up the book they borrowed.
It would have cost $1,200 for them to purchase it.
ILL is one of the things I love most about libraries.
It would have cost $1,200 for them to purchase it.
ILL is one of the things I love most about libraries.
Requested a book through ILL over break. It arrived today. Libraries man.
December 3, 2025 at 12:56 AM
A couple weeks ago we got a lovely note from someone on the other side of the country thanking us profusely for ILLing a book to them. Curious, we looked up the book they borrowed.
It would have cost $1,200 for them to purchase it.
ILL is one of the things I love most about libraries.
It would have cost $1,200 for them to purchase it.
ILL is one of the things I love most about libraries.
Reposted by Tina Adcock
I’ve been thinking about the intellectual and affective labor involved in reading AI Generated student papers. I’m forecasting a little of the proposal that @cnygren.bsky.social and I advance in a piece that’ll be out soon but here’s where I’ve personally landed (o speak for myself not for us both):
December 4, 2025 at 11:21 PM
I’ve been thinking about the intellectual and affective labor involved in reading AI Generated student papers. I’m forecasting a little of the proposal that @cnygren.bsky.social and I advance in a piece that’ll be out soon but here’s where I’ve personally landed (o speak for myself not for us both):
Reposted by Tina Adcock
Historians on hiring, tenure, and promotion committees should be cautious about relying on Google Scholar, and we need to fight against others using it to assess us. I just noticed three citations to my articles in an American Historical Review article by Jo Guldi, and none show up in my profile.
December 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Historians on hiring, tenure, and promotion committees should be cautious about relying on Google Scholar, and we need to fight against others using it to assess us. I just noticed three citations to my articles in an American Historical Review article by Jo Guldi, and none show up in my profile.
Reposted by Tina Adcock
Ripples on the Cosmic Ocean, "a fascinating tour of the environmental history of the inner solar system," is a @sciam.bsky.social favorite book of the year. Check out the other books (both nonfiction and fiction) on the list! #Space #EnvHist #History www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
The Scientific American Staff’s Favorite Books of 2025
Here are the 67 books Scientific American staffers couldn’t put down this year, from fantasy epics to gripping nonfiction
www.scientificamerican.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Ripples on the Cosmic Ocean, "a fascinating tour of the environmental history of the inner solar system," is a @sciam.bsky.social favorite book of the year. Check out the other books (both nonfiction and fiction) on the list! #Space #EnvHist #History www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
Reposted by Tina Adcock
generative AI in particular is a racket that gets us coming and going -- ripping off work, sucking up time and space at our workplaces, and ultimately eliminating jobs for people like us and our students, with our employers' slobbery blessing
December 5, 2025 at 1:57 AM
generative AI in particular is a racket that gets us coming and going -- ripping off work, sucking up time and space at our workplaces, and ultimately eliminating jobs for people like us and our students, with our employers' slobbery blessing
Reposted by Tina Adcock
this encapsulates the essential relationship between the people running universities, the people doing academic work in universities, and the people looking to smash and grab as much as possible from universities while we're on the way down
My employer, Dartmouth College, today boasts it's 1st Ivy "to launch AI at an institutional scale." It is doing this by partnering--"more than a collaboration"--with Anthropic, a company that stole the books of many faculty, me included, which many of us are suing.
December 5, 2025 at 1:51 AM
this encapsulates the essential relationship between the people running universities, the people doing academic work in universities, and the people looking to smash and grab as much as possible from universities while we're on the way down
Reposted by Tina Adcock
Dear #envhist world:
A student wants to explore the development of the Wyoming bison meat trade. Any thoughts re primary/secondary sources to learn more? Thanking you in advance,
Alan
A student wants to explore the development of the Wyoming bison meat trade. Any thoughts re primary/secondary sources to learn more? Thanking you in advance,
Alan
December 4, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Dear #envhist world:
A student wants to explore the development of the Wyoming bison meat trade. Any thoughts re primary/secondary sources to learn more? Thanking you in advance,
Alan
A student wants to explore the development of the Wyoming bison meat trade. Any thoughts re primary/secondary sources to learn more? Thanking you in advance,
Alan
Reposted by Tina Adcock
Interesting new hypothesis connecting volcanic eruptions, #climate, and the Black Death.
#envhist #history #epidemics #pandemics @sciam.bsky.social
www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
#envhist #history #epidemics #pandemics @sciam.bsky.social
www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
Did a Volcano Set the Stage for the Black Death?
The Black Death ravaged Europe, and scientists and historians are still working to understand how it became so deadly
www.scientificamerican.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Interesting new hypothesis connecting volcanic eruptions, #climate, and the Black Death.
#envhist #history #epidemics #pandemics @sciam.bsky.social
www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
#envhist #history #epidemics #pandemics @sciam.bsky.social
www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
Reposted by Tina Adcock
The Girl Guides of Canada say: Be prepared to protect trans rights.
December 4, 2025 at 7:53 PM
The Girl Guides of Canada say: Be prepared to protect trans rights.
Reposted by Tina Adcock
I got tired of studies saying historians were one of the top professions that could be replaced by AI. It just didn't sound right to me.
Librarians, curators, and teachers all score as much less "replaceable", and lawyers score much, much lower still. And I think I figured out why. /1
Librarians, curators, and teachers all score as much less "replaceable", and lawyers score much, much lower still. And I think I figured out why. /1
December 4, 2025 at 8:48 PM
I got tired of studies saying historians were one of the top professions that could be replaced by AI. It just didn't sound right to me.
Librarians, curators, and teachers all score as much less "replaceable", and lawyers score much, much lower still. And I think I figured out why. /1
Librarians, curators, and teachers all score as much less "replaceable", and lawyers score much, much lower still. And I think I figured out why. /1
Reposted by Tina Adcock
For me, 2025 has felt like a particularly heavy year ... and you might feel the same. So as we head into the holiday season, I wanted to share a few recommendations — books, podcasts, and newsletters — that encourage me, make me think, and remind me how hope begins with action.
Climate content for purpose, courage, and hope | Talking Climate with Katharine Hayhoe
Get more from Talking Climate with Katharine Hayhoe on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:28 PM
For me, 2025 has felt like a particularly heavy year ... and you might feel the same. So as we head into the holiday season, I wanted to share a few recommendations — books, podcasts, and newsletters — that encourage me, make me think, and remind me how hope begins with action.
Reposted by Tina Adcock
Great question!
1) First and foremost, we evaluate a candidate based on the departmental guidelines and expectations provided. We don't hold the candidate to arbitrary standards, or even to those of our own institution unless asked to do so. We assess the materials against the guidelines provided.
1) First and foremost, we evaluate a candidate based on the departmental guidelines and expectations provided. We don't hold the candidate to arbitrary standards, or even to those of our own institution unless asked to do so. We assess the materials against the guidelines provided.
Dear senior profs who have written tenure letters.
Can you help demystify the process for some junior profs up for tenure soon?
What do you look for? How do you make your evaluation?
We are told that the letters are the most important part of the file, but not what letter writers look for.
1/
Can you help demystify the process for some junior profs up for tenure soon?
What do you look for? How do you make your evaluation?
We are told that the letters are the most important part of the file, but not what letter writers look for.
1/
December 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Great question!
1) First and foremost, we evaluate a candidate based on the departmental guidelines and expectations provided. We don't hold the candidate to arbitrary standards, or even to those of our own institution unless asked to do so. We assess the materials against the guidelines provided.
1) First and foremost, we evaluate a candidate based on the departmental guidelines and expectations provided. We don't hold the candidate to arbitrary standards, or even to those of our own institution unless asked to do so. We assess the materials against the guidelines provided.
Without downloading any new pics, describe your vibe for today using an image from your gallery
December 4, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Without downloading any new pics, describe your vibe for today using an image from your gallery
I know as a professional historian I’m meant to think contextually, but my knee-jerk reaction to late 1950s “peaceful” atomic energy projects is often straight-up “WTFFFFFFFFFF”
December 4, 2025 at 7:31 PM
I know as a professional historian I’m meant to think contextually, but my knee-jerk reaction to late 1950s “peaceful” atomic energy projects is often straight-up “WTFFFFFFFFFF”
TIL about Project Cauldron/Oilsand, a 1958 proposal to "free" oil from Alberta's tar sands by burying a nine-kiloton nuclear warhead there and detonating it to see if it could "create an oilfield on demand" 😳😳😳
December 4, 2025 at 7:10 PM
TIL about Project Cauldron/Oilsand, a 1958 proposal to "free" oil from Alberta's tar sands by burying a nine-kiloton nuclear warhead there and detonating it to see if it could "create an oilfield on demand" 😳😳😳