Timothée Poisot
@ctrlalttim.com
Almost certainly one of the ecologists of all time.
AI/ML, biodiversity monitoring, viral emergence, open science, methodological anarchism
he/they
🧪 https://epic-biodiversity.org/
📰 https://buttondown.email/ctrl-alt-tim
AI/ML, biodiversity monitoring, viral emergence, open science, methodological anarchism
he/they
🧪 https://epic-biodiversity.org/
📰 https://buttondown.email/ctrl-alt-tim
Pinned
👋 Bonjour hi!
We've built a whole new website, and @ctrlalttim.com has thoughts about the long-term dynamics of research groups to share.
epic-biodiversity.org/blog/2025/11...
We've built a whole new website, and @ctrlalttim.com has thoughts about the long-term dynamics of research groups to share.
epic-biodiversity.org/blog/2025/11...
Bonjour hi! | ÉPICBiodiversity
epic-biodiversity.org
As one of the greatest writers of our age said, “venom with a new twang, same swagger, new thang” - the lab has changed a lot over ten years, and after thinking about who we became, we decided to re-do the website. And write about our theory of change.
Follow us - @epic-biodiversity.org !
Follow us - @epic-biodiversity.org !
I like to think of myself as "not overly pedantic", and yet today I entered a shop and immediately turned around because they were playing Joshua Bell. Absolutely not. Under NO circumstances.
November 17, 2025 at 10:44 PM
I like to think of myself as "not overly pedantic", and yet today I entered a shop and immediately turned around because they were playing Joshua Bell. Absolutely not. Under NO circumstances.
This is a real concern. I can think of at least one paper that would make most of the key players in US biodiversity sciences ineligible for funding. Collaborative papers that set the agenda for an entire field are now preventing this research agenda from being implemented (in the US).
Doing this retroactively for the last five years is bizarre. I collaborate internationally and am on a perspective paper with dozens of scientists from around the world. I don't even necessarily know what their nationality is. For the sake of US science I hope this gets stopped!
November 14, 2025 at 5:20 PM
This is a real concern. I can think of at least one paper that would make most of the key players in US biodiversity sciences ineligible for funding. Collaborative papers that set the agenda for an entire field are now preventing this research agenda from being implemented (in the US).
It's good that I get to moderate a panel on biodiversity and one health, a topic on which I have 0 inflammatory opinions at all.
Today we'll be at the #OneHealth symposium of @umontreal-en.bsky.social - @ctrlalttim.com will moderate a panel on biodiversity and health, and @francisbanville.bsky.social will talk about the alignment between indicators for biodiversity and the OHHLEP action tracks, part of our @geobon.org work.
November 14, 2025 at 5:17 PM
It's good that I get to moderate a panel on biodiversity and one health, a topic on which I have 0 inflammatory opinions at all.
Pray for my undergrads, nothing wrong with them but they're learning about pairwise invasibility plots today
November 14, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Pray for my undergrads, nothing wrong with them but they're learning about pairwise invasibility plots today
For my Data Science for Biodiversity class (I get to teach this! And also Simulating Life in the winter! I have the coolest job!), students must use @gbif.org to get data. Proper use of DOI is part of the assessment. They learn (i) good data citation practices and (ii) how amazing GBIF is. 🧪
November 12, 2025 at 2:52 AM
For my Data Science for Biodiversity class (I get to teach this! And also Simulating Life in the winter! I have the coolest job!), students must use @gbif.org to get data. Proper use of DOI is part of the assessment. They learn (i) good data citation practices and (ii) how amazing GBIF is. 🧪
Excited to do grading because I've received my new gel pens.
So if you're wondering whether I'm still cool, I'd greatly appreciate that you keep the answer to yourselves.
So if you're wondering whether I'm still cool, I'd greatly appreciate that you keep the answer to yourselves.
November 12, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Excited to do grading because I've received my new gel pens.
So if you're wondering whether I'm still cool, I'd greatly appreciate that you keep the answer to yourselves.
So if you're wondering whether I'm still cool, I'd greatly appreciate that you keep the answer to yourselves.
A student wrote to me after the midterm, and they said they should have gotten a lower grade. I think this is important, because I fundamentally disagree with this student, and it took me a while to articulate why. This is my rough draft. 🧵
November 7, 2025 at 10:01 PM
A student wrote to me after the midterm, and they said they should have gotten a lower grade. I think this is important, because I fundamentally disagree with this student, and it took me a while to articulate why. This is my rough draft. 🧵
More raccoons? Turns out it would be bad news.
We're predicting where key reservoirs of the raccoon rabies virus (🦝 and 🦨) may be in Québec by 2100, and if we don't act on climate change, the answer may be: everywhere. 🧪
We're predicting where key reservoirs of the raccoon rabies virus (🦝 and 🦨) may be in Québec by 2100, and if we don't act on climate change, the answer may be: everywhere. 🧪
Climate change may dramatically increase the range of raccoons and skunks in Québec. Good news? Nope. They are two reservoirs of the raccoon rabies virus. In a recent preprint, we discuss how this might play out over the next 80 years. 🧪🧵
Reservoirs on the move: where might raccoon rabies end up under climate change? | ÉPICBiodiversity
epic-biodiversity.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:34 PM
More raccoons? Turns out it would be bad news.
We're predicting where key reservoirs of the raccoon rabies virus (🦝 and 🦨) may be in Québec by 2100, and if we don't act on climate change, the answer may be: everywhere. 🧪
We're predicting where key reservoirs of the raccoon rabies virus (🦝 and 🦨) may be in Québec by 2100, and if we don't act on climate change, the answer may be: everywhere. 🧪
This is correct, with one important caveat - most decisions on funding, admin, publishing, career, are made (and can be derailed) by people who by definition benefited the most from these metrics and incentives, and stand to lose the most by changing them.
Academics set their metrics and incentives. And that defines everything. Including the future of scientific publishing.
And if at any point, one feels that incentives are being defined from outside, that's what needs to be fought against.
But the power of change lies within.
And if at any point, one feels that incentives are being defined from outside, that's what needs to be fought against.
But the power of change lies within.
November 6, 2025 at 1:25 PM
This is correct, with one important caveat - most decisions on funding, admin, publishing, career, are made (and can be derailed) by people who by definition benefited the most from these metrics and incentives, and stand to lose the most by changing them.
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
Join the ENDEMIC Network on 4 November for a webinar that focuses on how to make reasonable adjustments in the workplace and at university for neurodivergent ecologists at any career stage.
Register now 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/rkknflximp
Register now 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/rkknflximp
November 3, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Join the ENDEMIC Network on 4 November for a webinar that focuses on how to make reasonable adjustments in the workplace and at university for neurodivergent ecologists at any career stage.
Register now 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/rkknflximp
Register now 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/rkknflximp
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
🚨 NEW: The majority holder of the world's genetic sequence data is a bad actor who can cut off access to critics and competing services. We've tolerated this for years, and now it threatens the pandemic treaty. Time for WHO to step in. With @ctrlalttim.com: www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/to-f...
To Finish the Pandemic Agreement, WHO Needs a Trustworthy Viral Database | Think Global Health
Online platforms for sharing virus sequences are in disarray. The World Health Organization has a chance to build something new
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
November 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM
🚨 NEW: The majority holder of the world's genetic sequence data is a bad actor who can cut off access to critics and competing services. We've tolerated this for years, and now it threatens the pandemic treaty. Time for WHO to step in. With @ctrlalttim.com: www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/to-f...
As one of the greatest writers of our age said, “venom with a new twang, same swagger, new thang” - the lab has changed a lot over ten years, and after thinking about who we became, we decided to re-do the website. And write about our theory of change.
Follow us - @epic-biodiversity.org !
Follow us - @epic-biodiversity.org !
👋 Bonjour hi!
We've built a whole new website, and @ctrlalttim.com has thoughts about the long-term dynamics of research groups to share.
epic-biodiversity.org/blog/2025/11...
We've built a whole new website, and @ctrlalttim.com has thoughts about the long-term dynamics of research groups to share.
epic-biodiversity.org/blog/2025/11...
Bonjour hi! | ÉPICBiodiversity
epic-biodiversity.org
November 5, 2025 at 2:23 PM
As one of the greatest writers of our age said, “venom with a new twang, same swagger, new thang” - the lab has changed a lot over ten years, and after thinking about who we became, we decided to re-do the website. And write about our theory of change.
Follow us - @epic-biodiversity.org !
Follow us - @epic-biodiversity.org !
When sequence databases can unilaterally cut off access to analytic platforms, we are left unprepared for the next pandemic.
In @thinkglobalhealth.org, @colincarlson.bsky.social and I highlight the severity of the situation, and what it means for @who.int negotiations on the Pandemic agreement. 🧪😷🧵
In @thinkglobalhealth.org, @colincarlson.bsky.social and I highlight the severity of the situation, and what it means for @who.int negotiations on the Pandemic agreement. 🧪😷🧵
To Finish the Pandemic Agreement, WHO Needs a Trustworthy Viral Database | Think Global Health
Online platforms for sharing virus sequences are in disarray. The World Health Organization has a chance to build something new
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
November 5, 2025 at 1:29 PM
When sequence databases can unilaterally cut off access to analytic platforms, we are left unprepared for the next pandemic.
In @thinkglobalhealth.org, @colincarlson.bsky.social and I highlight the severity of the situation, and what it means for @who.int negotiations on the Pandemic agreement. 🧪😷🧵
In @thinkglobalhealth.org, @colincarlson.bsky.social and I highlight the severity of the situation, and what it means for @who.int negotiations on the Pandemic agreement. 🧪😷🧵
Reposted by Timothée Poisot
The Canadian government has seemingly never read a single one of its own commissioned reports on what Canadian science needs. (It's not more people.)
Globe & Mail reports “the budget is expected to include up to $1-billion to attract high-quality talent and researchers from the United States and elsewhere”
So far hospitals and universities have been going it alone….
www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...
@ctvnews-mirror.bsky.social
So far hospitals and universities have been going it alone….
www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...
@ctvnews-mirror.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 9:28 PM
The Canadian government has seemingly never read a single one of its own commissioned reports on what Canadian science needs. (It's not more people.)
He's got a law degree and writes editorials about how the Nagoya protocol was a bad idea
Having some questions about the academic credentials of this bear who breaks into the home of a family on Christmas Eve, eats their Christmas dinner and steals their Christmas tree.
November 4, 2025 at 12:58 PM
He's got a law degree and writes editorials about how the Nagoya protocol was a bad idea
"opening Word and opining" is also not how you write a literature review, and honestly a baffling (and dismissive) oversimplification.
In my experience, it's more along the lines of "spending months reading hundreds of papers and synthesizing them". Reviews are not opinions.
In my experience, it's more along the lines of "spending months reading hundreds of papers and synthesizing them". Reviews are not opinions.
I’ve spent many years explaining/defending biorxiv’s “no reviews” policy.
The logic was always that opening Word and opining is a far lower barrier than doing actual research, so noise’d be >> signal and we didn’t want to make subjective quality judgements.
LLMs mean it makes even more sense 1/2
The logic was always that opening Word and opining is a far lower barrier than doing actual research, so noise’d be >> signal and we didn’t want to make subjective quality judgements.
LLMs mean it makes even more sense 1/2
arXiv will no longer accept review articles and position papers unless they have been accepted at a journal or a conference and complete successful peer review.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
November 3, 2025 at 12:31 PM
"opening Word and opining" is also not how you write a literature review, and honestly a baffling (and dismissive) oversimplification.
In my experience, it's more along the lines of "spending months reading hundreds of papers and synthesizing them". Reviews are not opinions.
In my experience, it's more along the lines of "spending months reading hundreds of papers and synthesizing them". Reviews are not opinions.
"The pupils do not learn the scribal craft" is the new "the midterm average was 62%"
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 12:15 PM
"The pupils do not learn the scribal craft" is the new "the midterm average was 62%"
I submitted a grant, reviewed over 130 applications for a position, and returned a big deliverable for a contract over the past 48 hours. When Lou Reed said "I am tired, I am weary, I could sleep for a thousand years", honestly, same.
October 31, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I submitted a grant, reviewed over 130 applications for a position, and returned a big deliverable for a contract over the past 48 hours. When Lou Reed said "I am tired, I am weary, I could sleep for a thousand years", honestly, same.
Rough draft, obviously, but I think I like this approach to bivariate legends.
October 29, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Rough draft, obviously, but I think I like this approach to bivariate legends.
OK, that's enough dataviz for tonight.
October 29, 2025 at 1:56 AM
OK, that's enough dataviz for tonight.
I was out of the country for less than 3 days. My reimbursement claim is 24 pages long, for 7 items. By the time I was done, I had spent about 2 hours on it. 🧪
October 28, 2025 at 9:05 PM
I was out of the country for less than 3 days. My reimbursement claim is 24 pages long, for 7 items. By the time I was done, I had spent about 2 hours on it. 🧪
I was listening to a podcast on Paulo Freire, and the part about critical consciousness was immediately followed by "anyway thanks to better help for sponsoring this episode". 90% of comedy really is timing.
October 28, 2025 at 12:09 PM
I was listening to a podcast on Paulo Freire, and the part about critical consciousness was immediately followed by "anyway thanks to better help for sponsoring this episode". 90% of comedy really is timing.
I surprisingly enjoyed writing my NSERC discovery application this time. Now I need to clean up my CCV. I will enjoy this a lot less.
October 24, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I surprisingly enjoyed writing my NSERC discovery application this time. Now I need to clean up my CCV. I will enjoy this a lot less.
Typst is, as far as im concerned, at the center of latex (rendering), markdown (ease to learn), and HTML (incredibly powerful styling abilities. It's quite incredible, and it's so, so, so fast.
I have a 60k words document with dozens of figures and hundreds of refs. It renders _in real time_.
I have a 60k words document with dozens of figures and hundreds of refs. It renders _in real time_.
Typst 0.14 is out now! Get ready for production with accessibility, PDFs as images, character-level justification, and more. Learn about more of the highlights in Typst 0.14 in the thread below ⤵️
October 24, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Typst is, as far as im concerned, at the center of latex (rendering), markdown (ease to learn), and HTML (incredibly powerful styling abilities. It's quite incredible, and it's so, so, so fast.
I have a 60k words document with dozens of figures and hundreds of refs. It renders _in real time_.
I have a 60k words document with dozens of figures and hundreds of refs. It renders _in real time_.
Sometimes a reviewer will write something that is so wild that I will genuinely start panicking, fearing having gotten something fundamentally wrong.
It turned out that yes, I did write the softmax function correctly. Thanks for the panic attack, reviewer 1.
It turned out that yes, I did write the softmax function correctly. Thanks for the panic attack, reviewer 1.
October 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Sometimes a reviewer will write something that is so wild that I will genuinely start panicking, fearing having gotten something fundamentally wrong.
It turned out that yes, I did write the softmax function correctly. Thanks for the panic attack, reviewer 1.
It turned out that yes, I did write the softmax function correctly. Thanks for the panic attack, reviewer 1.