Elizabeth Bonawitz
@ebonawitz.bsky.social
Assoc. Prof. Learning Sciences, Harvard GSE. Study learning in early childhood using computational modeling & empirical studies. Speaking for self only. She/her
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
Personal Statements, Addendum:
some are written as if the applicant is a passive object that greater forces act on:
"I was led to X | this moved me to Y | I become fascinated by Z"
I encourage you to position your "journey" as an active choice, with you as the agent that makes the choices.
some are written as if the applicant is a passive object that greater forces act on:
"I was led to X | this moved me to Y | I become fascinated by Z"
I encourage you to position your "journey" as an active choice, with you as the agent that makes the choices.
I again caution that that advice isn't meant to fit everyone; personal statements ARE personal and used differently (or not at all). I am only addressing a specific thing that I sometimes see students facing, when they think it HAS to be about challenges met and overcome.
November 21, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Personal Statements, Addendum:
some are written as if the applicant is a passive object that greater forces act on:
"I was led to X | this moved me to Y | I become fascinated by Z"
I encourage you to position your "journey" as an active choice, with you as the agent that makes the choices.
some are written as if the applicant is a passive object that greater forces act on:
"I was led to X | this moved me to Y | I become fascinated by Z"
I encourage you to position your "journey" as an active choice, with you as the agent that makes the choices.
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
I am honored to be promoted to Professor of Education with tenure at the Harvard Graduate School of Education @harvardeducation.bsky.social !!! Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. ❤️
www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/news/2...
www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/news/2...
Gaab Named Professor of Education
Nadine Gaab, a leading researcher of atypical learning trajectories in language and literacy, joined the Ed School in 2020
www.gse.harvard.edu
November 17, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I am honored to be promoted to Professor of Education with tenure at the Harvard Graduate School of Education @harvardeducation.bsky.social !!! Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. ❤️
www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/news/2...
www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/news/2...
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
Officially out in the current issue of Trends in Cognitive Sciences:
"Physics versus graphics as an organizing dichotomy in cognition"
www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
"Physics versus graphics as an organizing dichotomy in cognition"
www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
November 17, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Officially out in the current issue of Trends in Cognitive Sciences:
"Physics versus graphics as an organizing dichotomy in cognition"
www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
"Physics versus graphics as an organizing dichotomy in cognition"
www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
Me: Sorry that I haven't gotten back to you on these paper edits -- I was too busy reading emails.
Trainee: Oh, I know you get a lot of emails, no worries.
Me: Oh, I'm not reading MY emails...
Trainee: Oh, I know you get a lot of emails, no worries.
Me: Oh, I'm not reading MY emails...
November 13, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Me: Sorry that I haven't gotten back to you on these paper edits -- I was too busy reading emails.
Trainee: Oh, I know you get a lot of emails, no worries.
Me: Oh, I'm not reading MY emails...
Trainee: Oh, I know you get a lot of emails, no worries.
Me: Oh, I'm not reading MY emails...
Me: Sorry that I haven't gotten back to you on these paper edits -- I was too busy reading emails.
Trainee: Oh, I know you get a lot of emails, no worries.
Me: Oh, I'm not reading MY emails...
Trainee: Oh, I know you get a lot of emails, no worries.
Me: Oh, I'm not reading MY emails...
November 13, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Me: Sorry that I haven't gotten back to you on these paper edits -- I was too busy reading emails.
Trainee: Oh, I know you get a lot of emails, no worries.
Me: Oh, I'm not reading MY emails...
Trainee: Oh, I know you get a lot of emails, no worries.
Me: Oh, I'm not reading MY emails...
In the cool and exciting band, I think.
November 12, 2025 at 3:04 AM
In the cool and exciting band, I think.
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
Relevant also for tenure letter writers to consider...
*cough
*cough
*Women receive substantially lower "potential" ratings despite receiving higher performance ratings
*Differences in potential ratings account for half of the gender promotion gap
*Women’s lower potential ratings do not reflect future performance: women subsequently outperform male colleagues
*Differences in potential ratings account for half of the gender promotion gap
*Women’s lower potential ratings do not reflect future performance: women subsequently outperform male colleagues
Forthcoming in the AER: "“Potential” and the Gender Promotion Gap" by Alan Benson, Danielle Li, and Kelly Shue. www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
November 10, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Relevant also for tenure letter writers to consider...
*cough
*cough
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
It’s grad school application season, and I wanted to give some public advice.
Caveats:
-*-*-*-*
> These are my opinions, based on my experiences, they are not secret tricks or guarantees
> They are general guidelines, not meant to cover a host of idiosyncrasies and special cases
Caveats:
-*-*-*-*
> These are my opinions, based on my experiences, they are not secret tricks or guarantees
> They are general guidelines, not meant to cover a host of idiosyncrasies and special cases
November 6, 2025 at 2:55 PM
It’s grad school application season, and I wanted to give some public advice.
Caveats:
-*-*-*-*
> These are my opinions, based on my experiences, they are not secret tricks or guarantees
> They are general guidelines, not meant to cover a host of idiosyncrasies and special cases
Caveats:
-*-*-*-*
> These are my opinions, based on my experiences, they are not secret tricks or guarantees
> They are general guidelines, not meant to cover a host of idiosyncrasies and special cases
The great battle between dog and bed-cushion rages on.
In terrible wars such as these, there are no victors.
In terrible wars such as these, there are no victors.
November 4, 2025 at 7:28 PM
The great battle between dog and bed-cushion rages on.
In terrible wars such as these, there are no victors.
In terrible wars such as these, there are no victors.
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
November 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Happy Halloween!
If you have to be in a car, drive safely out there tonight, folks.
Lots of kids and lions will be roaming the streets.
If you have to be in a car, drive safely out there tonight, folks.
Lots of kids and lions will be roaming the streets.
October 31, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Happy Halloween!
If you have to be in a car, drive safely out there tonight, folks.
Lots of kids and lions will be roaming the streets.
If you have to be in a car, drive safely out there tonight, folks.
Lots of kids and lions will be roaming the streets.
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
I love kids. I have two of them. They’re amazing. However, kids are the absolute least self aware, clumsiest little puffins on the planet.
Please don’t drive tonight unless you have to, and if you do drive, drive super slow and pay 100% attention at all times.
Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻 💀
#PublicHealth
Please don’t drive tonight unless you have to, and if you do drive, drive super slow and pay 100% attention at all times.
Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻 💀
#PublicHealth
October 31, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I love kids. I have two of them. They’re amazing. However, kids are the absolute least self aware, clumsiest little puffins on the planet.
Please don’t drive tonight unless you have to, and if you do drive, drive super slow and pay 100% attention at all times.
Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻 💀
#PublicHealth
Please don’t drive tonight unless you have to, and if you do drive, drive super slow and pay 100% attention at all times.
Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻 💀
#PublicHealth
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
MA residents:
If SNAP goes away, your EBT card still lets you use HIP to get fruits/vegetables: mass.gov/info-details...
You can still get Transitional/Emergency Economic Assistance: mass.gov/economic-ass...
This hotline gives access to other meal/pantry programs: projectbread.org/foodsource-h...
If SNAP goes away, your EBT card still lets you use HIP to get fruits/vegetables: mass.gov/info-details...
You can still get Transitional/Emergency Economic Assistance: mass.gov/economic-ass...
This hotline gives access to other meal/pantry programs: projectbread.org/foodsource-h...
October 29, 2025 at 11:14 AM
MA residents:
If SNAP goes away, your EBT card still lets you use HIP to get fruits/vegetables: mass.gov/info-details...
You can still get Transitional/Emergency Economic Assistance: mass.gov/economic-ass...
This hotline gives access to other meal/pantry programs: projectbread.org/foodsource-h...
If SNAP goes away, your EBT card still lets you use HIP to get fruits/vegetables: mass.gov/info-details...
You can still get Transitional/Emergency Economic Assistance: mass.gov/economic-ass...
This hotline gives access to other meal/pantry programs: projectbread.org/foodsource-h...
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
In case you don't know already, the journal Open Mind has a Bluesky account that automatically posts new papers:
@openmindjournal.bsky.social
The journal is diamond open access (free to read, free to publish) thanks to the support of MIT Press, Harvard Library, & MIT Library.
@openmindjournal.bsky.social
The journal is diamond open access (free to read, free to publish) thanks to the support of MIT Press, Harvard Library, & MIT Library.
October 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
In case you don't know already, the journal Open Mind has a Bluesky account that automatically posts new papers:
@openmindjournal.bsky.social
The journal is diamond open access (free to read, free to publish) thanks to the support of MIT Press, Harvard Library, & MIT Library.
@openmindjournal.bsky.social
The journal is diamond open access (free to read, free to publish) thanks to the support of MIT Press, Harvard Library, & MIT Library.
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
We're excited to announce that Cognitive Science at Dartmouth is recruiting PhD students to work collaboratively with me, Steven Frankland, and Fred Callaway. Come study the principles and mechanisms that enable us to understand, plan, and act in the world! Info: sites.dartmouth.edu/cogscigrad/
Cognitive Science Graduate Admissions – Information about graduate admissions from the cognitive science faculty
sites.dartmouth.edu
October 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM
We're excited to announce that Cognitive Science at Dartmouth is recruiting PhD students to work collaboratively with me, Steven Frankland, and Fred Callaway. Come study the principles and mechanisms that enable us to understand, plan, and act in the world! Info: sites.dartmouth.edu/cogscigrad/
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
academic paper titles :
October 21, 2025 at 12:58 PM
academic paper titles :
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
there's a lot of interest in making AI more "human like" --
but what about the flip side? when real humans seem like robots/puppets/NPCs?
nnnnnewwww pre-print:
"The Development Of Sensitivity To Automatic Behavior"
(by Bass, Bonawitz, & me)
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
but what about the flip side? when real humans seem like robots/puppets/NPCs?
nnnnnewwww pre-print:
"The Development Of Sensitivity To Automatic Behavior"
(by Bass, Bonawitz, & me)
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
October 20, 2025 at 1:26 PM
there's a lot of interest in making AI more "human like" --
but what about the flip side? when real humans seem like robots/puppets/NPCs?
nnnnnewwww pre-print:
"The Development Of Sensitivity To Automatic Behavior"
(by Bass, Bonawitz, & me)
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
but what about the flip side? when real humans seem like robots/puppets/NPCs?
nnnnnewwww pre-print:
"The Development Of Sensitivity To Automatic Behavior"
(by Bass, Bonawitz, & me)
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
No Kings includes this guy
October 18, 2025 at 6:34 PM
No Kings includes this guy
Thousands protesting here in Concord, MA -- No kings then, no kings now.
Daisy joins the Democratic spirit.
Daisy joins the Democratic spirit.
October 18, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Thousands protesting here in Concord, MA -- No kings then, no kings now.
Daisy joins the Democratic spirit.
Daisy joins the Democratic spirit.
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
This is gonna be fun. Build the FOMO. NoKings.org
October 18, 2025 at 12:39 PM
This is gonna be fun. Build the FOMO. NoKings.org
Reposted by Elizabeth Bonawitz
New preprint!
"Non-commitment in mental imagery is distinct from perceptual inattention, and supports hierarchical scene construction"
(by Li, Hammond, & me)
link: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
-- the title's a bit of a mouthful, but the nice thing is that it's a pretty decent summary
"Non-commitment in mental imagery is distinct from perceptual inattention, and supports hierarchical scene construction"
(by Li, Hammond, & me)
link: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
-- the title's a bit of a mouthful, but the nice thing is that it's a pretty decent summary
October 14, 2025 at 1:22 PM
New preprint!
"Non-commitment in mental imagery is distinct from perceptual inattention, and supports hierarchical scene construction"
(by Li, Hammond, & me)
link: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
-- the title's a bit of a mouthful, but the nice thing is that it's a pretty decent summary
"Non-commitment in mental imagery is distinct from perceptual inattention, and supports hierarchical scene construction"
(by Li, Hammond, & me)
link: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
-- the title's a bit of a mouthful, but the nice thing is that it's a pretty decent summary
eh, It wasn't that high up... and 4-year-olds can take it. 😜
But if you're looking for other good moments in the paper... I also recommend reading the acknowledgments closely.
But if you're looking for other good moments in the paper... I also recommend reading the acknowledgments closely.
October 15, 2025 at 11:49 AM
eh, It wasn't that high up... and 4-year-olds can take it. 😜
But if you're looking for other good moments in the paper... I also recommend reading the acknowledgments closely.
But if you're looking for other good moments in the paper... I also recommend reading the acknowledgments closely.
Presenting .... SUPER DOG!
Faster than a speeding ball! More powerful than a squeaker-toy! Able to leap medium-sized logs in a single bound!
Faster than a speeding ball! More powerful than a squeaker-toy! Able to leap medium-sized logs in a single bound!
October 14, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Presenting .... SUPER DOG!
Faster than a speeding ball! More powerful than a squeaker-toy! Able to leap medium-sized logs in a single bound!
Faster than a speeding ball! More powerful than a squeaker-toy! Able to leap medium-sized logs in a single bound!