Louise Hickman
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louhicky.bsky.social
Louise Hickman
@louhicky.bsky.social
3.2K followers 530 following 190 posts
Incoming Wellcome's Early Career Award. Research Associate with Minderoo Centre for Democracy and Technology, University of Cambridge.
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Reposted by Louise Hickman
miriamposner.com
WE JUST KEEP WINNING. (UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program RESTORED!!!!)
On official UC letterhead: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA James B. Milliken President Office of the President 1111 Franklin Street Oakland, CA 94607 universityofcalifornia.edu CAMPUSES Berkeley Davis Irvine UCLA Merced Riverside San Diego San Francisco Santa Barbara Santa Cruz MEDICAL CENTERS Davis Irvine UCLA San Diego San Francisco NATIONAL LABORATORIES Lawrence Berkeley Lawrence Livermore Los Alamos DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES November 18, 2025 Dear Chancellors: I'm writing with regard to the President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP) and the program's associated faculty hiring incentive. As you know, for more than 40 years, PPFP has provided postdoctoral research fellowships, professional development, and faculty mentoring to scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service advance the academic and research missions of the University of California. Since 2003, UC campuses that hire current and former PPFP fellows into ladder-rank positions have been eligible for a hiring incentive funded by the University that provides support for newly hired fellows for five years. Since the creation of the incentive, more than $162 million has been invested by the University to support PPFP faculty hires. This commitment has enabled our campuses to successfully recruit and retain outstanding faculty across a range of disciplines. Given the myriad challenges currently facing UC - including disruptions to billions of dollars in annual federal support, as well as uncertainty around the state budget- reasonable questions were raised in recent months about whether the University could maintain the commitment to current levels of incentive funding. After considering a recommendation to sunset the incentive program due to these significant fiscal constraints, I consulted with all of you as well as faculty and campus academic administrators and systemwide Academic Senate leadership. [continued on next image] After learning more about the history and success of the program and weighing the thoughtful perspectives that have been shared, I have concluded that barring extraordinary financial setbacks, the PPFP faculty hiring incentive program will continue while the University continues to assess the program's structure as well as its long-term financial sustainability. As a result of our continuing consultation and review, there may be consideration of some changes to elements of the program including the total number of incentives supported, a number that has fluctuated significantly over the years, and how the awards are distributed among campuses. In the meantime, the University will continue to fund the PPFP faculty hiring incentive program and campuses may continue to take advantage of these incentives. We will have an opportunity to discuss any potential changes prior to adoption. As we look to the future, I will continue to engage with faculty leaders, program stakeholders, and UC community members about this important program. I especially appreciate the thoughtful perspectives shared in recent weeks by Academic Council Chair Palazoglu and Vice Chair Scott, the Council of Graduate Deans, UC faculty members, and you as our campus leaders. Sincerely, James B. Milliken President
November 18, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Reposted by Louise Hickman
elea.fyi
I don’t want to formulate words yet, but my friend Alice Wong, @sfdirewolf.bsky.social of the Disability Visibility Project, has passed.

Here are the words she left behind:
www.instagram.com/p/DREMDNBjnq...
Alice Wong on Instagram: "ID: Yellow background with black text "This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the time of her passing. Hi everyone, it ...
423 likes, 73 comments - alicatsamurai on November 14, 2025: "ID: Yellow background with black text "This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the t...
www.instagram.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Reposted by Louise Hickman
alisonborealis.bsky.social
The incredible, indomitable, inspirational Alice Wong has left us.

I'm so grateful to have known her on social media, and so grateful for all the words she shared with us and all the actions she encouraged us into making.

May we live up to her example.

(so you don't have to go to Instagram)
Yellow background with black text "This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the time of her passing. Hi everyone, it looks like I ran out of time. I have so many dreams that I wanted to fulfill and plans to create new stories for you. There are a few in progress that might come to fruition in a few years if things work out. I did not ever imagine I would live to this age and end up a writer, editor, activist, and more. As a kid riddled with insecurity and internalized ableism, I could not see a path forward. It was thanks to friendships and some great teachers who believed in me that I was able to fight my way out of miserable situations into a place where I finally felt comfortable in my skin. We need more stories about us and our culture. You all, we all, deserve the everything and more in such a hostile, ableist environment. Our wisdom is incisive and unflinching. I'm honored to be your ancestor and believe disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future. Don't let the bastards grind you down. I love you all."
November 15, 2025 at 6:13 AM
louhicky.bsky.social
gosh big tears rolling down my face. rip dear Alice
sesmith.lol s. e. smith @sesmith.lol · 4d
‘Death remains my intimate shadow partner. It has been with me since birth, always hovering close by. I understand one day we will finally waltz together into the ether. I hope when that time comes, I die with the satisfaction of a life well-lived, unapologetic, joyful, & full of love.’
—Alice Wong
November 15, 2025 at 8:25 AM
louhicky.bsky.social
More work from the "AI in the Street" project, where we used "access data walks" in the streets of Cambridge. Other cities (London, Edinburgh and Coventry) featured in this study too.
braiduk.bsky.social BRAID UK @braiduk.bsky.social · 12d
New paper from the team behind the BRAID Scoping project "AI in the street": Reciprocity Deficits: Observing AI in the street with everyday publics.

arxiv.org/abs/2510.23342
November 7, 2025 at 10:27 AM
louhicky.bsky.social
When asked by Rachel Troup, counsel to the inquiry, if the voices of those people "might not be as loud… as others", Mx Porter said: "The voices are loud, they are just not listened to."
October 24, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Reposted by Louise Hickman
aat-transcribes.bsky.social
The British Academy ECR Seed Fund recently confirmed that transcription costs are eligible for funding, but you'll need a rationale for swerving AI tools.

Let us help you argue why your specialist research needs specialist support from real, live transcribers with research expertise 👇
Home - Academic Audio Transcription Ltd
Get high-quality, human-made transcripts and closed captions from our specialist disabled-led and disabled-majority team of expert transcribers.
academicaudiotranscription.com
October 19, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Reposted by Louise Hickman
oxinabox.bsky.social
as a girl with a PhD in natural language processing and machine learning it's actually offensive to me when you say "we don't know how LLMs work so they might be conscious"

I didn't spend 10 years in mines of academia to be told ignorance is morally equal knowledge.

We know exactly how LLMs work.
October 4, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Reposted by Louise Hickman
rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social
🔔 freelance researcher call

At @carefultrouble.bsky.social we're looking for freelance researchers to deliver a literature search on the impacts of AI adoption, looking at worker safety, infrastructure resilience, and environmental safety

www.careful.industries/blog/2025-9-...
Freelance Researchers: Safe Adoption of AI — Careful Industries
We are looking for freelance researchers to conduct literature searches on the impacts of AI on worker safety, infrastructural safety, and environmental safety.
www.careful.industries
September 30, 2025 at 10:51 AM
louhicky.bsky.social
Capitalism is not working

www.reuters.com/world/usdot-...
US will not enforce Biden wheelchair passenger protection rule
The U.S. Transportation Department said on Monday that it will not enforce key provisions of a rule issued in December by former President Joe Biden's administration that requires new consumer protections for disabled passengers using wheelchairs.
www.reuters.com
September 29, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Reposted by Louise Hickman
lizjackson.bsky.social
Our latest for Buttondown, @fractalecho.bsky.social and I dug into Microsoft's inaccurate telling of its own 'Inclusive Design' story and who Inclusive Design erases more broadly. bsky.app/profile/lizj...
lizjackson.bsky.social Liz Jackson @lizjackson.bsky.social · Sep 29
Our latest for Thank You for your Feedback Loop. A story and an idea. I'm hoping @fractalecho.bsky.social can better explain. buttondown.com/TYFYFL/archi...
Screenshot of the Human Censored Design header with a blurb: The Microsoft Inclusive Design Toolkit popularized norms about disability inclusion that when teased out, become taboos. It doesn’t just sacrifice the one for the many. It also exploits misconceptions about representation in order to locate and select whichever one can be used to neutralize, undermine, bury, and censor the many. There are three primary methods embedded within Inclusive Design power grabs, and they often work together to achieve something more resembling Human Censored Design
September 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
louhicky.bsky.social
📢 One week left to apply for the Research Associate position with the Algorithmic Kitchen! Applications close on 5 October.

www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...
Research Associate, Algorithmic Kitchen Project (Fixed Term)
Applications are invited for a Research Associate to join the Wellcome-funded project Algorithmic Kitchen: Recipes for Disability-Led Health Technology Design, led by Dr Louise Hickman at the
www.cam.ac.uk
September 29, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by Louise Hickman
mctd.bsky.social
Read the full report (with a BSL summary) - BSL is Not for Sale - from @louhicky.bsky.social, @alexahagerty.bsky.social, and Rose Powell.

➡️ www.mctd.ac.uk/bsl-not-for-...
BSL is Not for Sale: A Deaf-led approach to AI procurement
Sign Language AI systems are being procured across public services without adequate Deaf community involvement, creating institutional risks Authors: Dr Louise Hickman, Dr Alexa Hagerty, and Rose Powe...
www.mctd.ac.uk
September 23, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Reposted by Louise Hickman
mctd.bsky.social
Today is International Day of Sign Languages, a day commemorating the establishment of the World Federation of the Deaf and spotlighting the issues Deaf people face in their everyday lives.

This year's theme is: No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights❗
September 23, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Reposted by Louise Hickman
tedmccoy.bsky.social
My department, Sociology at the University of Calgary, is hiring FOUR (4) tenure track professors this fall in the areas of systemic justice and structural harm. Please help us to circulate this widely within your scholarly networks!
Assistant Professors - Sociology, Faculty of Arts in Calgary, AB, ...
Assistant Professors - Sociology, Faculty of Arts in Calgary, AB, ...
careers.ucalgary.ca
September 15, 2025 at 3:06 PM
louhicky.bsky.social
It's great to see hard copies of the "BSL is not for Sale" report at the @mctd.bsky.social meeting today!
September 11, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Reposted by Louise Hickman
liamodell.com
Current procurement of artificial intelligence (AI) using British Sign Language (BSL) is excluding deaf expertise, resulting in harm and “serious institutional risks” such as service failures and a breakdown in community trust - a University of Cambridge paper has warned.
’Serious risks’ around current AI BSL procurement as Cambridge report warns it excludes deaf expertise
Current procurement of artificial intelligence (AI) using British Sign Language (BSL) is excluding deaf expertise, resulting in harm and “serious institutional risks” such as service failures and a breakdown in community trust - a University of Cambridge paper has warned.
liamodell.com
September 3, 2025 at 11:02 PM
louhicky.bsky.social
Yesterday we published a report on buying BSL AI.

We look how a Deaf-led governance model could improve how public institutions commission BSL AI tool, including setting up a national expertise network to completing deaf-led algorithmic impact assessments.
mctd.bsky.social Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy @mctd.bsky.social · Sep 4
NEW REPORT 🚨 BSL is Not for Sale

Sign Language AI systems are being rolled out across the UK's public services without proper consultation with Deaf communities❗

➡️ www.mctd.ac.uk/bsl-not-for-...
September 5, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Reposted by Louise Hickman
mctd.bsky.social
Watch a BSL summary of the report ➡️ vimeo.com/1115461686/4...
BSL is not for Sale: A Deaf-led approach to buying AI -Minderoo Report - September 2025
This is "BSL is not for Sale: A Deaf-led approach to buying AI -Minderoo Report - September 2025" by British Deaf Association on Vimeo, the home for high…
vimeo.com
September 4, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Reposted by Louise Hickman
alexahagerty.bsky.social
Really proud of this report. Our focus is Sign Language AI, but the core message applies everywhere: communities affected by AI should lead its procurement. When we get this right, we build better services for everyone. Full report available now.
mctd.bsky.social Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy @mctd.bsky.social · Sep 4
Our latest report, authored by @louhicky.bsky.social @alexahagerty.bsky.social and Rose Powell, looks at how a Deaf-led governance model could improve how public institutions commission BSL AI tools.

It sets out 8️⃣ recommendations for procurement teams, policy leaders, and oversight bodies:
September 4, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by Louise Hickman
jackstilgoe.bsky.social
We're hiring a new lecturer @stsucl.bsky.social. We're looking for someone with particular interests in the environment. Please share widely www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
UCL – University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
www.ucl.ac.uk
September 4, 2025 at 11:18 AM
louhicky.bsky.social
I have a new report coming out this week on British Sign Language (BSL) AI. Co-authors and I avoided using the popular term 'Sign AI' to ground languages with specific histories and cultures. Sign AI is a deeply depolitical move taken by tech companies.
August 31, 2025 at 5:36 AM
louhicky.bsky.social
NEW JOB! Algorithmic Kitchen is hiring a postdoc!

The project is seeking a Research Associate with expertise in STS, design, HCI, or critical disability studies to co-create innovative methods and prototypes.

Apply by 5 Oct 2025

www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...
Research Associate, Algorithmic Kitchen Project (Fixed Term)
Applications are invited for a Research Associate to join the Wellcome-funded project Algorithmic Kitchen: Recipes for Disability-Led Health Technology Design, led by Dr Louise Hickman at the
www.cam.ac.uk
August 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
louhicky.bsky.social
They deliberately failed democracy for clickbait.
therickydavila.bsky.social Ricky Davila @therickydavila.bsky.social · Aug 27
It’s continues to be despicable how the media has spent a decade normalizing the orange felon so much so that they are reporting on his authoritarian militarization of Washington DC as if it were a routine military exercise. They deliberately failed democracy for clickbait.
August 27, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Reposted by Louise Hickman
wesleygoatley.bsky.social
My new installation A Harbinger, A Horizon, and A Hope: Three Heralds of Possible AI Futures is now open at Inspace Gallery in Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Festival.

It's three interactive devices each showing a glimpse at a different future for individuals and communities and their relation to AI.
August 25, 2025 at 11:21 AM