Mark Mac Lean
@marktmaclean.bsky.social
Mathematician. Full of contradictions. Opinions are entirely my own. Reposts =/= endorsements. Likes are often bookmarks or acknowledgements. He/him/his.
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
I love the JBB story for a few reasons:
- stringing 120 miles of wire
- months of analzying paper roll data
- her PI was like "that can't be right, do it again," the motto of PI's everywhere.
- rare case of a landmark discovery becoming ubiquitous in popular culture for no particular reason
- stringing 120 miles of wire
- months of analzying paper roll data
- her PI was like "that can't be right, do it again," the motto of PI's everywhere.
- rare case of a landmark discovery becoming ubiquitous in popular culture for no particular reason
November 28, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I love the JBB story for a few reasons:
- stringing 120 miles of wire
- months of analzying paper roll data
- her PI was like "that can't be right, do it again," the motto of PI's everywhere.
- rare case of a landmark discovery becoming ubiquitous in popular culture for no particular reason
- stringing 120 miles of wire
- months of analzying paper roll data
- her PI was like "that can't be right, do it again," the motto of PI's everywhere.
- rare case of a landmark discovery becoming ubiquitous in popular culture for no particular reason
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
A rare sea slug who dares to make food from sunlight found in waters near a beach not too far from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Really interesting adaptation. If only we could do this trick…
A rare photosynthesizing sea slug has been found off N.S. Here's why scientists are excited | CBC News
Researchers believe Elysia chlorotica holds promise for medical advances, but it's been too elusive to study.
www.cbc.ca
November 27, 2025 at 1:58 PM
A rare sea slug who dares to make food from sunlight found in waters near a beach not too far from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Really interesting adaptation. If only we could do this trick…
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
Junius: Hoekstra is a bully and a boor, but he has one saving grace -- every time he opens his mouth he reminds Canadians of the need to secure our own future
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
Globe editorial: The U.S. ambassador is a master of the diplomatic offensive
Pete Hoekstra’s bullying tone is a reminder of the need for Canada to wean itself from dependence on the U.S.
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Junius: Hoekstra is a bully and a boor, but he has one saving grace -- every time he opens his mouth he reminds Canadians of the need to secure our own future
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
Australia recorded ZERO cases of cervical cancer in women under 25 for the first time since they started tracking the cancer in the 80s.
This is the power of vaccines.
The HPV vaccine is extremely effective at preventing cancer.
Viruses can be oncogenic. Get your vaccines and protect yourself!
This is the power of vaccines.
The HPV vaccine is extremely effective at preventing cancer.
Viruses can be oncogenic. Get your vaccines and protect yourself!
newsGP - Australia set for world-first cervical cancer elimination
Vaccination programs have played a key role, and GPs remain ‘instrumental’ in boosting screening rates to reach the 2035 target.
www1.racgp.org.au
November 27, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Australia recorded ZERO cases of cervical cancer in women under 25 for the first time since they started tracking the cancer in the 80s.
This is the power of vaccines.
The HPV vaccine is extremely effective at preventing cancer.
Viruses can be oncogenic. Get your vaccines and protect yourself!
This is the power of vaccines.
The HPV vaccine is extremely effective at preventing cancer.
Viruses can be oncogenic. Get your vaccines and protect yourself!
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
The details of the Northern Gateway debate may have faded from our memories. (They certainly did from mine, I realized, while working on this article!)
So here's a little refresher on what the country went through the last time an MOU was signed on a pipeline from Alberta's oilsands to BC's coast:
So here's a little refresher on what the country went through the last time an MOU was signed on a pipeline from Alberta's oilsands to BC's coast:
ANALYSIS | Spills, spies and Tim Hortons boycotts: A look back at the 'fight for Canada's soul' over Northern Gateway | CBC News
The details of the decade-long, fractious debate over the Northern Gateway pipeline may have faded in memory, but that fight takes on a renewed relevance today, as Ottawa and Alberta come together wit...
www.cbc.ca
November 27, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The details of the Northern Gateway debate may have faded from our memories. (They certainly did from mine, I realized, while working on this article!)
So here's a little refresher on what the country went through the last time an MOU was signed on a pipeline from Alberta's oilsands to BC's coast:
So here's a little refresher on what the country went through the last time an MOU was signed on a pipeline from Alberta's oilsands to BC's coast:
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
Brazil approves the first vaccine against dengue. The disease killed 6000 Brazilians in 2024.
This is a really remarkable achievement. I got dengue in 2015, and even with the mild case I had, it was a really miserable experience.
This is a really remarkable achievement. I got dengue in 2015, and even with the mild case I had, it was a really miserable experience.
Anvisa aprova vacina brasileira contra dengue, a 1ª do mundo em dose única.
Após 12 anos de pesquisa e cinco de testes, imunizante foi produzido pelo Instituto Butantan. Em 2024, a doença matou quase 6 mil brasileiros.
Confira a reportagem completa: glo.bo/4rf9Hvg #JN
Após 12 anos de pesquisa e cinco de testes, imunizante foi produzido pelo Instituto Butantan. Em 2024, a doença matou quase 6 mil brasileiros.
Confira a reportagem completa: glo.bo/4rf9Hvg #JN
November 27, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Brazil approves the first vaccine against dengue. The disease killed 6000 Brazilians in 2024.
This is a really remarkable achievement. I got dengue in 2015, and even with the mild case I had, it was a really miserable experience.
This is a really remarkable achievement. I got dengue in 2015, and even with the mild case I had, it was a really miserable experience.
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
Congratulations to the UBC Philosophy Class of 2025! Each undergraduate and graduate student has worked tremendously hard and has accomplished so much. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Congratulations to the UBC Philosophy Class of 2025! - Department of Philosophy
Message from the Head Congratulations to our new graduates! In today’s commencement ceremony, we celebrate twelve new BAs with a Philosophy major or joint major and two new Philosophy MAs.…
buff.ly
November 27, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Congratulations to the UBC Philosophy Class of 2025! Each undergraduate and graduate student has worked tremendously hard and has accomplished so much. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
The Pathways project is a major part of the new pipeline deal between Carney and Smith, appearing 17 times in the memo's text.
But much like the pipeline itself, First Nations in its path don't want the megaproject.
But much like the pipeline itself, First Nations in its path don't want the megaproject.
Carney-Smith deal will bring carbon capture to Cold Lake. They don't want it
Alberta First Nations are being shut out of a sprawling carbon capture and storage project on their traditional territories that is a key part of Thursday's Alberta-Ottawa pipeline deal, chiefs say.
www.nationalobserver.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:49 PM
The Pathways project is a major part of the new pipeline deal between Carney and Smith, appearing 17 times in the memo's text.
But much like the pipeline itself, First Nations in its path don't want the megaproject.
But much like the pipeline itself, First Nations in its path don't want the megaproject.
Today is the last day of voting in the election for faculty and staff representatives for UBC's Board of Governors.
Board of Governors (2025-2026 Triennial Elections) | Student Services - Faculty & Staff Resources share.google/rfI0fApvRvRY...
Board of Governors (2025-2026 Triennial Elections) | Student Services - Faculty & Staff Resources share.google/rfI0fApvRvRY...
Board of Governors (2025-2026 Triennial Elections) | Student Services - Faculty & Staff Resources
share.google
November 27, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Today is the last day of voting in the election for faculty and staff representatives for UBC's Board of Governors.
Board of Governors (2025-2026 Triennial Elections) | Student Services - Faculty & Staff Resources share.google/rfI0fApvRvRY...
Board of Governors (2025-2026 Triennial Elections) | Student Services - Faculty & Staff Resources share.google/rfI0fApvRvRY...
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
Running out the end of the #UBCBoG election. One more day left to vote. If you are a #UBC faculty you still have a chance to vote for me! :)
Go to Simply Voting at ubc.simplyvoting.com
Go to Simply Voting at ubc.simplyvoting.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Running out the end of the #UBCBoG election. One more day left to vote. If you are a #UBC faculty you still have a chance to vote for me! :)
Go to Simply Voting at ubc.simplyvoting.com
Go to Simply Voting at ubc.simplyvoting.com
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
Okay folks, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is standing by and ready to jump into the studio and answer a few questions about the city budget - passed yesterday by council.
Got questions or comments? We'll take 'em here.
Watch here on You Tube: www.youtube.com/live/hO_Fedd...
Got questions or comments? We'll take 'em here.
Watch here on You Tube: www.youtube.com/live/hO_Fedd...
November 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Okay folks, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is standing by and ready to jump into the studio and answer a few questions about the city budget - passed yesterday by council.
Got questions or comments? We'll take 'em here.
Watch here on You Tube: www.youtube.com/live/hO_Fedd...
Got questions or comments? We'll take 'em here.
Watch here on You Tube: www.youtube.com/live/hO_Fedd...
There is some truth to this, though for hiring in cities like Vancouver or Toronto, the conversation in interviews always turns to the cost of housing.
I think literally every one working as a regular prof at a Canadian university - except perhaps a fraction of one percent lured from abroad - would happily be in their exact same jobs at 20% lower salary.
Isn’t the impetus of paying large salaries to attract top flight talent? Would this not be seen as a good thing? I don’t mean to sound trite, I’m genuinely curious about your take on this.
November 25, 2025 at 6:02 PM
There is some truth to this, though for hiring in cities like Vancouver or Toronto, the conversation in interviews always turns to the cost of housing.
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
Interesting divergence between the tight party numbers between the CPC & LPC and the chasm between the leaders.
📊Preferred PM tracker, Nanos Research (Oct.31-Nov.21, 2025):
🔴53% Mark Carney (+4)
🔵26% Pierre Poilievre (-1)
(Comparison with previous 4-week sample)
338canada.com/20251121-nan...
🔴53% Mark Carney (+4)
🔵26% Pierre Poilievre (-1)
(Comparison with previous 4-week sample)
338canada.com/20251121-nan...
338Canada | Nanos Research federal poll, November 2025
338canada.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Interesting divergence between the tight party numbers between the CPC & LPC and the chasm between the leaders.
Well, when you re-trench to look like you're doing something....
Google has taken OpenAI to the woodshed. 👀
(via MS desk) $GOOGL
(via MS desk) $GOOGL
November 25, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Well, when you re-trench to look like you're doing something....
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
Here is the report from the Vancouver Park Board detailing increases to fees and charges for recreation services in this year's "Zero Means Zero" budget.
parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2025/2025112...
parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2025/2025112...
November 25, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Here is the report from the Vancouver Park Board detailing increases to fees and charges for recreation services in this year's "Zero Means Zero" budget.
parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2025/2025112...
parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2025/2025112...
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
I have written a post on the impact of international student enrolment volatility at UBC.
(This post links to previous posts I wrote while a Faculty Governors on UBC's Board of Governors.)
blogs.ubc.ca/poincaredual...
(This post links to previous posts I wrote while a Faculty Governors on UBC's Board of Governors.)
blogs.ubc.ca/poincaredual...
UBC in Transition: Impact of ISI Enrolment Volatility | Some Random Thoughts of a Mathematician
blogs.ubc.ca
November 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM
I have written a post on the impact of international student enrolment volatility at UBC.
(This post links to previous posts I wrote while a Faculty Governors on UBC's Board of Governors.)
blogs.ubc.ca/poincaredual...
(This post links to previous posts I wrote while a Faculty Governors on UBC's Board of Governors.)
blogs.ubc.ca/poincaredual...
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
Gee, who could've predicted...
NEW: Months after many supervised injection sites were shut down, Toronto is reporting an increase in “visible substance use on the street" and “open use of substances in public spaces.” #ToPoli #ONpoli
globalnews.ca/news/1154127...
globalnews.ca/news/1154127...
Toronto reports more visible drug use after supervised injection sites closed down - Toronto | Globalnews.ca
The City of Toronto is reporting an increase in visible drug use in the wake of the Ford government's decision to pull funding for several safe-injection sites earlier this year.
globalnews.ca
November 25, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Gee, who could've predicted...
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
Easily gamed metrics are hugely detrimental to academic assessment. Citation cartels should be discouraged, not encouraged.
These days I think that the H-index is a feature, rather than a bug.
It's propagated by those who have centralized power and control of the academic narrative, and they have a conflict of interest when asked to consider whether it should be phased out.
It's propagated by those who have centralized power and control of the academic narrative, and they have a conflict of interest when asked to consider whether it should be phased out.
Imagine being refused for a position based on miscalculation... I really hope that people will start looking for other things that purely H-index and citations count. It also promotes totally stupid behavior with people like Raoult publishing 200 papers per years, which is humanely not possible.
November 23, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Easily gamed metrics are hugely detrimental to academic assessment. Citation cartels should be discouraged, not encouraged.
Apparently, someone in the Legault government doesn’t understand how vaccines work in a population. The most vulnerable are far better protected when we avoid large infection rates in the general population.
In Quebec you can’t get the covid vax under 64 years old without heightened exposure like healthcare workers, or a medical complication. First time I’ve been happy about having asthma.
November 22, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Apparently, someone in the Legault government doesn’t understand how vaccines work in a population. The most vulnerable are far better protected when we avoid large infection rates in the general population.
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
In an interview this week, Ken Sim said that he had a list of all the times he said no to the Vancouver Police Department, and said a lot of their budget increases were out of the city's control.
We got the list. We looked at the budget.
Here is a fact check.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
We got the list. We looked at the budget.
Here is a fact check.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
November 21, 2025 at 7:14 PM
In an interview this week, Ken Sim said that he had a list of all the times he said no to the Vancouver Police Department, and said a lot of their budget increases were out of the city's control.
We got the list. We looked at the budget.
Here is a fact check.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
We got the list. We looked at the budget.
Here is a fact check.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
My father passed away one year ago today. I miss him.
He was a kind, caring, and selfless man.
He was a kind, caring, and selfless man.
November 21, 2025 at 3:19 PM
My father passed away one year ago today. I miss him.
He was a kind, caring, and selfless man.
He was a kind, caring, and selfless man.
This story started at UBC (Mr Linkletter has since moved to BCIT).
Two thoughts (of many):
1. Governance oversight of decisions to implement something like Proctorio means university boards and senates need sound academic and administrative policies be in place.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Two thoughts (of many):
1. Governance oversight of decisions to implement something like Proctorio means university boards and senates need sound academic and administrative policies be in place.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
He got sued for sharing public YouTube videos; nightmare ended in settlement
Librarian vows to stop invasive ed tech after ending lawsuit with Proctorio.
arstechnica.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:03 AM
This story started at UBC (Mr Linkletter has since moved to BCIT).
Two thoughts (of many):
1. Governance oversight of decisions to implement something like Proctorio means university boards and senates need sound academic and administrative policies be in place.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Two thoughts (of many):
1. Governance oversight of decisions to implement something like Proctorio means university boards and senates need sound academic and administrative policies be in place.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Reposted by Mark Mac Lean
Please enjoy my cartoon for Thursday's Toronto Star
November 19, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Please enjoy my cartoon for Thursday's Toronto Star