Shobita Parthasarathy

What are your favorite documentary films that showcase activism *outside the United States* (and preferably in a global South country)?

Panel #66: Engaging Policy in STS Research and Practice Abstract: Throughout its history, the STS community has engaged with the important policy questions of the day, showing how public issues are constructed in tandem with evidenceand expertise, and how technological infrastructures are inseparable from social systems. STS scholars have worked to have their insights recognized by policy makers and have used their direct policy engagements to advance knowledge of policy processes. The past decade, however, has seen massive shifts in the policy landscape–including in the ways that research is funded, evidence is valued, and expertise is constructed–as well as new substantive issues at the intersection of science, technology, and policy. This panel asks what STS scholars are bringing to, and taking away from, their engagements with evolving policy processes. What STS tools best help us understand policy issues, and where do new circumstances require new theories and analytical methods? How can STS analysis not only advance knowledge but shape effective political action? And how does engagement with policy function as an intellectual project in its own right? This open panel invites submissions from across sectors (e.g., environment, innovation, health, criminal justice), and with historical and global perspectives (particularly outside the United States and Europe).

Thinking about, or engaging in, politics and public policy with an #STS lens? Apply to present your work in the open panels (#66) I am organizing with Gwen Ottinger and Jason Delborne
@4sweb.bsky.social in Toronto in October! (Paper abstracts due April 30th!) www.4sonline.org/accepted_ope...

2026 Pre-Conference Science, Knowledge and Technology Today: Meeting the Moment, Engendering Just Futures The Science, Knowledge & Technology (SKAT) section of the American Sociological Association (ASA) will host…

The Science, Knowledge, and Technology Section of the American Sociological Association is hosting a pre-conference here at City College (in our FiDi division)!

Our call for abstracts is open until April 1, 2026.

asaskat.com/skattoday/

Senator (and soon to be DHS secretary) Mullin does not have a Bachelor's degree.

An AI avatar is running to represent Indigenous voters in Colombia "Gaitana" is the digital stand-in for two candidates who will use the platform to seek consensus from their communities on all legislative matters.

So, this is insane for many reasons. But to choose just one not discussed in the article, there is no accountability in this form of political representation.

This is missing "China"....

Those Sharia courts have been forcing us to build windmills all over the place!

What it takes to get an H-1B visa in Trump's America An immigration lawyer explains the behind-the-scenes challenges of getting the coveted U.S. visa in 2026.

"If a candidate is obese or has asthma, the officer can refuse their visa."

An immigration lawyer on what the H-1B process actually looks like in 2026: https://restofworld.org/2026/get-h-1b-visa-trump-america/?utm_campaign=row-social&utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

I called during my lunch & spoke to a real human who said they have been inundated & they are keeping a count of how many people are in opposition. You don’t need a speech, when she asks where to direct your call just say, “I’m calling to oppose the license plate reader agreement with CBP.” 2/2

TAKE ACTION: The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) approved placement of Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on state land in Michigan. CBP then contacts local law enforcement to make traffic stops that lead to CBP arrests. Michigan Immigrant Rights Coalition

Contact the MDOT Director to demand that the agreement be rescinded! • MDOT Director Bradley C. Wieferich • MDOT Office Phone 517-241-2400 • Director Inquiries Email PooleE@Michigan.gov

Michiganders: MDOT signed a deal with CBP to let them install automated license plate readers on state land. This technology allows real-time tracking of people’s movements and whereabouts. It’s a disaster for our immigrant neighbors, and for our rights. Call and register your opposition. 1/2

We are how we treat the most marginalized.

As a Black man with Tourette Syndrome, the Public Advocate has some thoughts on BAFTA, Pt. 1:

Hear about his experience with Coprolalia, his thoughts on how BAFTA mishandled the moment, and the need for care for all who are harmed:

Full video: youtu.be/FgaqKIxS4Hs

if I could go back in time and change one thing about grad school,

it would be to never never ever talk to a historian of science or #STS person. It was *fun* and they are *right* about everything and it has made my life *fucking impossible*

Yesterday with your help, we paid the rent for five Minneapolis immigrant families in need. Rent’s coming up, donations are down, and there’s still so much need here. Let’s help as many as we can today!

V: @Ian-Coldwater
CA: $iancoldwater
PP: @coldwater

Please share and give if you can! Thank you!

Yes, and even more importantly, it will kill basic science research.

As far as I can tell, O'Neill knows nothing about university or scientific research of any kind.

A line curve showing number of awards for fiscal year 2026 compared to fiscal years 2021-2025 for the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences. The fiscal year 2026 curve lies well below curves for other fiscal years.

Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Social Sciences

7/11

A line curve showing number of awards for fiscal year 2026 compared to fiscal years 2021-2025 across NSF. The fiscal year 2026 curve lies well below curves for other fiscal years.

NSF Update

Funding curve overall. A little bit of progress in the past week, but only a little bit.

Now by Directorate...

1/11

Alysa Liu wins the Olympic gold medal for the United States YouTube video by Team USA

Immigrants. We get the job done.

After leaving WHO, Trump officials propose more expensive replacement to duplicate it HHS proposes spending $2 billion a year to re-create systems the U.S. accessed through the WHO at a fraction of the cost, according to officials briefed on the matter.

This article misses two key purposes of this effort. It will enable the US to provide alternative data/expertise and try to erode WHO's legitimacy. And it will be used to avoid inconvenient facts, like an emerging pandemic and associated death (remember Trump hated those numbers). Gift link👇🏽

Too bad University of Michigan decided to take the path of anticipatory obedience.

New Report Helps Journalists Dig Deeper Into Police Surveillance Technology SAN FRANCISCO — A new report released today offers journalists tips on cutting through the sales hype about police surveillance technology and report accurately on costs, benefits, privacy, and accoun...

!! Something I've been working on for a year is finally live!!

A report from @eff.org , @justjournalism.bsky.social, and IPVM geared toward journalists but important for law makers and the general public decoding the nefarious ways police and surveillance tech gets sold, marketed, and deployed. 🧵

Rep. James Talarico On Confronting Christian Nationalism, And Strange Days In The Texas Legislatu… YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

See the banned Talarico interview here:

youtu.be/oiTJ7Pz_59A?...

NEWS: CBS blocked Stephen Colbert from airing an interview with Texas State Rep. James Talarico and ordered him not to mention the cancellation over fear of FCC chair Brendan Carr.

Colbert went on air and revealed it anyway.

“He was supposed to be here, but… 1/

Rev. Jesse Jackson's "I *am* somebody..." remains one of the all-time great pieces of 20th century rhetoric / agitprop

And he could deliver it at a Black separatist meeting, the Democratic National Convention, or on god-blessed Sesame Street (see below 🥹)

RIP to the Voice of the Voiceless

Yes!! My first article ever was in that edited volume!!

A new CA science foundation is a good step forward. Here's hoping that if it becomes reality, it really evaluates the "potential benefit to the health and well-being of the population, natural resources, and environment of the state" including in how it deals with intellectual property.

I am sorry to hear about your migraines (I suffer from them too) but thank you for the work you are doing! When I am back in A2 I might want to get some whistles (but hopefully things will be better by then?)

😂

This is awesome, thank you!