David Higgins

I've published a version of my almost-prizewinning essay 'Minibeasts', shortlisted for the Nature Chronicles Prize in 2024. It's about my usual obsessions: wildlife, parenting, collapse, care, and hope. I would love for some of you to read it! medium.com/@d.higgins/m...

Once more unto the breach

I have started using Instagram, as a lot of naturey types are on there. It’s not too bad (compared to low bars like X & Facebook). But the algorithm has accurately identified me as “middle aged man worried about getting old” and is presenting me with endless AI slop adverts offering miracle cures.

I mean, they’re too modest to say but it’s clear that Anthropic are the true heroes of the AI story

Gair Wood has its first writer in residence! Welcome and congratulations to Dr J.R. Carpenter!

It's really important to pay attention to the fact that Lula beat the fascist candidate not by compromising and trying to meet fascist voters in the middle, but by sticking to his guns, promising prosecutions for election interference, and mobilising his own voters to turn out in greater numbers.

RSPB St Aidan’s, West Yorkshire, yesterday. On damp grass near water. I believe the purply one is devil’s-bit scabious. Would be grateful for an ID on the other. #wildflowerhour

I’m really enjoying this informative and evocative book, full of great photographs. And feeling quite jealous — or perhaps fenvious — of people who live close to the amazing places it describes. @pelagic.bsky.social

RSPB St Aidan’s this morning. Good to be among reeds for the first time in a while. 54 species. No great rarities, but enjoyed seeing 8 (!) great white egrets flying around; also c60 pink-footed geese, some stonechats, and a kingfisher.

"How many university admin hoops do I have to traverse to get paid £150 (before tax)" challenge

The defence secretary telling the public to stockpile in case of emergency, but not for anything in particular, just for one of the many shit things that could happen that we have no real state plan for, really does capture the mood of times

As Gair Wood Writer in Residence I’ll work alongside scientists from the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability and the Leeds Ecosystem, Atmosphere and Forest Centre, bringing together creative writing, physical sciences, ecology, and conservation ahc.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...

Working on a strategy document. However much coffee I drink, it ain't enough.

Approving the Jackdaw gas field solves none of our problems, while contributing to the existential crisis of climate breakdown. The government has privileged special interests above the general interest. It's a shameful, cowardly decision.

Thinking with Wetlands is HIRING! 5 PhD positions (4yrs, TVL-13, 65%) in Environmental History. Deadline Dec. 11. www.uni-augsburg.de/en/forschung...

"I hesitated about posting an A.I. image but I decided this [mocked-up slop pic of my political opponent enacting a weak satirical point] was too good to not share!" is an unwelcome new genre of post.

Small daughter: what’s your favourite food? Me: I’m not sure. Um…. Small daughter: is it human flesh?

& daylong dusk, best of the light in globes of hanging water; leathered leaves lose rusted edges to its weight; dip the oil tank & the hornbeam showers down a slowsliding reservoir; light a candle at 6 & it gathers leaves immediately

I found myself trying to explain the REF (Research Excellence Franework) to some normal people in the pub just now and, while I was talking, all I could think was “this sounds fucking insane”.

It should be simple: 👉 Warm Homes Plan: projected £1bn annual bill savings, 50,000 jobs. 👉 Rosebank: around 1,100 jobs. Insulate homes. Cut bills. Create jobs. Reduce fossil fuel dependence. Why not invest in warmth, not more oil? www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Monday morning vibes. It’s dark, damp, and I’m on the bus to work wondering how I’m going to fit in all the teaching and tasks that need to be completed today. Important on days like this to check my privilege and not to wallow in “woe is me” (although I might paddle in it).

My daughter is singing a song of her own composition, called “Abomination Poo”. It’s a diss track. I am being dissed.

People don't realize how necessary cheap rent is to the arts.

There are still a few places left on my online poetry short course, ‘Creating Bespoke & Organic Forms: Shaping Poems in the Act of Composition’. Fortnightly on Tuesday evenings, 20th October - 15 December, 7.00-9.00. More information and booking details: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creating-b...

Did you know that UK academics have a bespoke circle of hell? There they are tormented by having to write endless REF documentation about research strategy and impact, without the proper template or guidance, only to be told by the demon reviewers that it's all wrong and they have to start again.

DEADLINE today (15 October)! Submit your proposal by 23:58 CET. Individual submissions are also considered, and we also offer experimental formats: posters, transdisciplinary workshops, "Teaching Environmental History", "Meet a Scientist", and more! #EnvHist #EnvHum

Putting aside broader issues around AI, it’s clear the OpenAI is a terrible company that has rushed potentially harmful products to market without adequate testing or controls. You’d think universities would run a mile, but quite the opposite… www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Rather a beautiful evening yesterday, as ! walked across the playing fields while my son was in football training. The usual jackdaws, wood pigeons, gulls, and red kites drifting over. Unusually, a ring-necked parakeet zooming around without clear direction, shrieking hysterically.

I finally turned my AI scepticism into a (short) essay: '10 Reasons for Refusing Generative AI'. I've tried to make it clear, accessible, and student friendly. Very grateful to all the AI resisters (many on here) who have helped me understand the issues. medium.com/@d.higgins/1...

Am seeing a large number of these 'ethical use principles' or some variant cropping up, many with reference to UNESCO's principles. Extremely vague, loose, and clearly intended as a post-hoc rationalisation for unlimited use Akin to a 'sustainable private jet use' guideline document

🍃 Available to pre-order now 🍃 The best of contemporary nature writing from the winners of the third international Nature Chronicles Prize. saraband.net/sb-title/the... The anthology is introduced by nature writer Linda Cracknell. The previous two anthologies are out now! #BookSky 📚💙

Fantastic to announce our @openlibhums.org tech team are collaborating with @plos.org to develop @janewayolh.bsky.social. As Tom Scott from PLOS writes: “Open, community-developed infrastructure is essential to the future of scholarly publishing & Janeway is an important part of that future.”

If an individual or organisation says "I/we find Generative AI useful and don't care about the costs", at least they are articulating a coherent position. What I can't stand is the mealy mouthed "use Gen AI ethically and responsibly" bollocks. It can't be done!

An ‘ethical use‘ of generative AI services? What the fuck are you talking about? How can the @societyofauthors.bsky.social find an ethical use for technology based on the largest act of copyright violation in history? Is this a joke?

I finally turned my AI scepticism into a (short) essay: '10 Reasons for Refusing Generative AI'. I've tried to make it clear, accessible, and student friendly. Very grateful to all the AI resisters (many on here) who have helped me understand the issues. medium.com/@d.higgins/1...

My publishers have sent me some graphics for Wayfarers and they’ve basically said, if I’m reading this right, that if I don’t share them on social media they’ll send the boys round. Modern publishing is brutal.

“I like big clouds and I cannot lie”. Birdwatching around Eccup Reservoir on Sunday morning. Highlights: 6 mistle thrush, 1 goosander, and a probable peregrine wrestling with an unfortunate pigeon.

Motherflippin’ Monday morning migraine. Hoping meds will kick in so I can give a lecture at 12…

Me to small daughter: Please eat over the table or you’ll make a mess. Small daughter: Who cares? Me: I care! Small daughter: But you’re an abomination [turns back to her sandwich, considering the matter closed]

Blowing my own trumpet, but also with thanks to the hidden labour of academics everywhere: I think I have done some high quality peer reviewing today.

I'm late to this excellent piece by Felicity James: a fantastic defense of the essay as a literary form against the homogenising 'efficiency' promised by AI. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Today’s gloomy philosophising: How is it that I am not scared of dying (something that I will experience, unless unconscious), but I am scared of being dead (something that I won’t experience)?

Made the mistake of trying to access my work to do list on my phone (two-factor authentication mayhem)

Thinking about how much time that could be spent on actual research is spent instead on endless preparations for the 'Research Excellence Framework'.