Devon Greyson

Devon Greyson

@greyson.bsky.social

Academic & writer. 🇨🇦Applied Public Health Chair. I study health information practices & interventions, often pertaining to vaccination and/or gender. I also bicycle & drink coffee a lot, and write fiction a little. Recovering classical bassist.

964 followers557 following2.3K posts

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Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

2026 update (for Fall 2027 program starts): No current capacity to take a new MSc or PhD trainee into the lab. Follow the threaded instructions & timeline if you want to discuss potentially studying with me as a postdoc, MPH practicum student, or MD Flex student:

Devon Greyson@greyson.bsky.social

Prospective students: Here's what you need to know if you think you might want to work with me (a thread): 1. I'm not looking to recruit new students at the moment. (There could be some exceptions, especially for research-oriented Master's students in my school or interdisciplinary studies.)

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

A great deal of current international security is built on the idea the USA and Russia will keep each other in check. If this changes, other nations have to cooperate to create new checks and balance including in infectious disease/biowarfare.

Anton Gerashchenko@antongerashchenko.bsky.social

President Zelenskyy: If [Ukraine is fighting] without United States' support, it's very difficult. But if the United States will support Putin - it's unbelievable, it's a tragedy. Of course, if these two countries will be together, of course we will not prevail. And we will not be able to stand.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

Example: Which 2 nations have the only known samples of smallpox in storage? You guessed it. We need to learn from our last orthopox vax campaigns (mpox outbreak) to ensure we are ready to respond domestically & globally if we urgently need to mobilize these strategic stores on a larger scale.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

To be clear, I’m not catastrophizing or predicting such biowarfare. I am saying when we are talking need for defence investments due to shifting global allegiances we aren’t cutting the everyday defence systems like public health and libraries to pay for military investments.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

A great deal of current international security is built on the idea the USA and Russia will keep each other in check. If this changes, other nations have to cooperate to create new checks and balance including in infectious disease/biowarfare.

Anton Gerashchenko@antongerashchenko.bsky.social

President Zelenskyy: If [Ukraine is fighting] without United States' support, it's very difficult. But if the United States will support Putin - it's unbelievable, it's a tragedy. Of course, if these two countries will be together, of course we will not prevail. And we will not be able to stand.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

This is why the current focus on defence as focus of government spending risks leaving us unprepared. Defence is not just armies, weapons, and computer technologies. Robust & trusted public health & emergency response systems are defence. Functional communities & social cohesiveness are defence.

Devon Greyson reposted

Kelton Minor
@keltonminor.bsky.social

Together with other scientists I’m suing the 🇺🇸 US National Institutes of Health for violating our 1st Amendment rights & censoring our health science. I’m ready to shine a light on the darkest days. Buckle up, read on. This gets pretty wild… THREAD

ACLU@aclu.org

By terminating research grants like Kelton's to censor views it doesn’t like, the NIH is blocking scientists from work that would advance public health for all of us. We're pushing back. Tell Congress to demand the NIH restore the grants and stop its censorship campaign at aclu.org/nih_censorship_

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

Brief thread here on gen “AI” in education:

kat, ghost of helenruthsghost@chaoskat.bsky.social

My biggest takeaway has been that the worst possible use for AI assistants is for someone is not already an expert in the field. So having students use it is really dangerous. They don’t know enough to know when it's leading them down a bad path.

Devon Greyson reposted

Brent Toderian
@brenttoderian.bsky.social

Please don’t assume anything, Alberta. Vote against the Russian and American-fuelled separation self-sabotage. Send a strong message to the rest of Canada that we’re in this together. Foreign actors want you to vote for your own Brexit or Trump… or to help them win by just staying home.

bbc.comUS and Russia fuelling separatist debate in Canada, new report saysResearchers warn that foreign actors are meddling in the Alberta separatist movement in ways that threaten Canada’s "democratic integrity".
Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

This morning was possibly the most perfect bike commute of this fall yet. The temperature was ideal (chilly by the water but not slippery) w no precipitation, the sunrise was gorgeous (those pink clouds!), the traffic was light (IDK why). I love to pass through neighbourhoods appreciating this city.

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Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

It's not cheating or bad if you: -ebike -ride a trike -ride only partway -ride only one way (the downhill way!) -ride slower than others walk -ride just 1 day/week -have a ride as short as other people's cool down All biking is good! It all benefits you, other living beings, & our environment.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

This morning was possibly the most perfect bike commute of this fall yet. The temperature was ideal (chilly by the water but not slippery) w no precipitation, the sunrise was gorgeous (those pink clouds!), the traffic was light (IDK why). I love to pass through neighbourhoods appreciating this city.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

I never notice as much in a motor vehicle: people acting like community, helping each other; gorgeous public art; stunning vistas; parks and parklets alike; people's small altars along the way; the lovely autumnal colours shining in the sun.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

I've been bike commuting for many years in one form or another, and my life is better for it. You don't have to be hardcore to benefit. Sometimes cyclists can engage in a bit too much bravado and it can feel exclusionary to more casual, novice, or old/young/disabled cyclists. I just want to say...

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Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

Okay, in the name of transparency, I felt worse as the day-after went on & had to take a half day at work. Still *super* worth the protection, as last times I had flu or covid were all at least an unscheduled week home much sicker than this.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

Not seeing too much buzz about this yet, but it's kind of a Big Deal that the Canadian Tri-Council (the 3 main government research funders) Policy on Open Access has been updated to require IMMEDIATE OA at time of publication for all funded research starting Jan 1 ised-isde.canada.ca/site/science...

ised-isde.canada.caThe Government of Canada makes research more accessible for CanadiansCanada has one of the strongest research ecosystems in the world. But to drive growth and help innovations reach the market, we need research to be more accessible for Canadians. Today, the Governmen...
Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

Wrt #1: Hoping this system will expand to make it as easy to book other vaccinations as it is for influenza/covid-19! Adults could benefit from online booking for the every-10y-Td booster, a 2nd rec'd measles shot for those 70s babies, HPV for those eligible, etc.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

Wrt #2: Ingredients in vaccines are so pure & so safe & in such small amounts, although it seems scarier to have something injected than swallowed, I'm way more likely to have an allergic reaction to a pill (oft due to inactive filler ingredients)!

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

I wrote down my detailed lesson plan for this week & when I got to campus on the day of class it wasn't in the online document I expected. It's possible it was eaten by online MS version mgt monsters. But also...it seems not unlikely I will open some unrelated document and find it someday.

Devon Greyson reposted

BCCHR ResDev (DM)
@resdevbcch.bsky.social

Kidney Foundation - Another Canadian funding agency discourages use of genAI for developing grant proposals. (though interesting use of “encourages to refrain” instead of discourages use of)

Devon Greyson reposted

Carl T. Bergstrom
@carlbergstrom.com

I worked with—and deeply admired—Helen for almost 30 years. She was hands down *the best source* about emerging infectious diseases that I've ever known. My first warning of COVID was when on Dec 28, 2019 she reposted a ProMED mail report of an atypical pneumonia cluster: "This doesn't look good."

statnews.comHelen Branswell, whose reporting on infectious diseases and public health drew acclaim, dies at 69Helen Branswell, STAT's infectious disease reporter who earned the respect of experts and public health officials with her accessible, prescient dispatches, has died at age 69.
Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

🇨🇦 Colleagues, if you’re looking to hire a qualitative researcher I have a top-notch Vancouver-based multilingual (Engl/Punjabi/Hindi) MSc grad looking for a staff position. I have endless good things to say about working w him & wish I had more $ to keep him around. HMU if you‘d like an intro.

Devon Greyson reposted

Kate Starbird
@katestarbird.bsky.social

Y’all, I hate to rain on the dead bot parade, but the Yandex data center destruction doesn’t seem to have significantly impacted social media bots. I made temporal graphs of X posts about AfD around the time of the attack and there’s no sign of a sudden dip or residual impact on that conversation.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

Is everybody with windows/MS office/Zoom type work environment just constantly being prompted to run updates at this point, or is there something awry with my IT setup? Literally multiple times a day lately!

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Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

This is an important distinction! Don't end up spending a year+ writing a thesis if you really want to be doing hands-on work in public health/hate academic writing. And don't expect to go right into a PhD from a professional master's unless you have other research/scholarly publishing experience.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

Someone is probably going to point out that I in fact did a professional Master's and then got a PhD. Yes, I did. To do this, I worked in a research centre for the 5 years in between, building my research and publications record, and learning from our PhD students about what made them successful.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

*Professional programs are like Master's in Public Health or similar course-based programs aimed at preparing students for practice roles. Research programs such as our MSc in Population and Public Health offer more research training, no practicum, and require a thesis instead of a capstone project.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

If you want to do a PhD someday, a research-based Master's is probably a better bet for you. These are also more likely to come with student funding (e.g., a RAship). If you want to work in the field & build a professional resume, a course-based practice Master's is probably a better fit.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

Thinking also of Katalin Karakó, I wonder how many Nobel laureates, particularly female ones, have had careers in which they were denied tenure, had their work defunded, labs closed, forced out of academic positions, etc.

David Ho@davidho.bsky.social

Lol. Princeton University praised Nobel laureate Anne Carson, a former classics professor at the school, on social media, despite denying her tenure in the 1980s.

nytimes.comPrinceton Celebrates Anne Carson, a Nobel Prize Winner Who Was Denied Tenure (Gift Article)Carson, who was awarded the Literature prize on Thursday, was denied tenure when teaching at the university in the 1980s, leading social media users to mock a congratulatory message.
Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

Whew; windy morning in Vancouver! A gust blew my front wheel right off the ground on the Burrard Bridge en route to work. Thank goodness (and I guess Gregor Robertson/city council c.2009?) for protected bike lanes keeping us safe in this weather.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

Update: Potential new PhD co-supervision opportunity w/in a qual project focused on Two Spirit, trans, & nonbinary youth substance use & mental health. Priority consideration to those w lived TTNB + relevant rsch experience. If this may be you, reach out now following these instructions:

Devon Greyson@greyson.bsky.social

2. For PhD applications (due in Jan): send me personalized email in spring (May is great) with your CV, writing sample (ideally a PR journal article), your transcript(s), & a 1-2 page research proposal of what you think you might want to do your PhD on. Say how our topic & methods interests align.

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

Sorry, did someone say grant applications and scientific manuscripts? #SameProblem #MoreFasterIsNotBetter

Butlerian Jihadist of House Dornick@shimminykricket.blacksky.app

Basically AI allows software engineers to produce shitty code *faster* and in higher volumes which increases the amount time spent on code reviews and revisions nullifying the productivity gained from producing the code in the first place.

Devon Greyson reposted

Emily M. Bender
@emilymbender.bsky.social

Okay, I propose a slogan for this: "Janky until proven functional, period." And note that that assumes HIGH standards for functionality, established in the specific use case.

Emily M. Bender@emilymbender.bsky.social

But speaking of staying in one's lane, can we PLEASE switch the default position from "It's fine to use 'AI' for this thing I'm not an expert in" to "Yeah, I'd be really skeptical of any use cases and need to see strong evidence that it's okay, but I'm not the one who can produce that evidence"?

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

I mean I’m not a fan of the marketing term “AI” either, but I’m suffuciently educated in information science to know it isn’t the A that is the problem.

Devon Greyson reposted

Timnit Gebru
@timnitgebru.blacksky.app

Oh look. More things that makes sense happening in these United States.

Justin Hendrix@justinhendrix.bsky.social

United States President Donald Trump issues executive order instructing federal government agencies to "use the terms 'Super Intelligence' and 'SI' in place of 'Artificial Intelligence' and 'AI' and will not acknowledge the usage of 'Artificial Intelligence' and 'AI' in any applicable setting."

whitehouse.govInaugurating The Era Of Super IntelligenceBy the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Every child deserves a safe and nurturing home where they ...
Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

Perfect example of malinformation, of the context-stripping type. Did this exchange happen? Yes. Is there critical context missing? Also yes. (There were no such texts, hence why Smith was so stunned by this "gotcha" exchange.)

Johnny Aquino@drjohnaquino.medsky.social

Hanitty would not be outdone

Devon Greyson
@greyson.bsky.social

Congrats to this year's @healthresearchbc.bsky.social Trainee Awardees! I am personally excited to work w Dr. Jorden Hendry & about the whole cohort of early-career scientific excellence highlighted and supported by this important career development program. www.healthresearchbc.ca/news-events/...

healthresearchbc.caMeet the 2026 Research Trainee awardees | Michael Smith Health Research BCCongratulations to 30 emerging researchers who are advancing research and building careers in BC.