Mathematician (discrete geometry), U Alaska Fairbanks prof, former FNSB assembly. In Alaska since 2009. She/her/hers. @Leahwrenn@mastodon.social @leahwrenn on MeFi
Hey #MathSky. I’m teaching introductory linear algebra this fall for the first time in over a decade. What materials should I be aware of? I know I’ve seen a few posts about this sort of thing, but I don’t remember from whom or when. I don’t even know what (open) textbook(s) to use yet. Thank you!
so there's been this big Clear Channel digital countdown to the world cup billboard in Oakland for the last six months, except the world cup is over, and they haven't found someone new to buy the billboard space, so right now it just says: "-51 days till all eyes are on the Bay Area!"
BOOM. The AAUP is suing Texas A&M University System over their censorship policy that prohibits faculty from discussing topics & viewpoints related to race, sexual orientation, & gender. www.aclutx.org/app/uploads/... 1
We are an open enrollment university with a technical college. We are a land, space, sea, and green grant university. We are America's Arctic University. In-state tuition at UAF is a steal.
Leah Berman WilliamsIf you’ve got kids thinking about college, or if you’re thinking about college, UAF is — no lie — an incredible value. Small class sizes, taught by world-class researchers (even at the undergraduate level), in a beautiful part of the world. ~$24K/year w/housing www.uaf.edu/finaid/costs...
In a bid to attract more students from outside of Alaska, the UA Board of Regents voted to eliminate higher tuition rates for students with out-of-state residency. www.adn.com/alaska-news/...
University of Alaska regents move to eliminate undergraduate out-of-state tuition ratesUniversity finance officials said the move will not cost the school much money, but might attract more students from other states.www.adn.com
Through July 31, the Alaska Division of Elections reported that 9,981 Alaskans had requested absentee ballots for the Aug. 18 statewide primary. Of the requests, 28.5% had come from Republicans. Among the state’s 602,131 registered voters, 23.6% are Republicans. (Via Alaska Beacon)
President Donald Trump is denouncing mail-in voting. Alaska Republicans are doing it anyway.Through July 31, the Alaska Division of Elections reported that 9,981 Alaskans had requested absentee ballots for the Aug. 18 statewide primary.akpub.io
Not that this guy read my contacting me page, but I've been inspired to add an anti-"AI" note to the top of it: faculty.washington.edu/ebender/cont...
Emily M. BenderEmily M. Bender, Professor and Director, Professional MS in Computational Linguistics, Department of Linguistics University of Washington.faculty.washington.edu"Will you, person who doesn't know me, please read this synthetic text I caused to be extruded and give me feedback"? >>
His thoughts darted eagerly about as everything looked new— and worth trying. "Well, I would like to make another trip," he said, jumping to his feet; "but I really don't know when I'll have the time. There's just so much to do right here."
The other day I put into a checker a paragraph from a document that is a decade old at this point, and it said that 2/3 of that paragraph was AI generated. The detection tools are garbage.
LA County confirmed that SoCal Edison's unused transmission tower started the Eaton Fire, which destroyed much of Altadena. The tower had been dormant since the 70's, but was left up anyway. It energized in the high wind and sent molten metal into dry brush underneath. www.cnn.com/2026/08/04/u...
Southern California Edison equipment blamed for 2025 Eaton fire in Los Angeles | CNNSparks from an idle transmission tower owned by Southern California Edison caused the 2025 Eaton fire in the Los Angeles area that killed 19 people and destroyed more than 9,400 homes and businesses, ...www.cnn.com
Moderna begins first human trial of Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine reut.rs/4wIDPSe
Moderna begins first human trial of Bundibugyo Ebola vaccineModerna on Tuesday said it has begun its first human trial of an experimental vaccine to protect against Bundibugyo ebolavirus, a strain of Ebola that has killed more than 1,650 people so far and currently has no approved vaccine.reut.rs
The arXiv preprint server now has a CEO and Board of Directors: blog.arxiv.org/2026/07/30/a...
arXiv welcomes inaugural CEO and founding Board of DirectorsarXiv welcomes inaugural CEO and founding Board of Directorsblog.arxiv.org
'You'll choke too' - an aerial embroidery landscape inspired by all the wildfires happening right now... I'm upset every time I smell smoke outside and somehow we have people starting them maliciously too! But we all breathe the same air so they'll choke too (1/2 - see thread for close-ups)
High temperatures (ºF) in and around Alaska on Monday. Still quite warm Southeast Interior Alaska eastward into Canada. Cooler in Southcentral and Kodiak Island area. #akwx #weather @climatologist49.bsky.social
If you show up to Bluesky without following anyone, you'll be treated to a series of posts about art, music, and dogs. If you show up to X without following anyone, you'll be bombarded with right-wing conspiracies and white supremacist slop. It's weird which one is seen as a "political bubble"
My Gen Z employees have taught me that putting the !! sticker on a text means you agree with what the person is saying and not “omfg are you kidding me?!?” (as I had been using it frequently) and now I’m spiraling.