1. In five days, I'm headed to Australia: Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. I can't wait. So many colleagues to meet and birds to see!

For those who are interested in such things, I'll be giving a few public talks in addition to a number of academic lectures.

The public talks will mostly focus on something I've been thinking about lately, "The Crisis of Human Collective Decision-Making in a Social Media World".

Details below.

2. On Wednesday November 15th, 5 PM at Macquarie University, I'll be giving a public lecture on that subject.

https://www.mq.edu.au/research/research-centres-groups-and-facilities/groups/macquarie-minds-and-intelligences-initiative/news-and-events

News and events

We host leading academics in minds and intelligences research from around the world.

Macquarie University

3. On Thursday, November 16th, 6:30 PM at UNSW., I'll be giving the Wallace Wurth lecture "The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World", hosted by Rob Brooks. I believe there is to be a book signing afterward.

https://www.events.unsw.edu.au/event/art-scepticism-data-driven-world

The Art of Scepticism in a Data-Driven World | UNSW Sydney

Uncover how to separate fact from fiction and call out misinformation with evolutionary biologist Carl Bergstrom.

UNSW Sydney

4. On Tuesday November 21 at 6 PM at the Queensland University of Technology. I'll again be speaking about the crisis of human decision-making in a social media world. My understanding is that there will a reception beforehand at 5:00 PM.

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/carl-bergstrom-public-lecture-tickets-657236842087

Carl Bergstrom Public Lecture

Carl Bergstrom explores the crisis of human collective decision-making in a social media world

Eventbrite

5. Finally, on Monday Nov 27th at 11 AM at the University of Melbourne I'm giving the Crisis lecture at a venue that I believe is public or at least quasi-public. I'll post a correction if I hear otherwise.

https://events.humanitix.com/carl-bergstrom-the-crisis-of-human-collective-decision-making-in-a-social-media-world

Carl Bergstrom: The Crisis of Human Collective Decision-Making in a Social Media World | Humanitix

Get Tickets on Humanitix - Carl Bergstrom: The Crisis of Human Collective Decision-Making in a Social Media World hosted by Complex Human Data Hub. Singapore Theatre B120 Glyn Davis Building. Monday 27th November 2023. Find event information.

6. One more public talk, again in Sydney. On Friday November 17th, I'll be speaking on "The Impediments to High-Risk, High-Return Research" as part of the Trust in Knowledge seminar series at Sydney University. This talk may be a bit more technical than the others but I'll endeavor to make it accessible to as broad an audience as possible.

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/trust-in-knowledge-talk-professor-carl-t-bergstrom-tickets-741829109837

Trust in Knowledge Talk: Professor Carl T. Bergstrom

Join us for guest speaker Professor Carl T. Bergstrom from the University of Washington, presenting a Trust in Knowledge series seminar!

Eventbrite
@ct_bergstrom this sounds fascinating. Been involved with scheme from Villum Foundation for a few years. Has 3 changes to try and fund more high-risk, high-return research:
1) Blind review (so no track record)
2) Each panelist has a ‘golden ticket’ which they can use to ensure an application is funded regardless of other panel members
3) 3 page application
Does your model suggest this might work?
And can those of us unlucky enough not to be in Australia find out more about the model…

@drstevenwooding yeah for sure. Golden ticket should help.

here are the two papers I will be talking about

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2111615118

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2306.13816