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Blog: The Luck Factor - A Behavioral Perspective on Opportunity in Societal Systems

Here are three questions to think about. Why do some people find the right partner while others move from one relationship to another? Why do some individuals repeatedly succeed while others struggle despite similar effort? Why do some careers accelerate while others stagnate? According to Prof. Richard Wiseman, these questions are often explained by a single word: luck . As humans, we typically see luck as a random, unpredictable force that changes our life outcomes. However, some research in psychology suggests a different perspective. Rather than a purely chance-based thing, luck may be partly shaped by behavior, mindset, and interaction with the environment . Rethinking Luck Psychologist Prof. Richard Wiseman proposes that luck is not only accidental, but it is influenced by the consistent patterns of our thinking and behavior. His research suggests that individuals who consider themselves “lucky” tend to act in ways that increase their exposure to opportunities and improv...
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Blog: How Society Gets Under the Skin - A Biological Signal for Societal Computing

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As a result of the research in the past decades, everyone knows that health is strongly shaped by social conditions. Factors such as socioeconomic status, neighborhood environment, stress, and early-life adversity all influence long-term health outcomes. Importantly, these differences often remain even after accounting for genetics and individual behaviors such as smoking, diet, or exercise. This raises an important question:   Fig1. How different cells rise to different tissues (partly) To answer this question, we would first need to explain what biological embedding means. Biological embedding is the process by which repeated social and environmental experiences affect the body over time. Epigenetics is one of the main ways this happens, as it controls how genes work without changing the DNA itself. In this way, epigenetics helps us understand how social conditions can “get under the skin,” not as fixed outcomes for individuals, but as general patterns seen across groups of peopl...
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Blog: LLMs in Qualitative Analysis: Navigating the Intersection of Efficiency and Ethical Use

Large Language Models (LLMs) are rapidly becoming part of research practices, and qualitative analysis is no exception. They enable researchers to broaden the scope of their work, analyze large volumes of textual and visual data, and save time on repetitive tasks. The question is no longer whether these advanced tools will be used, but how they can be integrated transparently and ethically into research workflows. Qualitative analysis is a complex practice that relies heavily on human interpretation, reflexivity, and judgment. From initial coding to theme development and the writing of analytical claims supported by evidence, the human element remains essential. Models for using LLMs in qualitative analysis vary widely. These range (1) from integrations with traditional analysis applications, which can provide a secure working environment but are limited by predefined features, to (2) dedicated qualitative AI applications, which offer speed but can be costly and may rely too heavily...
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Blog: The Perfectly Irrational Day

Nobody wakes up thinking, “Today I will be irrational.” And yet, most days work out that way. Ada has a presentation at 10 a.m. She's been rehearsing it for three days — in the shower, on the commute, at 2 a.m. while pretending to sleep. She knows it's cold. She could probably give it half-asleep. Ada is a lawyer at Simpson & Simpson. Her boss thinks she is exceptional. He says it in performance reviews, in passing, in the way he hands her out the interesting problems, and Ada always delivers. In the last year, she has been promoted twice. Slowly, almost invisibly, Ada begins behaving like the capable person her boss already believes she is. Although anxious about meeting her boss's expectations for the presentation, she is still ready to give it to her all. Psychologists call this the Pygmalion Effect—the quiet way other people's expectations shape how we perform. Ada doesn't know any of this. Unable to go back to sleep, she wakes up two hours before her a...
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Blog: How to ask for reference letters?

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Image generated by ChatGPT This week we discussed reference letters for PhD applications and internships, focusing on how to approach potential letter writers and what materials to share. One key takeaway was that, as you progress in your career, it is normal and often helpful to share drafts or bullet points with your referees. The goal is to make the process easy for them and enable them to write a strong, informed letter. When to ask: Request letters well before deadlines so referees have time to reflect and write thoughtfully. Give them an easy way to decline if they cannot provide a strong letter. Ask when your work is still fresh in their mind and before busy academic periods. Avoid last-minute requests or assuming someone will say yes. Early, respectful requests increase the likelihood of a detailed and supportive letter. What to share: Do not assume they remember details or understand the role. Provide a complete packet—your CV, cover or research statements, job descriptio...
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Blog: When Fighting the System Makes It Stronger: The Paradox of Defiance in Literature and Life

There's a particular kind of tragedy that doesn't come from bad luck or outside forces—it comes from the inside, from the very act of trying to escape. It's the tragedy of someone who sees the trap, runs from it, and finds themselves caught anyway. Or worse: someone who never even knew the trap existed, and whose every instinct to survive becomes the mechanism of their own undoing. This is the paradox of defiance. And once you see it, you may start to see it everywhere. Two African Stories, One Uncomfortable Truth Take Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not to Blame , a Yoruba retelling of the Greek myth of Oedipus. A man named Odewale is fated at birth to kill his father and marry his mother. In the Yoruba context, this isn't just a "bad prediction"; it is a decree from the ancestors, a cosmic blueprint. His parents, terrified, try to have him killed as an infant. He survives, is raised elsewhere, and eventually, through pride, anger, and a series of tragic misun...
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Blog: AI and Climate Change: Net Solution or Systemic Risk?

Artificial intelligence is increasingly framed as a climate solution. From optimizing power grids to improving climate models, AI is positioned as an accelerator of decarbonization.But emerging research suggests a more complex reality. Recent analysis in Nature Climate Action argues that AI’s climate impact cannot be evaluated through isolated use cases. Instead, it must be assessed across lifecycle energy demand, infrastructure externalities, governance systems, and information dynamics (Nature Climate Action, 2025).The central question is no longer “ Can AI help climate action?” It is: Under what conditions does AI produce a net climate benefit? Where AI Demonstrably Supports Climate Goals Climate Modeling and Forecasting Machine learning based surrogate models are increasingly augmenting physics-based simulations. Systems developed by Google DeepMind demonstrate that neural architectures can approximate atmospheric dynamics at lower computational cost than traditional numer...
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