Paul Smaldino @psmaldino@qoto.org

New paper out in Phil Trans B with Karolina Safarzynska. Simple model of a group-structured public good with externalities shifting benefits toward more inequality or more equity. Only redistributional externalities increase cooperation. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2022.0267

For my (obligatory) lectures on consciousness in my Intro CogSci class, I assign Douglas Hofstadter's "Careenium" essay from 1982. No matter how many times I re-read it, I always find new stuff in there. What a delight.

@dbkrupp maybe! 🤪

Solid press release about my book from UC Merced. They did cut a quote I gave them where I said I hoped literally everyone in the world would read it, but I suppose we should err on the side of humility.

https://news.ucmerced.edu/news/2023/cognitive-science-professor%E2%80%99s-first-book-released-princeton-university-press

Andrew Gelman reviewed my book, Modeling Social Behavior.

“The book has social science, it has code, it has graphs—it’s got everything… I hope it’s taught in thousands of classes and sells a zillion copies.”

https://statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2023/10/24/modeling-social-behavior-paul-smaldinos-cool-new-textbook-on-agent-based-modeling/

@epower For whatever reason, the UK publication date is November 28. Shenanigans if you ask me.

I listened to this and realized that, in reference to disciplinary structure in the human sciences, I yelled “Burn it all down!” not once but twice. I stand by it.

Good times on the BJKS podcast. If for whatever reason you want to listen to me ramble about career trajectories, modeling social behavior, and the state of academic science, have a listen.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1390924/13689768-75-paul-smaldino-modeling-social-behavior-the-value-of-false-models-and-research-beyond-traditional-disciplines

Publication day! The modeling textbook I started five years ago is finally out today. I'm proud of it, and really grateful to everyone who helped make it better.

PUP: https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691224145/modeling-social-behavior

AMZN: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691224145?tag=it_books_com-20

My book, Modeling Social Behavior, comes out in just 5 days in North America and the EU. Zounds! I think it's very good and you should get it, but you don't have to take my word for it -- the 1st chapter is free on the PUP website.
PUP: https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691224145/modeling-social-behavior
AMZN: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691224145?tag=it_books_com-20

@colaresi Thanks! I like to think it’s very complimentary to The Model Thinker (I’m a big fan of that book).

In four weeks, my book comes out in the US. Insanity. If you're interested, you can pre-order at the usual spots.

PUP: https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691224145/modeling-social-behavior

AMZN: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691224145?tag=it_books_com-20

@conjugateprior You reminded me of a great Vonnegut quote from Breakfast of Champions. "The proper ending for any story about people it seems to me, since life is now a polymer in which the Earth is wrapped so tightly, should be that same abbreviation, which I now write large because I feel like it, which is this one: ETC."

@dlakelan Mingus is the best.

@anandphilipc also, to some extent, ALL science is data science 🤷‍♂️