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jimnicell.bsky.social
Professor and former Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, McGill University, spouse of a wonder woman, father of 3 men of great character and promise, book and uranium glass addict, and devoted sustainabilist. Not on Twitter. Views are mine alone.
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Canadian wildfires may be 2000 km away, but my city became the most polluted major city in the world yesterday Smoke and pathogens care for no distances or boundaries We are all impacted by such crises Solutions must also be collective www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/weat...

submitted 2 days ago • 2 comments

Alex Usher: Code Red on University Autonomy (here in Canada)

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

Nuff said.

submitted 3 days ago • 44 comments

I guess we always knew that once these people dominated the Executive branch, Congress and Senate, they would inevitably turn on each other. It's coming a bit faster than I expected.

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

I’m with him. I just don’t care what people think anymore.

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Credit where it’s due: Scott Galloway cooked here

submitted 5 days ago • 286 comments

The cameras caught you printing this out and attaching it to my office door. I will be in touch very soon.

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

I’m very saddened to hear that Marc Garneau has passed away. He was very accomplished, as an astronaut and MP, and a wonderful human being. A great Canadian. 🇨🇦🍁🇨🇦🚀🇨🇦

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

During a Fox interview, the founder of Anduril claims that the cost of Trump's Golden Dome will "not be as expensive" and will be "much more effective" than critics believe. Would you trust this person, especially when he stands to benefit financially from contracts on this project?

submitted 5 days ago • 1 comment

Subtext: Elon Musk wants more cuts to government spending on departments that get in the way of his business interests.

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

Metric units are logical and useful, but English units are a lot more fun. Convince me otherwise.

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

Life will find a way.

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

For uranium glass aficionados, here is my latest find: a pair of art deco drapery holdbacks. #uraniumglass

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment

A flying selfie on this beautiful evening.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

I guess alumni networks are particularly valuable during times like these.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

Now, just watch how the US government will weaponize this tragic news to drive a wedge between people within the USA and abroad.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

Join us in congratulating the first graduating class of TISED – the Trailblazers of Sustainable Engineering & Design! #TISEDGraduates #SustainableFuture #EngineeringWithPurpose #CongratsGrads #TISED2025 #TISED #mcgilluniversity @sarahjordaan.bsky.social

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

Academics and students should read this article. Too often, we rush to crucify our leaders who are deeply committed to what we value most and, in the process, fall into the trap of the very people who are actively working to undermine universities. Their superpower is to turn us on each other.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

Unless, of course, it can’t afford to pay.

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Ok, I get it. But I think that a bigger pictures is missed here. Peer review of proposals and papers stifles innovation by typically questioning the prior experience of the researcher, rather than focussing on the quality of the science.

submitted 10 days ago • 1 comment

The problem with AI is that it is performative: it shows us what we want to see, emphasizing look over content. Now, it seems that this is perfectly aligned with government: its not about doing things, its about being seen to do things. Accuracy doesn't matter.

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

Imagine if a thief was caught red-handed in the middle of a robbery, but the justice system allowed the robbery to proceed while the courts tried to figure out whether a theft was really under way.

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

Stumbled? Are you kidding. Conservatives had the election locked in and PP was choosing drapes for his new home. Then things changed and Canada has renewed hope. Carney “stumbled “ up Everest.

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

I'm sure I'll take shit for saying this, but this passage from Glenn Loury's Chronicle interview perfectly captures for me the civilizational necessity of a relatively autonomous academic sphere. www.chronicle.com/article/the-...

submitted 11 days ago • 17 comments

submitted 12 days ago • 326 comments

Brown University has finalized adoption of what might be the best, most thoughtful institutional statement (including an excellent explanatory report) on university public voice that has yet been written. www.brown.edu/news/2025-05...

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

For the first time in more than 40 years, I reread “The Catcher in the Rye.” What I missed in my high school days was an understanding Holden’s visceral disdain for phonies. As an adult, living today’s politics, I now get it.

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

It’s time to haul in the US Ambassador to Canada to ask for an explanation. He told us to “Move on. If the Canadians want to keep talking about it — that's their business. I'm not talking about it; Donald Trump is not talking about it.” You are not credible, sir, and are an embarrassment to the USA.

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

Is there anyway I can block all cat posts from my Bluesky feed?

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

I came here to post loon call videos and doomscroll and I'm just about out of doomscroll right now. 🪶

submitted 13 days ago • 36 comments

Congratulations to our local Member of Parliament, Francis Scarpaleggia, on his election as Speaker of the House.

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments