Todd Farrell

I've been telling people I've been studying/teaching politics for over a decade and I've never had any response other than "well it's an interesting time to be studying/teaching politics!"

Is that what started the revolving PM door? 2009 seems like an eternity ago given I can't imagine you would need quite as much now.

Gonna need to add a bit more to this work in progress, huh?

Long weekend in Sydney was sorely needed. Ready to really get back into it.

I've been reading a lot of different universities approaches to AI and got thinking a lot on what the future looks like and am procrastinating by sending some Skeets into the void haha.

EF roles definitely have their pitfalls, but at the end of the day universities main role is actually to educate. The AI stuff has shined a light on what it is we actually do and whether the way we do it is actually working now AI can trivialise prior ways of doing. It's our time, baby.

I too am tired of GenAI, but one unintended effect is universities have to actually reckon with what they are teaching and it's revitalised education-focussed folk.

I've been on the edges of APSA's Teaching and Learning Caucus when it was like, 4 people in a room. At the last APSA, it was 40.

I literally saw the first three words and went "Ika, no!"

Academic reviews paper citing a paper “by” reviewer that doesn’t exist. Discovers a version of the nonexistent paper in Google Scholar cited 42 times, including by a “metaanalysis”, that “gold standard” of research. The paper does not exist. Nobody citing it could have read it as it does not exist.

Education Focussed Academics: How do you deal with December? I am absolutely shattered and trying desperately to do anything of productivity and failing hard.

6 years is a heck of an innings for this. I'm currently sick as well.

GVT abolition is a must, but it would be interesting if anything else got up as I don't think Victoria's had a referendum since statehood. It might just have to be 8x5, which to me given it's not malapportioned and based on lower house district borders, is largely the best way to do that system.

Left hand holding a certificate that says SSPS Honourable Mention Teaching Excellence in Tutoring awarded to Dr Todd Farrell.

Although I've got that post-semester cold/flu, stumbled in to End of Year drinks masked-up and was thrilled to get an Honourable Mention for SSPS Teaching Excellence in Tutoring. This is student-nominated so I am so thankful for my students for putting me forward :)

I enjoy conferencing. Especially because it feels like my people and nice to make good of my 20% research allocation :) #AusPSA

I'm manning the desks at APSA this year before my talk. If I'm honest, the semester has taken its toll and I'm definitely feeling it, but really cool to welcome folks to University of Melbourne and introduce them to the joys of trying to find the George Loughlin Room in BioSciences 4 :)

YouTube video by WhamVEVO Wham! - A Ray of Sunshine (Live from The Tube 1983)

When I am in the throes of marking, I hyperfocus on a specific song for each semester. This time around it's Wham's 'A Ray of Sunshine' BUT specifically the version they performed on The Tube in 1983.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQnI...

MythBusters tested it and had it as 'confirmed' so I reckon it's a thing.

1975 is the peak of two-party Australia. It's been nothing but slow decay for both party groupings since.

Was weird they had the worst system while having some of the best features.

It seems like that will be what it takes for parties to sit up and take notice given only WA's gone ahead.

I absolutely have albums that are for marking to and employ a lot of RPG boss battle music.

WAEC had a really bad 2025, which might explain state/territory to a point.

Academia is knowing who the guy in the box seat to be the Dutch PM is because you've been tracking him in your database of Queer MPs for 2 years and recognise his name.

While my colleagues are doing great work as the semester winds down, I'm going to start writing up my qualitative analysis of my case study next week.
Which coffee is the best at Melbourne Uni Parkville? Watch this space!

As a Senate watcher, their Senate vote was massive. Even in previously safe Green seats the Labor vote shot right up.

Great two days as part of the @auspsa.bsky.social Teaching and Learning Workshop on Digital Transformation. I spoke about the incoming assured assessment policy at UniMelb and some early adoptions and challenges. All I got was this artistic photo at the lifts, but amazing talks all around :)

Maybe it's a commentary of the quality.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY. - The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) - 11 Oct 1907 Two important answers were given by Ministers to questions. Ono was in anawer to Mr. Brownell that £1,000 will be spent in widening the Huon-road in ...

On the discussion about the introduction, all I know is a Mercury Article reporting the Bill where it passed noted one Ellis Dean fear it might -benefit- Labour, so who knows?
trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

It would be fitting in a way.

Strange Aeons the YouTuber wearing a party hat (it's a long story) under a screen that has on it 'The greatest research skill you can have is being a nosy bitch who wants to find out'.

I honestly think this is something we should remind our students about the power of curiosity.
From STRANGE ÆONS on YouTube (www.youtube.com/@STRANGEONS)