Despite previously living in Kyoto and having visited many times, yesterday was my first time seeing the Gion Matsuri (ironically my host dad has still never seen it despite living there his whole life). And while enduring the absolutely sweltering conditions during the event I listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist!

First was a great talk by Timothy E. Brown on bioethics and neuroscience at the University of Washington eScience Institute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrsVMri-Jx0

Next was an excellent talk by Caterina Gratton on human functional brain networks at the eScience Institute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98gjZ61aOLI

Next was "African Motors" by Joshua Grace. This is a fascinating examination of various industries and career trajectories associated with automobiles in independent Tanzania, covering the introduction of roads and the car, mechanics, automobile modification/assembly, oil/energy, and drivers. Grace deftly combines quantitative macro data, political context, and deep qualitative research to deliver a compelling holistic perspective on these different industries, demonstrating both the inherent socio-technical nature of these systems as well as the extremely innovative and unique responses to local automotive challenges. The chapter on repair garages was absolutely incredible, with the career development pathways and on the job training processes and new vehicle construction in this space presented in amazing detail. Highly recommend https://www.dukeupress.edu/african-motors

Last was "Reclaiming Anishinaabe Law" by Leo Baskatawang. This is an insightful, personal dive into the relationship between the Anishinaabe people and the colonial/Canadian government, focusing on legal and historical developments over the past few centuries and the implications for Anishinaabe-driven educational reform. While I'm not the target audience for this book, I found it both moving and enlightening, with Baskatawang demonstrating the importance of analyzing treaties in their historical context and the long reverberations of injustice. I would've liked a bit more macro context to better understand the scale of the issues identified here, but Baskatawang does cite relevant work for follow on reading. Highly recommend https://uofmpress.ca/books/reclaiming-anishinaabe-law