Ashley A. Dineen

Almost word for the word the same thing happened with my sweet girl, Penelope, last July. Saying goodbye is so incredibly hard 🌈❤️

The @paleosoc.bsky.social Collections Committee is gathering responses from anyone who works in a paleontological/geological collection in the US about the current state of funding. It can be submitted in as little as 5 minutes (but the more detail the better)! Link here: forms.gle/6C5E5GS4MZ58....

In a shocking turn of events, I recently found out that I was awarded my first NSF research grant as a PI!

And while I'm ecstatic, it is definitely a conflicting feeling to celebrate right now when so many others have seen their funding pulled for no reason at all.

Day 1 and 2 of #SPNHC2025!

Trump officials take steps toward a radically different NSF Efforts to shrink staff, budget, and focus have alarmed members of Congress

🧪 The NSF grant terminations hit women, racial & ethnic minorities, and those with disabilities the hardest.

E.g.:

--Female PIs were 58% of canceled grants (but 34% of all active grants)

--Black PIs were 17% of canceled grants (but 4% as base rate)

A closer look shows this is structural... 🧵

About EES The NSF Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM (EES) aims to provide opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds, especially those historically underrepresented in science and engineering.

NSF’s entire Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM (EDU/EES), which “aims to provide opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to actively participate and excel in STEM disciplines” and some of it congressionally mandated, was just notified they will be RIFed. www.nsf.gov/edu/ees/about

“Save the US NSF” Take Action Toolkit www.savensf.com

It's the last day of classes! Congratulations to all those graduating and good luck on your exams. Go Bears! 🐻🐻🐻🦖🐻🐻🐻

Apply for Senior Museum Scientist in Paleobotany at the UCMP. Learn more:
ucmp.berkeley.edu/2025/04/appl...

NSF halts grant awards while staff do second review Action comes after DOGE team arrives at science agency

NSF halts grant awards while staff do second review | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

Evolution Going Great, Reports Trilobite Slowly inching his segmented exoskeleton across the sea floor, a local marine arthropod, class Trilobita, reported that Earth’s natural evolution was "progressing quite nicely."

“It’s a wonderful time to be alive,” said the tri-lobed creature, its protruding feelers and antennules twitching spasmodically with anticipation. “To be born during this, the Cambrian Explosion—why, I couldn’t imagine a better period, really.”

Very proud of my home state 😊

On Wisconsin!

UC workers set for 1-day strike over contract For the third time in about four months, University of California health care and other workers plan to walk off the job Tuesday.

UC continues to stand in the way of meaningful negotiations to address the staffing crisis hurting patients, research, and students, opting instead for illegal divide-and-conquer tactics and unfair labor practices. Enough.

University of California employee labor group authorizes third strike in last six months ISLA VISTA, Calif. – On Friday, University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) -a union representing about 20,000 technical and research workers

"UC leadership needs to ask itself if they want to side with the billionaires trying to dismantle public healthcare, research, and education, or the frontline workers who are fighting to protect our services and the people who depend on them."

Trump order could wipe out federal support for U.S. science museums Institute of Museum and Library Services now run by Department of Labor as part of proposed dismantling

IMLS, the primary source of federal support for U.S. libraries and museums, is one of seven independent agencies that President Donald Trump wants to dismantle because he believes what they do is “unnecessary.” scim.ag/4iryNlY

University of California orders hiring freeze, cuts in response to Trump threats As the Trump administration threatens to pull federal funds from universities, including those for medical and scientific research, the University of California has announced a hiring freeze and additional cuts.

As the Trump administration threatens to pull federal funds from universities, including those for medical and scientific research, the University of California has announced a hiring freeze and additional cuts.

General Public: Urge Congress to Save IMLS On March 14, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing further cuts to the government agency that efficiently provides CRITICAL funding to museums and libraries in all 50 states.The Institut...

A recent Executive Order would gut the only federal agency dedicated to America’s museums. The Institute of Museum & Library Services makes up only 0.0046% of the federal budget. Take action now: www.congressweb.com/aam/95/

can't believe it's 2025 and i'm stressed about tariffs and measles, like am i a character in an american girl book

Day 3 of our strike against UC's refusal to negotiate a fair contract #UPTE #UC #UCBerkeley #UnionStrong

UC health and research workers in two unions stage statewide strike University of California health, laboratory, mental health and IT workers are demanding better pay and more resources.

“UC has tremendous resources — $20 billion in reserves. They should be supporting research as we face federal attacks."

UC, your time is better spent protecting public healthcare, research & education—not undermining workers' rights & bargaining in bad faith.

www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/27/u...

Day 2 of our strike against UC's refusal to negotiate a fair contract #upte #UC #AFSCME #UCBerkeley #UnionStrong

Absolutely massive march of strikers in Westwood at UCLA @afscme3299.bsky.social @uptecwa.bsky.social. Biggest protest I’ve seen in some years. Quite a show of solidarity!

It's a lovely morning to strike 😎 #upte #UC #strike #asfcme

Boooooooo 👎

US science agency reclassifies hundreds of workers as probationary, US lawmaker says National Science Foundation administrators reclassified hundreds of employees from permanent to probationary status in violation of labor contracts, according to a U.S. lawmaker and agency employee.

www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

Labor strikes planned at all UC campuses and medical centers, union officials say Up to tens of thousands of unionized University of California workers are poised to strike this month across all 10 UC campuses and five medical centers.

www.sfchronicle.com/health/artic...

Utterly devastating....