Amy Sater

The destruction of schools and universities is an attempt to destroy the possibility of imagining a future.

Judith Butler, Barnard College, Feb. 28, 2026 (paraphrased)

“UCLA neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf has shown that deep reading, defined as sustained immersion in a text, builds the cognitive circuits required for critical analysis, empathy and perspective-taking in ways that skimming, scrolling and short-form video simply cannot.”

NSF officials break silence on how AI and quantum now drive agency grantmaking Leaders acknowledge White House role in controversial moves

The National Science Foundation is systematically being converted to the National AI and Quantum Research Foundation.

“I see it as the administration exerting political control over what has traditionally been NSF’s ability to fund the best science.”

#science if you haven't already.

I feel like this kid should have paid attention in Horses 101.

UT System votes to limit 'controversial topics' in class, raising concerns about academic freedom This is the latest move by the state to have more control over what is taught at public universities.

UT System votes to limit 'controversial topics' in class, raising concerns about academic freedom www.kut.org/education/20...

Thank you for this beautiful piece! Todd had such a huge impact on me, and so many others

Well, this is a bit of a plot twist.

So much THIS. And it's true at multiple scales.

WHAT? what sense does this make? it's not entirely clear he can handle the job of directing the NIH and now he's got another major remit?

Supporting exciting biological sciences ideas and impacts on AI and biotechnology

New letter from BIO leadership...

www.nsf.gov/bio/updates/...

FDA reverses course, agrees to review Moderna’s flu vaccine The FDA reversed course and told Moderna it would review its application for a new flu vaccine, the company announced Wednesday.

BREAKING: FDA reverses course and will now review Moderna's flu vaccine, the company announced Wednesday www.statnews.com/2026/02/18/f...

Texas Takes A Flamethrower To Higher Ed (And Calls It 'Reform') - Above the Law The enshittification of Texas universities has begun!

My Latest: Texas Takes a Flamethrower to Higher Ed (and calls it "reform").

The enshittification of Texas universities by legislators who are aura farming has begun!

abovethelaw.com/2026/02/texa...

Dear friends: I will visit the UK the last two weeks of April to conduct a book tour for *Freedom Ship*, to be published next month by @versobooks.bsky.social, and to screen my new film, *Becoming Benjaman Lay*, directed by Tony Buba. I’ll have info on specific events soon.

How 2 University Freshman Are Tracking ICE Enforcement Actions Across the Country With ICE Map, Rice University students Jack Vu and Abby Manuel hope to help communities understand where immigration enforcement activity is happening and how it unfolds in real time.

Two Rice University undergrads (freshmen!) built a digital mapping tool to track ICE activity. Students are OK.

www.thenation.com/article/acti...

I’m beginning every panel I chair for the rest of my career with this frontal attack…

Davis Summer Population Genomics Program Want to learn population genetics? Please fill out this form to indicate your potential interest in a 2-week intensive online summer population genetics course taught by Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra and Graham...

Fun news! @gcbias.bsky.social and I are teaching a 2-week online population genetics workshop this summer to raise money for the Center for Population Biology at UC Davis. We're trying to gauge interest -- please fill this out if you might be interested! And please share broadly!

As AI enters the operating room, reports arise of botched surgeries and misidentified body parts Medical device makers have been rushing to add AI to their products. While proponents say the new technology will revolutionize medicine, regulators are receiving a rising number of claims of patient ...

When AI was added to a tool for sinus surgery: “Cerebrospinal fluid leaked from one patient’s nose. In another… a surgeon mistakenly punctured the base of a patient’s skull. In two other cases, patients suffered strokes after a major artery was accidentally injured”

www.reuters.com/investigatio...

This is exactly IT. I very much appreciate your (usual) clarity here

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB)

Holy shit: it's an RFP for the NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology (PRFB). Hello old friend www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...

The State Dept is reviewing the online presence of all applicants for F,M,J,H1B visas. I warn clients all the time about the risks of international travel. Visa processing today is a minefield & it's key to weigh risks before going. This is one example of what we are seeing.

Texas’ newest inspector general will target ‘educator misconduct’ The Texas Education Agency has named former Assistant Attorney General Levi Fuller as the state's first Inspector General of Educator Misconduct – this as Texas toughens education policies.

The Texas Education Agency has named former Assistant Attorney General Levi Fuller as the state's first Inspector General of Educator Misconduct – this as Texas toughens education policies.

“I’m on something of a campaign to strengthen Texas Monthly’s ties with our state’s universities. I’m eager to meet with folks on campus. I’m particularly ready to speak with students and teachers in journalism, media, and communications departments…“ 👇👇

Terrific - and utterly horrifying - thread:

Many of my science colleagues are not speaking out-I suspect due to the fear Phil notes, that they'll targeted for loss of funding. I hope they read this account of what happened at a faculty meeting at Frankfurt University in 1933 as the Nazi's took control 🧪
www.facinghistory.org/resource-lib...

Israel to end Doctors Without Borders work in Gaza Israel said Sunday it would end the work of Doctors Without Borders in Gaza after it failed to provide a list of its Palestinian staff.

Israel to end Doctors Without Borders work in Gaza

So did I - going to protests / participating in political events & campaigns was an ongoing theme when I was a kid, and I continued that with my (now-grown) sons. The difference now is that the feds are driving escalation - yesterday's march showed again that things can flare up in an instant

Where was this? a good "minus" tide, right? Thanks for posting - both the octopus and the limpet!

Done - and reposted the call. Thanks for sharing this!

Bold text reading 'CANCEL CHATGPT EDU.' with a red banner stating 'INVEST IN HUMANS' over a dark board background.

The CSU/OpenAI contract is set to expire June 30, 2026.

Sign this petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/cancel-chatgpt-edu-invest-in-humans/ for the CSU NOT to renew the contract and to use the savings to protect jobs at CSU campuses facing layoffs.