Andy Leber

Moments Lab

Last month, I launched my lab at Ohio State. Our lab website is now live, and we're recruiting graduate students this cycle! If you're interested in the cognitive (neuro)science of learning & memory, please reach out!

www.momentslab.org

Thanks for taking a look!

Jenny Lin and I recently looked at strategy use in visual WM encoding over time. While the group average might suggest gradual improvement, individual data showed the entire improvement was attributed to sudden insight of the optimal strategy (see the orange lines).

psycnet.apa.org/record/2025-...

Join us tomorrow for our very first OPAM online workshop! In it @rebeccahirst.bsky.social will show us how Psychopy can be a useful tool for designing experiments both in person (with eyetracking!!) and online. The workshop will be completely free and a video will be posted online afterwards!

Can confirm that my NSF grant "How False Beliefs Form & How to Correct Them" was cancelled today because it is "not in alignment with current NSF priorities" Shocking that understanding how people are misled by false information is now a forbidden topic. Our work will continue but at a smaller scale

Text of email: Dear [redacted], The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has undertaken a review of its award portfolio. Each award was carefully and individually reviewed, and the agency has determined that termination of certain awards is necessary because they are not in alignment with current NSF priorities. Effective immediately, the following are terminated: [redacted] NSF is issuing this termination to protect the interests of the government pursuant to NSF Grant General Conditions (GC-1) term and condition entitled Termination and Enforcement; on the basis that they no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities. This is the final agency decision and not subject to appeal. Costs incurred as a result of this termination may be reimbursed, provided such costs would otherwise be allowable under the terms of the award and the governing cost principles. In accordance with your award terms and conditions, you have 30 days from the termination date to furnish a summary of progress under the award and an itemized accounting of allowable costs incurred prior to the termination date. Sincerely, [redacted] Division Director Office of Budget Finance and Award Management (BFA) Division of Grants and Agreements (DGA)

Here's a copy of an NSF grant termination notice that went out today. "NSF is issuing this termination to protect the interests of the government pursuant...on the basis that they no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities." Not subject to appeal. #HigherEd #AcademicSky

A University President Makes a Case Against Cowardice The Trump Administration wants to punish schools for student activism. Michael Roth, of Wesleyan, argues that colleges don’t have to roll over.

www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...

College/university faculty colleagues:

I’ve signed this petition, alongside thousands of faculty across the US, which urges coordinated, collective action to respond to the administration’s attacks on funding and academic freedom. Please consider signing too.

sites.google.com/view/we-must...

As I have stated already, I reject the administration's steps to defund universities under the guise of protecting Jews from anti-semitism. Not in my name! If you are a Jewish academic and feel similarly, please read the post below and consider signing this important letter.

Just got an email from the Fulbright Association. As of right now, funding has been cut off to 12,500 US citizens currently abroad and and more than 7,400 foreigner scholars and students in the United States

Photo of many people at a rally in front of a government building

Photo of many people at a rally in front of a government building

Photo of a person at a rally wearing a placard that says "Got smallpox? Polio? Measles? Me neither! #fundscience

People gathering around a table, making posters

Columbus Ohio stood up today. At the peak, we counted 2800 people!

#standupforscience

As a professor & a Jew I’m sick to my heart about the attack on Columbia—which is a) escalation of the war on all of higher ed; b) Jew-washing fascism, with the intention of inciting more antisemitism, which in turn will be used as cover for more fascism.

Trump Administration Cancels $400 Million in Grants and Contracts to Columbia University The Trump administration blamed the university’s failure to protect Jewish students from harassment during protests last year over the war in Gaza.

All of this can be true: Hamas is a terrorist organization; Anti-semitism cannot be tolerated; Palestinians have suffered terribly; Islamophobia cannot be tolerated; We all deserve peace, safety & freedom.

And punishing a whole university brings only harm. As a Jew, I don't want this in my name.

Compelling pushback from @jmgrohneuro.bsky.social and the Board of Scientific Counselors at the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH) regarding termination of tenure-track investigators driven by DOGE.

1/2

An important statement from the American Bar Association. www.americanbar.org/news/abanews...

Rubio terminated 5800 USAID contracts – more than 90% of its foreign aid programs – in defiance of the courts.

Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵

Photo of the United States with a color code for states that have rallies confirmed, in progress, needing a leader, or no leader.

🚨 WANT TO HELP US STAND UP FOR SCIENCE? 🚨

Here's a little update on where we're currently at with the planning process!

Is your state red or grey & you want to see an event happen? Fill out our volunteer form or share with a friend! airtable.com/app4h5wUssMG...

#standupforscience2025

Gov. Mills: I’ll comply with the state and federal laws

Trump: We are the federal law. You better do it because you’re not going to get any federal funds.

Gov Mills: See you in court

Just 12 of my Bluesky connections are following this account. If you are looking to fight for science in the US, please give a follow, and please make a plan for March 7th!

Donald Trump's popularity, Democrats' response, Elon Musk, DOGE, and Gaza: February 9-11, 2025 Economist/YouGov Poll | YouGov This week’s Economist/YouGov poll covers Donald Trump's popularity, his executive orders, congressional responses, Elon Musk, DOGE, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Their policies are unpopular, and so are they. And the trend is heading downward. Keep talking to your friends and loved ones.

today.yougov.com/politics/art...

Yosemite halts camping reservations, with no timetable for their return Yosemite halts camping reservations, with no timetable for their return at a time when federal employees are being laid off

Want to go visit the national parks this year?
Sorry.
The reservation system is shut down, EMT personnel are gone, so don't get hurt or lost. No one can clean the bathrooms or cabins, so they'll be closed. Rangers are fired.

www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

Another way the dictatorship might kill you. This is from a friend who is a retired air traffic controller.

Curious how they calculate this. Im guessing there’s a massive resale (at low prices) by season ticket holders who can’t/won’t go to the Cleveland game, and that alone could be putting them at #1 in transactions. Note that’s a MIA game that probably gets credited to the Crew.

Mark your calendars!

Breeches? Is that an intentional play on words?

list of banned keywords

🚨BREAKING. From a program officer at the National Science Foundation, a list of keywords that can cause a grant to be pulled. I will be sharing screenshots of these keywords along with a decision tree. Please share widely. This is a crisis for academic freedom & science.

Marco Rubio's new acting undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, ladies and gentlemen.

Humanity is constantly in a struggle against tyranny. A cardinal rule of the fascist playbook is to divide us, but now more than ever is a time for everyone struggling for freedom, peace, and prosperity everywhere to work together. Sure, boo the anthem, but don’t let them take away your empathy.

AP&P is a fantastic journal that is close to my own heart (for which I have served as Associate Editor for the past few years). @sarahshomstein.bsky.social is leaving big shoes to fill as she departs as Editor in Chief, so please help the Journal find the best possible person for the job!