Liz Haswell

Some good advice in here but one critical piece I always give is this:

Get a hobby. Preferably a mildly social one. One that has NOTHING TO DO WITH SCIENCE. NOTHING.

You need friends. Not colleagues. FRIENDS. Friends who will love you no matter your research prospects...

Sometimes I think about how from 1935-1975ish, Bell Labs produced an insane amount of revolutionary science and technology, including 11 Nobel Prizes, the transistor, UNIX, C, the laser, the solar cell, information theory, etc. The secret? Provide scientists with ample, steady, no-strings funding.

Week 37 Sept 27-Oct 2, 2025 - hold the door

Each Friday, I summarize what is happening to American science & higher ed. 🧪
This was Week 37:
- 9 universities face loyalty oath (“compact”)
- government shutdown - impact on services & fear of further RIFs
- four NIH directors officially fired

& so much more buttondown.com/liminalcreat...

Furloughed NIH worker: Left office with 'pit' in my stomach about future of our country On day three of the government shutdown, around 750,000 federal employees are furloughed as the White House threatens mass firings as early as today. Furloughed NIH Program Director Jenna Norton joins...

Shared how the greater shutdown of NIH science has been underway since January on @msnbc.com today.

We need Congress to stand firm to protect science, democracy and the American people.

www.msnbc.com/katy-tur/wat...

The only thing wrong with this editorial is that is too late.

Where was this disbelief from 2020-2024?

It’s been obvious for years that Makary snd Bhattacharya are bad faith actors.

The evidence is abundant and public.

sciencebasedmedicine.org/questions/

UPenn professors have responded forcefully to the Trump administration's that colleges sign a "compact" in order to secure funding:

"When an invitation is accompanied by consequences for not accepting it, it is in fact a threat, not an invitation." aaup-penn.org/statement-by...

I just heard Elizabeth Warren lose her patience with an NPR reporter on this topic, and for good reason!

"What is happening in this country is happening because science is bad for tyrants, and always has been"

Today is bittersweet for me, as I have now officially retired from the USDA-ARS.

It is still difficult for me that the doors to the Lovett Lab have closed.

I am so grateful for the community and science we were able to stir up as a research scientist at the USDA.

Opinion | Mourn, or Else

“We have to reject the idea that our only, best power is our pocketbooks. . . Our power isn’t in making one of the choices that are presented to us. Our power is in shaping the choices available to us.”

BLISTERING essay by @tressiemcphd.bsky.social in today’s NYT

So as part of an art project to be presented later next year, I am exploring the topic of eugenics using plant breeding as the medium. We often select for "perfection", but what does that mean? Who arbitrates taste in such a way as to label a living being "unworthy"? 🧵 1/n

The new #NSF #GRFP application now excludes 1000’s of students, including those who were told they could apply this year, or who planned to apply next year.

We have a new specific petition urging #NSFGRFP undo this harmful action. If you are impacted sign here: laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/

There is time to urge a change to the current #GRFP solicitation ( #NSF 25-547 ): reverse the eligibility restrictions and ensure applicants (including 2nd year PhD students) have a fair chance in the competition.

Feel free to sign and share this open petition:
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/

I love him! He did a a great press conference on Sunday

gross!!!!

I'm gonna be saying "was silence not an option?" from now on

# of paragraphs for news orgs to mention there's no discernable need to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon

The Guardian: 1st paragraph
BBC: 4th paragraph
AP: 5th paragraph
Time: 6th paragraph
Politico: 8th paragraph
NPR: 9th paragraph
CNN: 10th paragraph
NBC: 12th paragraph
Fox News: never mentions

One of the hardest parts of being an ex-academic in this moment is realizing how much optimism I STILL had for academia, even after resigning, and how much of that optimism was totally unfounded 😩 #academicsky

Here is my savage, depraved community garden #WarRavagedPortland #PDX

You may want to collaborate with @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social ?
bsky.app/profile/jaso...

If you don't know @jeremymberg.bsky.social you should. He's a hero for our times. Scientist, former institute director at #NIH, former editor-in-chief for @science.org. He is what public service is about. None of the current Administration leaders even come close to his contribution to science.

Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.

The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP

jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/

How Can Open Science Practices Increase Trust In Research? | Shorenstein Center Join representatives from each stage of open science for a frank discussion of how each part of the publishing process must adapt to make sure open science advances not just science itself, but societ...

On October 6, please join me, @richardsever.bsky.social, @rachelzamzow.bsky.social, and @gabestein.com for a virtual panel: how can we make sure open science advances not just science itself, but society’s understanding of, trust in, and willingness to invest in research? Register here:

Opinion | Civility Is a Fantasy

“We are at such a dangerous and delicate moment in American history. The onus is on all of us to reject the fantasy of civility in favor of repair. This country is broken, but that need not be permanent.” @roxanegay.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...

WTF please be kidding

White House press conference with Trump, RFK Jr, Marty Makary, and Dr. Oz, for fuck's sake

It is representative of a *profound* failure of a country that this group of people are up there talking about medicine and science at all

The future of @cibss.bsky.social @uni-freiburg.de is about teamwork, curiosity, and collaboration across disciplines.

We are thrilled to be in this together @kraftlabfr.bsky.social @archaellum.bsky.social @kleinevehnlab.bsky.social !

Trump administration to add $100,000 fee for H-1B visas The Trump administration is targeting a visa widely used by tech companies and other employers to hire foreign workers.

Of all the stupid things that this regime has done, this is right up near the top. Postdoctoral researchers come to the US on H-1B visas. This will further destroy the US science enterprise. Stupid stupid stupid.

Lessons from Radioactive Shrimp and slugs with pine needles on their butts

My latest post over on Unprofessoring: some thoughts about witnessing, creating community, and a pitch for @unbreaking.org 🍤