Susan Perkins

First session of “Hacking College” by Ned Laff and @carlsonics.bsky.social book group yesterday with new academic advisors at SUNY Potsdam. So much excitement about implementing ideas into our model of student support.

I always feel like if there’s a bodega cat there, it makes itself known!

Has a cat
Sells weed pens
Is playing a baseball game
Is playing a cricket match
Sells lottery tickets

Really wanted to send in a piece for your contest, @carlsonics.bsky.social but this month has been a whirlwind of real estate and moving. You will just have to take a vacation again next year! 😁

Moderna withdraws application for COVID-flu combination vaccine Moderna said on Wednesday it has withdrawn an application seeking approval for its flu and COVID combination vaccine candidate after discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

This is absolutely terrible news.

With the shifting regulatory climate (i.e., antivax ratfuckery), Moderna has withdrawn their application for their eagerly anticipated COVID-flu combo vaccine. This vaccine offered better protection than getting each shot separately.

h/t @merz.bsky.social

say it again:

4 million people work in higher ed, the largest employer in 10 states, second largest employer in 10 more, and in 60 of the 100 biggest cities

ROI for NIH and NSF for local economies is conservatively 4x, often close to 10x

demolishing higher education is economic sabotage

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

Um…these numbers/proportions say quite a lot.

www.science.org/content/arti...

Unsplash image of the Earth, mostly the nightside with a tracery of city lights on every continent.

OK, this is wild.

In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.

It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.

What the HELL?

1/

I obviously loved it. Bought 5 more copies for the advising team at Potsdam and excited to discuss. Hoping to do a pilot cohort this fall! Let’s keep in touch about this!

She is so ridiculous.

Karen by Night Jill Sobule · Jill Sobule · Song · 1995

As I remember the amazing and special @jillsobule.bsky.social , this one just went up several notches. It’s brilliant and fun - just like her. open.spotify.com/track/26Cm9S...

Measles: The race to understand 'immune amnesia' Scientists have known for years that measles can alter the immune system – but the latest evidence suggests it's less of a mild tweaking, and more of a total reset.

www.bbc.com/future/artic...

Hey everyone! Your friendly microbiologist here with a PSA. Measles can wipe out a lots of your B cells…the memory cells of your immune system. It’s called “immune amnesia” - so, you might survive the measles infection…but your immunity to every other infection could be lost/diminished for years.

Who is ready for #Caturday?! Reese is!!

Trump proposes unprecedented budget cuts to US science Huge reductions, if enacted, could have ‘catastrophic’ effects on US competitiveness and the scientific pipeline, critics say.

For decades, the US raced to be the best in STEM. Now, while we are in a race to literally sustain human life on this planet, the US has benched its starters and canceled all training camps. It won’t just end our country - it may cause the extinction of our species. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Just read the phrase “rapidly evolving research landscape.” I would prefer “temporarily bass-ackwards.”

Is it #Caturday yet?

(It is paywalled, but most colleges have a library subscription!)

Opinion | The Incoherent Policy Change Wreaking Havoc on University Research The fight over NIH indirect costs has high stakes.

Such a good essay! “If the federal government holds an abiding distrust of universities, why would it leave the nation’s research infrastructure even more completely in their hands?” www.chronicle.com/article/the-...

For freaks sake, stop saying protestors are paid. It’s literally what the protests were about - I.e., paying to get what you want as opposed to democratic decisions.

Happy #Caturday

It will be live.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised Gil Scott-Heron · Pieces of a Man · Song · 1971

Everyone download this now. open.spotify.com/track/7kjg2N...

Rapa Nui is magical!!

THIS IS HUGE! Researchers at McMaster University have discovered a NEW peptide antibiotic that targets a broad range of disease-causing bacteria INCLUDING those RESISTANT to existing antibiotics. This discovery marks the first potential new class of antibiotics in NEARLY 30 YEARS. 🧪🧵⬇️

Yes!! Just posted a one-sentence version of that on FB.

Or play Question of the Day on @wfuv.bsky.social and do this every day! It’s on their app and you can stream the station from anywhere!

Who wore it better?

Everyone needs to see the new film “Counted Out: Math is Power” - it’s vital!!

And there’s that. We are in such a weird place. Hoping we can get back…hoping for the core to survive.