Deadline to submit an abstract for the 3rd Biennial Conference of North American Forest Genetics Society (NAFGS) has been extended by one week! New deadline: March 9th June 15th–19th, 2026 | Université Laval, Québec City, Canada www.nafgs.org/conference2026

North American Forest Genetics Society #NAFGS26 🌲 🌳 🧬! Abstracts due Mar 1 | Travel Awards Mar 8 | Early Reg ends Mar 31 | Looking forward to welcoming you & our invited speakers in Québec City: @jillahamilton.bsky.social @cavenderg9.bsky.social @jeansebmoore.bsky.social @arthurouaknine.bsky.social

My grad student, who got RWR and appealed, got an email from GRFP program today that said "Your application was screened by NSF program officers with expertise in your proposed field of study and was determined to be ineligible according to the solicitation requirements." No details were given. 😡

NSF GRFP applicants (and mentors): Was your application Returned Without Review and deemed ineligible despite fitting in the allowed topics? 1) Write NSF 2) Write your Congressperson 3) CC us at [email protected] so we can compile + follow up Details and template at grant-witness.us/grfp-letter

Special Feature: A new special issue explores genomic forecasting, a promising, but developing tool for conservation. The verdict: it's a useful approach, but its reliability often depends on the context. Read now ahead of print! www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

If you are a student whose NSF GRFP application was returned without review for vague 'eligibility' reasons: 1) Let your department chair & Graduate School know. Encourage them to contact NSF & congress 2) Write to your congressional reps. 3) Write to [email protected] to request re-consideration;

Calling all @uconn.bsky.social undergrads! Integrated @uconnresearch.bsky.social training program for #biodiversity #genomics! Sum2026-Spr2027: Research how species respond to environmental change. Gain experience w/ #genetics & #bioinformatics: generate a reference genome for a threatened species

Biennial Conference of the North American Forest Genetics Society: Université Laval in Québec City, QC - June 15-19th! Abstract submission & registration are open! Deadline for abstract submission (posters & talks): March 1st Early registration closes: March 31st www.nafgs.org/conference2026

SCBNA strongly opposes the decision of the U.S. to withdraw from more than 60 international scientific, environmental, and cultural organizations. Full statement: tinyurl.com/5n7s9wk8

Join us Sat night (Jan 10th) at #PAG33 for our #CartograPlant workshop: integration of genotype, phenotype, and environment for georeferenced plant populations @agbiodata.bsky.social @usdagov.bsky.social @uconnresearch.bsky.social Presentations by @meghanmyles.bsky.social & @brandonlind.bsky.social

Improve the accuracy and efficiency of the structural and functional #genome annotation! Learn more from lead developer, @cynthiawebster.bsky.social at the #EASEL and #EnTAP session at #PAG33 on Jan 11th! Demonstration + invited talks! @ebpgenome.bsky.social

Excited to host our @nanoporetech.com Org.one workshop: #Genomes for the #Conservation of Endangered Species at #PAG33 on Fri Jan 9th 10:30am! Join us for a set of biodiverse talks 🌳🦜 🐸 🧬 @uconnresearch.bsky.social @ebpgenome.bsky.social @vertebrategenomes.bsky.social

#PAG33 marathon! Trees 🌲🌳: MichelleNeitzey, @vuruputoor.bsky.social, EmilyLesinski, @cynthiawebster.bsky.social, KristianaStover CartograPlant📍: @brandonlind.bsky.social @meghanmyles.bsky.social Pangenomes 🧬: @airianna-mcguire.bsky.social Deep-sea inverts: SamiraObbu Birds & parasites: RuiwenLin

North American Forest Genetics Society (NAFGS) 2026 Conference | June 15–19, Quebec City 🇨🇦 Abstracts open now (deadline March 13) | Registration opens Jan 26th Theme: Connecting Research Across Scales & Disciplines for Evolutionary Potential & Forest Resilience 🌳 🌲 www.nafgs.org/conference2026

Cancer research costs too much but we have the money to run Venezuela

DOGE did NOT yield savings, but DID harm vulnerable people around the world www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...

We present: The Art of #InverteFest - December 2025 Edition A digital art book showcasing the work of 100 artists from around the world, in celebration of overlooked invertebrate fauna. Thank you to the artists who contributed to our book! Download: drive.google.com/file/d/1JCXz... #Art #SciArt

Virtual workshop on #genomics analysis for #RADSeq - spaces available Jan 13-16th! Live instruction by @noahreid.bsky.social Learn #NGS read QC, #variant detection, and data analysis via common #bioinformatic tools - #Stacks #Freebayes @uconnresearch.bsky.social @cbcuconn.bsky.social

Virtual workshop on #genomics analysis for #RadSeq - spaces available still for next week - Dec 16-18th! Live instruction by @noahreid.bsky.social Learn QC through data analysis using common #bioinformatic tools - #Stacks #Freebayes @uconnresearch.bsky.social @cbcuconn.bsky.social

Excellent news:

🦣🧬🦣🤯💥We are pleased to share our new paper about ancient RNA expression profiles from the Woolly Mammoth, now published in Cell @cellpress.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell/fulltex... If you want to know more, read the 🧵 below:

Developing #genomic resources for species of #conservation concern? Submit an abstract for the upcoming #PAG33 conference! @ebpgenome.bsky.social @sangerinstitute.bsky.social @vertebrategenomes.bsky.social @jgi.doe.gov @alliancegenome.bsky.social @genomecanada.ca @canadianbiogenome.bsky.social

No Kings protest at the State Capital, Hartford, CT

We are seeking speakers for #pag33 hosted in San Diego: Jan 9th at 10:30am. Talk to us about your current/planned efforts to develop genomic resources for threatened/endangered species! @ebpgenome.bsky.social - hosted by @uconneeb.bsky.social @nanoporetech.com Abstracts by Oct 27th! 🧬 🦜 🌱 🐛 🐢

15 US states and territories have formed a new Public Health Alliance, which will counter the absence of federal leadership by tracking outbreaks, issuing guidance, buying vaccines and more. Members of the new alliance include CA, CO, CT, DE, GU, HI, IL, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OR, RI, WA.

Explore more here! 🔗 cartograplant.org 9/9 @jillwegrzyn.bsky.social @meghanmyles.bsky.social

The GRFP lives!! (due end of October) www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...

My new @science.org editorial on the role of scientists in defending democracy is out today. As authoritarianism takes hold in the US, we must fight for the democratic principles that enable a free society and scientists have a key role. I hope you'll join us. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

A new, MUCH improved #Eucalyptus genome: - haplotype-resolved - 99.4% complete - 700x better contiguity - 35k annotated genes Kudos to Anneri Lötter, @tomasbruna.bsky.social and @jotlovell.bsky.social at @jgi.doe.gov‬, @jillwegrzyn.bsky.social‬, Alexander Myburg et al. doi.org/10.1093/g3jo...

🌏🌿 The Earth BioGenome Project has collectively surpassed another genome milestone! 🙌 🎉 Congratulations to everyone involved in this monumental global effort to sequence life on Earth. 🌍🧬 #EarthBioGenome #Genomics #Biodiversity #MilestoneMoment

Thanks Kew! The paper itself can be found here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

So impressed by our Featured Student Speakers presenting in the keynote sessions. Just: wow! The future of forest genetics is bright #forestgenetics2025

#CartograPlant & #TreeGenes Workshop at #ForestGenetics2025 - bringing together genotype, phenotype, and environmental data for georeferenced plant populations presented by @uconneeb.bsky.social PhD student @meghanmyles.bsky.social & developer Gabe Barrett #FAIRdata

First season @toolikfieldstation.bsky.social #arctic - #EVOME is investigating species’ responses to rapid climatic changes in stream environs @uconnresearch.bsky.social @uconneeb.bsky.social @brandonlind.bsky.social SamiraObbu @airianna-mcguire.bsky.social MaryRutter #REU SarahAntebi #NSF-funded

Very excited to announce @vuruputoor.bsky.social upcoming #PhD defense in @uconneeb.bsky.social ! #genomics marathon on land plant genome evolution, from the smallest to largest - special focus on conservation genomics in #hemlocks @nature.org @ebpgenome.bsky.social @uconnresearch.bsky.social

Check out this interview with BSA member and BSA Director at Large for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Karolina Heyduk! botany.one/2025/06/karo...

One week to go!!! So excited to host our colleagues next week in the Happy Valley of Pennsylvania! Over 150 registrants from around the world!! If you’re interested in coming but unable to join in person - email me to learn about virtual options forestgeneticsconference2025.com #forestgenetics2025

Save the Date! North American Forest Genetics Society #NAFGS June 15-19 2026 in Quebec City, Canada🍁 More information coming soon at www.nafgs.org/conference2026 Join us next year!

An NIH staffer reacts to today's ruling: "I'm looking forward to the day that we are so slammed with work trying to reinstate everything that we had to terminate illegally — I'll work 24/7 to make that happen if I can."

Very happy that our manuscript "Annotation of protein-coding genes in 49 diatom genomes from the Bacillariophyta clade" is now published with Scientific Data: rdcu.be/eqwO5 Great team work with Natalia, Clara, Cynthia, Alex, @miamynta.bsky.social , & @jillwegrzyn.bsky.social

Welp, there's the Friday 🧪 hit

Reminder that SSE members in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, India, and 152 low-income countries around the world can still get FREE registration for the virtual Evolution meeting! Please share with your colleagues: www.evolutionsociety.org/index.php?mo...

If you have tenure and you’re carrying on as normal: you are a part of the problem. The leopard doesn’t discriminate between faces. These are extraordinary times and we need you in the fight. It’s not comfortable, there is risk, and it will add more to your plate. But without you, science dies.

🚨 A new rule would let career scientists like NSF/NIH program officers be replaced by political appointees Already 14,000+ public comments, deadline is Friday 📣 Comments can be short. Courts consider them—and scientists with NSF/NIH experience are especially impactful Speak up! shorturl.at/WKuBj

Spaces are still available in our upcoming genomics workshops! Join us for Variant Detection: May 20–22 and/or Genome Annotation, May 27-29 - Participants receive guided tutorials, live instruction, & daily recordings to support continued learning. bioinformatics.uconn.edu/cbc-workshops/

It’s NSF’s 75th & college graduation season, both reminders of how far basic science funding can go. With NSF support, I’ve mentored 130+ students who are innovators in genomics, conservation, data science & more. The lab is pictured here. Please keep investing in science #ThanksNSF #NSF75 #FundNSF

HAPPY 75th, NSF! We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond. Read on 🧵(1/11):

Join us May 27–29 for a Virtual Genome Annotation Workshop! 🧬 Learn Linux, genome assembly, evidence-based annotation, and evaluation. No experience needed! 📅 10 AM – 2 PM ET 💻 Zoom + recording 💰 $500 ($400 UConn) Register: bioinformatics.uconn.edu/cbc-workshops/ #GenomeAnnotation #Bioinformatics

A fantastic virtual workshop to get started or expand your skills with the informatics of variant detection! Spaces available! Instruction by @noahreid.bsky.social