Last day for comments on the US government's proposed move to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The link for submitting comments (the "Dear Colleague Letter") is provided in this article: boulderreportinglab.org/2026/03/09/n...

The Inspector General for NSF must launch an investigation into the Trump administration’s alleged attempt to sell-off parts of NCAR — immediately! 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

From the Grand Junction, Colorado, Daily Sentinel: www.gjsentinel.com/opinion/colu...

NCAR is a vital national asset. It would be a tragic and costly mistake to lose it. www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...

Attention folks in the weather, climate, disaster, wildfire, and Earth science communities: NSF has just published a new "Dear Colleague" letter inviting feedback (by Mar 13) on the proposal to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). www.nsf.gov/funding/...

US researchers: Do you think science should be free from political interference? Do you think NCAR is a national treasure that shouldn't be erased at the stroke of a pen? Please consider submitting comments on NSF's Strategic Plan. Deadline is Tue 27 Jan midnight ET. www.nsf.gov/od/updates/n...

Just finished Mark Miodownik’s wonderful book “It’s a Gas” - highly recommend! @markmiodownik.bsky.social www.penguin.co.uk/books/312206...

The National Science Foundation sign on our Eisenhower Av building is now gone. The NSF mural in the foyer is removed and torn off in sheets. We were supposed to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the agency in May 2025. That never happened.

This may come as a shock to you, but I wrote a thing. Begins with ICE violence in Minnesota, ends with the Buddhist walk for peace across the Southeast. Discusses the profound weakness of the administration in the middle.

I encourage everyone to read this beautiful piece by my friend Lisa Graumlich. open.substack.com/pub/lisagrau...

In the span of four days, we’ve built a coalition of over 80 lawmakers — including several Republicans — to stop the dismantling of NCAR. I’m grateful to them for their efforts as we work to secure language protecting NCAR in the upcoming CJS appropriations bill. We will not back down! 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

From wildfire warnings to flood forecasts, NCAR's research impacts everyone in America. President Trump's attempt to dismantle it for political vengeance is beyond reckless. We will fight against this dangerous scheme every step of the way.

Gift link: www.theatlantic.com/science/2025...

NCAR is a crown jewel of US scientific innovation. Dismantling it is utterly crazy. I hope representatives around the country are hearing lots of pushback from their constituents.

Lewis Fry Richardson, often considered the father of numerical weather prediction, turns out to have been a fascinating guy: scientist, Quaker, pacifist, visionary. I wrote a short piece about his legacy: earthcastings.ghost.io/a-roomful-of...

www.linkedin.com/posts/benjam... @csdms.bsky.social @gregtucker.bsky.social

Election Day is a week from tomorrow, and millions of Americans have a chance to elect important local leaders — judges, council members, school boards, and more — crucial to defending and rebuilding democracy. If you haven’t already, make a plan to cast your vote.

Applications are open for the CIRES Visiting Fellows Program! Two-year fellowships are available for postdocs, and terms of up to 12 months for senior scientists on leave or sabbatical. Learn more: cires.colorado.edu/award-progra... #fellowships #postdoc #sabbatical Photo:@alibanwell.bsky.social

I recently gave a talk on earth science to a group of middle schoolers, and it dawned on me that many of the kids in that age group will be alive to witness what the outcome of Roger Revelle's "great geophysical experiment" looks like in the year 2100. earthcastings.ghost.io/pathways/

No words

It’s not too late to join the #NoKingsKickoff livestream! Great line up of speakers.

This summer I got the chance to visit the home town of Eunice Newton Foote, the 19th century inventor and scientist who first noted the heat-trapping property of CO2, and who was also a key player in the US women’s rights movement: earthcastings.ghost.io/the-wizard-o...

Interesting perspective on higher ed teaching in the age of AI (gift link): www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/o...

I wrote a thing, a roundup of some of the resistance going on.

Federal agencies hiding out in a bunker

Geologic Periods xkcd.com/3120/

“The flowing water in a mad river reshapes the entire landscape, a process known as fluvial erosion.” www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

An effusive review of #ScienceUnderSiege by #KirkusReviews of my forthcoming book with @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social, #ScienceUnderSiege

July 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the "Endless Frontier" report, which led to the establishment of NSF and transformed the US from a science backwater to a global research powerhouse. Will today's congress sustain or abandon that incredible success story? earthcastings.ghost.io/the-endless-...

Today is the 34th anniversary of the 1991 Pinatubo eruption. earthcastings.ghost.io/anniversary-...

US climate scientists need all the help they can get. Including from foul-mouthed comedians! 🤡😱😱 Watch Emmy Award-Winning David Cross team up with Prof Michael Oppenheimer in the US launch of the hit series "Climate Science Translated". #climate #arresteddevelopment #climatescience

Large crowds across the U.S. gathered on Saturday to protest the Trump administration. See photos from the “No Kings” rallies here. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/u...

"It is insane for us to be slashing expenditures on science" - good interview with former Treasury Sec Larry Summers cafe.com/stay-tuned/b...

The President's Budget request as released yesterday will gut scientific research. Why should you care? 1) Science is fundamentally a jobs program. Many 100,000s are employed to do science and work for you, the US taxpayer.

Cutting research at the National Science Foundation by more than half(!) is intentionally sabotaging the future. These are contracts the federal government competitively awards to universities to develop breakthroughs and train graduate students to become future leaders & experts. Future is at risk.

This is not just a NASA thing, and not just an NSF thing, this is an all-of-science thing (also involving our siblings in the humanities). The president's budget shutters everything that _actually_ makes America great. Please call your Congressfolk and ask them to reject these travesties.

The President's budget request would be devastating to NASA science and our quest for life beyond Earth. But there's still time to act, and your voice matters.

Investing in basic science more than pays for itself! Cutting NSF and NIH would hurt the US economy. (Now might be a good time to remind your congressional reps about this) www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...

Good cover @economist.com

🚨 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

A victory for the federal scientific workforce! We could not stand by while this irreparable harm continues at NSF, NOAA and all our scientific agencies. TODAY the judge granted our request to temporarily HALT the mass firings at federal agencies under Trump’s Executive Order.

Exclusive: National Science Foundation staff were told today that the agency’s 37 divisions—across all eight directorates—are being abolished and the number of programs within those divisions will be drastically reduced.

For those not able to attend next week's @csdms.bsky.social conference in person, the keynote talks will be live-streamed. Registration info here: cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

🧪 BOOM: The AAU, ACE, APLU, and 13 universities just filed suit today against NSF for slashing to 15% indirect rates. Full compliant: www.aau.edu/sites/defaul... Updates: www.aau.edu/resources-aa... A similar group of plaintiffs won a *permanent* injunction against a similar change at NIH.

PGC provided amazing, unique data and services. We are losing key knowledge and insights without them supporting US and global polar research. Tragic.

I try to take the long-term view, and admittedly that's easier at my career stage. But really, what a crime, what a disaster, so devastating to so many people who love science, want to use it to address climate change and many other issues, and who have worked so hard at it.

@neguse.house.gov @bennet.senate.gov CU is getting hammered along with the rest of American science, what will you do today to defend it?

NSF celebrates its 75th anniversary on May 10th. The best way we can celebrate decades of innovation and service is to let NSF remain an *independent* science agency at the forefront of global discovery.

#watercolor #painting #blueskyart #artyear