Academics vying for a spot in Epstein‘s world. There are so many. I feel the need to make a thread, so I don’t keep confusing them. 1/

Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti. "Please get the truth out about our son."

New research shows young tropical forests grow far faster — and store much more carbon — when soil nitrogen is available. In the first decade of recovery, trees can grow twice as fast, though the effect fades in older forests, pointing to smarter reforestation strategies.

Also, may I say that I don’t agree with people saying ICE and CBP need “more training.” They’re doing exactly what this administration has trained them to—impose a reign of fear in blue cities. They don’t need more training. They need to be ripped up root and branch.

We are not the first people, or the first country, to suffer under a tyrannical government that does not respect our lives, or our rights. There is a method for how to effectively resist, and eventually topple, such a regime. We can learn from others who came before us. This is my favorite guide.

"They say they're coming to save us from some evil? They're talking about our neighbors who take care of us ... Alex was murdered while he was helping. Mr Rogers said look for the helpers, & right now the helpers have a target on our forehead ... Mr Rogers would be here right now too, so I'm here."

I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.

We are gathering momentum for @tropiroot.bsky.social activities. It’s an exciting time to join us if you’re interested in root traits in the tropics! 🌴🌳🌵🌱🪾🌾

#NExTropics symposia at #ATBC2025 find out the latest from nutrient addition experiments from across the tropics

Congratulations to Amanda Cordeiro for leading this effort & to all the @tropiroot.bsky.social members who contributed! Putting tropical roots on the map!

Upset about federal funding cuts in the US? Want some ideas of what to do? I wrote a long-ish blog post about it here ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com summarizing things I learned meeting with Senate & House aides this week with the @aibsbiology.bsky.social Congressional Visits Day event.

More bad news for US science, indirect rates capped at 15% will further gut our research institutions & univerisities www.nsf.gov/policies/doc...

Good news for today! The @agu.org and @amspolicy.bsky.social are teaming up to support climate science in the US and fill the vacuum left by the cancellation of the support team and dismissal of the authors of the Sixth National Climate Assessment. More from @drshepherd2013.bsky.social here:

Budget released today: 40% cut to NIH 50% cut to NSF If enacted, this will destroy academic research in the United States. It will also have a major trickle down effect on the entire academic ecosystem

ATTENTION: NSF GRANT RECIPIENTS We received a heads up from a trusted source that you should proactively download/print/screen shot any documentation on research.gov pertaining to your NSF awards, both those that are current and any that have closed in the last 5-6 years. 1/n

Happy Earth Day! 💚

🥳 Congrats to Dr Lee who passed his PhD defense today. Ming Yang is a founding Team Underground student & @tropiroot.bsky.social member who studies root ecology in Southeast Asian tropical forests trying to understand how diverse forests overcome phosphorus limitation.

Let's speak plainly about what is happening. The First Amendment has been terminated for immigrants.

To the 3137 (1000+ who should have received the #GRFP this year) & countless qualified grad or soon to be grad students. This sucks, but you don’t. I’m sorry for your bad luck & timing.👇👇👇

Dang, only 1000 NSF GRFP awards this year... A more than 50% cut in the number of fellowships from last year. Congratulations to all of the fellows ! I am sad for the 1000+ people who should be added to this list that don't get this life-changing opportunity... www.research.gov/grfp/Awardee...

The NatSec group chat shitshow illustrates why DEI is necessary. Otherwise, completely unqualified people will be hired just because they're white dudes.

The LSU herbarium is featured in the most recent Country Roads. Check out the article here! countryroadsmagazine.com/lsu-herbarium/

Today is the international day of the Woman and Girl in Science. To all badass women, scientists keep doing what you do: discovery, mentorship, and hard work. YOU belong in SCIENE. To others, uplift the Women scientists you know, cite them, promote them, sponsor them, invite them - be an upstander.

Happy International Day of Women & Girls in Science! I'm proud to work with so many excellent women scientists and to teach and mentor the next generation of #WomenInSTEM.

Grateful to be working with colleagues like these #WomenInSTEM discoverandshare.org/2024/03/15/w...

On #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience let me remind you that we are NOWHERE NEAR parity. A few examples. 1. Women are credited less in science than men. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Today is International Day of Women & Girls in Science. Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Her contributions have left an indelible mark on the world of science & health & continue to inspire generations of scientists & innovators. 🔬 #WomenInScience #WomenInSTEM

¡Hoy en el #DiaInternacionalDeLaMujerYLaNiñaEnLaCiencia queremos celebrar a todos nuestros increíbles miembros! Les agradecemos por hacer que nuestra comunidad sea fuerte mientras nos abrazamos y nos empoderamos mutuamente e inspiramos a las próximas generaciones de #MujeresEnCiencia 👩‍🔬🧪 #11Feb

📢📢TropiRoot has transitioned to a new leadership team for next two years and is gearing up for exciting projects ahead! We’re expanding our outreach efforts and networking. If you’re a tropical root researcher, interested in synthesizing and mobilizing your data, we’d love to connect with you!

@ecologicalsociety.bsky.social Is publishing policy changes at multiple US gov levels & issued a letter members. Hopefully that will be online soon! esa.org/esablog/poli...

Pleas share links to the US (or int'l) professional societies who have published statements about what's happening in the US.

Sabotage. Criminal sabotage. "[The NSF] is planning to lay off between a quarter and a half of its staff in the next two months, a top National Science Foundation official said Tuesday." www.eenews.net/articles/sci...

Great leadership meeting with @tropiroot.bsky.social this morning! Reach out if you are a tropical root researcher interested in synthesizing and mobilizing your data with us!

Major new initiative at Missouri Botanical Garden will revolutionize plant species identification and allow global access to big biodiversity data. 6 million newly digitized specimens = manifold uses and stories for botany, conservation, and history. www.globenewswire.com/news-release...

Tropical plant ecologists unite!

@tropiroot.bsky.social has made the move to Bluesky!!

As a society dedicated to supporting you and your career, we are pleased to share the following award opportunities that celebrate excellence across our botanical community. More information and deadlines can be found at: botany.org/home/awards.... #BSAawards #IamaBotanist