When the animal world offers a mirror for the human world. Sigh. Free Article: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/s...

With 6 days notice my college announced we’d be closed for President’s Day. Florida statute requires us to post a detailed syllabus including meeting dates, topics, assignments, and grade policy 45 days in advance of the first day. It feels a bit like laws and rules apply to thee but not to me.

So the Washington Post is laying off 33% of its employees. Meanwhile the NYTs picked up 1.5 million subscribers. Hmmmmm.....

Less than 1/3 of my A&P1 class turned in a study guide that counts as a bonus grade before the first test today. Also everything on the test is on the study guide. Ss that didn’t submit will be the ones grubbing for extra credit at end of semester. 🤦‍♀️ & we wonder why fail rate is so high.

Tell me five classes you took in college: Western Civilization Lighting and Costume Design Earthquakes & Volcanoes Statistics Learning & Behavior

As my students say, “I just can’t.”

It takes my breath away.

I swear it’s a cat.

It is emails like this one that make me question what I’m doing with my life as a college professor. I cannot wrap my brain around this thinking. #AcademicSky

First day for faculty of Spring Semester and I'm locked out of my account (no known reason) and cannot do any work since we do everything on Canvas/WorkDay/Email. Everything works fine from home, but I'm required to be in my office. Sooooo...

Don't give up on your dreams peppermint! You can do it. 😹

The irony of this piece is that only academics will be able to understand the writing. It exemplifies the inability (or lack of desire?) of many academics to communicate to a broader audience. Beautifully written but only for those already in the know. #AcademicSky Free without a subscription.

There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom

This came with a very high cost in Florida for the software which is less money for students in the classroom. Also since faculty have to write syllabi while currently teaching we’re seeing fewer course updates and innovations. Not a win for teaching and learning.

Actual texts sent by anatomists that are totally normal. #anatomyedu 🍎 #AcademicSky

Tell me your semester is over without telling me it’s over. #AcademicSky 🍎 I’ll go first:

We are the GREATEST generation but feel no need to be exemplary. So whatever. A holiday gift for my fellow GenXers - an article all about us. My fav part is the photos of the East Coast/West Coast icons. You don't need to be told which is which. 😹

Are you experiencing time-poverty? Rethink how you think about your time. I had a coach at National Geographic (Lisa Witter Cofounder of @apolitical.bsky.social) who taught me about making time for Deep Thinking. It requires blocking off time and no interruptions. She was ahead of the research!

Looking for a faculty role in Neuroscience? 🧪🧠 RIT is hiring a tenure-track assistant prof to support our Neuroscience BS program and related PhD programs. Vision, neurobiology, computational, all welcome! tinyurl.com/RITNeuroFacu... #AcademicSky #AcademicJobs #academia

My college is getting a new phone system. Apparently it requires multiple hours long training sessions to be able to use it. Am I the only one that thinks we are definitely making things more complicated than they need to be? Pick it up and talk/dial?! #Academia #AcademicSky #HigherEd

I’m looking for a medical artist. I was awarded a grant to write a new lab manual and will need anatomical images created. Open to someone starting out! #science #anatomy #medicalillustrations #medicalsky #academicsky #medicalart #jobalert

Word.

I just want to snuggle him but since he’s deaf waking him up is like a traumatic event for him so instead I just stare at him and will him to open his eyes so I can pet him. 😂

I’ve reached the point in the semester where I come home from work and just sing karaoke to myself. You know let it all out very loudly. Sometimes with a 🍷. 😂 #academicsky 🍎 #ITeachAnatomy

OMG. I'm watching something on tv that is saying we can absorb electrons through our bare feet which causes our blood cells to repel each other. Then we can use them in the ETC. And as a result we live longer and are calmer. Pray for me - I'm about to throw the tv. Not #science.

I see the patriarchy is hard at work trying to destroy Jane Goodall's reputation. Absolutely no one is perfect, but maybe look at their life and contributions as whole. Was their goal to make the world better? Did they come from a place of love and kindness? Did they try?? Glass houses - rocks.

Another example of how the current administration doesn't actually care about women and children. Not studying something doesn't change the #science it only changes what we could know and what we could do about it.

The Great Lock In is trending but I've been focused on my New Year's resolutions since January so I think I've been locked in for a minute. Hit a PB this morning and hoping to get it under 33 by February. Also I can't believe I've accidentally joined a cult. #RunLikeAGirl #Running #HateItLoveIt

We are six weeks into the semester and SEVEN grandmothers have already died. This might be a record. So glad I instituted my no-makeup/no extension policy and went to dropped grades. It would be impossible to do so many make-ups for all these deaths and flat tires. #AcademicSky 🍎

In honor of Jane. If you're not local you can join the virtual 5K. Save the Chimps is a rescue sanctuary to give former lab chimps, pet trade chimps, and even entertainment chimps a wonderful and safe place to retire. An opportunity to live their very best chimp lives.

Jane Goodall was a huge part of the reason I became a scientist. She made the world a better and brighter place. And her work and ideas will continue to impact and influence how we think about conservation, women in science, and leadership. She lived an incredible life - may we all do the same.

Ran my first 5K today. Finished third in my age group, so that's pretty cool. My official photo captured my shadow leaping over the finish line. 😂 So now I'm in the cult I guess. #Running #RunLikeAGirl #First5K

Trying something new in A&P1 lab by having stations for learning the bones. Less instructor centered and more heaving learning lifting for the students. #anatomyedu #ITeachAnatomy

So did this today for the first time ever. Never thought I’d run a 5k when I started running 7 months ago & certainly not with an ok time. So signed up for a 5k this weekend. Let’s see how I do against some real runners - I do love me a good old slice of humble pie. #running #rungirlrun #thisis50

More than one way to use a whiteboard. #anatomyedu

Oh look I can get Sling, Netflix, and Britbox for less than I was paying for Disney’s Hulu. Canceling never felt so good.

I'm going to cancel #Hulu so as not to support #Disney's censorship and support of government corruption and authoritarianism. What's my best alternative? Sling? Fubo? Philo? Something else? #FreeSpeech #NoCorruption

I miss my Otis. If you don't know about Fat Bear Week - you gotta check it out. A little soothe for soul during these chaotic times.

Oh look, over 7 THOUSAND DOLLARS for an MRI. The only winners are the corporations and insurers. We are all losing. #HealthCare #Medicine #RobbingAmericansBlind

I didn't realize this needed to be clarified, but here goes: Americans should not have FAITH in the Supreme Court, they are entitled to CONFIDENCE in the competency and integrity of the court. @nytimes.com

As a scientist and anatomy professor this is absolutely deplorable news. It is wrong and goes against all data & evidence. And economists can explain how it will hurt GDP and the economy.

8 months in and I finally broke ten minutes! A mile in 9:38 - I’ve been stuck at 10:30-11 mins for so long I wasn’t sure I could improve it. It’s been a journey! #running #newyearsresolutions #anatomyedu

I've been giving in class paper exams for years now as bulk of course grade. Those that studied do well and know essential content for their future program and entrance exams. Some fail. AI cannot replace basic knowledge for health care providers. #AcademicSky #AnatomyEdu 🍎

We all need access to a Library of Things. It is absolutely the most beautiful and fun concept. Yay to my home state of Maine. If someone could figure out how to make available reason, kindness, empathy, humanity, and honesty - those are the most pressing items that need to be borrowed these days.

Guys! Van der Waals interactions are discussed and I'm never not going to not use this example in Bio and A&P for Van Der Waals, so much better than geckos (love them too though). Added bonus Brownian motion. Seriously, all the physics I never really got all makes sense in light of this video. 🧪🍎

A timely piece as college classes start back up. Get rid of the phones so students can learn more and better. 🍎 #AcademicSky www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o...

When you realize that your first class slide deck is way too much given all the other things that need to be discussed. But how do you cover homeostasis without covering, you know, other basics first?! Never enough time for all the things. #ITeachAnatomy #AnatomyEdu #FirstDayProblems 🍎

New Year's resolution update. Well it's been 8 months and I'm still going. Running in the Florida heat & humidity has been challenging and it has reduced my distance. But I'm still going, still eating pretty clean and feeling good. It is possible. Hard. But possible.

More evidence for why everyone needs to get outside and #greenup a bit. It does a body, I mean a mind, good. #OptOutside 🧠 🧪 🍎

Did a little thing today and won an Endowed Chair and grant. The grant will support me in writing a new custom anatomy and physiology lab manual for our students. #ITeachAnatomy 🧠 🍎