This week is National Groundwater Awareness Week! 💧 DYK about half of all Illinoisians rely on groundwater for their drinking water? The Illinois EPA monitors more than 1,000 community water supply wells across the state to help ensure communities have safe drinking water. 🌎

🐟 Stream and River Research Technicians – Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Assist with research projects evaluating stream communities in Illinois. Perfect opportunity for a current or recent undergraduate student. Apps due March 27, 2026. 👉 Apply now: https://loom.ly/P-eONnQ

Big news for sustainability and business! This month's Technology Acceleration Program newsletter covers free assessments for food biz, EV rebates, and more! 👉 Read the full issue from Illinois Sustainable Technology Center in the thread! 🧵

🦇 Bat Survey Field Technician - Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Help sample bats using acoustic surveys and mist-nets. Perfect for a current or recent undergrad in biology or natural resources. Apps due Mar. 20, 2026. 👉 https://loom.ly/mpow574

We’ve surpassed our $3,000 goal for the Traveling Science Center!! 🎉 Thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign so far. There’s still time to keep the momentum going before midnight 🧵

We’re getting closer to our $3,000 goal -- and every gift moves us forward. The Traveling Science Center travels delivers museum-quality science experiences directly to schools and communities across Illinois. Give here: go.illinois.edu/supportTSC

🗓️ Assistant to the Director - Join Illinois Sustainable Technology Center! Serve as the executive assistant to the Director of ISTC and manage meeting logistics. Apps due Mar. 17, 2026. 👉 Learn more and apply today: https://loom.ly/0iFXeiM

When the Traveling Science Center visits a school, curiosity takes over. 💡 Students explore biodiversity, invasive species, and learn how scientists study the environment that shapes our state. Your support helps make these experiences possible. Give today at go.illinois.edu/supportTSC

We’re off to a great start! 🥳 Support the Traveling Science Center so we can roll out to more communities across Illinois. Every $750 raised funds a full day of science programming at one school. 🧵

Get a behind-the-scenes from @news.illinois.edu at how scientists identify ticks collected from across Illinois. The Medical Entomology Lab at the Illinois Natural History Survey tracks ticks and tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease. 🧵

Orange & Blue Days is live. Our goal = $3,000. $750 covers one full day visit for a school. Support the Traveling Science Center and hands-on science learning across Illinois now through March 6. 🧵

Scientists at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center have developed and tested a new system for preventing excess nutrient run-off in farm fields. 👉 Read about how it works in the recent @news.illinois.edu story: https://loom.ly/HZlE50U

Here’s a look back at how our current snowfall compares with previous seasons.

We’re over 50% to our $3,000 goal — before launch! Can we take it to 100%? 🤩 Support the Traveling Science Center March 4–6 and help bring hands-on science to more Illinois schools.

As climate change intensifies wildfires and other extreme weather events, demand for native seeds is surging.

🐟 Visiting Scientific Specialist, Aquatic Ecology - Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Conduct Lake Michigan creel surveys and other fisheries research. Located in Zion, IL. Apps due Mar. 9, 2026. 👉 https://loom.ly/1Q_gjkU

We’ve reached 25% of our $3,000 goal — before launch. 🤯🤩 Thank you to our early supporters. Help us build momentum for the Traveling Science Center! March 4–6 | Learn how to give at go.illinois.edu/supportTSC

Big news for sustainability and business! This month's Technology Acceleration Program newsletter covers free sustainability assessments, ammonia synthesis, and more! Read the full issue from Illinois Sustainable Technology Center 📩 https://loom.ly/jWYRt1o

We're celebrating the Insect Fear Film Festival with the Entomology Graduate Student Association! Visit our exhibit showing media about insect-human hybrids and showing real insect hybrids! #IFFF43 To learn about the Festival, visit publish.illinois.edu/uiuc-egsa/if... @prairieresearch.bsky.social

Save the date: March 4–6. 🔶🔷 We’re launching a campaign to support the Traveling Science Center’s statewide impact. 👉 More soon: go.illinois.edu/supportTSC

🐟 Aquatic Field/Fisheries Technician - Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Assist large river ecologists in the collection of long-term river monitoring data throughout Illinois! Located in Havana, IL. Apps due Mar. 6, 2026. 👉 https://loom.ly/AsRCH7U

Want to hunt turkey in Illinois this spring? The Illinois Learn to Hunt program is offering FREE workshops covering regulations, decoys, turkey calls and more. 👉 Learn more and enroll at https://loom.ly/V_En4AQ

This year marks 20 years of the Traveling Science Center, a 320-square-foot museum on wheels! Since 2006, it's visited over 150 different and attended 200 community events in more than 30 counties across Illinois. 👉 Read about it at https://loom.ly/nfBWBZk

While tracking the sale of non-native amphibians in the United States, researchers at the University of Illinois uncovered several cases of illicit trade and smuggling.

Most of IL is in drought. Tell us how this is impacting you by submitting a Condition Monitoring Observer Report at droughtimpacts.unl.edu/Tools/Condit.... The reports are used by the US Drought Monitor and @ilclimatologist.bsky.social to better understand what is happening around the state #ilwx

🐟 Aquatic Field Technician - Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Assist in applied research in aquatic ecology and large river systems throughout the state of Illinois! Located in Oglesby, IL. Apps due Feb. 28, 2026. 👉 https://loom.ly/XehyeHI

Why did so much snow yield so little precipitation? The cold air limited the amount of liquid water in the snow. We had snow-to-liquid ratios of 20:1 last month, which is more like the champagne powder of Colorado instead of the normal Midwest slush. 2/2 See: mountwashington.org/snow-to-liqu...

January in Illinois was cold, snowy, and dry... thanks to abundant but powdery snowfall. Du Quoin had 19.5" of snow last month, which is 500% of their snowfall normal. Yet, Du Quoin was 2" drier than average last month with only 0.97" of total precipitation. 1/2 go.illinois.edu/scosummary

Today: -Alton's sinkhole is finally getting drained. We'll talk about what took so long. -Groundhog Day means a lot to Woodstock, Illinois, where the movie was filmed. We’ll talk about the city’s annual festival, and with actor Stephen Tobolowsky. It's all at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Chicago has seen its longest winter freeze in 19 years — but relief is coming. blockclubchi.co/3LPhRLf

⛏️ Principal Research Scientist/Associate Research Scientist, Archaeology - Join Illinois State Archaeological Survey! Develop, lead, and manage all levels of archaeological analysis, research, and review of publications! Apps due Mar. 2, 2026. 👉 Apply now: https://loom.ly/ImNkEbg

A very cold morning in IL. Wind chills < -30 for several ICN stations at 7am. Stay WARM everyone. #ilwx

Last month, six bison were reintroduced to Burlington Prairie, about an hour northwest of downtown Chicago, becoming the first bison in 200 years to dwell on Kane County tallgrass prairie.

What kind of year was 2025 for weather in Illinois? 🌦️ @ilclimatologist.bsky.social at Illinois State Water Survey breaks it down in his latest blog — 18th warmest and 23rd driest on record. 👉 loom.ly/Jp1sjvA

Big news for sustainability and business! This month's Technology Acceleration Program newsletter covers energy efficiency funding, battery recycling, community solar projects, and more! Read the full issue from Illinois Sustainable Technology Center 📩 loom.ly/P3Ed9V0

🎣 Fisheries/Aquatic Ecology Research Technician – Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Support research on sportfish management and invasion biology in lakes and rivers! This position is located in Sullivan, IL. Apps due Jan. 30, 2026. 👉 loom.ly/z0BmaU8

Illinois has certainly never been referred to as the sunshine state – but why is Chicago so cloudy, especially during the wintertime?

Lake Michigan moderates Chicago’s temperature year-round, creating a cooler microclimate during warm months and a warmer zone in colder seasons.

🦆 Postdoctoral Research Associate – Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Work on the Firebird project, aimed at addressing how marsh birds respond to prescribed fire along the Gulf Coast! Apps due Feb. 15, 2026. 👉 loom.ly/2zqUNPI

Waves, sand, and change. 🌊 Take an interactive tour of the Illinois Lake Michigan coast and see how scientists at the Illinois State Geological Survey are studying how the shoreline changes. 👉 loom.ly/L-jRYCo

📢 Apply for the Paul Edwin Potter Internship Program! Illinois State Geological Survey's Summer 2026 internship offers hands-on geology research to undergrad and master's students from any accredited US institution. Apps due Feb. 15, 2025. 👉 loom.ly/zluHLso

With plenty of perch to catch and release or take home and fry, the fishing’s good at the former south Chicago steel mill — and anglers hope it will stay that way amid major changes planned for the surrounding land and parks. blockclubchi.co/45wYNYy

Back in December, Illinois experienced roller coaster temperatures, and was dry overall. ❄️ Get the latest climate recap and outlook from @ilclimatologist.bsky.social. 👉 loom.ly/fzQsp3M

Illinois has its latest list of endangered species — the end result of many difficult choices

🐟 Seasonal Aquatic Ecology Field Technician - Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Help monitor sport fish and other aquatic populations along the IL shoreline of Lake Michigan! Position located in Zion, IL. Apps due Jan. 15, 2026. 👉 Apply now: loom.ly/NxU1e8M

I'm hiring a postdoc to work with myself, Dr Jim Lyons and the entire NOAA Firebird team on the adaptive management part of our larger project focused on the impacts of prescribed fire on Gulf Coast wetlands Accepting applications until Feb 15th blogs.illinois.edu/view/7426/19...

🎁 Holiday sale! Archaeology of Illinois is $40 through Jan. 31. Explore 16 richly illustrated chapters covering real sites and the people who shaped Illinois’ past. A perfect gift for archaeology lovers! Get your copy 👉 loom.ly/hXs_lRE

Holiday deal! 🎁 The Geology of Illinois is just $9.99 — featuring 200+ photos, maps, and insights into the state’s geologic history. A perfect gift for geology fans! ⛰️ Get your copy today 👉 loom.ly/sKe8r58

After a dry fall, Illinois is shifting toward a colder, wetter La Niña winter. Get the latest climate recap and outlook from @ilclimatologist.bsky.social. 👉 loom.ly/yqa-IoY

Dig into Fossils of the Upper Ordovician Platteville Formation in the Upper Midwest USA! 🖼️ 1200+ high-res photos 📘 328 pages of fossil fuel for your brain. ✨ On sale for $19.99! Get it in time for the holidays -- loom.ly/sKe8r58