Maybe we should be a bit less reliant on fossil fuels… 🤔

My new op-ed at The Hill describes a shift in how staffers & citizens perceive American democracy through the ecological concept of “shifting baselines.” thehill.com/opinion/cong... "America’s shifting baselines are a threat to democracy and governance"

Spring in Kyoto

See which jobs are most threatened by #AI and who may be able to adapt 🤔 wapo.st/4uvCpcY

“This is the systematic elimination of scientific stewardship at the world’s largest biomedical research funder.” open.substack.com/pub/elizabet...

I cannot agree more! “Why we should look beyond grades to spot potential in STEM” www.science.org/content/arti...

"Do you think it's inappropriate someone w/ no experience w/ grants was making personal judgments about what grants to cancel?" "Um no. I don't think it's inappropriate," Cavanaugh said, arguing he did not need formal education or experience to make informed judgments. abcnews.com/Politics/2-d... 🤔

Scientists often assume the main challenge in policymaking is ensuring that legislators have access to high-quality evidence. But Capitol Hill is fast-paced, resource-constrained & shaped by competing considerations.

Before 1993, women weren’t allowed to wear pants on the Senate floor. Then Sen. Moseley Braun (D-IL), & Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) wore trousers - shocking everyone. This eventually led to the dress code being changed. Credit: Liberal Jane Illustration liberaljane.com #history #uspol

A pair of wood storks preening. Wakodahatchee Wetlands never disappoints. #birds

Happy Vawentines to all who celebrate!

🙄

#SuperbOwl you say? Well okay then!

ChatGPT assumed I am male. The reason demonstrates we have work to do. #AI #tech

Just finished #Pluribus & found it a thoughtful exploration of humanity, loneliness, love & individualism vs a collective hive mind. At a time when so many programs feel like more of the same, this series asks us questions in ways I rarely experience. I am interested to hear what others think.

Humans are easily manipulated & AI knows that.

“Don't worry, I've got you” ‘For Alex’ Alex Jeffrey Pretti 1988 - 2026 RIP by illustrator MJ.Hiblen Source: www.instagram.com/mjhiblenart?...

“Fear not the those without papers, but those without conscience.” - @amandagorman.bsky.social, For Alex Jeffrey Pretti, Murdered by I.C.E January 24, 2026

Most ppl know me for work in science & policy, but my other major was classical history. I view the present through this lens, understanding the world map is always changing. Only by studying the humanities - that so many dismiss today - can we learn from our past & chart a more hopeful future.

This is the worst review for my book on Amazon. All things considered, it's not too terrible. I do hope the reader eventually found my book. #books

Today’s top NYT story highlights how U.S. universities are slipping as Chinese universities surge in global rankings. This is expected and intentional. open.substack.com/pub/sheril/p...

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has voted to dissolve after Republicans rescinded $1.1B at President Trump’s behest. This ends the 58-year-old agency that distributed federal funds to NPR, PBS and more than 1,500 local public radio & television stations. apple.news/AXdo2-zPuRCi...

Surrounded by Waymos.

“You're an interesting species, an interesting mix. You're capable of such beautiful dreams & such horrible nightmares. You feel so lost, so cut off, so alone, only you're not. See, in all our searching, the only thing we found that makes the emptiness bearable, each other.” - Carl Sagan, Contact

May we find peace, health, and change in 2026 ✨

There are some magic little lands out there in the world.

It didn’t have to be this way.

Scientific information does not flow into policy the way most scientists think. Twenty years after her jarring first day as a fisheries-biologist-turned-Senate-staffer, @sheril.bsky.social lays out what every scientist hoping to influence policy on the Hill needs to know: issues.org/information-...

“There’s no wrong age to be powerful, compelling, or taken seriously, there’s only a wrong lens.” Art by Erika Sjule

Evolution doesn’t look how it’s depicted in pop culture. We often picture the famous “March of Progress” illustration where a series of apes stand in line leading to a modern human. But evolution is not linear. It branches and divides and recombines. Image: @tmkeesey.bsky.social

Powerful. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...

If it were up to me, we’d have better food distribution & more public libraries.

The government shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history. sheril.substack.com/p/shutdown-b...

🔴 Funding opportunity! 🔴 science-foundation.org/what-ifs-2025/ What if… you had 10K in a gift fund at your institution for curiosity-driven #science? Apply to “What Ifs…?” @sciencefoundation.bsky.social Applications open 11/10, close 12/1

Of all the Serving Up Science episodes, this is my favorite. wkar.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/can... It’s also our least popular & least viewed. But for 7 mins, I got to talk about how amazing & essential soil really is @pbs.org. And that’s a win! 👩🏻‍🌾🪏🪴

Delighted to be at @nationalacademies.org exploring the future of the U.S. research enterprise during this period of transition. 3 takeaways: • Forge partnerships that blend public purpose & research w private innovation. • Rebuild trust across sectors. • Tell the story of science & innovation.

My thoughts are with the people in Hurricane Melissa’s path. Climate change makes the ocean warmer, fueling stronger, more intense storms. It’s not about politics. I hope we can come together to help the communities impacted by this extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane.

Can We Rebuild Trust in Congress? sheril.substack.com/p/can-we-reb...

As the #shutdown drags on & political violence ⬆️, the question isn’t whether we can return to some imagined golden age of bipartisanship. It’s whether we can rebuild the relationships that make democratic governance possible. My new op-ed in @thehill.com: thehill.com/opinion/cong... #uspol

Jane Goodall, one of my greatest heroes, has passed away. How lucky we were to read her books and learn from her wisdom about our place on Earth. She was an inspiration to me and countless others. And her memory is a blessing.

The federal government has shut down. So why does the 21st disruption of federal funding since 1976 feel... normal? We've spent decades dismantling the norms that made compromise possible in Congress. This routine "crisis" should serve as a warning. sheril.substack.com/p/shutdown-b...

Ebola outbreak in DR Congo rages, w 61% death rate & lack of $ “In the past, USAID provided critical support to respond to such outbreaks. But, w funding cuts & a dismantling of the agency the US is notably absent.. it will be difficult to compensate for the loss.” arstechnica.com/health/2025/...

Meet our new English budgie! Like his brother Kiwi, he has a few unusual quirks, but we think he’s perfect! Now this little peanut needs a name… He arrived as “Moe” so that’s a possibility, but what would you name this sweet boy?

"Amid massive cuts to US scientific research, the Science Foundation will raise public funds for transdisciplinary, discovery-based research!" www.nature.com/articles/d41... Congratulations Maren Friesen, Venkatesh Srinivas & @sciencefoundation.bsky.social! Donate at science-foundation.org/donate/

“One of the best-known anchors on Fox News has suggested killing people as a way to end the country’s homelessness crisis.” 👀 www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-hos...

Good. Details at: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Pretty sure the vast majority of people don’t want to get sick regardless of their party affiliation. 🤔

As I conclude my Senate fellowship, I’m deeply grateful to Senator Gary Peters of Michigan and his brilliant, thoughtful team. I will miss working with them tremendously. 1/3

Traveling with my 9 & 12 year old boys tomorrow & I’d love your recommendations for kid/teen audiobooks! 📚 #books