Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Scott Winton @rswamper.bsky.social · Apr 16

Thrilled to finally share my new paper in Environmental Research Letters on Colombia’s lowland peatlands — ecosystems that store vast amounts of carbon, were almost unknown, and are now newly mapped thanks to years of fieldwork. 🌍🌿

🧵👇

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Matteo Giuliani @mxgiuliani.bsky.social · Apr 15

The Environmental Intelligence for Global Change Lab at Politecnico di Milano is looking for passionate PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.

Details about the project and the open positions are available here lnkd.in/dxquJ8Nu

Interviews will begin on 15 May 2025.

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Nemiah Ladd @nemiahladd.bsky.social · Mar 31

I have a new PhD position open in my research group, for a project studying how soil microbial communities, metabolism, and carbon use efficiency respond to drought 🧪. The application window closes on April 30, full instructions and more information here: jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...

Universität Basel: PhD Position in Organic Geochemistry and Soil Microbiology

The Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel invites applications for a PhD position in the field of organic geochemistry and soil microbiology (https://duw.unibas.ch/en/research-grou...

jobs.unibas.ch

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Mar 31

Das Schienennetz im Karten-Viewer des Bundes:

map.geo.admin.ch#/map?lang=de...

Maps of Switzerland - Swiss Confederation - map.geo.admin.ch

map.geo.admin.ch

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Mar 27

This synthesis in @nature.com covers 2,100 studies and compares biodiversity at 50,000 sites affected by humans with reference sites. Pollution and habitat changes reduce the number of species and affect the composition of communities.

@florianaltermatt.bsky.social

www.eawag.ch/en/info/port...

The devastating impact of humans on biodiversity

Not only are the numbers of species declining, but the composition of species communities is also changing. This is shown by a new study published in the journal “Nature”.

www.eawag.ch

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Mar 24

Summary: The bands are playing on the Titanic as if there was nothing to worry about.

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Mar 24

7) Yale is always greener and features an Urban Resources Initiative on is welcoming website. Scrolling town reveals some fine print that the planned NIH cuts, blocked for now, would imperil vital Yale health research.

The Yale website shows a gardener planting a new tree

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Mar 24

6) Berkeley starts by welcoming the new general manager of the Cal football program, Ron Rivera, but scrolling down leads to a statement by Berkeley's Chancellor, Rich Lyons, who promises to stand firm in uncertain times

website of Berkeley welcoming Ron Rivera, the new football manager and further down showing a video with its Chancellor dated February 28, 2025 who commits to UC Berkeley's values and mission

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Mar 24

5) Caltech explains their research after the California wildfires in January. There are no signs that science itself is under fire.

Screenshot shows big text After the Fires and advertises: New Podcast Focuses on Caltech Scientists’ Race to Conduct Research after the January Fires. Right hand side explains fun facts about Caltech's research

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Mar 24

4) Everything fine at Stanford. The lawns a green and scrolling down the page we learn that their mission of discovery and learning is energized by optimism

The webpage of Stanford starts with green lawns and nice buildings and not much else

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Mar 24

3) Princeton's website features a piece on an AI-driven approach to precision health. Nothing is happening outside, apparently

Screenshot of Princeton's website with a post on precision health - an interdisciplinary, AI-driven approache to tackling big questions about health and disease in the background a black and white picture with female scientists / doctors / patients

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Mar 24

2) MIT offers a link with its official response to government activity.

screen shot of MIT's website showing atom models and a link to information with the official response to government activities

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Mar 24

US science is facing a perfect storm - budget cuts, layoffs, government interference. How is the ivory league reacting? A visit to their websites. 1) Harvard University advertises its history of innovations

screen shot showing the website of Harvard University advertising Innovations from Harvard over the last 400 years

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Mar 17

How Switzerland cleaned up its rivers and lakes. This success story is encouraging when we address the next step: improving river morphology and riparian vegetation in a warming world.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

From sewage and scum to swimming in ‘blue gold’: how Switzerland transformed its rivers

In the 1960s, the Swiss had some of the dirtiest water in Europe. Now, their cities boast pristine rivers and lakes – and other countries are looking to follow their lead

www.theguardian.com

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Anna Selbmann @annaselbmann.bsky.social · Mar 12

Join us at the University of Iceland! They are hiring an assistant professor in marine and freshwater ecology! 🤓

Lots of water available in and around the country, plenty of cool nature and a volcanic eruption every now and then!
🌊🐟🐳🌿🌋

english.hi.is/about-ui/wor...

Vacancies

The University of Iceland is one of the largest employers in Iceland. The university's mission is to conduct academic research and education, a goal that can only be achieved through the continuous en...

english.hi.is

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International Association for Great Lakes Research @iaglr.bsky.social · Feb 28

The International Association for Great Lakes Research issued a statement this week condemning recent U.S. federal actions that jeopardize scientific progress and the health of the Great Lakes. Read our new statement on Standing up for Great Lakes science:
bit.ly/4hY3sHk

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Feb 28

Ukraine will prevail, while the US president is distroying his country.

Eawag Aquatic Research @eawag.bsky.social · Feb 27

Neue Broschüre zur #Fischvielfalt in den Schweizer Seen! 🐟🐟🐟

Im «Projet Lac» wurden 35 Seen im Alpenraum erstmals systematisch auf ihre #Fischbestände untersucht.

Eine Broschüre von "FIBER" fasst die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse nun zusammen 💪

👉 www.fischereiberatung.ch/fileadmin/si...

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Nemiah Ladd @nemiahladd.bsky.social · Feb 26

Anyone in my network know an excellent, German-speaking administrator who would be interested in working at the University of Basel? We are looking for a new Managing Director of the Department of Environmental Sciences jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...

Universität Basel: Geschäftsführer*in Departement Umweltwissenschaften

Die Universität Basel ist die älteste Universität der Schweiz und eine Hochschule von internationalem Ruf, die in Forschung und Lehre hervorragende Leistungen erbringt. Das Departement Umweltwissensch...

jobs.unibas.ch

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Wolfgang Cramer @wolfgangcramer.net · Feb 26

This is about current politics in Germany, but of broader interest - please sign: weact.campact.de/petitions/of...

Offener Brief an Robert Habeck

Die aktuellen Zeiten erfordern Verstand, Zuversicht und Zusammenhalt und Führungspersönlichkeiten, die dafür einstehen. Setze mit deiner Unterschrift ein Zeichen und zeige deine Unterstützung für Robe...

weact.campact.de

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Feb 17

Bollwerk gegen Fake News, Verschwörungstheorien und Desinformation bedroht – Schliess dich jetzt dem Widerstand an!

Unterzeichnen & teilen 🤜🤛 ...und so beim SRF-Sparprotest mitmachen und das «Wissenschaftsmagazin» retten! act.campax.org/petitions/ho...

Hörerinnen und -hörer wollen das «Wissenschaftsmagazin»!

Hier klicken und beim SRF-Sparprotest mitmachen

act.campax.org

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Feb 11

Petition für das SRF Wissenschaftsmagazin. Jetzt unterschreiben!

act.campax.org/petitions/ho...

Hörerinnen und -hörer wollen das «Wissenschaftsmagazin»!

Das «Wissenschaftsmagazin» erklärt, ordnet ein und kommentiert. Wissenschaft und Forschung gestalten und verändern die Gesellschaft tiefgreifend. Das «Wissenschaftsmagazin» sendet dazu wöchentlich Be...

act.campax.org

Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Feb 11

The worldwide share of women in research and development is less than 30 percent. Equal opportunity in science and research is a marathon. We are approaching km 25.

ethz.ch/staffnet/en/...

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science recognizes the importance of equality and diversity in research and innovation. At ETH Zurich, this day of action is also intended to raise awarenes...

ethz.ch

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Eawag Aquatic Research @eawag.bsky.social · Feb 11

Researchers from #unibern, #WyssforNature #NaturhistorischesMuseumBern and #Eawag have discovered two new #fish species. 🐟🐟

You can actively take part in naming them!

💡 Learn more in the interview with biologist Bárbara Calegari: www.eawag.ch/en/info/port...

Two new fish species discovered in Swiss waters

The public can take part in a survey to decide on the names of two fish species discovered by Bárbara Calegari and her colleagues. In this interview, the biologist explains where they live and how to ...

www.eawag.ch

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Stephanie Schnydrig @steffischnydrig.bsky.social · Feb 10

Spitzenforschende kritisieren Abbaupläne von SRF: «Das schafft Raum für Verschwörungstheorien»

Spitzenforschende kritisieren die Abbaupläne von SRF

20 Wissenschafter bringen in einem offenen Brief an das Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen ihre Sorge über den geplanten Abbau bei der Wissensredaktion zum Ausdruck. Derweil scheint die Kommunikationsabtei...

www.aargauerzeitung.ch

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Jan 30

Here is one of Elena's papers:

academic.oup.com/jeb/article/...

High specificity of symbiont-conferred resistance in an aphid-parasitoid field community

Abstract. Host–parasite coevolution is mediated by genetic interactions between the antagonists and may lead to reciprocal adaptation. In the black bean ap

academic.oup.com

Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Jan 30

Congratulations to Elena Gimmi on her thesis! Aphids have more bacterial “bodyguards” at higher ambient temperatures. Climate warming could therefore impair the use of parasitic wasps in biological pest control.

www.eawag.ch/en/info/port...

ETH Medal for Elena Gimmi

Elena Gimmi received an ETH Medal for her dissertation on the influence of bacterial “bodyguards” on the co-evolution of the black bean aphid and its natural enemy the parasitoid wasp.

www.eawag.ch

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Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei (IGB) @igb-berlin.de · Jan 28

📢 We are looking for a #postdoc for a project using biochemical and molecular tools to assess the ecological role of prokaryotic and microeukaryotic communities. The work will be carried out at Lake #Stechlin as part of a DFG-funded project. 👉 karriere-igb.softgarden.io/job/53057649...

Postdoc position in aquatic microbial ecology (fixed-term for 36 months) at Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei

We're looking for: Postdoc position in aquatic microbial ecology (fixed-term for 36 months) (Full or Part Time) • Neuglobsow, Stechlin, Deutschland

karriere-igb.softgarden.io

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Jan 27

Comprehensive review of interactions between CaCO3 and P by @limnojess.bsky.social

aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Schematic of interactions between calcium carbonate and phosphorus

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Bernhard Wehrli @bernhardwehrli.bsky.social · Jan 27

Important time-series of Lena River biogeochemistry. The catchment is dominated by thawing permafrost.

essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/...

Lena River biogeochemistry captured by a 4.5-year high-frequency sampling program

Abstract. The Siberian Arctic is warming rapidly, causing permafrost to thaw and altering the biogeochemistry of aquatic environments, with cascading effects on the coastal and shelf ecosystems of the...

essd.copernicus.org

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