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Karen R. Lips

Karen R. Lips

@karenrlips.bsky.social

1.5K followers 1.8K following 220 posts

Ecology, global change, wildlife disease, tropical biology, science policy & diplomacy.

Karen R. Lips is a professor of biology at University of Maryland, College Park. Lips' work in the 1990s eventually contributed to the identification of the chytrid fungus as the primary cause of frog decline worldwide. .. more

Environmental science 54%

Geography 14%

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Karen R. Lips @karenrlips.bsky.social · Dec 10

🧪🌎. Our short film "The Waiting" 🐸🎥🐸🎬 is been awarded as a Vimeo Staff Pick, so since yesterday it's publicly accessable on Vimeo! vimeo.com/1036802517?s...

Karen Lips is researcher and lives for several years in a tiny little shack in Costa Rica to observe frogs. When she leaves the cloud forest for a short time and…

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

Christian Elliott @christianelliott.me · 14h

For @biographic.bsky.social, I reported from across rural Illinois on an environmental crisis unfolding in the Midwest: herbicides drifting off millions of acres of crop fields are slowly killing oaks and other native tree species. #longreads

The Scourge of Native Oaks is Blowing in the Wind

Scientists and conservationists in the U.S. Midwest are working to stop herbicides from industrial agriculture from drifting onto the region’s remaining hardwood trees

www.biographic.com

Reposted by Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Karen R. Lips

Jeffrey Mervis @policyhound.bsky.social · 4d

A major reorganization and significant downsizing has left scientists wondering about the future of the US National Academies. www.science.org/content/arti...

Can a smaller U.S. National Academies remain relevant?

Loss of federal support leads to staff layoffs and fewer committees of outside experts

www.science.org

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

IIASA @iiasa.ac.at · 4d

☕📰 Weekend read: In a new expert opinion article in Science, IIASA Population and Just Societies Program Director, Anne Goujon, explores why the future of global population trends is more uncertain today than at any point in recent decades.

📖 Read the full article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Karen R. Lips @karenrlips.bsky.social · 4d

The demographic future that we do not know about | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

The demographic future that we do not know about

The demographic future of the planet has rarely been as questioned as it is today. For much of the 20th century, the demographic transition theory provided a clear narrative: With modernization and de...

www.science.org

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

Madhusudan 🦉 Katti @leafwarbler.bsky.social · 5d

"proposed changes would allow federal govt more power to weigh economic impact against habitat designations, remove safeguards against future events—incl impacts from climate crisis—and rescind the “blanket rule” that automatically grants 'threatened' species the same protections as 'endangered'."

Trump officials reveal plan to roll back regulations in Endangered Species Act

Experts fear plan, one of many attempts Trump’s made to dismantle wildlife protection, will speed up extinction crisis

www.theguardian.com

Karen R. Lips @karenrlips.bsky.social · 5d

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

On the move: why PhD students study abroad in 2025

Mobility turns pragmatic as living costs and politics bite, Nature’s latest graduate survey shows.

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

Scott McGrath @smcgrath.phd · 5d

🧪 NSF spending held at $8.17 billion. Yet the agency awarded 20% fewer grants while increasing their size. This defensive pivot limits future obligations ahead of substantial budget cuts proposed for 2026. #AcademicSky

Despite Trump chaos, NSF avoided feared dip in research financing

Number of new grants fell by 20%, but got larger, as funder braced for potential budget cut

www.science.org

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

NPR @npr.org · 6d

The Interior Department proposed reviving a suite of changes to Endangered Species Act regulations first made during the Republican's first term. Those changes were reversed under former President Biden. n.pr/49Yn5Oc

Trump administration seeks to roll back protections for imperiled species and habitat

The Interior Department proposed reviving a suite of changes to Endangered Species Act regulations first made during the Republican's first term. Those changes were reversed under former President Biden.

Karen R. Lips @karenrlips.bsky.social · 7d

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The rainforest the world forgot: the Congo basin is the second largest on Earth, so why is it being neglected?

It is one of the world’s most vital carbon sinks, but this tropical rainforest is losing out when it comes to climate policy and funding

www.theguardian.com

Karen R. Lips @karenrlips.bsky.social · 7d

botany.one/2025/11/the-...

The Trees That Were Saved and Destroyed by the Same Mistake

For 20 years, Mexican communities accidentally planted millions of endangered trees, while simultaneously logging thousands in their natural habitat, without knowing it.

Reposted by Brian J. Enquist, Karen R. Lips, John R. Hutchinson , and 1 more Brian J. Enquist, Karen R. Lips, John R. Hutchinson, Juan Cole

Virginia Gewin @virginiagewin.bsky.social · 7d

Scientists (especially early career researchers): How has your career been impacted over the last year of policy changes and funding cuts? Contact me here or on Signal if you have a story to share.

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

IIASA @iiasa.ac.at · 8d

Read the full story here: www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

First, the frogs died. Then people got sick.

An emerging area of research is uncovering hidden links between nature and human health.

www.washingtonpost.com

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

IIASA @iiasa.ac.at · 8d

🐸From vanishing frogs to rising malaria: @washingtonpost.com features @karenrlips.bsky.social who first identified the wave of frog die-offs caused by fungus. Her work revealed that losing frogs led to a fivefold increase in malaria: a powerful One Health insight linking biodiversity & human health.

Karen R. Lips @karenrlips.bsky.social · 11d

www.science.org/content/arti...

U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations

Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students

www.science.org

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

Jeffrey Mervis @policyhound.bsky.social · 11d

NSF announced today it is moving a half-mile down the street to be neighbors of the US Patent Office in Alexandria, Va. Here's our earlier story on the possibility. www.science.org/content/arti...

NSF could be moving down the street

Government sets requirements for new space that sound like nearby patent office campus

www.science.org

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

Dino Grandoni @dinograndoni.bsky.social · 11d

The discovery is part of a new area of research in which ecologists and economists find hidden ways many plants and animals — including wolves, bats, birds and trees — underpin human well-being

They are learning that without saving nature, we can’t save ourselves 3/5

Reposted by Karen R. Lips, Martin Tomko

Dino Grandoni @dinograndoni.bsky.social · 11d

In biblical times, frogs were seen as a plague

Today, thanks to new research, we know they’re actually guardians against disease 1/5

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

Kai Kupferschmidt @kakape.bsky.social · 11d

The deadly fever in Ethiopia has been identified as Marburg disease.
It’s the first time a Marburg outbreak has been identified in Ethiopia.
#IDsky 🧪

www.afro.who.int/countries/et...

Ethiopia confirms first outbreak of Marburg virus disease

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the South Ethiopia Region, the first of its kind in the country, following laboratory testing of samples from a clus...

www.afro.who.int

Karen R. Lips @karenrlips.bsky.social · 11d

www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi....

First, the frogs died. Then people got sick.

An emerging area of research is uncovering hidden links between nature and human health.

www.washingtonpost.com

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

International Biodiversity @ibioconsultants.com · 12d

Kilimanjaro, Africa: 🏔️ #LandUse change from rapid #populationgrowth, NOT #climatechange, drove a 75% species loss on lower slopes (1911-2022). #Agroforestry and #ProtectedAreas offer hope for mitigation 🌍

journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

Gain and loss: Human and environmental wellbeing – drivers of Kilimanjaro’s decreasing biodiversity

Tropical mountains such as Kilimanjaro are biodiversity hotspots providing ecosystem services for millions of people, but many are under great pressure. Effective policies to halt biodiversity loss re...

journals.plos.org

Reposted by Karen R. Lips, David Leclère

BioAgora project @bioagora.eu · 13d

BioAgora, together with sister projects @coop4cbd.eu & RESPIN, will co-organise a side event at #COP30 in Belém, Brazil 🇧🇷.

📅 Science-Policy for Biodiversity & Climate: Experiences from Europe, Latin America & Africa
📍 Blue Zone
🕓 16:45-18:15 (local time)

Read more 👉 bioagora.eu/news/bioagor...

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 15d

Analysis of nearly 6 million scientific publications shows that Chinese institutions now lead 45% of US-China collaborative research teams, up from 30% in 2010, signaling shifting power dynamics in international scientific collaboration. In PNAS: https://ow.ly/Itpx50XpuBb

China’s lead share with select partners over time.

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 18d

"Forever chemicals" represent new environmental threat to #Florida's famed Everglades insideclimatenews.org/news/0411202... via @amybgreen.bsky.social

‘Forever Chemicals’ Represent New Environmental Threat for Florida’s Fragile Everglades - Inside Climate News

The co-author of a new paper says the presence of PFAS on the Everglades reservation of the Miccosukee Tribe suggests more restoration may be necessary in the river of grass.

insideclimatenews.org

Reposted by Martin Jung, Karen R. Lips, David Leclère

IIASA @iiasa.ac.at · 18d

🌍 Interested in the 2026 IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP)? Join our #YSSP26 Application Webinar for Europe & Asia to learn how to prepare a strong application and hear from alumni.
🗓 19 Nov 2025 | 1-2pm CET
📩 Register by 17 Nov: [email protected]
▶️ iiasa.ac.at/early-career...

Reposted by Tim M. Blackburn

Karen R. Lips @karenrlips.bsky.social · 18d

Grad students! Come join us at IIASA as part of our summer research program!! See our webinars for more info

IIASA @iiasa.ac.at · Oct 20

🌍 Applications for #YSSP2026 are open!
Spend your summer at IIASA in Austria with researchers from around the world tackling global challenges.
🧠 For advanced PhD students
🗓️ 1 Jun–28 Aug 2026
⏰ Apply by 12 Jan 2026 (midnight CET)
Build your network. Advance your research: iiasa.ac.at/capacity-dev...

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

Andrew D Thaler @drandrewthaler.bsky.social · 19d

Long-term impact and biological recovery in a deep-sea mining track

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Long-term impact and biological recovery in a deep-sea mining track - Nature

Four decades after a test mining experiment that removed nodules, the biological impacts in many groups of organisms persist, although populations of several organisms have begun to re-establish despi...

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

Carbon Brief @carbonbrief.org · 20d

NEW – Interactive: Who wants what at the COP30 climate change summit | @arunacsekhar.bsky.social @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social @mollylempriere.carbonbrief.org

Read here ⬇️

Interactive: Who wants what at the COP30 climate change summit - Carbon Brief

In order to track parties’ positions on negotiating points at COP30, Carbon Brief has analysed nearly 100 submissions to the UN and captured them in a table

www.carbonbrief.org

Karen R. Lips @karenrlips.bsky.social · 22d

www.statnews.com/2025/10/20/b...

Climate and health strategies must address the biodiversity crisis

Safeguarding biodiversity is not simply an environmental concern but a foundational element of preventive and clinical care.

www.statnews.com

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

STAT @statnews.com · 22d

The Americas — North, Central, and South — is the only region of the world that has ever managed to stop endemic transmission of measles. But that hard-won victory against the highly contagious virus is on the verge of being rolled back.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/03/m...

The Americas, led by Canada, is on the brink of losing measles-elimination status

The Americas is the only region of the world to have stopped endemic transmission of measles. But its victory is on the verge of being rolled back.

www.statnews.com

Reposted by Karen R. Lips

The Economist @economist.com · 23d

Snake venom is complicated stuff, sporting many damaging proteins whose overall molecular structure differs between species. But scientists have had a breakthrough

Scientists may have found a panacea for snake bites

A broad-spectrum antivenom could save thousands of lives a year