Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈 @paulacroxson.bsky.social · 2h

This Monday 10/13, @dianateuthis.bsky.social and I are back with @storycollider.bsky.social for 5 true personal stories of finding out, from superstitions & magic to getting out of our comfort zones!

7pm at @caveatnyc.bsky.social

Grab tix now www.storycollider.org/tickets/2025...

Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈

Liz Neeley @lizneeley.bsky.social · 7h

Each Friday, I summarize what is happening to American science & higher ed. 🧪
This was Week 38:
- MIT declines loyalty oath/compact & I review latest at other 8 universities
- Newest RIFs gutting CDC
- “Payroll pirates” targeting university HR

& so much more buttondown.com/liminalcreat...

Week 38

Oct 4-10, 2025 - failure state

buttondown.com

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Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈

Liz Neeley @lizneeley.bsky.social · 1d

GOOD!

MIT officially rejects the compact/loyalty oath for higher ed. That’s 1 of 9. I hope we see many more announcements today.

Josh Moody @byjoshmoody.bsky.social · 1d

MIT rejects "compact" proposed by the Trump administration.
MIT prez wrote: it "would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution" and "is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone."
orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...

Regarding the Compact | MIT Organization Chart

orgchart.mit.edu

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Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈 @paulacroxson.bsky.social · 15d

Can’t wait! 🐜 🕸️ 🧟

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Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈

Mindy Weisberger @laminda.bsky.social · 15d

As spooky season creeps up, perhaps your brain is craving a helping of zombie science? Come get some in NJ and NYC, where I'll be talking about Rise of the Zombie Bugs! 🧪🧟

10/24: WORD Jersey City with Nick Ciavatta
11/5: NYPL with @paulacroxson.bsky.social

More info: mindyweisberger.com/events/

A graphic on a dark background showing silhouettes of creepy bare trees and gravestones lit by a full moon. Text at the top reads "Mindy Weisberger, author of Rise of the Zombie Bugs," between a photo of the author and an image of the book cover. Listed below are two events. The first reads: "in conversation with Nick Ciavatta, Friday, October 24 at 7:00 PM, WORD Bookstore, 29 McWilliams PI, Jersey City, NJ." The second reads: "in conversation with Paula Croxson, Wednesday, November 5 at 6:30PM, New York Public Library, 455 Fifth Ave, New York, NY." A URL at the bottom reads mindyweisberger.com/events.

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Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈 @paulacroxson.bsky.social · 24d

One of the coolest things about working at @stellatecomms.bsky.social is getting to work with an incredible team of designers who really understand how to bring science communication to life ✨ 🎬

Caitlin Vander Weele, PhD @caitvw.bsky.social · 25d

I was going to write a whole post about all this incredible work with all these amazing scientists and organizations, but I’ll just leave @stellatecomms.bsky.social design sizzle reel here.

It speaks for itself.

youtu.be/x2O7DkpIoCA?...

Stellate Communications Reel

YouTube video by Stellate Communications

youtu.be

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Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈

NY-CURES @nycures.bsky.social · Sep 4

🚀 NY-CURES Launch — Championing State-Wide Investment in Science! 🚀

Our new coalition advocates for sustained public support of New York’s vibrant biomedical research ecosystem — creating cures, economic gains & strengthening communities.

Sign up. Stay informed. Join the movement: www.nycures.org/

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Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈

Dr. Casey Fiesler @cfiesler.bsky.social · Aug 5

I might have lost funding but at least I can do what I want. :) And I want to teach people about AI ethics in 90 second increments! bit.ly/ai-ethics-sy...

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Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈

The Open Notebook @theopennotebook.bsky.social · Aug 4

🧪 @transjournalists.org is offering a few dozen stipends of $250 or $500 to support journalists looking for a boost to attend conferences, trainings, workshops, and more.
Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm PT on August 11. Find more info and apply below!

Trans Journalists Association @transjournalists.org · Jul 25

Got your eye on a data training? Trying to get to a conference to speak on a panel?

We want to support your growth as a trans journalist, help journalists learn to better-cover trans communities, or both.

The Trans Journalists Association is offering a new round of stipends 🏳️‍⚧️

Level Up

The Trans Journalists Association is offering stipends of $250 and $500 for journalists' professional development.

www.transjournalists.org

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Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈 @paulacroxson.bsky.social · Aug 1

So proud to call these two incredible people colleagues! ✨

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Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈

Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation @laskerfdn.bsky.social · Jul 28

We're hiring a Digital Engagement Manager! 🧪 Learn more about the job opening and application process: laskerfoundation.org/about-us/car...

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Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈

Liz Neeley @lizneeley.bsky.social · Jul 25

A while ago, we started a #FixItFriday tradition. We keep a running list - large & small, digital & analog, anything broken or annoying - and work on it together.

Today's 30-second fix: to remove AI "preview" from search results, here's the setting for Chrome users: www.reddit.com/r/techsuppor...

Screenshot from Reddit. User is zensnapple, posting 6 months ago.
Thread says
"How to turn off Google AI Overview in Chrome SOLVED
Open Chrome and put chrome://settings/searchEngines in the search box.
A tab will open which brings you to Search Engine > Manage Search Engines and Site Search.
Click on the Add button by the Site Search update. A box will open. Fill in the form with the following:
Name: AI Free Web
Shortcut: @web
URL: {google:baseURL}search?q=%s&udm=14
You’ll now see AI Free Web in the list of search engines.
Click on the three stacked dots on the right side of AI Free Web on the list. Select Make Default.
From now on, google functions pretty much like it did back when it was good. Good luck out there."

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Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈 @paulacroxson.bsky.social · Jul 24

🧪 Medical research funding continues to be critically endangered, but at least some grants have been ordered to be reinstated - a sure sign that we have to keep pushing back on these illegal, harmful decisions. 🧵 from this week's update - and how you can help with Unbreaking.

Unbreaking @unbreaking.org · Jul 24

In a bit of good news, medical research grants on vaccine hesitancy, diversity, and other topics are being reinstated, following court rulings.
www.science.org/content/arti...

NIH will reinstate 900 grants in response to court order

Projects touching on sensitive topics such as DEI had been illegally terminated, judge found

www.science.org

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Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈 @paulacroxson.bsky.social · Jul 21

Join us for the first of @stellatecomms.bsky.social FREE webinars on Web Design for Nonprofits on August 6, 2025 from 1-2PT ET! ✨

Stellate Communications @stellatecomms.bsky.social · Jul 21

Science orgs & nonprofits: join us for a FREE webinar on revamping your website. We’ll cover:
✔️ Signs it’s time to redesign
✔️ How great design drives funding + engagement
✔️ Tips for translating science online

Design isn't just pretty, it's impactful! Register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Free Webinar: The art and science of web design for nonprofits. August 6, 2025, 1-2pm ET, virtual, registration required. Lily Campbell, Partner & Creative Director

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Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈

Unbreaking @unbreaking.org · Jul 10

The reconciliation bill Congress passed last week cut a trillion dollars from Medicaid, which covers 1 in 5 people in the US. With other Trump administration policy changes, the bill’s cuts are expected to push 17 million people out of healthcare coverage. unbreaking.org/issues/medic...

Medicaid — Unbreaking

How the administration is breaking the government, and what that means for all of us.

unbreaking.org

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Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈

Ethan Marcotte @ethanmarcotte.com · Jul 1

The @unbreaking.org team just launched its blog, and this post from Sydette is really something special.

“Nothing ever comes back exactly the same. But if we know what has changed, what is being destroyed—but also what can be saved—then we can hope that something even better can be rebuilt.”

🇬🇾🗽Sydette The Dreaded Gorgon🗽🇬🇾 @blackamazon.bsky.social · Jul 1

It’s lunch time! Which means the West coast is up …

@unbreaking.org it started in March , it’s up and running in JUNE

We are putting it together and in our first first person blog post.. I tell you why I personally am doing this
Read and Share !!!

unbreaking.org/blog/welcome...

Welcome to our neighborhood — Unbreaking

My name is Sydette. I’m a technologist, researcher, and writer hailing from Far Rockaway, and a founding member of the Unbreaking collective.

unbreaking.org

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Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈 @paulacroxson.bsky.social · Jun 30

Very excited for this! In person (in NYC) and livestream tickets available!

The Friedman Brain Institute @sinaibrain.bsky.social · Jun 26

✨NOT TO MISS✨ On July 14, 6:30pm, join #StoryCollider when Diana Li & @paulacroxson.bsky.social host a night of 👉 true stories about self-discovery. Be prepared for the painful, wonderful & everything in btwn.🎟️ Early bird tickets available NOW until 7/7 at 7pm! www.storycollider.org/tickets/2025...

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Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈

José Vargas-Muñiz @mycorican.bsky.social · Jun 19

Protect transgender scientist! 🏳️‍⚧️

Protect transgender scientists

Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGnC) people are a primary target of the Trump administration. Multiple executive orders seek to erase TGnC protections; mandate denial of gender identity; and ba...

www.science.org

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Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈 @paulacroxson.bsky.social · Jun 19

This is an admirable decision, and must have been a devastatingly hard one. It shouldn't have to be this way - these demands are illegal AND unethical.

The Carpentries @carpentries.carpentries.org · Jun 19

ICYMI: In September 2024, The Carpentries submitted a proposal for 1.5 million USD to the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems (POSE) Program, and were extremely pleased to learn that the proposal was recommended for funding.

However...

Announcing Withdrawal of NSF Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems Proposal

In September 2024, The Carpentries submitted a proposal to the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems (POSE) Program. This project would position The Carpentr...

carpentries.org

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Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · Jun 18

✊ACTION MENU✊

Science is under attack. But we’re fighting back.

✔️ Sign the Bethesda Declaration
✔️ Join our resistance to the Fool’s Gold EO
✔️ Take action in your community
✊ Let’s flood the zone with science.

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Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈

Oliver Ghingold @emceebois.bsky.social · Jun 18

CLARIFICATION :

The Trevor Project's hotline will still be live. But basically this means LGBTQ people can no longer be connected to it through the US national 988 suicide prevention hotline.

They will need to be contacted DIRECTLY

So spread this around

They can be texted. They can be called.

A screenshot of a website laid out in a two-by-two grid:

Top-left, a line-drawing image of a cartoon woman with braided hair looking at text messages on her smartphone with a smile.

Top-right, "Text us from anywhere, anytime. Standard text messaging rates may apply." "Text 'START' to 678-678" button, "What to expect +" link.

Bottom-left, "Reach out to hear a live voice on the line." "Call us at 1-866-488-7386" button. "What to expect +" link.

Bottom-right, side-by-side line-drawing images of two cartoon people. On the left, a cartoon woman is holding her phone to her ear and looking up at the night sky. On the right, a cartoon phone agent is sitting in front of a laptop with a headset on in front of a bright, sunny sky.

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Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · Jun 16

MORE YOUNG: "It is palpably clear that these directives and the set of terminated grants here also are designed to frustrate, to stop, research that may bear on the health – we’re talking about health here, the health of Americans, of our LGBTQ community. That’s appalling."

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Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · Jun 16

YOUNG: "I am hesitant to draw this conclusion, but I have an unflinching obligation to draw it – that this represents racial discrimination. And discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community. That’s what this is. I would be blind not to call it out. My duty is to call it out."

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Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · Jun 16

BREAKING: A federal judge in Massachusetts (the Reagan-appointed William Young) has declared the Trump administration's cuts to NIH grants — ostensibly over Trump's EOs on gender ideology and DEI — are "illegal" and "void." He's ordering many grants restored.

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Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈 @paulacroxson.bsky.social · Jun 11

Yes - the letter is now open for all to sign and had\s a space for you to include your affiliation. Non-scientists can also sign in support.

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