Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sneha Rao @sneharao.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks @mildobserver.bsky.social for taking the time to chat with me, superstar @erinmorrow.bsky.social & others. Our convo was inspired by the McClintock Letters, run by @cornellasap.bsky.social & @snapcoalition.bsky.social, w/ the mission of reconnecting scientists with their hometown communities.

San Francisco Public Press @sfpublicpress.bsky.social · 1d

What happens when science funding disappears?
At UCSF and the SF VA, labs are laying off staff, trials are paused, and patients are left waiting.
Our new Civic episode breaks down how federal cuts — and now a shutdown — are reshaping science in the Bay Area.
🎧

Effects of Research Funding Cuts Ripple Through San Francisco Labs, Clinics and Lives - San Francisco Public Press

Federal funding cuts to medical research and new rules for grants are dismantling projects at the University of California, San Francisco, and the San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical…

www.sfpublicpress.org

1 6 7

Reposted by Sneha Rao

Science Magazine @science.org · 5d

“I will miss the creativity of teaching.”

On #WorldTeachersDay, check out this #ScienceWorkingLife essay from a retired professor emeritus on how she challenged students to think beyond facts—and how she learned to teach like a scientist. https://scim.ag/4nvwosR

People diving into a pool of books and figures, with text: How I learned to teach like a scientist

2 24 81

Sneha Rao @sneharao.bsky.social · 10d

Dialogue is so important in science engagement.

“Our responsibility is … to speak with humility, to listen with care, and to earn the trust of those we hope to reach… To change what people believe, we must first understand why they believe it and what purpose that belief serves in their lives.”

Alex Eve @amjeve.bsky.social · 10d

An incredibly important article and increasingly relevant in modern political climates. Thank you to @rogerslabucd.bsky.social and colleagues for writing this for @dev-journal.bsky.social

"Speaking up can feel like walking a tightrope strung between conflict and silence."

#TruthMatters

Speaking science in a fractured world: making truth land when facts alone cannot

ABSTRACT. Scientific misinformation is a defining challenge of our time. As public trust in science declines and falsehoods spread faster than facts, the scientific community must rethink its role in ...

doi.org

1 3

Sneha Rao @sneharao.bsky.social · 10d

Sign-up to join us here ➡️ www.spgatucsf.org/join

Sneha Rao @sneharao.bsky.social · 10d

The best group!!! Now is a great time to join us if you’re interested in learning about how to engage in advocacy and policy as a scientist!

Science Policy Group at UCSF @spgatucsf.bsky.social · 10d

SPG hosted our annual Welcome Picnic last week - what an energizing start to the new year! Our group brainstorm/jam board of policy issues and ideas shows a teaser of some of our upcoming events… 👀

Watch this space to check out the new initiatives our members cook up this year!

New and returning members of the Science Policy Group at UCSF gather for a picnic around the trees in Koret Quad, Mission Bay campus.

New and returning members of the Science Policy Group at UCSF engage in discussion about science policy issues.

New and returning members of the Science Policy Group at UCSF stand around a whiteboard posted with sticky notes of science policy issues and event ideas.

1 1 1

Reposted by Sneha Rao

Kyle A DeMarr @kdmr.bsky.social · Jul 26

Very lucky to be at UCSF with such great microscopy facilities. These instruments are definitely pushing the limits of what we thought feasible in live imaging! Excited to keep exploring how these single cells organize and secrete such precise morphologies.

Tanner Fadero @tanner-fadero.bsky.social · Jul 26

If you've ever wanted to know what the actin filaments on the scales in a developing moth wing look like in 3D, here you go!

Kyle DeMarr from @mullinslab.bsky.social acquired these beautiful data on the single objective light sheet at the UCSF Center for Advanced Light Microscopy.

#snouty

8 35

Reposted by Sneha Rao

mjarnett.bsky.social @mjarnett.bsky.social · Jun 10

Science is under unprecedented threat in the US, and we need to speak out to save it.

If you are an early-career researcher, please consider signing our open letter calling to preserve the future of American science: tinyurl.com/mcclintockle....

Our futures, and our country's future, depend on it.

Open Letter: A Call to Preserve the Future of American Science

The Scientist Network for Advancing Policy (SNAP) invites early-career scientists (e.g., student, post-bacc, PhD candidate, post-doctoral researcher, early-career faculty) in the United States to join...

forms.gle

27 27

Reposted by Sneha Rao

John Wallingford @jbwallingford.bsky.social · Jun 11

We all know scientists who are also musicians In fact, one of my favorites just dropped a new album last month. I was surprised me, though, since she died over 800 years ago. Turns out she might also be the first woman to ever write about developmental biology. 🧵 1/16

An Icon of St. Hildegard, from Wikipedia

2 12 60

Reposted by Sneha Rao

Science for Good ☀️ @sciforgood.bsky.social · Jun 5

There's still time to write a McClintock Letter in support of federal funding of research!

Interested and don't know where to start?

Join this workshop tomorrow, June 6th, at 12 ET ☀️

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Image for a McClintock Letters writing workshop tomorrow at 12p ET, hosted by Dr. Katherine Xue at UC Irvine, who has written for the New Yorker. She will walk participants through how to write and pitch your op-ed!

2 13 16

Reposted by Sneha Rao

Adriana Bankston @abankston.bsky.social · May 24

As citizens concerned about the future #STEM #workforce, we want to hear stories and impacts of #federal #funding cuts on early career #scientists. Take the surveys by June 6! @scienceforgood.bsky.social @jpflores.rbind.io

Impacts survey: bit.ly/3Z1aFPj
Stories survey: bit.ly/3Sghx7R

#savescience

Are you an early career scientist impacted by federal research funding cuts? We want to hear your views and stories! Impacts survey: https://bit.ly/3Z1aFPj
Stories survey: https://bit.ly/3Sghx7R. Open May 23 - June 6, 2025.

1 12 9

Reposted by Sneha Rao

Isako Di Tomassi @isakoditomassi.bsky.social · May 22

Excellent article, big thnx #McClintockLetters collaborators @mjarnett.bsky.social @bdavisbio.bsky.social @erinmorrow.bsky.social @jpflores.rbind.io @emmalovesscience.bsky.social @kassstem.bsky.social @sneharao.bsky.social @eselland.bsky.social @rosemalb.bsky.social @viv-cc.bsky.social + others

Shalin Jyotishi @shalinjyotishi.bsky.social · May 20

🆕From me in @forbes.com: NSF, NIH Funding Cuts Spur Student-Led Science Communication Campaign

@cornellasap.bsky.social's McClintock letter campaign aims to help federallyfunded students and early career researchers share their work in local media.

www.forbes.com/sites/shalin...

#scipol #scicomm

NSF, NIH Funding Cuts Spur Student-Led Science Communication Campaign

In the wake of funding cuts from the Trump administration, Cornell University students and early career researchers are turning to local media to make their voices heard.

www.forbes.com

3 8

Reposted by Sneha Rao

Arthur Michaut 🔬🐣 @amichaut.bsky.social · May 12

🚨📣 New preprint alert!
Excited to share my new postdoc work on direct force and mechanical properties measurements in live embryos!
A great team effort with A. Chamolly (theory), under the supervision of F. Corson and @jeromegros.bsky.social
📄 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#devbio #mechanics

Direct measurements of active forces and material properties unveil the active mechanics of early embryogenesis

Despite progress in probing tissue mechanics, direct long-term measurements in live embryonic epithelia are lacking. This limits our understanding of amniote embryonic morphogenesis, which takes place...

www.biorxiv.org

1 35 84

Reposted by Sneha Rao

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · May 9

🧪 Ranking member Lofgren and 11 other House dems sent a fiery 7-page letter to acting NSF director today

"The cancelation of these awards suggests instead that NSF is willing to apply political censorship of awards under direction from President Trump and the DOGE teenagers"

Share widely #SaveNSF

democrats-science.house.gov

10 160 310

Reposted by Sneha Rao

Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group @pspdg.bsky.social · May 5

Are you interested in writing for the McClintock Letters, but aren't sure where to start?

Join us for an Op-Ed workshop led by author and NYT reporter and editor Clay Risen @risenc.bsky.social this Wednesday, May 7th at 4pm ET. Register here to attend on Zoom: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

1 15 25

Sneha Rao @sneharao.bsky.social · May 5

So important to stay in touch with our local and hometown communities - write for the #McClintockLetters and be part of this incredible grassroots initiative!

Science Policy Group at UCSF @spgatucsf.bsky.social · May 5

📣 Federally funded scientists!

Now more than ever before, it is critical that we bridge the gap btw scientists & the community to rebuild trust & address misinformation. Join the national #McClintockLetters movement to #DefendResearch, improve #SciComm, & share your scientific story! ⤵️

3 6

Reposted by Sneha Rao

Jesse Veenvliet @jesseveenvliet.bsky.social · Apr 19

😱 A very hungry #PacManoid ate the original post 🍬🍬🍬

Here’s the 🧵 on our latest in @cp-cellstemcell.bsky.social again!

Gastruloids w/ a sweet tooth better model natural embryos: doi.org/10.1016/j.st...

Spearheaded by @cryaaa.bsky.social & Alba Villaronga-Luque @mpi-cbg.de @poldresden.bsky.social

6 17 76

Sneha Rao @sneharao.bsky.social · Apr 7

Energizing day at @aaas.org #CASE2025, representing UCSF w @aasencor.bsky.social, Yanilka Soto-Muñiz & Kai Trepka!

“Relationships are built in teaspoons & lost in buckets” - AAAS CEO Sudip Parikh’s advice to show up consistently in your community to affect grassroots change.

#MakingOurCASE #SciPol

2 6

Sneha Rao @sneharao.bsky.social · Apr 7

Would love to be added!

1