Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Aug 4

If you haven't yet heard of the new world screwworm ... you will soon. We've got an open call for papers now for this urgent threat. entsoc.org/publications...

Call for Papers: New World Screwworm

Invitation to Submit to a Joint Special Collection on New World Screwworm New world screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax. Photo courtesy of Dr. Sohath Yusseff-Vanegas.

entsoc.org

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Reposted by Chris Stelzig

Entomological Society of America @entsocamerica.bsky.social · Jul 31

Twenty-four entomological societies, representing nearly 22,000 insect scientists from six continents, agree: "Progress in insect science is shaped not only by the entomologists who study insects but also by the policies and investments of nations."

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Jul 22

Thanks to ‪@morrisonlabusda.bsky.social‬ for an important reminder on the why, how, and who of peer review. entomologytoday.org/2025/07/22/l...

Limited Time for Peer Review? Choose to Serve Your Profession, Not Shareholders

Peer review is a fundamental pillar of science, but scientists are short on time. One entomologist urges you to prioritize reviewing for journals at ESA and other scientific societies.

entomologytoday.org

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · May 6

Stand up for science: Learn some tips with this webinar. Thursday, May 8, 1-2pm.

Entomological Society of America @entsocamerica.bsky.social · May 2

Interested in advocating for entomology? Join us Thursday, May 8 from 1-2 p.m. ET for a panel discussion with former Hill staff, agency leadership, and ESA Science Policy Fellows on the whys and hows of engaging in advocacy.

🔗Register: entsoc.org/events/webin...

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Reposted by Chris Stelzig

Brian Lovett @lovettbr.bsky.social · May 3

I am extremely pleased to share this feature articulating why I have lost my sanity lately. www.science.org/content/arti...

U.S. scientists’ lives and careers are being upended. Here are five of their stories

As the second Trump administration sends U.S. science into upheaval, countless researchers are fighting for their futures

www.science.org

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · May 1

When you start to get bad press in WV, it may be time to rethink your strategy. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/04/29/u...

‘We cannot survive this’: Trump’s USDA cuts are hurting Greenbrier Valley farmers

Across West Virginia’s Greenbrier Valley, federal funding cuts are hurting farmers who supplied fresh food to local schools and food banks.

mountainstatespotlight.org

Reposted by Chris Stelzig

Armando Rosario-Lebrón @rosariolebronentomology.com · Apr 23

USDA employees are on edge. Layoffs loom. The mental toll of waiting in silence is immense.
“The ultimate planning and reorganization should be finished... by early to mid May.”
Uncertainty is its own cruelty. Hundreds of agricultural scientists could be cut. 🧪 #entomology

Ag Secretary says White House is “really close” to final plans for USDA realignment

USDA staffing cuts and office consolidations are raising bipartisan concerns in Congress - sparking objections...

kfgo.com

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Apr 14

With apologies to all of the other @entsocamerica.bsky.social branches … but NCB wins the coolest location award for the opening reception at the UNL Morrill Hall museum.

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Apr 9

It really is hard to keep up on all the winning. I just saw this about USDA HQ moving out of WDC. It was posted two days ago. In years past, this would have been all over my news feed. Now I'm 2 days late. www.govexec.com/workforce/20...

USDA to slash headquarters, other staff and relocate some to new 'hubs' around the country

Mass layoffs at the Agriculture Department coming within weeks, with Washington facing significant cuts but regional employees also seeing reductions.

www.govexec.com

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Apr 9

The USDA is intellectually poorer as a result of (all of) this, but I think we all understand your rationale. Peace to you, Brian.

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Apr 8

If you want to support the entomological community, the donation page is here: www.entsoc.org/support/memb...

Member Support Fund

The ESA Member Support Fund assists members who have faced a job loss as a result of disruptions from government and industry trends in 2025. The fund aims to support membership dues, which will allow...

www.entsoc.org

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Apr 8

We have received a great response from our members to support this fund, which our @entsocamerica.bsky.social governing board has agreed to double, up to a total of $25,000.

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Apr 8

Are you an insect scientist who got DOGE'd? We launched a Support Fund to help keep you connected to @entsocamerica.bsky.social. Apply for a 2025 dues waiver and stay connected to the largest insect science society in the world. entsocawards.smapply.org/prog/member_...

Member Support Fund Application - Entomological Society of America

entsocawards.smapply.org

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Apr 5

Amazing crowd in DC today.

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Apr 3

I’m not going to be a spoiler, but I bet my Bluesky feed will love today’s Strands @nytimes.com

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Mar 31

The WH is asking OSTP for some suggestions on "how to revitalize America's science and technology enterprise." IMHO, it starts with not defunding America's science and technology enterprise.
www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...

A Letter to Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

March 26, 2025 Dear Mr. Kratsios: Scientific progress and technological innovation were the twin engines that powered the American century. The

www.whitehouse.gov

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Reposted by Chris Stelzig

Gwen Pearson @bug-gwen.bsky.social · Mar 18

Ento friends! Andrine Shufran, one of the hardest working outreach entomologists I know, lost everything in the OK Fires; 💔 GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-andri...

Andrine and her husband kevin stand in front of what is left of their burned house. There's mostly piles of bricks and one metal table.

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Reposted by Chris Stelzig

Jeffrey Brainard @jeffreybrainard.bsky.social · Mar 17

DOGE-driven journal cancellations at USDA's National Agricultural Library: '[like] burning down the Library of Alexandria.' #scientificpublishing #libraryscience #academiclibraries @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...

DOGE order leads to journal cancellations by U.S. agricultural library

“We can’t do science without these,” one researcher says of the hundreds of journals no longer accessible

www.science.org

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Mar 17

I appreciate seeing MSM starting to pick up on this story. Also NBC News, www.nbcnews.com/news/rcna194... and industry trade pubs.

They were working to ensure invasive pests didn't destroy U.S. crops — until they were abruptly fired

USDA experts have been swept up in the Trump administration’s frenzied and turbulent efforts to drastically shrink the federal workforce.

www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Chris Stelzig

Entomological Society of America @entsocamerica.bsky.social · Mar 17

"Kit Johnson, the director of trade compliance at the US customers broker John S. James, also predicts prices and waste to increase. But what raises the most alarms for him is the increased likelihood of invasive species slipping through inspection cracks." (1/2) buff.ly/Q1DapkQ

DOGE’s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery Prices to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread

Thousands of US Department of Agriculture employees, including food inspectors and disease-sniffing dog trainers, remain out of work, leaving food to rot in ports and pests to proliferate.

www.wired.com

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Mar 15

This is a hard (emotionally) read, but important to show the real and deadly impacts of these cuts. People are dying right now, not just programs and American global influence. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Opinion | Musk Said No One Has Died Since Aid Was Cut. That Isn’t True.

A journey through the front lines of global poverty shows that when the world’s richest men slash aid for the world’s poorest children, the result is sickness, starvation and death.

www.nytimes.com

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Mar 14

I was just informed that the USDA-ARS National Agricultural Library has canceled many of their subscriptions to science journals. Tell me how this is efficient?!? Scientists need these journals to ... you know .... do science! This feels a lot like abdicating scientific leadership. SMH

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Chris Stelzig @chrisstelzig.bsky.social · Mar 7

Nice work NBC on this piece which goes into some great detail on the invasive species impacts of these cuts. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

They were working to ensure invasive pests didn't destroy U.S. crops — until they were abruptly fired

USDA experts have been swept up in the Trump administration’s frenzied and turbulent efforts to drastically shrink the federal workforce.

www.nbcnews.com

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Reposted by Chris Stelzig

Armando Rosario-Lebrón @rosariolebronentomology.com · Mar 4

We weren't sure it would be possible, but huge thanks to the Eastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America for supporting a last-minute symposium highlighting stories from terminated federal employees at the meeting on March 17th. #entomology 🧪

esa.confex.com/esa/2025eb/m...

Impact of Federal Dismissals and Disruptions on Entomology and Entomologists

esa.confex.com

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Reposted by Chris Stelzig

Entomological Society of America @entsocamerica.bsky.social · Mar 5

As dismissals and program closures mount at agencies like the USDA-ARS, ripple effects will include more pests in fields, fewer pollinators, rising food costs, and more invasive species. Learn more in part one of a new series on impacts of cuts to federal funding for insect science. buff.ly/tzR2Ta7

The Far-Reaching Harms of Cuts to Entomological Research, Part 1

Pretending that federal cuts to entomological research will save money is like deciding to save on farming costs by not buying seeds—you're cutting the very foundation of future growth and…

entomologytoday.org

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