Ethan White
@ethanwhite.weecology.org
Environmental data scientist/professor using technology to understand nature. #rstats, Python, open data, open source. he/him
Pinned
Ethan White
@ethanwhite.weecology.org
· Nov 13
I am sorry to inform you that "That's not how we've done it in the past" is not a good reason not to try something new.
Reposted by Ethan White
Thread of new brain watercolors #sciart
One of each, find your perfect mind
One of each, find your perfect mind
New #sciart! Watercolor brains expressing different states of mind. Original paintings, not prints; one of each. artologica.etsy.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Thread of new brain watercolors #sciart
One of each, find your perfect mind
One of each, find your perfect mind
Reposted by Ethan White
New from me: I talked to CDC staffers about the new vaccines and autism page. They said things like:
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
“Embarrassing” and “horrifying”: CDC workers describe the new vaccines and autism page
"The best way I can put it is it feels like we're on a hijacked airplane."
www.motherjones.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
New from me: I talked to CDC staffers about the new vaccines and autism page. They said things like:
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
Reposted by Ethan White
"All of us have a role to play in deciding how our university gets through these difficult times. These policies affect us all & no one – not humanities nor STEM students – has the leisure of distance. As researchers, we must find the time to take off our lab coats, close our books & take a stand."
Opinion: Student researchers need to stand up for themselves politically - Daily Bruin
The Trump administration’s policies leave a lasting imprint on universities across the country — and UCLA has not been spared. With continual threats to scholarly autonomy, academics must become more ...
dailybruin.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:30 PM
"All of us have a role to play in deciding how our university gets through these difficult times. These policies affect us all & no one – not humanities nor STEM students – has the leisure of distance. As researchers, we must find the time to take off our lab coats, close our books & take a stand."
Reposted by Ethan White
This is bad. How can any university hire people, build facilities, make any plans, if the funding can be arbitrarily removed on a whim from an agency? This goes far beyond currently disfavored topics.
Update on a significant development NIH grant terms.
On 10/1, a change to grant making regs went into effect that gives NIH more power to terminate grants for policy reasons.
But to use this power, new grant terms must include specific language. See @aniloza.bsky.social w/ the story from July.
1/
On 10/1, a change to grant making regs went into effect that gives NIH more power to terminate grants for policy reasons.
But to use this power, new grant terms must include specific language. See @aniloza.bsky.social w/ the story from July.
1/
HHS devises legal playbook for future grant terminations, internal memo shows
Exclusive: HHS devises a legal playbook for future research grant terminations, an internal memo shows.
www.statnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:40 PM
This is bad. How can any university hire people, build facilities, make any plans, if the funding can be arbitrarily removed on a whim from an agency? This goes far beyond currently disfavored topics.
"Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad."
- Miles Kington
- Miles Kington
Brian O'Driscoll press conference tomato
YouTube video by eimhin
youtu.be
November 19, 2025 at 11:36 PM
"Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad."
- Miles Kington
- Miles Kington
Reposted by Ethan White
Whomst among us hasn't felt a little vacuum about snackie all done
November 18, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Whomst among us hasn't felt a little vacuum about snackie all done
Reposted by Ethan White
There are only a few booths at sfn where you can buy original, handmade, not mass produced artwork, and Michele’s is one of them!
Make sure to stop by today before #sfn ends!!
Make sure to stop by today before #sfn ends!!
November 19, 2025 at 5:13 PM
There are only a few booths at sfn where you can buy original, handmade, not mass produced artwork, and Michele’s is one of them!
Make sure to stop by today before #sfn ends!!
Make sure to stop by today before #sfn ends!!
Reposted by Ethan White
“Without an independent & sufficiently representative faculty body to oversee the curriculum & faculty status, an institution may fragment or fall victim to the latest fashionable notion proposed by a centralized administration, politicized board or legislature."
Read more about our new report👇
Read more about our new report👇
AAUP Report Defends Shared Governance Amid Political Attacks
In a report released Tuesday, the American Association of University Professors outlines its case for shared governance at colleges and universities as state legislatures increasingly seek to constrai...
www.insidehighered.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:23 PM
“Without an independent & sufficiently representative faculty body to oversee the curriculum & faculty status, an institution may fragment or fall victim to the latest fashionable notion proposed by a centralized administration, politicized board or legislature."
Read more about our new report👇
Read more about our new report👇
Reposted by Ethan White
Science People: We at NSF are still recovering/catching up/getting our lives together. But the agency posted these FAQs about post-shutdown resumption of operations which might answer a lot of Qs for you: www.nsf.gov/resumption-o...
Resumption of Operations at NSF
Information for NSF staff and the research community regarding the agency's resumption of operations after a lapse in appropriations.
www.nsf.gov
November 18, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Science People: We at NSF are still recovering/catching up/getting our lives together. But the agency posted these FAQs about post-shutdown resumption of operations which might answer a lot of Qs for you: www.nsf.gov/resumption-o...
Reposted by Ethan White
Hilariously hedgy to be like, "our thing doesn't predict much but neither does anything else so it's good"
November 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Hilariously hedgy to be like, "our thing doesn't predict much but neither does anything else so it's good"
Reposted by Ethan White
calling this AI is ridiculous
November 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
calling this AI is ridiculous
Reposted by Ethan White
Personality trait psychology has a lot to effing answer for imho
Researchers are now saying that AI can find correlations between facial characteristics and success on the job.
The Economist says that corporations would have a “strong incentive” to deploy this technology when looking at applicants.
The Economist says that corporations would have a “strong incentive” to deploy this technology when looking at applicants.
November 18, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Personality trait psychology has a lot to effing answer for imho
"I know you get too much email, so to make sure you saw one of those emails, I'm forwarding you a copy of the email that you just received from someone else."
November 18, 2025 at 5:34 PM
"I know you get too much email, so to make sure you saw one of those emails, I'm forwarding you a copy of the email that you just received from someone else."
Reposted by Ethan White
The UC Regents—the same people who cowered, while unions fought the Trump admin in court—are meeting this week at UCLA to discuss new rules to muzzle faculty speech, among other abhorrent appeasement strategies.
This TUESDAY let’s show them who we really are.
This TUESDAY let’s show them who we really are.
November 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The UC Regents—the same people who cowered, while unions fought the Trump admin in court—are meeting this week at UCLA to discuss new rules to muzzle faculty speech, among other abhorrent appeasement strategies.
This TUESDAY let’s show them who we really are.
This TUESDAY let’s show them who we really are.
Reposted by Ethan White
They are really planning to go through with these cuts at Nebraska, despite recommendations not to. Unbelievable.
If you want to hire highly qualified, very successful earth and atmospheric sciences faculty in teaching and research, quite a few are probably looking for jobs for next year.
If you want to hire highly qualified, very successful earth and atmospheric sciences faculty in teaching and research, quite a few are probably looking for jobs for next year.
Final Budget Reduction Plan | Budget Process | Nebraska
budgetprocess.unl.edu
November 10, 2025 at 11:19 PM
They are really planning to go through with these cuts at Nebraska, despite recommendations not to. Unbelievable.
If you want to hire highly qualified, very successful earth and atmospheric sciences faculty in teaching and research, quite a few are probably looking for jobs for next year.
If you want to hire highly qualified, very successful earth and atmospheric sciences faculty in teaching and research, quite a few are probably looking for jobs for next year.
Reposted by Ethan White
I am on strike this week, in support of colleagues placed at risk of compulsory redundancy.
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1423...
If you a student and want to know more/how to support the strike, see here: ucu.group.shef.ac.uk/industrial-a...
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1423...
If you a student and want to know more/how to support the strike, see here: ucu.group.shef.ac.uk/industrial-a...
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 9:21 AM
I am on strike this week, in support of colleagues placed at risk of compulsory redundancy.
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1423...
If you a student and want to know more/how to support the strike, see here: ucu.group.shef.ac.uk/industrial-a...
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1423...
If you a student and want to know more/how to support the strike, see here: ucu.group.shef.ac.uk/industrial-a...
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
Reposted by Ethan White
Two weeks into a new program that gives New Mexico children free childcare, officials are opening up about the surge that happened day one & how it’s been moving forward. In just a short time, the state said thousands of children are now enrolled in free childcare, & daycares are lining up to join.
www.krqe.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Two weeks into a new program that gives New Mexico children free childcare, officials are opening up about the surge that happened day one & how it’s been moving forward. In just a short time, the state said thousands of children are now enrolled in free childcare, & daycares are lining up to join.
Reposted by Ethan White
academeblog.org/2025/11/13/t...
My colleague has captured what is currently happening at my institution. I have found the chipper rhetoric announcing it particularly depressing.
My colleague has captured what is currently happening at my institution. I have found the chipper rhetoric announcing it particularly depressing.
The Eternal Synergy of the Spotless Mind
BY ADAM RZEPKA A large public university is wiping out all of its humanities departments. It isn’t sure why. As I write this, our Interim Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS…
academeblog.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
academeblog.org/2025/11/13/t...
My colleague has captured what is currently happening at my institution. I have found the chipper rhetoric announcing it particularly depressing.
My colleague has captured what is currently happening at my institution. I have found the chipper rhetoric announcing it particularly depressing.
Reposted by Ethan White
In 2011 a brilliant young programmer called Aaron Swartz had hell rained upon him by the US government when he tried to crack this system open. We remember. I remember.
November 15, 2025 at 6:03 AM
In 2011 a brilliant young programmer called Aaron Swartz had hell rained upon him by the US government when he tried to crack this system open. We remember. I remember.
Reposted by Ethan White
Research should not be hidden behind for-profit paywalls. Universities should not have to pay $30 million for work we’ve done for free.
November 15, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Research should not be hidden behind for-profit paywalls. Universities should not have to pay $30 million for work we’ve done for free.
Reposted by Ethan White
Professors at Texas A&M required to obtain prior approval from administration to discuss this half of football in class.
November 15, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Professors at Texas A&M required to obtain prior approval from administration to discuss this half of football in class.
Reposted by Ethan White
Prohibited activities include advising Chinese graduate students. For reference, a recent Georgetown report estimated 16% of STEM graduate students in the US are Chinese nationals.
This would take out entire fields at the knees, which is perhaps the point.
This would take out entire fields at the knees, which is perhaps the point.
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
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
November 14, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Prohibited activities include advising Chinese graduate students. For reference, a recent Georgetown report estimated 16% of STEM graduate students in the US are Chinese nationals.
This would take out entire fields at the knees, which is perhaps the point.
This would take out entire fields at the knees, which is perhaps the point.
Reposted by Ethan White
Texas A&M University adopts a policy requiring professors to get approval from the school president to discuss certain race and gender issues.
Texas A&M University professors now need approval for some race and gender topics
Texas A&M University has adopted a new policy requiring professors to first get approval to discuss some race and gender topics.
bit.ly
November 13, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Texas A&M University adopts a policy requiring professors to get approval from the school president to discuss certain race and gender issues.
Reposted by Ethan White
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Texas A&M adopts policy requiring professors to get OK from school president to discuss certain race and gender issues.
November 13, 2025 at 11:15 PM
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Texas A&M adopts policy requiring professors to get OK from school president to discuss certain race and gender issues.