Author | Lightnews

Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Apr 25

Being at the American Educational Research Association conference and watching in real time as people learn the National Science Foundation has canceled promised funding mid-project is heartbreaking.

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Apr 17

Data transparency is essential. I shared these slides last month at a conference and now they are public. I'd love for researchers to use and share them widely. sites.google.com/view/tobecle...

ToBeClear

Welcome to the ToBeClear Project Public access to federally collected data in the United States is under threat by shifting political stances regarding the collection, funding, and maintenance of fede...

sites.google.com

Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Apr 3

Our poor economy.

a man in a suit and tie is carrying a large pot .

ALT: a man in a suit and tie is carrying a large pot .

media.tenor.com

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Apr 1

It's a step to something new, but also terrible. I'm thinking of you.

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Mar 27

So excited to have had the opportunity to present my work on collaborative community mapping for peer to peer climate change learning alongside this important work from @heather2mezimm.bsky.social and colleagues this week at @narst.bsky.social

Heather Toomey Zimmerman @heather2mezimm.bsky.social · Mar 26

Our Penn State College of Education research team was excited to present our work about supporting family talk and learning in informal settings with augmented reality at NARST 2025. I had great conversations with my Strand 6 and Strand 14 colleagues. @narst.bsky.social @psuedu.bsky.social

This is the first slide from our NARST presentation. It reads: "Rural families learning geosciences concepts in an outdoor children's garden".

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Reposted by Heather Killen

Heather Toomey Zimmerman @heather2mezimm.bsky.social · Mar 26

Our Penn State College of Education research team was excited to present our work about supporting family talk and learning in informal settings with augmented reality at NARST 2025. I had great conversations with my Strand 6 and Strand 14 colleagues. @narst.bsky.social @psuedu.bsky.social

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Mar 25

Yay!! Congratulations. ❤️

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Mar 19

Moved in August and hoped there might be bulbs hiding in the backyard. So far so magical. Snowdrops everywhere!

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Mar 17

Another example of how last fall was many lifetimes ago: Prepping for next week's science Ed conference: Oh it's a presentation, I was sure I got in as a poster . . . Huh, apparently I also signed up to be a mentor . . . Oh yeah, I do vaguely remember signing up for that pre-conference field trip.

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Reposted by Heather Killen

Tim Monreal @timmonreal.bsky.social · Mar 14

We are so lucky to have @charleswlogan.bsky.social here to educate, inspire, and lead. What a privilege.

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Feb 27

Thank you for engaging in this way Gale. It is so important.

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Feb 24

Houses everywhere that have been just fine for 30, 50, or even 100 years are now in danger from more intense storms, heavier rain, higher tides, and faster fires. There are still actions we can take to make our tomorrows better. Fund #climatescience and #climateresilience
youtu.be/D3TzgisfAf8?...

Beach house collapses into water

YouTube video by CNN

youtu.be

Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Feb 20

Thank you! Please talk to #AAASmtg for advice about how to adequately host a conference that meets this extraordinary moment. They weren't perfect, but I am sure you can learn from them. It cannot be business as usual at #AERA2025.

Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Feb 20

Was at #AAASmtg last weekend and saw a fair to good job meeting this moment. The individual presentations included references to no-longer available data sets and funding as needed, while multiple panels seemed (re?)crafted to speak to our new reality. www.statnews.com/2025/02/17/a...

At premier science gathering, ‘anger, uncertainty, and anxiety’ about the future of research under Trump

At the AAAS annual meeting, "anger, uncertainty, and anxiety" about the future of science under Trump.

www.statnews.com

Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Feb 20

Just got back from the AAAS conference. It did not feel like business as usual. While the research sessions went as long-planned, with recognition to now-restricted data sets as needed, there were multiple new panels crafted to speak directly to this moment. #AERA needs a similar effort.

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Feb 5

Lovely picture of McMurdo, where I was lucky enough to live and work for a season, way back when the government valued being a world leader in scientific knowledge production.

Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · Feb 4

Sabotage. Criminal sabotage.

"[The NSF] is planning to lay off between a quarter and a half of its staff in the next two months, a top National Science Foundation official said Tuesday."

www.eenews.net/articles/sci...

Science funding agency threatened with mass layoffs

National Science Foundation staff heard the plans at a meeting Tuesday.

www.eenews.net

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Feb 4

This is neither a fair or accurate metaphor, but I keep thinking about how DC feels like LA facing wildfires right now. The Elon wind is a fierce, but almost invisible, threat. It is setting small fires everywhere that then rage out of control. Everyone knows someone who has lost their career.

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Jan 29

Never would have thought that getting that NSF postdoc application in would land me on a historic Dear PI email list. I am to stop all "non-compliant grant and award activities" immediately while being thanked for my "work advancing science, engineering, technology and innovation for our nation."

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Jan 26

You simply can't live in Buffalo without rooting for the Bills. What a special fandom. Let's go Buffalo!!

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Jan 24

An early hiring freeze is normal. Biden had one. Requiring people to come back to duty stations continues an unevenly enforced Biden policy. Firing people for making sure that federal recruiters went to HBCUs as well as all the other universities - that's the one that deserves our energy.

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Jan 20

It is a false, damaging narrative that executive orders are, themselves, changes to law. They are part of a rulemaking process that can be opposed. So let's all get out there and do the work!

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Jan 20

Executive orders give folks notice that they need to SHOW UP. When you don't agree with an executive order you need to get engaged in rulemaking. You need to support the organizations engaging in the public hearings and the organizations initiating the opposition litigation in the courts.

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Jan 20

Executive orders are generally an indication of policy intent and a CALL to ACTION for anyone that might dissagree. Executive orders are the opening moves of one aspect of the rulemaking process and includes multiple, powerful avenues for formal opposition.

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Jan 20

Executive orders generally CANNOT be implemented immediately. They are, in and of themselves, NOT changes to federal laws. Changing the federal regulations to implement executive orders requires time and involves a process where they can be challenged.

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Heather Killen @heatherkillen.bsky.social · Jan 20

The changing or adding of federal regulations that is generally required before implementation of executive orders mean that there are moments for public participation, for the orders to be challenged in courts, or for the orders to be struck down by Congress.

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