Jessica Castillo Vardaro
@jessicacv.bsky.social
1.2K followers 200 following 490 posts
Wildlife Biologist, Pika Enthusiast, Biology prof @ SJSU, Latina in STEM, she/her
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Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
Anyone know what this might be? Egg case? Seed? Some sort of weird Sternorrhyncha? I keep seeing them in my sifted litter, sometimes with a hole in it. Leaf litter collected in Southern VA in September.
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
I saw a tragically AI-generated version of this poster, so I have recreated a 100% human-made version for all your protest sign needs.
Pretty sure they would melt and/or fall apart 😕
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
And look at this graphic abstract….. 😱🤯
That jar was full to the brim of juice. I may just drink the rest
Been feeling low lately so I did a creative/delicious activity that took most of the day. Juiced ~50 fruits from my plant, made vegan passionfruit jelly, dark chocolate ganache, and super fancy looking truffles. My 2nd time making ganache and 1st time doing the rest. I’m extremely happy with the day
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
I was sent this by a Georgian this morning. 2025 premiums vs 2026 premiums for someone making $65k a year.

Republicans in Washington did this.

This is what I'm fighting to stop. This is what’s at stake in this shutdown fight.
I get irrationally angry when I see “organic sea salt” in the store. Like, it is literally inorganic! 😡
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
CALIFORNIANS— call this number for Senator Padilla, I was actually able to give my comments to a human being. That number is 310-231-4494
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
This.
If we as profs are supposed to be preparing our students for this uncertain world, then it is ever more our job to teach them our subjects and how to think, read, and write WITHOUT the planet guzzling thieving machines owned by some of the worst people on the planet.
THAT is what students need
If you don’t teach your students your subject, you’re not doing your job.

If you teach your students to ask AI first, you’re ensuring they’ll never be *needed* for any job.

You’re also guaranteeing that knowledge of your subject slowly dies.

Asking ChatGPT is gaining neither knowledge nor skills.
If you don’t teach your students how to use AI, you’re doing them a huge disservice because they won’t have jobs in the future.
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
The GRFP announcement from NSF cuts out an entire cohort of 2nd year students from consideration, without warning. This is so deeply unfair that it warrants a formal protest from the scientific community. If someone wants to work with me to craft an open letter and solicit signatures, LMK.
New: After a long wait, the GRFP solicitation is live! Deadlines have been extended to early November, so applicants have a bit over a month to submit. www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
South Texas game cam catches a raccoon riding a javelina (Dicotyles tajacu).

The deer feeder corn attracts a lot of other species, but maybe we should worry about them all teaming up against us?

(📷: Jeff Davis, TAMU-Kingsville alumni forum)