Laura Petto
@laurarpetto.bsky.social
Applied mathematician working in the ocean domain. Law nerd, runner, rower. Math PhD @dartmouth ‘21, math & gov/legal studies @bowdoincollege ‘15. she/her/hers 🏳️🌈 former ohioan 🩷 Warren dem
📍 Vermont and Boston
📍 Vermont and Boston
I don’t use Dr often but when I do, it often is for issues to do with gender.
During a funding presentation a few years ago, the evaluation committee assumed my male colleague IN THE AUDIENCE would know more than me, the PI, about my project.
During a funding presentation a few years ago, the evaluation committee assumed my male colleague IN THE AUDIENCE would know more than me, the PI, about my project.
November 25, 2025 at 11:32 AM
I don’t use Dr often but when I do, it often is for issues to do with gender.
During a funding presentation a few years ago, the evaluation committee assumed my male colleague IN THE AUDIENCE would know more than me, the PI, about my project.
During a funding presentation a few years ago, the evaluation committee assumed my male colleague IN THE AUDIENCE would know more than me, the PI, about my project.
Reposted by Laura Petto
Wow — Senators Van Hollen, Smith, Murphy, Sanders, Warren, Markey, Merkley, Heinrich have created an official internal "Fight Club."
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
Chuck Schumer Faces Pushback From a ‘Fight Club’ of Senate Democrats
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Wow — Senators Van Hollen, Smith, Murphy, Sanders, Warren, Markey, Merkley, Heinrich have created an official internal "Fight Club."
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
Everyone is making fun of this and it’s clear they haven’t read the story. Gay male sheep are usually sent to the slaughterhouse because they refuse to mate with females. This project saved them and allowed their wool to be put to use .
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/s...
November 24, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Everyone is making fun of this and it’s clear they haven’t read the story. Gay male sheep are usually sent to the slaughterhouse because they refuse to mate with females. This project saved them and allowed their wool to be put to use .
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/s...
Reposted by Laura Petto
It's very annoying that Black Friday has turned into a whole ass month.
November 24, 2025 at 6:33 PM
It's very annoying that Black Friday has turned into a whole ass month.
There is a new dog in the neighborhood I’m obsessed
November 24, 2025 at 2:01 PM
There is a new dog in the neighborhood I’m obsessed
Truly hate that the author of a women’s medical history book revealed herself to be a TERF at 90% in and I can’t return the audiobook.
November 23, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Truly hate that the author of a women’s medical history book revealed herself to be a TERF at 90% in and I can’t return the audiobook.
I slept on it and despite the fantastic ending WFG didn’t fix the pacing, plot, or Fiyero character development issues that act II of wicked has 😕 he had more than double the time too.
It did improve of Glinda’s character development a ton, but I think that’s Ariana’s influence not Chu
It did improve of Glinda’s character development a ton, but I think that’s Ariana’s influence not Chu
Just got out of wicked and holy shit the last 45 minutes were phenomenal. I think a lot of the criticism of the front end of the film is warranted but the end, especially “for good” and the final scene, was almost perfect.*
November 23, 2025 at 12:09 PM
I slept on it and despite the fantastic ending WFG didn’t fix the pacing, plot, or Fiyero character development issues that act II of wicked has 😕 he had more than double the time too.
It did improve of Glinda’s character development a ton, but I think that’s Ariana’s influence not Chu
It did improve of Glinda’s character development a ton, but I think that’s Ariana’s influence not Chu
Just got out of wicked and holy shit the last 45 minutes were phenomenal. I think a lot of the criticism of the front end of the film is warranted but the end, especially “for good” and the final scene, was almost perfect.*
November 22, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Just got out of wicked and holy shit the last 45 minutes were phenomenal. I think a lot of the criticism of the front end of the film is warranted but the end, especially “for good” and the final scene, was almost perfect.*
Every time Wicked gets big, we get lots of hot takes about the Gregory maguire books which I hate! The book is good in a completely different way - a gay Catholic man grappling with faith, fascism and sexuality which is very much not what the musical adaptation is. Different purposes and vehicles!
November 22, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Every time Wicked gets big, we get lots of hot takes about the Gregory maguire books which I hate! The book is good in a completely different way - a gay Catholic man grappling with faith, fascism and sexuality which is very much not what the musical adaptation is. Different purposes and vehicles!
My older cousin sent me some old kinder überraschung ei from a Germany trip we took in 2001 to visit family and I am shocked by the quality compared to today’s surprise toys in the eggs
November 22, 2025 at 2:03 PM
My older cousin sent me some old kinder überraschung ei from a Germany trip we took in 2001 to visit family and I am shocked by the quality compared to today’s surprise toys in the eggs
I am absolutely obsessed with Emma Thompson’s outfits and off the charts lesbian swagger levels in “Down Cemetery Road”
November 20, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I am absolutely obsessed with Emma Thompson’s outfits and off the charts lesbian swagger levels in “Down Cemetery Road”
Grateful for my rep @balint.house.gov consistently being a leader on protecting trans people. Thanks to my former senator Markey as well!
Trans rights are human rights. I’m proud to partner with Representative Balint to protect gender-affirming health care and fight back against relentless MAGA attacks.
November 20, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Grateful for my rep @balint.house.gov consistently being a leader on protecting trans people. Thanks to my former senator Markey as well!
Bringing back this meme because LFG
November 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Bringing back this meme because LFG
Very depressing how many dietitians went into the field to fuel their eating disorders and are clearly still subacute. I’m grateful how quickly I can clock it based on their recs for me, but frustrated in the search that’s been almost a year since being diagnosed with a gastro autoimmune condition.
November 19, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Very depressing how many dietitians went into the field to fuel their eating disorders and are clearly still subacute. I’m grateful how quickly I can clock it based on their recs for me, but frustrated in the search that’s been almost a year since being diagnosed with a gastro autoimmune condition.
I feel actually sick.
I know what it feels like to have a professor sexualize me when I was there to learn math from him.
Summers actively and repeatedly sexualized his academic mentee in those emails.
A classroom with such a person is not a safe learning environment.
I know what it feels like to have a professor sexualize me when I was there to learn math from him.
Summers actively and repeatedly sexualized his academic mentee in those emails.
A classroom with such a person is not a safe learning environment.
November 18, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I feel actually sick.
I know what it feels like to have a professor sexualize me when I was there to learn math from him.
Summers actively and repeatedly sexualized his academic mentee in those emails.
A classroom with such a person is not a safe learning environment.
I know what it feels like to have a professor sexualize me when I was there to learn math from him.
Summers actively and repeatedly sexualized his academic mentee in those emails.
A classroom with such a person is not a safe learning environment.
Reposted by Laura Petto
Without looking, I can assure you that Professor Senator Warren did not characterize what Summers did as seeking Epstein's "romantic advice" — that's just not how Harvard Law Professor Senator Warren would describe Summer's ask for Epstein's advice on how to sexually harass a subordinate employee
Per CNN, Elizabeth Warren is calling on Harvard to cut ties with Larry Summers after Jeffrey Epstein's emails released last week by House Dems featured Summers making sexist comments + asking for Epstein’s romantic advice.
November 18, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Without looking, I can assure you that Professor Senator Warren did not characterize what Summers did as seeking Epstein's "romantic advice" — that's just not how Harvard Law Professor Senator Warren would describe Summer's ask for Epstein's advice on how to sexually harass a subordinate employee
Before grad school, I would have been horrified and surprised by this.
Now I’m just horrified.
Summers is not an aberration and I’m devastated that so many women across fields in academia have also experienced this.
Now I’m just horrified.
Summers is not an aberration and I’m devastated that so many women across fields in academia have also experienced this.
Still processing that an economic advisor to multiple administrations, business leaders, and top institutions was asking a known sex trafficker of minor age girls to be his wingman for attempting to coerce his academic mentee into a sexual relationship—years after he said that women aren’t as smart
November 18, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Before grad school, I would have been horrified and surprised by this.
Now I’m just horrified.
Summers is not an aberration and I’m devastated that so many women across fields in academia have also experienced this.
Now I’m just horrified.
Summers is not an aberration and I’m devastated that so many women across fields in academia have also experienced this.
Thinking about this quote from Warren about an interaction with Summers
November 18, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Thinking about this quote from Warren about an interaction with Summers
Reposted by Laura Petto
THIS IS BIG
For non-academics who might not understand why:
1. Sen. Warren is still a Harvard professor so this is a call coming from inside the house
2. As a tenured law prof, Warren knows it is a VERY big deal from a labor standpoint to call on Harvard to ignore tenure. The bar for this is HIGH.
For non-academics who might not understand why:
1. Sen. Warren is still a Harvard professor so this is a call coming from inside the house
2. As a tenured law prof, Warren knows it is a VERY big deal from a labor standpoint to call on Harvard to ignore tenure. The bar for this is HIGH.
Per CNN, Elizabeth Warren is calling on Harvard to cut ties with Larry Summers after Jeffrey Epstein's emails released last week by House Dems featured Summers making sexist comments + asking for Epstein’s romantic advice.
November 18, 2025 at 12:43 AM
THIS IS BIG
For non-academics who might not understand why:
1. Sen. Warren is still a Harvard professor so this is a call coming from inside the house
2. As a tenured law prof, Warren knows it is a VERY big deal from a labor standpoint to call on Harvard to ignore tenure. The bar for this is HIGH.
For non-academics who might not understand why:
1. Sen. Warren is still a Harvard professor so this is a call coming from inside the house
2. As a tenured law prof, Warren knows it is a VERY big deal from a labor standpoint to call on Harvard to ignore tenure. The bar for this is HIGH.
Reposted by Laura Petto
"Remembering Alice Wong: Writer, Advocate, Friend"
Steven W. Thrasher on Meeting and Collaborating with the Outspoken Founder of the Disability Visibility Project
published by @literaryhub.bsky.social | art by @mollycrabapple.bsky.social lithub.com/remembering-...
Steven W. Thrasher on Meeting and Collaborating with the Outspoken Founder of the Disability Visibility Project
published by @literaryhub.bsky.social | art by @mollycrabapple.bsky.social lithub.com/remembering-...
Remembering Alice Wong: Writer, Advocate, Friend
Though we were in frequent conversation for a decade, I only got to meet my friend Alice Wong in person just once. And when I did, I was a bundle of nerves—and that was before she cussed me out wi…
lithub.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:22 PM
"Remembering Alice Wong: Writer, Advocate, Friend"
Steven W. Thrasher on Meeting and Collaborating with the Outspoken Founder of the Disability Visibility Project
published by @literaryhub.bsky.social | art by @mollycrabapple.bsky.social lithub.com/remembering-...
Steven W. Thrasher on Meeting and Collaborating with the Outspoken Founder of the Disability Visibility Project
published by @literaryhub.bsky.social | art by @mollycrabapple.bsky.social lithub.com/remembering-...
Reposted by Laura Petto
Couldn't remember Jon Hamm's name or the name of his character. So I made a discovery
November 17, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Couldn't remember Jon Hamm's name or the name of his character. So I made a discovery
Reposted by Laura Petto
Today is a good day to remember, and to say, that the #MeToo movement was right, and was righteous, and has been vindicated over and over again. There was no overreach. There was no excess. There was no they-went-too-far.
So much work remains to be done.
So much work remains to be done.
November 12, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Today is a good day to remember, and to say, that the #MeToo movement was right, and was righteous, and has been vindicated over and over again. There was no overreach. There was no excess. There was no they-went-too-far.
So much work remains to be done.
So much work remains to be done.
Reposted by Laura Petto
Sexual harassment is a productivity tax on women in STEM
Imagine the things we could do with our time if we didn’t have to do this bsky.app/profile/chan...
I did my job. And then I did a job that never should have been my responsibility afterwards, sending emails and having meetings about how this was allowed to happen in the first place. Other women scholars had to spend their time explaining to Aspen leadership why this was not ok.
November 16, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Sexual harassment is a productivity tax on women in STEM
Reposted by Laura Petto
Drawing of the Day:
Rest in Power Alice Wong.
ICE attacks Charlotte
Rest in Power Alice Wong.
ICE attacks Charlotte
November 16, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Drawing of the Day:
Rest in Power Alice Wong.
ICE attacks Charlotte
Rest in Power Alice Wong.
ICE attacks Charlotte
There are many, many Larry Summers in all fields of academia, we just don’t see their emails.
The impact of sexual harassment is not just the trauma of the incident, but also the potential retribution of thwarting career advancement by the harasser in power.
The impact of sexual harassment is not just the trauma of the incident, but also the potential retribution of thwarting career advancement by the harasser in power.
The emails have Summers reporting to Epstein about his attempts to date a Harvard economics student & to hit on her during a seminar she was giving.
November 16, 2025 at 5:06 PM
There are many, many Larry Summers in all fields of academia, we just don’t see their emails.
The impact of sexual harassment is not just the trauma of the incident, but also the potential retribution of thwarting career advancement by the harasser in power.
The impact of sexual harassment is not just the trauma of the incident, but also the potential retribution of thwarting career advancement by the harasser in power.