Luke Butler
@lucaspbutler.bsky.social
1.2K followers 1.6K following 51 posts
Assoc Prof at University of Maryland. Social cognition, cognitive development, development of empirical reasoning. Posts/reposts reflect my personal opinion.
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lucaspbutler.bsky.social
Is there a link to this update? I was about to send something to our grad students about applying, and I guess now I have to say "better do it this year!"
Reposted by Luke Butler
stephenaguilar.com
Aw man I wish academics had headlines like this.

“Stephen Aguilar (existential dread) is not expected to write today, per @mpolikoff.bsky.social
mikereiss.bsky.social
CB Christian Gonzalez (hamstring) is not expected to practice today, per Mike Vrabel.
Reposted by Luke Butler
lucaspbutler.bsky.social
If I’m doing the numbers right the programs they are consolidating here (including DRK12 and ECR) had over $100M in combined funding allocated. This anticipates $30M. This isn’t death by a thousand cuts. This is one enormous cut.
davidimiller.bsky.social
🚨 Major shake-up in NSF funding for K-12 STEM ed:

Caps proposals at $750K max for 3 years. Prior cap used to be $5M up to 5 years for some programs.

Archives several existing programs (DRK-12, AISL, CSforAll, TD, parts of ECR:Core). Combines into broad program with much lower expected # of awards.
NSF STEM K-12 (STEM K-12)
www.nsf.gov
Reposted by Luke Butler
davidimiller.bsky.social
🚨 Major shake-up in NSF funding for K-12 STEM ed:

Caps proposals at $750K max for 3 years. Prior cap used to be $5M up to 5 years for some programs.

Archives several existing programs (DRK-12, AISL, CSforAll, TD, parts of ECR:Core). Combines into broad program with much lower expected # of awards.
NSF STEM K-12 (STEM K-12)
www.nsf.gov
Reposted by Luke Butler
davidimiller.bsky.social
🧪 New study: Learning about economic impact of NIH funding motivates action to oppose funding cuts.

Evidence from two preregistered, randomized experiments with >5,000 U.S. adults.

Similar change for liberals and conservatives. Preprint from @asinclair.bsky.social et al:

osf.io/preprints/ps...
Study 2 Intervention Materials
Base Intervention Text
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provide funding for scientific research that
leads to major breakthroughs for cancer, diabetes, dementia, heart disease, infectious
diseases, stroke, mental illness, and more.
NIH funding is also an excellent financial investment. For every dollar NIH invests in
research, an average of $2.56 of economic activity is returned–a gain of over 250%.
The White House recently ordered major changes to NIH funding, which would take
back funds already promised to the states. States have sued to challenge the order,
arguing that the changes are unlawful.
[page break]
There are two major sources of cuts to NIH funding, which will result in current and
future losses.
First, many NIH grants for health research have already been cancelled, interrupting
ongoing studies and clinical trials. These cancelled grants are projected to result in
economic losses of $4.9 Billion and over 21,000 jobs.
Second, another change would greatly reduce NIH funding that covers “indirect
costs” of research. These funds help pay for essential facilities, equipment, skilled staff,
and safety checks needed across many research projects. Medical research would not be
possible without funding to cover indirect costs. In the future, this proposed change to
funding for indirect costs of research would reduce the U.S. economy by about $16
Billion and over 68,000 jobs every year.
lucaspbutler.bsky.social
So excited to see this work with @jennaalton.bsky.social and @andreicimpian.bsky.social in press!
jennaalton.bsky.social
In a second, we form expectations about the likely traits and behaviors of people we meet. How does this ability develop? How do others’ perceived gender factor into it?

I’m thrilled to share a new paper now in press at Cognition with @andreicimpian.bsky.social and‪ @lucaspbutler.bsky.social.
1/6
AltonCimpianButler_Cognition.pdf
drive.google.com
Reposted by Luke Butler
jennaalton.bsky.social
In a second, we form expectations about the likely traits and behaviors of people we meet. How does this ability develop? How do others’ perceived gender factor into it?

I’m thrilled to share a new paper now in press at Cognition with @andreicimpian.bsky.social and‪ @lucaspbutler.bsky.social.
1/6
AltonCimpianButler_Cognition.pdf
drive.google.com
lucaspbutler.bsky.social
Geetha Ramani in my department at Maryland has taught something like this!
Reposted by Luke Butler
jeremymberg.bsky.social
NIH BREAKING NEWS NIH BREAKING NEWS

Hearing from multiple sources that an email went out late yesterday afternoon

Effective immediately: Please do not terminate any additional grant projects. Please pull back all grant projects that are in the cue to be terminated.
two men in suits and ties are waving their hands in a room
ALT: two men in suits and ties are waving their hands in a room
media.tenor.com
Reposted by Luke Butler
michaelcralph.bsky.social
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?

Learning styles are not a thing.
alexwild.bsky.social
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?

A majority of the world’s insect species have no living expert who can identify them.
kendrawrites.com
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?

The ocean produces a huge chunk of the world's oxygen a lot from a class of cyanobacteria called prochlorococcus
lucaspbutler.bsky.social
Yeah definitely not blaming the POs! What a mess 😔
lucaspbutler.bsky.social
Awful. Which program was this? And if you're open to sharing, did you get any communication about whether this was (supposedly) a budget decision vs. an "administration priority" decision? I mean, it all seems politically-driven at this point but curious what justifications are being given.
Reposted by Luke Butler
aeraedresearch.bsky.social
AERA and other scientific societies sent a letter to Congress today expressing concern about imminent threats to NSF’s structure and operations. The letter urges Congress to use its oversight authority to ensure the NSF can carry out its statutory mission. aas.org/sites/defaul...
NSF logo
Reposted by Luke Butler
annamerlan.bsky.social
I spent five weeks talking to federal workers about knowledge loss and brain drain across the federal government, and its implications, both right now and for decades to come. Their stories are frightening, but I think it's important to know what we're facing: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
When it comes to Trump's brain drain, “the damage is already done”
How the DOGE-triggered attack on government research left America in the dark.
www.motherjones.com
lucaspbutler.bsky.social
A must read:

It's not just higher education, it really is an attack on the predominant ways of learning, knowing, and decision-making that of the last 75+ years.
The New Dark Age
The Trump administration has launched an attack on knowledge itself.
www.theatlantic.com
Reposted by Luke Butler
kyledcheney.bsky.social
BREAKING: Judge Burroughs has granted Harvard's restraining order, barring the administration from terminating its foreign student population. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
lucaspbutler.bsky.social
Absolute madness. And yes, the destruction and cruelty are the point. Watch this one closely. If this actually holds (which I keep hoping it couldn’t possibly) it’ll be a model for bringing all of US higher education to its knees.
Trump administration bars Harvard from enrolling foreign students, including current ones
The Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students in its escalating battle with the Ivy League school, saying thousands of current students must transfer t...
www.pbs.org
Reposted by Luke Butler