Phil Levin
@phillevin.bsky.social
Former Director, National Nature Assessment. Conservation Scientist. Marine ecologist. Poultry Farmer. University of Washington Professor. https://sites.uw.edu/levinlab/
Why does poetry matter in a time of ecological change?
Because science tells us what’s happening — but poetry reminds us why it matters. 🌿
It helps us feel our belonging to place, and that feeling fuels action.
Read my United by Nature Substack piece:
🔗 unitedbynature.substack.com/p/why-poetry...
Because science tells us what’s happening — but poetry reminds us why it matters. 🌿
It helps us feel our belonging to place, and that feeling fuels action.
Read my United by Nature Substack piece:
🔗 unitedbynature.substack.com/p/why-poetry...
Why Poetry Matters in a Time of Ecological Change
The evidence of feeling
unitedbynature.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Why does poetry matter in a time of ecological change?
Because science tells us what’s happening — but poetry reminds us why it matters. 🌿
It helps us feel our belonging to place, and that feeling fuels action.
Read my United by Nature Substack piece:
🔗 unitedbynature.substack.com/p/why-poetry...
Because science tells us what’s happening — but poetry reminds us why it matters. 🌿
It helps us feel our belonging to place, and that feeling fuels action.
Read my United by Nature Substack piece:
🔗 unitedbynature.substack.com/p/why-poetry...
Right now, nearly 200 authors across the country are crafting the second drafts of their chapters for a first-of-its-kind assessment of how nature supports life in the United States. This is the story of how it all comes together (there’s even a song!) open.substack.com/pub/unitedby...
How a Chapter is Born
Plus, a theme song on what it feels like to be a draft
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Right now, nearly 200 authors across the country are crafting the second drafts of their chapters for a first-of-its-kind assessment of how nature supports life in the United States. This is the story of how it all comes together (there’s even a song!) open.substack.com/pub/unitedby...
🌿 What if a single leaf could remind us of our place in the universe?
My latest post on Substack. Check it out and follow us there ! 🙏
open.substack.com/pub/unitedby...
My latest post on Substack. Check it out and follow us there ! 🙏
open.substack.com/pub/unitedby...
Seeing the Universe in a Leaf
A story about the connections between people and the natural world
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:04 AM
🌿 What if a single leaf could remind us of our place in the universe?
My latest post on Substack. Check it out and follow us there ! 🙏
open.substack.com/pub/unitedby...
My latest post on Substack. Check it out and follow us there ! 🙏
open.substack.com/pub/unitedby...
Reposted by Phil Levin
Rainn Wilson from The Office: "About six years ago, during my daily practice of sitting in my underwear and sending out angry tweets to climate science deniers, I looked at myself in the mirror and decided it was time to be more than a keyboard warrior." www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
Opinion | A Sitcom Star and the King of England Walk Into a Fire Ceremony
www.nytimes.com
September 24, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Rainn Wilson from The Office: "About six years ago, during my daily practice of sitting in my underwear and sending out angry tweets to climate science deniers, I looked at myself in the mirror and decided it was time to be more than a keyboard warrior." www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
Reposted by Phil Levin
Inspired by Nature: 10 Powerful New Memoirs and Biographies • The Revelator 🧪🌎
Inspired by Nature: 10 Powerful New Memoirs and Biographies • The Revelator
These new books showcase moments where embracing nature led to personal discoveries or scientific breakthroughs.
therevelator.org
September 26, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Inspired by Nature: 10 Powerful New Memoirs and Biographies • The Revelator 🧪🌎
Reposted by Phil Levin
When democracy falters, science is among the first casualties—truth silenced, data erased, expertise sidelined. But history shows us: scientists can build independent institutions that preserve truth, counter misinformation, and defend both knowledge and democracy. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Scientists’ role in defending democracy
The United States’ democratic leadership, commitment to freedom of expression, and investment in the pursuit of knowledge have long enabled its preeminence in science and technology. Yet today we are ...
www.science.org
August 16, 2025 at 5:40 PM
When democracy falters, science is among the first casualties—truth silenced, data erased, expertise sidelined. But history shows us: scientists can build independent institutions that preserve truth, counter misinformation, and defend both knowledge and democracy. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Phil Levin
A century‑and‑a‑half of urbanization (from ~7% in 1810 to ~83% in 2020) has amplified a generational loss of nature connection. Richardson links parental disconnection to child connectedness—suggesting family-based interventions could help restore our bond with nature. 🌳 www.mdpi.com/2673-4834/6/...
www.mdpi.com
August 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
A century‑and‑a‑half of urbanization (from ~7% in 1810 to ~83% in 2020) has amplified a generational loss of nature connection. Richardson links parental disconnection to child connectedness—suggesting family-based interventions could help restore our bond with nature. 🌳 www.mdpi.com/2673-4834/6/...
A century‑and‑a‑half of urbanization (from ~7% in 1810 to ~83% in 2020) has amplified a generational loss of nature connection. Richardson links parental disconnection to child connectedness—suggesting family-based interventions could help restore our bond with nature. 🌳 www.mdpi.com/2673-4834/6/...
www.mdpi.com
August 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
A century‑and‑a‑half of urbanization (from ~7% in 1810 to ~83% in 2020) has amplified a generational loss of nature connection. Richardson links parental disconnection to child connectedness—suggesting family-based interventions could help restore our bond with nature. 🌳 www.mdpi.com/2673-4834/6/...
Reposted by Phil Levin
Studying the Earth is literally in the authorizing charter of NASA and always been part of their mission…
arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
NASA’s acting chief calls for the end of Earth science at the space agency
NASA’s charter clearly states the agency should study planet Earth, however.
arstechnica.com
August 16, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Studying the Earth is literally in the authorizing charter of NASA and always been part of their mission…
arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
When democracy falters, science is among the first casualties—truth silenced, data erased, expertise sidelined. But history shows us: scientists can build independent institutions that preserve truth, counter misinformation, and defend both knowledge and democracy. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Scientists’ role in defending democracy
The United States’ democratic leadership, commitment to freedom of expression, and investment in the pursuit of knowledge have long enabled its preeminence in science and technology. Yet today we are ...
www.science.org
August 16, 2025 at 5:40 PM
When democracy falters, science is among the first casualties—truth silenced, data erased, expertise sidelined. But history shows us: scientists can build independent institutions that preserve truth, counter misinformation, and defend both knowledge and democracy. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Phil Levin
We are so excited to share this
cover reveal of THE NATURE OF OUR TIMES:
Poems on America’s Lands, Waters, Wildlife, and other Natural Wonders Edited by Luisa A. Igloria, Aileen Cassinetto,
and David Hassler; Foreword by Phil Levin.
Forthcoming from Paloma Press on 18 September, 2025...
cover reveal of THE NATURE OF OUR TIMES:
Poems on America’s Lands, Waters, Wildlife, and other Natural Wonders Edited by Luisa A. Igloria, Aileen Cassinetto,
and David Hassler; Foreword by Phil Levin.
Forthcoming from Paloma Press on 18 September, 2025...
August 1, 2025 at 3:21 AM
We are so excited to share this
cover reveal of THE NATURE OF OUR TIMES:
Poems on America’s Lands, Waters, Wildlife, and other Natural Wonders Edited by Luisa A. Igloria, Aileen Cassinetto,
and David Hassler; Foreword by Phil Levin.
Forthcoming from Paloma Press on 18 September, 2025...
cover reveal of THE NATURE OF OUR TIMES:
Poems on America’s Lands, Waters, Wildlife, and other Natural Wonders Edited by Luisa A. Igloria, Aileen Cassinetto,
and David Hassler; Foreword by Phil Levin.
Forthcoming from Paloma Press on 18 September, 2025...
Reposted by Phil Levin
The @ecologicalsociety.bsky.social needs your input on a collective research agenda for actionable ecological science. Are you attending #ESA2025 in Baltimore? Join us on Monday August 11 for a community discussion about how we can help solve urgent socioenvironmental problems with sound science.
SS 15 - Advancing an Actionable Research Agenda for Ecological Science: An ESA Community Discussion - Details
events.rdmobile.com
August 9, 2025 at 11:02 PM
The @ecologicalsociety.bsky.social needs your input on a collective research agenda for actionable ecological science. Are you attending #ESA2025 in Baltimore? Join us on Monday August 11 for a community discussion about how we can help solve urgent socioenvironmental problems with sound science.
I’m joining UW EarthLab as Interim Executive Director. Same mission as always—helping people & nature thrive—just with more meetings. @EarthLab to United by Nature (weareunitedbynature.org), I’m still chasing the big questions. Why I said yes earthlab in link below ➡️
August 9, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I’m joining UW EarthLab as Interim Executive Director. Same mission as always—helping people & nature thrive—just with more meetings. @EarthLab to United by Nature (weareunitedbynature.org), I’m still chasing the big questions. Why I said yes earthlab in link below ➡️
Reposted by Phil Levin
We're thrilled to welcome @phillevin.bsky.social, PhD to the EarthLab team! Phil has been a long-time leader in the field of nature and health and served as Director of the first-ever National Nature Assessment. Welcome, Dr. Levin!
earthlab.uw.edu/2025/08/why-...
earthlab.uw.edu/2025/08/why-...
Why Now: Reflections on Joining EarthLab | EarthLab
earthlab.uw.edu
August 7, 2025 at 6:37 PM
We're thrilled to welcome @phillevin.bsky.social, PhD to the EarthLab team! Phil has been a long-time leader in the field of nature and health and served as Director of the first-ever National Nature Assessment. Welcome, Dr. Levin!
earthlab.uw.edu/2025/08/why-...
earthlab.uw.edu/2025/08/why-...
Reposted by Phil Levin
Each Friday I summarize what happened in science 🧪& higher ed. This was Week 28:
- $300M frozen at UCLA + updates on university “deals”
- jobs report, Bureau of Labor Statistics firing & data quality fears
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting shutting down
+ more at buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
- $300M frozen at UCLA + updates on university “deals”
- jobs report, Bureau of Labor Statistics firing & data quality fears
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting shutting down
+ more at buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
Week 28
July 28 - Aug 1, 2025 - failing down the garden path
buttondown.com
August 2, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Each Friday I summarize what happened in science 🧪& higher ed. This was Week 28:
- $300M frozen at UCLA + updates on university “deals”
- jobs report, Bureau of Labor Statistics firing & data quality fears
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting shutting down
+ more at buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
- $300M frozen at UCLA + updates on university “deals”
- jobs report, Bureau of Labor Statistics firing & data quality fears
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting shutting down
+ more at buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
Reposted by Phil Levin
Nature doesn’t live in a PDF—and neither should our vision for it. Deep thanks to the Esri team for helping turn the United by Nature assessment into something interactive, beautiful, and alive. This partnership gives me hope.
Sharing this impt call to provide valuable input (data, GIS expertise, etc.) to United by Nature, formerly the National Nature Assessment, CANCELLED by DOGE/Trump. Use the QR code or survey123.arcgis.com/share/8d1d79...
cc @nature.org @natureserve.bsky.social @katharinehayhoe.com #gischat 🧪🌎🌍🌏
cc @nature.org @natureserve.bsky.social @katharinehayhoe.com #gischat 🧪🌎🌍🌏
July 22, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Nature doesn’t live in a PDF—and neither should our vision for it. Deep thanks to the Esri team for helping turn the United by Nature assessment into something interactive, beautiful, and alive. This partnership gives me hope.
Reposted by Phil Levin
We are six months into the second Trump administration and the scale and severity of its assault on our nation's science and democracy has been unrelenting.
Today, @ucs.org releases a detailed assessment of the damage so far and where we go from here: www.ucs.org/resources/sc... #ProtectScience
Today, @ucs.org releases a detailed assessment of the damage so far and where we go from here: www.ucs.org/resources/sc... #ProtectScience
Science and Democracy Under Siege
Documenting Six Months of the Trump Administration’s Destructive Actions
www.ucs.org
July 21, 2025 at 12:38 PM
We are six months into the second Trump administration and the scale and severity of its assault on our nation's science and democracy has been unrelenting.
Today, @ucs.org releases a detailed assessment of the damage so far and where we go from here: www.ucs.org/resources/sc... #ProtectScience
Today, @ucs.org releases a detailed assessment of the damage so far and where we go from here: www.ucs.org/resources/sc... #ProtectScience
Nature doesn’t live in a PDF—and neither should our vision for it. Deep thanks to the Esri team for helping turn the United by Nature assessment into something interactive, beautiful, and alive. This partnership gives me hope.
Sharing this impt call to provide valuable input (data, GIS expertise, etc.) to United by Nature, formerly the National Nature Assessment, CANCELLED by DOGE/Trump. Use the QR code or survey123.arcgis.com/share/8d1d79...
cc @nature.org @natureserve.bsky.social @katharinehayhoe.com #gischat 🧪🌎🌍🌏
cc @nature.org @natureserve.bsky.social @katharinehayhoe.com #gischat 🧪🌎🌍🌏
July 22, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Nature doesn’t live in a PDF—and neither should our vision for it. Deep thanks to the Esri team for helping turn the United by Nature assessment into something interactive, beautiful, and alive. This partnership gives me hope.
Wonderful piece by Emmett Duffy. Science is a sacred obligation—and a team sport. It thrives on curiosity, humility, and the wisdom of crowds. Let’s keep exploring, questioning, and building a better world together. Let’s do this, people!
doi.org/10.1093/ices...
doi.org/10.1093/ices...
Let’s do this, people
Abstract. Science is a labor of love. That’s why I got into the business after a childhood obsessed with animals. Here, I offer a few scenes along my own w
doi.org
July 18, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Wonderful piece by Emmett Duffy. Science is a sacred obligation—and a team sport. It thrives on curiosity, humility, and the wisdom of crowds. Let’s keep exploring, questioning, and building a better world together. Let’s do this, people!
doi.org/10.1093/ices...
doi.org/10.1093/ices...
Reposted by Phil Levin
Newspaper coverage of climate change around the globe dropped 6% from May to June 2025 -- and by 28% compared to June 2024, despite increasing frequency and severity of climate-fueled extreme weather events.
Read more from the @media-climate.bsky.social here: mecco.colorado.edu/summaries/is...
Read more from the @media-climate.bsky.social here: mecco.colorado.edu/summaries/is...
July 8, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Newspaper coverage of climate change around the globe dropped 6% from May to June 2025 -- and by 28% compared to June 2024, despite increasing frequency and severity of climate-fueled extreme weather events.
Read more from the @media-climate.bsky.social here: mecco.colorado.edu/summaries/is...
Read more from the @media-climate.bsky.social here: mecco.colorado.edu/summaries/is...
Honored to give the Opening Plenary at this year’s ESA meeting. Drawing on work with the United by Nature initiative, I’ll explore how radical amazement—deep awe evoked by nature—can guide and spark transformative action. Hope to see you there! Weareunitedbynature.org
July 5, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Honored to give the Opening Plenary at this year’s ESA meeting. Drawing on work with the United by Nature initiative, I’ll explore how radical amazement—deep awe evoked by nature—can guide and spark transformative action. Hope to see you there! Weareunitedbynature.org
Reposted by Phil Levin
For those looking for the National Climate Assessments:
NCA5 (2023): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/61...
NCA4 vol. 1 (2017): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/19...
NCA4 vol. 2 (2018): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/19...
NCA3 (2014): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/19...
NCA5 (2023): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/61...
NCA4 vol. 1 (2017): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/19...
NCA4 vol. 2 (2018): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/19...
NCA3 (2014): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/19...
July 2, 2025 at 2:40 PM
For those looking for the National Climate Assessments:
NCA5 (2023): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/61...
NCA4 vol. 1 (2017): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/19...
NCA4 vol. 2 (2018): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/19...
NCA3 (2014): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/19...
NCA5 (2023): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/61...
NCA4 vol. 1 (2017): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/19...
NCA4 vol. 2 (2018): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/19...
NCA3 (2014): repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/19...
Reposted by Phil Levin
Our Federal agencies are facing dire threats. The cuts to staffing and programs across the government has already been devastating. And now Congress is working towards further destruction. Today I spoke at a rally outside NOAA. Keep up the pressure. #SaveNOAA. Save Science. Save Lives.
June 4, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Our Federal agencies are facing dire threats. The cuts to staffing and programs across the government has already been devastating. And now Congress is working towards further destruction. Today I spoke at a rally outside NOAA. Keep up the pressure. #SaveNOAA. Save Science. Save Lives.
Reposted by Phil Levin
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
May 31, 2025 at 4:43 AM
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
USGS’s Ecosystems Mission Area faces elimination, threatening salmon, bat, and wildlife research. Cuts align with Project 2025’s rollback of environmental protections. A generational setback for science. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/c...
Trump’s Proposed Budget Would Cut a Major Ecology Program
www.nytimes.com
June 1, 2025 at 4:22 AM
USGS’s Ecosystems Mission Area faces elimination, threatening salmon, bat, and wildlife research. Cuts align with Project 2025’s rollback of environmental protections. A generational setback for science. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/c...