Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · 3d

@aip.bsky.social has been a fantastic partner on P/A SEA Change, and we are grateful that they have funded us in the past and now.

AAPTHQ @aapthq.bsky.social · 4d

AAPT received two grants for Physics at Two-Year Colleges and the Physics and Astronomy SEA Change program, allowing the organization to continue its critical mission of supporting physical science education. Read more at ow.ly/bi3Q50X71TM #AAPTNews #AAPTGrants

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Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · 8d

mailchi.mp/7d7490b91329... Another month has come and gone. We are still working hard and supporting departments who are interested in doing the work to be better.

If you are interested in having your phys/astro department in the US or US Territories be part of cohort 5, let's chat!

🌟October 2025 P/A SEA Change Monthly Update

mailchi.mp

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Reposted by Physics and Astronomy SEA Change

Will Thomas @williamthomas.bsky.social · 9d

After a long hiatus, AIP's postdoc position for historians of the physical sciences is back!

3 years, $77,500 per year + benefits. Work in the Washington, DC area, close to Univ of Maryland. Open to US citizens/permanent residents. Apply by Nov. 15! #histsci

workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/defau...

A green space with bushes and trees and a helix sculpture next to a beige building.

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Optica @optica.org · 8d

Do you smell that? 😌 ☕ It's coffee.

The coffee we serve at Optica meetings, coffee as a subject of research, coffee in your coffee, and, we hope, coffee in an Opticat mug.

Happy #InternationalCoffeeDay, where we're celebrating how a little caffeine goes a long way: https://bit.ly/4gUUZFe 💡

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Physics Today @physicstoday.bsky.social · 17d

Grant cancellations by NSF this year are being tracked in a database called Grant Witness. The volunteer-run site has been used in litigation and science advocacy efforts and regularly updates grant statuses as court cases and appeals are announced.

A crowdsourced database tracks US science grant cancellations

Increasing transparency and informing advocacy and litigation efforts are the main goals of the online resource, which monitors the status of funds awarded by NSF and NIH.

pubs.aip.org

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Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · 15d

Important work to better understand how to communicate the work.

AAAS Center for STEMM Education & Workforce @aaascsew.bsky.social · 15d

Join AAAS SEA Change, IUSE and three dynamic guests for the next SEA Change Community Conversation on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m.

We'll explore why diverse perspectives are critical for meaningful innovation and the use of narrative and advocacy to spark change.

aaas.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Community Conversation: Storytelling, Access, and Innovation in STEMM. Wednesday, October 1 at 2 PM ET. Hosted by AAAS SEA Change and AAAS IUSE.

Reposted by Physics and Astronomy SEA Change

Astrobites @astrobites.bsky.social · 16d

What is a CV? How is this different from a résumé? How do I start building a CV? All of these questions and more await within this guide written by many of our authors! 🔭✨☄️
astrobites.org/2025/09/23/g...

Guide to CVs

What is a CV? How is this different from a résumé? How do I start building a CV? All of these questions and more await within this guide!

astrobites.org

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American Astronomical Society (AAS) @aas.org · 15d

AAS and 57 other science societies sent a letter to Congress today, expressing concern over provisions in the 7 August 2025 Executive Order titled "Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking." aas.org/press/letter... 🔭

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Reposted by Physics and Astronomy SEA Change

American Astronomical Society (AAS) @aas.org · 23d

#AAS247 Splinter Meeting proposal submission closes on Thursday, 25 September! Don’t miss your chance to organize a session at the 247th AAS meeting (4–8 January 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona).

👉 Submit proposals: aas.org/meetings/aas247/splinter-meetings 🔭

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Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · Sep 6

Fun fact: Luka was adopted the day after we onboarded the first cohort for P/A SEA Change. He immediately went to work for us.

AAPTHQ @aapthq.bsky.social · Sep 5

Check out our AAPT On Demand swag store! You will find a variety of selections and new products available in different styles and colors to choose from. Visit ow.ly/w8P550Q0ra7 and order your swag today! #AAPTSwagStore #PhysicsTeachers #ITeachPhysics @alevickna.bsky.social

Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · Sep 4

We are back to making public updates: mailchi.mp/237c477cc78f... . We did quite a bit in August!

September 2025 P/A SEA Change Update

mailchi.mp

Reposted by Physics and Astronomy SEA Change

Astrobites @astrobites.bsky.social · Aug 24

From Samantha Wong: Looking to add a more modern touch to your physics teaching? Check out “Bringing Contemporary Physicists to the Classroom” for resources, slide decks, and more! 🔭✨☄️
astrobites.org/2025/08/22/c...

Representation matters in physics teaching: introducing the Contemporary Physicists project

Looking to add a more modern touch to your physics teaching? Check out "Bringing Contemporary Physicists to the Classroom" for resources, slide decks, and more!

astrobites.org

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Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · Aug 15

If you wanted to attend our session at #AAPTSM25 and weren't able to, we compiled this small list of resources to share: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Please feel free to reach out if you're interested in joining cohort 5!

2025 P/A SEA Change Resource List

Resources and Info from AAPT SM 25 Panelists Created by Alexis V. Knaub ([email protected]), Director of the Physics and Astronomy (P/A) SEA Change) P/A SEA Change Physics and Astronomy SEA Change- a ...

docs.google.com

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Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · Aug 8

The cats are also art donors. Their portraits are in the @aapthq.bsky.social office at ACP-DC. I stopped by to see the portraits this week. Didn't remember to take a photo of the third portrait, which has Luka.

A clean desk with a canvas displaying a photo. A black and white cat is curled up and sleeping. An orange cat rests his head on the other cat

A canvas portrait is on the floor behind a glass door. The canvas shows a black and white cat with her head tilted. She is surrounded by plants and is sitting on a small wooden jewelry box.

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Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · Aug 8

Our friends at @optica.org are posting about International Cat Day. Director @alevickna.bsky.social works with 3 cats.

First photo is of Luka, modeling an @aapthq.bsky.social scarf. Next is Penelope Luka, his child. Last is Granddad, who is almost 20. They attend Zoom meetings. Two are physicists.

A small black and white cat sleeps on a blue felt cat near a pink mouse and water bottle

An orange cat is in a cardboard box that is partially open.

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Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · Aug 6

Awarding at the #AAPTSM25!

AAPTHQ @aapthq.bsky.social · Aug 5

#AAPTSM25: SEA Change Award - The College of New Jersey, Dept. of Physics and Eastern Michigan Univ., Dept. of Physics and Astronomy received the Disciplinary Bronze Award. #AAPTConference #AAPTMeeting @physastroseachange.bsky.social

Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · Jul 31

And another awardee!

AAPTHQ @aapthq.bsky.social · Jul 31

The Physics Department at the College of New Jersey has earned a Bronze Award from the Physics and Astronomy SEA Change Committee for its work to create a more inclusive, diverse, and supportive physics department. Read more ➡ ow.ly/UXBm50WwGhk #SEAChange #AAPTSM25 @physastroseachange.bsky.social

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Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · Jul 29

We've been a bit quiet because we've been working. We're excited that Eastern Mich. Physics and Astro earned a Bronze Award- they'll receive at #AAPTSM25. As always, we look forward to continuing the work with them!

AAPTHQ @aapthq.bsky.social · Jul 29

The Eastern Michigan University Department of Physics and Astronomy has earned a Bronze Award from the #Physics and #Astronomy SEA Change Committee (P/A SEA Change) for its work to create a more inclusive and supportive department. ow.ly/IRoZ50WwFBW #AAPTSM25 @physastroseachange.bsky.social

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Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · Jul 16

Our July update was a bit late, BUT we have been hard at work: mailchi.mp/8350964088b8...

Good exciting news is in the forecast!

July 2025 P/A SEA Change Update

mailchi.mp

Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · Jul 14

We've been rather busy, but we will have exciting news in the near future.

@alevickna.bsky.social will be at #AAPTSM25, moderating a panel re. SEA Change and the different ways to be involved. As the title states, this is an all hands on deck endeavor.

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Reposted by Physics and Astronomy SEA Change

American Astronomical Society (AAS) @aas.org · Jul 3

The American Astronomical Society,
bsky.app/profile/seti..., and the NASA Community College Network have teamed up to provide an exciting and impactful program that brings top #astronomy researchers into the classrooms of community colleges around the United States. aas.org/press/new-aa... 🔭

New AAS Partnership Connects Astronomers with Community Colleges | American Astronomical Society

The American Astronomical Society, the SETI Institute, and the NASA Community College Network have teamed up to provide an exciting and impactful program that brings top astronomy researchers into the...

aas.org

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Reposted by Physics and Astronomy SEA Change

STEP UP @stepupphysics.bsky.social · Jul 1

Are you looking to build a community of physics educators in the SoCal region? Join the STEP UP team at the CASE conference Oct 17-19. Early bird registration is ending soon! Register by Jul 31: buff.ly/kr5cdZq #cascience25

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Reposted by Physics and Astronomy SEA Change

AAPTHQ @aapthq.bsky.social · Jun 20

AAPT, in partnership with @aacu.org, (AERA), @aaup.bsky.social, (WEPAN), and @uaw.org, has filed a lawsuit challenging DOGE’s unlawful mass terminations of grants at NSF, and the consequent harms to AAPT, many of our members, and America’s scientific research enterprise. ow.ly/mbjA50WegLi

Coalition Files Suit Challenging DOGE Attacks on Congressionally-Approved STEM Programs - Democracy Forward

ow.ly

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Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · Jun 5

Good article to check out- we are grateful and proud to work with Optica and NSBP, with Stephen Roberson as a rep, on program

Optics & Photonics News @optica-opn.org · Jun 3

"The simple idea that someone who looks like me has a doctorate in physics might change someone’s idea of what is possible for their life."

Read our latest Journeys in Optics with Stephen D. Roberson, president of the National Society of Black Physicists: bit.ly/4dIgebr

#STEMcareer #bipocSTEM💡⚛️🧪

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Physics and Astronomy SEA Change @physastroseachange.bsky.social · Jun 3

Our monthly update: mailchi.mp/4ea915c65bf3...

P/A SEA Change June 2025 Update

mailchi.mp