Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Sam Donovan

Dr. Kaitlyn Casimo @kaitlyncasimo.bsky.social · Aug 28

We are looking for a new coordinator to join the Education & Engagement team at @alleninstitute.org! This person will support the full breadth of our efforts here in the program, including administrative support, participant communications, helping with field trips, and much more. 1/2

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Sam Donovan @samdonovan.net · Aug 23

This is a great opportunity for 2 year college faculty to engage with the NABT community.

National Association of Biology Teacher @nabtbio.bsky.social · Aug 22

Are you a two-year instructor going to the NABT conference this fall? Limited funding is available for registration and a one-year NABT membership. (No travel support is available.)

More information is available at https://conta.cc/45O3VqL

ALL REIMBURSEMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY AUGUST 26.

URGENT: Funding Available for NABT2025!!

Email from Get Reimbursed for Your Conference Registration View as Webpage Greetings! Are you a two-year faculty going to the NABT conference this fall? QB@CC (NSF Award #1919613) and BioQUEST have

conta.cc

Reposted by Sam Donovan

John M. Drake @jdrakephd.bsky.social · Aug 8

I spoke with Kari Jordan and Erin Becker of The Carpentries about why they declined a $1.5M NSF grant intended to expand data science training. Their decision highlights the growing intersection of #science, #DEI, and federal policy.

Read the full story on Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...

Nonprofit Refuses $1.5M Science Grant Due To New Federal DEI Rules

A coding nonprofit turned down a $1.5M NSF grant after new DEI restrictions, highlighting the clash between federal policy and scientific community values.

www.forbes.com

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Reposted by Sam Donovan

Genomics Education Partnership @genomicsed.bsky.social · Aug 13

🛑 What if the GEP disappeared?
No more open-access genomics curriculum.
No more free tools, research projects, & training.
No more national community connecting 200+ institutions.

#GenomicsEducation #STEMEquity #GEPgenomics

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Reposted by Sam Donovan

BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium @bioquest.bsky.social · Aug 11

Sharing:
📢 The BioGraphI Project
🗓️Sept 24
🗣️ Drs. Desirée Forsythe, Bryan Dewsbury & Jeremy Hsu
📝”Journeys into Justice-Centered Pedagogy”
Join a talk on how STEM educators confront inequities & break barriers for students

☑️ Register by Sept 17
🔗 tinyurl.com/Fall2025Even...

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Reposted by Sam Donovan

Genomics Education Partnership @genomicsed.bsky.social · Aug 7

Undergrads learning real genomics?
Yes—through the Pathways Project.

The GEP provides:
• A gene annotation walkthrough
• A full YouTube video series
• All prerequisite curriculum materials
—all free and open-access.

Explore here: thegep.org/projects/pat...

#Genomics #STEMed #GEPtools

Graphic of the UCSC Genome Browser with accompanying text. Image text: "The Pathways Project: Free, open-access genomics curriculum for undergraduates. Learn more at thegep.org."

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Reposted by Sam Donovan

Maru @drprescott.bsky.social · Jul 31

🌀 BIOME 2025 (organized by @bioquest.bsky.social ) was one of the most energizing events of my summer. Educators across disciplines came together to catalyze change through inclusive, sustainable, community-centered STEM education. #BIOME2025 #CatalyzingChange #STEMed #CommunitiesOfPractice

screenshot of zoom room with headshots of participants smiling

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Reposted by Sam Donovan

Dr. Kaitlyn Casimo @kaitlyncasimo.bsky.social · Jul 31

I will be presenting in a @aaas.org IUSE Initiative webinar where we investigated impacts of using open science (from @alleninstitute.org) as a teaching tool on student attitudes and knowledge! Register now to join on October 23. aaas-iuse.org/event/embrac...

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Reposted by Sam Donovan

Maru @drprescott.bsky.social · Jul 29

It’s been a BIG summer of conferences—packed with ideas, momentum, and community. Here’s a quick rundown of where I’ve been showing up (and what I’m carrying forward). 🧵👇

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Sam Donovan @samdonovan.net · Jul 30

Join us to explore strategies for engaging faculty and students with open science principles and practices.

Racially-Just, Inclusive and Open STEM Education @rioscommunity.bsky.social · Jul 29

Have you heard about the OCTOPUS Project?

In collaboration with BIOQUEST (@bioquest.bsky.social), RIOS is working to create a set of openly licensed materials that can be adopted or adapted by faculty.

We are looking for faculty collaborators to participate
(deadline: Aug 8): bit.ly/4fiK9bg

RIOS Institute: Other Projects & Collaborations

QUBES Hub - The Power of Biology, Math, and Community

bit.ly

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Sam Donovan @samdonovan.net · Jul 29

An important conversation about support for open education practices.

Open Education Association Development Project @opened.bsky.social · Jul 28

Find it right here! www.opened.org/events/2025/...

Webinar: Report Out and Next Steps — opened.org

Join us for an update from the Open Education Association Development Project, a national initiative working to strengthen the open education field through collaboration and strategic coordination. D...

www.opened.org

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Sam Donovan @samdonovan.net · Jul 29

Citizen science - an important component of the open science landscape.

National Association of Biology Teacher @nabtbio.bsky.social · Jul 29

Citizen Scientists Are Accelerating Ecology Research, Study Suggests www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/s...

Citizen Scientists Are Accelerating Ecology Research, Study Suggests

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Sam Donovan

Racially-Just, Inclusive and Open STEM Education @rioscommunity.bsky.social · Jul 25

This is Dr. Melanie Lenahan. She is a biology professor.

She organized a #RIOSLearningCommunity (with Dr. Drew Lewis) that explored alternative grading practices. This is what she said about it. #LetsLearnTogether

A photo of Melanie Lenahan with a quote. It says: "What I found was really impactful were the open conversations.

It was really important giving our participants time to talk about things and talk out loud about different strategies and barriers.

I think Drew (co-facilitator) really helped in facilitating a structure that allowed for a lot of conversations."

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Sam Donovan @samdonovan.net · Jul 21

Follow along as we launch our Summer BIOME meeting.

@bioquest.bsky.social

BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium @bioquest.bsky.social · Jul 21

BIOME 2025 Day 1!

Welcome to our annual BIOME 2025, focusing on the theme of Catalyst for Change: Empowering Faculty to Move Forward Together. Take a sneak peek below at today's schedule below!

For more information and to sign up for BioQUEST news: qubeshub.org/community/gr...

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Reposted by Sam Donovan

Mary Williams @PlantTeaching @plantteaching.bsky.social · Jul 9

I had a wonderful time participating in the teach-the-teachers CRISPR course co-organized by Sonali Roy, held at the beautiful MIT campus. The participants were HBCU faculty & local high school biol teachers. Lectures in the morning and labs in the afternoon, thanks to Maxine & Masami. 👍👍🧬 #PlantSci

"Developing a. CRISPR-based gene editing course in Plant Biology" says the screen. Sonali stands in front of the screen

Adapting the course for advanced agriculture/ biology majors

Mary talking about science communication.

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Reposted by Sam Donovan

Genetics Society of America @genetics-gsa.bsky.social · Jul 8

In the July issue of #GENETICS, the 2025 Elizabeth W. Jones Award for Excellence in Education recipient @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social pens down a timely and pertinent essay—There’s never been a better time to be a STEM educator!

Read here: buff.ly/M84KcKh

1/2🧵

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Sam Donovan @samdonovan.net · Jul 5

I've been there - minus the refund, in fact, quite the opposite.

Steven Clontz @clontz.org · Jul 5

TFW I realize I booked my flight a day later than I meant to by accident 😰

TFW I'm able to rebook for the correct day and get a $40 refund 😅

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Reposted by Sam Donovan

Genetics Society of America @genetics-gsa.bsky.social · Jul 1

Join 2025 Elizabeth W. Jones Award for Excellence in Education recipient @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social‬ to explore how ‪@cshlnews.bsky.social‬ is bringing genome sequencing to everyday science education.

📅 July 10 | 1–2 p.m. EDT

🔗 Learn more about this lecture & register now: buff.ly/ULT8l9f

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Reposted by Sam Donovan

Genomics Education Partnership @genomicsed.bsky.social · Jul 1

We have exciting news to share from the Genomics Education Partnership! Our fundraiser and national faculty workshop have both wrapped up—and thanks to your support, we’re ending on a high note. 🧬
[Thread ⬇️] 1/6

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Reposted by Sam Donovan

Rui Costa @ruimcosta.bsky.social · Jun 20

Science education is important not just for educating the next generation of science leaders, but also for enriching the minds of the next generation of leaders in all areas of our society.

Allen Institute @alleninstitute.org · Jun 18

Science is for everyone.

Our Education & Engagement program empowers students, educators, and scientists to harness the power of real-world #OpenScience tools and data.

📽️ youtu.be/uDnCFnzDLec

#EduSky #iTeachBio #Neuroskyence

Allen Institute Education and Engagement Program: Fostering the Next Generation of Scientists

YouTube video by Allen Institute

youtu.be

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Reposted by Sam Donovan

Allen Institute @alleninstitute.org · Jun 18

Science is for everyone.

Our Education & Engagement program empowers students, educators, and scientists to harness the power of real-world #OpenScience tools and data.

📽️ youtu.be/uDnCFnzDLec

#EduSky #iTeachBio #Neuroskyence

Allen Institute Education and Engagement Program: Fostering the Next Generation of Scientists

YouTube video by Allen Institute

youtu.be

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Sam Donovan @samdonovan.net · Jun 17

Looking forward to day 2 of the Open Science in Undergraduate Education Symposium at @alleninstitute.org. So much great discussion about #openscience and #openeducation from @karencang.bsky.social Carlos Goller Davida Smyth Melissa Aikens @rpenton.bsky.social and many others.

Name tag from the Open Science in Undergraduate Education Symposium.

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Sam Donovan @samdonovan.net · Jun 17

Thanks Karen - Great program put together by @alleninstitute.org education group addressing #openscience and #openeducation in undergraduate biology education.

alleninstitute.org/events/opens...

@bioquest.bsky.social
#OEE

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Sam Donovan @samdonovan.net · Jun 14

#NoKings

Sam Donovan @samdonovan.net · Jun 14

No Kings - Pittsburgh