Sara Ricklefs
@saricklefs.bsky.social
Yesterday, I did a @skypeascientist.bsky.social session with a big class of 7th graders. Obviously I still have a few days, but I already know it’ll be the most joyful part of my work this week. Smart, curious, hilarious questions. 10/10 🧪
November 18, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Yesterday, I did a @skypeascientist.bsky.social session with a big class of 7th graders. Obviously I still have a few days, but I already know it’ll be the most joyful part of my work this week. Smart, curious, hilarious questions. 10/10 🧪
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
There should be a word for "setting an out-of-office auto-reply as I travel to go to a conference even though I'm still going to be checking email constantly while at the conference because of who I am as a person"
October 24, 2025 at 2:36 PM
There should be a word for "setting an out-of-office auto-reply as I travel to go to a conference even though I'm still going to be checking email constantly while at the conference because of who I am as a person"
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
This fall, @megstampede.bsky.social & I are collaborating to create a 2026 calendar!
Each month features a different animal, facts about them, & actions we can take to help them!
Sales will fund our '26 Native 🌱 Project
Order before 10/1 to get a free plant sticker!
www.etsy.com/listing/4366...
Each month features a different animal, facts about them, & actions we can take to help them!
Sales will fund our '26 Native 🌱 Project
Order before 10/1 to get a free plant sticker!
www.etsy.com/listing/4366...
September 25, 2025 at 3:07 PM
This fall, @megstampede.bsky.social & I are collaborating to create a 2026 calendar!
Each month features a different animal, facts about them, & actions we can take to help them!
Sales will fund our '26 Native 🌱 Project
Order before 10/1 to get a free plant sticker!
www.etsy.com/listing/4366...
Each month features a different animal, facts about them, & actions we can take to help them!
Sales will fund our '26 Native 🌱 Project
Order before 10/1 to get a free plant sticker!
www.etsy.com/listing/4366...
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
Whew, ok, with a few hours to spare, the 2025 classroom map is ready! The 7th annual United States of Science competition starts tomorrow.
If you wanna get your region off to a head start, just between us night owls, here's that link 😘
givebutter.com/USS2025
If you wanna get your region off to a head start, just between us night owls, here's that link 😘
givebutter.com/USS2025
June 30, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Whew, ok, with a few hours to spare, the 2025 classroom map is ready! The 7th annual United States of Science competition starts tomorrow.
If you wanna get your region off to a head start, just between us night owls, here's that link 😘
givebutter.com/USS2025
If you wanna get your region off to a head start, just between us night owls, here's that link 😘
givebutter.com/USS2025
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
Alright I have a question for *all of you*, esp for those of you who are not into environment stuff.
When you think about planting native plants in the area you control, what *prevents* you from taking that action? These could be emotional, financial, practical, anything.
RTs appreciated here.
When you think about planting native plants in the area you control, what *prevents* you from taking that action? These could be emotional, financial, practical, anything.
RTs appreciated here.
June 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Alright I have a question for *all of you*, esp for those of you who are not into environment stuff.
When you think about planting native plants in the area you control, what *prevents* you from taking that action? These could be emotional, financial, practical, anything.
RTs appreciated here.
When you think about planting native plants in the area you control, what *prevents* you from taking that action? These could be emotional, financial, practical, anything.
RTs appreciated here.
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
How hard is it to get rid of unwanted cloning marbled #crayfish?
Marbled crayfish were released into 1️⃣ pond in Prague.
The pond got drained. Collected every visible crayfish. Nope: still crayfish.
The pond got drained AGAIN. Collected every visible crayfish AGAIN. Nope: still crayfish.
1/4
Marbled crayfish were released into 1️⃣ pond in Prague.
The pond got drained. Collected every visible crayfish. Nope: still crayfish.
The pond got drained AGAIN. Collected every visible crayfish AGAIN. Nope: still crayfish.
1/4
June 6, 2025 at 2:59 PM
How hard is it to get rid of unwanted cloning marbled #crayfish?
Marbled crayfish were released into 1️⃣ pond in Prague.
The pond got drained. Collected every visible crayfish. Nope: still crayfish.
The pond got drained AGAIN. Collected every visible crayfish AGAIN. Nope: still crayfish.
1/4
Marbled crayfish were released into 1️⃣ pond in Prague.
The pond got drained. Collected every visible crayfish. Nope: still crayfish.
The pond got drained AGAIN. Collected every visible crayfish AGAIN. Nope: still crayfish.
1/4
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
Why do scientists study obscure things like Joshua trees? Because we don’t know what we don’t know. A Yellowstone hot spring microbe led to PCR, the technology behind cancer diagnostics, forensics, HIV tests, & more. Basic research leads to BIG SURPRISES that change the world. 🧪🧬🔬
Got a new op-ed in LNC/LancasterOnline this morning, on the importance of the curiosity-driven science the National Science Foundation is supposed to support
lancasteronline.com/opinion/colu...
lancasteronline.com/opinion/colu...
Plant biologist from Lancaster reflects on Joshua trees and federal science funding [column]
Joshua trees are weird. I say this as an expert on Joshua trees.
lancasteronline.com
June 9, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Why do scientists study obscure things like Joshua trees? Because we don’t know what we don’t know. A Yellowstone hot spring microbe led to PCR, the technology behind cancer diagnostics, forensics, HIV tests, & more. Basic research leads to BIG SURPRISES that change the world. 🧪🧬🔬
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
❗️ The R tax bill would hand unchecked power to the Trump admin to punish nonprofit orgs that don’t fall in line with the its ideology by labeling them as terrorist-supporting groups - w/o due process, w/o a third-party investigation & w/o public evidence: www.councilofnonprofits.org/articles/non...
Nonprofits Under Threat: What’s in the House Tax Bill and How You Can Help
The draft tax bill includes many provisions which, if enacted, could have a significant impact on nonprofit organizations nationwide and the people they serve
www.councilofnonprofits.org
May 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
❗️ The R tax bill would hand unchecked power to the Trump admin to punish nonprofit orgs that don’t fall in line with the its ideology by labeling them as terrorist-supporting groups - w/o due process, w/o a third-party investigation & w/o public evidence: www.councilofnonprofits.org/articles/non...
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
Scoop: DOGE now controls how grant opportunities get posted across government.
DOGE engineer removed users’ permissions to post to Grants-dot-gov without telling them. Now requests flow thru DOGE-controlled mailbox.
with @carolynyjohnson.bsky.social + @hannahnatanson.bsky.social
DOGE engineer removed users’ permissions to post to Grants-dot-gov without telling them. Now requests flow thru DOGE-controlled mailbox.
with @carolynyjohnson.bsky.social + @hannahnatanson.bsky.social
DOGE takes over federal grants website, wresting control of billions
A DOGE engineer removed users’ access to grants.gov, threatening to further slow the process of awarding thousands of federal grants per year.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 12, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Scoop: DOGE now controls how grant opportunities get posted across government.
DOGE engineer removed users’ permissions to post to Grants-dot-gov without telling them. Now requests flow thru DOGE-controlled mailbox.
with @carolynyjohnson.bsky.social + @hannahnatanson.bsky.social
DOGE engineer removed users’ permissions to post to Grants-dot-gov without telling them. Now requests flow thru DOGE-controlled mailbox.
with @carolynyjohnson.bsky.social + @hannahnatanson.bsky.social
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
Tmrw evening at 8 I'll be opening my Etsy for a limited no. of Victorian ink bottle posy kits designed to👇 anxiety while you make something lovely.
Contents:
Victorian ink bottle
booklet:neuroscience of improving mental health with creative activity
tiny dried flower posy.
A RT would help so much🌿
Contents:
Victorian ink bottle
booklet:neuroscience of improving mental health with creative activity
tiny dried flower posy.
A RT would help so much🌿
April 9, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Tmrw evening at 8 I'll be opening my Etsy for a limited no. of Victorian ink bottle posy kits designed to👇 anxiety while you make something lovely.
Contents:
Victorian ink bottle
booklet:neuroscience of improving mental health with creative activity
tiny dried flower posy.
A RT would help so much🌿
Contents:
Victorian ink bottle
booklet:neuroscience of improving mental health with creative activity
tiny dried flower posy.
A RT would help so much🌿
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
May I [once again] interest you in a little sturgeon break?
Enjoy some Bluesky positive vibes (sound on👍) from these juvenile Lake Sturgeon @garlab.bsky.social!
March 31, 2025 at 2:15 AM
May I [once again] interest you in a little sturgeon break?
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs.
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
March 28, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs.
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
NEW: The NIH has begun terminating grants about COVID-19, leaving long COVID funding in limbo, according to a new internal guidance document I obtained.
“Now that the pandemic is over, the grant funds are no longer necessary,” it says.
We published the full document in my latest for @nature.com:
“Now that the pandemic is over, the grant funds are no longer necessary,” it says.
We published the full document in my latest for @nature.com:
Exclusive: NIH to cut grants for COVID research, documents reveal
Studies on climate change and South Africa are also on the latest list of grants to be terminated, according to updated documents obtained by Nature.
www.nature.com
March 26, 2025 at 2:22 AM
NEW: The NIH has begun terminating grants about COVID-19, leaving long COVID funding in limbo, according to a new internal guidance document I obtained.
“Now that the pandemic is over, the grant funds are no longer necessary,” it says.
We published the full document in my latest for @nature.com:
“Now that the pandemic is over, the grant funds are no longer necessary,” it says.
We published the full document in my latest for @nature.com:
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
Folks, exactly 5 years ago today I made this offer, & I'll do it again.
Many graduate students are in danger of losing their one field season for collecting data- in March 2020 because of the pandemic, now because of Musk-Trump BS. This means that many won't be able to finish graduate school. 🧪🧵
Many graduate students are in danger of losing their one field season for collecting data- in March 2020 because of the pandemic, now because of Musk-Trump BS. This means that many won't be able to finish graduate school. 🧪🧵
March 19, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Folks, exactly 5 years ago today I made this offer, & I'll do it again.
Many graduate students are in danger of losing their one field season for collecting data- in March 2020 because of the pandemic, now because of Musk-Trump BS. This means that many won't be able to finish graduate school. 🧪🧵
Many graduate students are in danger of losing their one field season for collecting data- in March 2020 because of the pandemic, now because of Musk-Trump BS. This means that many won't be able to finish graduate school. 🧪🧵
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
If you’ve any doubt the nonprofit sector faces an unprecedented existential threat, see yesterday’s Joe Rogan interview with Elon Musk.
Remember - while his power is significant, ours is greater. When we unite to protect & advance the entire nonprofit sector, we are formidable, and we will win.
Remember - while his power is significant, ours is greater. When we unite to protect & advance the entire nonprofit sector, we are formidable, and we will win.
March 1, 2025 at 11:24 PM
If you’ve any doubt the nonprofit sector faces an unprecedented existential threat, see yesterday’s Joe Rogan interview with Elon Musk.
Remember - while his power is significant, ours is greater. When we unite to protect & advance the entire nonprofit sector, we are formidable, and we will win.
Remember - while his power is significant, ours is greater. When we unite to protect & advance the entire nonprofit sector, we are formidable, and we will win.
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
Hi! We're Skype a Scientist! We're a free program that matches scientists with classrooms, scout troops, libraries, & other groups for Q&As all about science.
Get matched with a scientist for a virtual conversation! We have 30+ types of scientist & match weekly.
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
Get matched with a scientist for a virtual conversation! We have 30+ types of scientist & match weekly.
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
February 26, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Hi! We're Skype a Scientist! We're a free program that matches scientists with classrooms, scout troops, libraries, & other groups for Q&As all about science.
Get matched with a scientist for a virtual conversation! We have 30+ types of scientist & match weekly.
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
Get matched with a scientist for a virtual conversation! We have 30+ types of scientist & match weekly.
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
Every scientist, long before they were a scientist, was a little kid who stood in front of a fish tank or stared up at the stars or turned over a rock to look at the bugs underneath and said “wow”. On the best days, working in science still feels like that.
February 19, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Every scientist, long before they were a scientist, was a little kid who stood in front of a fish tank or stared up at the stars or turned over a rock to look at the bugs underneath and said “wow”. On the best days, working in science still feels like that.
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
Information hygiene request - please circulate & take action.
I’m getting bombarded with frantic fragments.
Information flow is crucial right now, and every link in the chain matters. This is a concrete place where you can play a massive role in improving transmission.
Start with SIFT method:
I’m getting bombarded with frantic fragments.
Information flow is crucial right now, and every link in the chain matters. This is a concrete place where you can play a massive role in improving transmission.
Start with SIFT method:
February 16, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Information hygiene request - please circulate & take action.
I’m getting bombarded with frantic fragments.
Information flow is crucial right now, and every link in the chain matters. This is a concrete place where you can play a massive role in improving transmission.
Start with SIFT method:
I’m getting bombarded with frantic fragments.
Information flow is crucial right now, and every link in the chain matters. This is a concrete place where you can play a massive role in improving transmission.
Start with SIFT method:
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
Post the amazing science things you have done with federal funding.
January 28, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Post the amazing science things you have done with federal funding.
Reposted by Sara Ricklefs
I think some people hear “grants” and think that without them, scientists and government workers just have less stuff to play with at work. But grants fund salaries for students, academics, researchers, and people who work in all areas of public service.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
White House pauses all federal grants, sparking confusion
The Trump administration has put a hold on all federal financial grants and loans, affecting tens of billions of dollars in payments.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 28, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I think some people hear “grants” and think that without them, scientists and government workers just have less stuff to play with at work. But grants fund salaries for students, academics, researchers, and people who work in all areas of public service.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.