Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Janet K. Swim

@janetkswim.bsky.social

540 followers 97 following 10 posts

Penn State Psychology Professor and Associate Director of PSU’s Climate Consortium.

Videos

Sociology 23%

Political science 23%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Janet K. Swim @janetkswim.bsky.social · Aug 18

Perhaps the silver dollar commemorating peace after WWI From the web: www.currencyandcoin.com/rare-coin-re...

1925 Peace Dollar

The Story Behind the 1925 Peace Silver Dollar The 1925 Peace Silver Dollar is more than just a coin; it’s a symbol of hope and a reflection of a pivotal moment in American history. Struck during...

www.currencyandcoin.com

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

Pedaling Professor @pedalingprof.bsky.social · Aug 18

Had the occasion to ride all the way down the Bryant Ave bikeway today while doing an alleycat for a friend's birthday. Can again confirm that as @lauragmitchell.com and I wrote about last year, Bryant Ave is amazing.

Bryant Avenue Is Amazing

Bryant Avenue in South Minneapolis demonstrates promising potential for innovative street and bikeway designs — if we let them get built.

streets.mn

2 6 50

Reposted by Janet K. Swim, William C. Clark, Xiaoli Nan , and 1 more Janet K. Swim, William C. Clark, Xiaoli Nan, Meru Sheel

Kai Kupferschmidt @kakape.bsky.social · Dec 14

Sadly, it’s a good time to once again share this amazing infographic that we ran at @science.org more than 7 years ago
🧪 #IDsky
www.science.org/content/arti...

Here's the visual proof of why vaccines do more good than harm

See year by year how vaccines beat back nine dangerous infectious diseases

www.science.org

230 3.7K 10K

Janet K. Swim @janetkswim.bsky.social · Apr 22

NSF announced that research on dis/misinformation is terminated (avoiding free speech violations). It lists science education as one of its seven research priority. But It is essential to explain science dis/misinformation to teach science. Did anyone else catch this inconsistency?

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

Christopher Mims @mims.bsky.social · Apr 18

The American Meteorological Society has issued this dire warning of "disastrous consequences" for America's ability to predict lethal weather:

"The administration's 2026 budget... would close all of NOAA’s weather, climate, and ocean Laboratories."

www.ametsoc.org/ams/about-am...

Stand Up for NOAA Research – The Time to Act is Now

The AMS is a global community committed to advancing weather, water, and climate science and service.

www.ametsoc.org

4 130 220

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

Mike Lengieza @drnatureconnection.bsky.social · Feb 5

Whats going on in the realm of nature connectedness and relational values? Check out my recently published review of the recent trends in research on the psychology of human–nature relationships. Its on the academic side of things, but rather short so hopefully a quick read doi.org/10.1016/j.co...

1 1 4

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

Parents For The Planet @parents4planet.bsky.social · Feb 2

We’re launching a #ThankYouBrigade for federal public servants starting today. Call or email any federal office that’s mattered to you. National Park. EPA. Local Social Security office. National Forest. Just say thanks for serving. Nothing else. No politics. Nothing that would cause trouble. 1/2

1 7 25

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

Nathaniel Geiger @nathanielgeiger.bsky.social · Jan 31

Is the loneliness epidemic reducing climate action? Our new paper (w/ @janetkswim.bsky.social) suggests maybe so!

We find that social support is associated with greater action hope, which is associated with more climate action. Open access article: bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

2 10

Janet K. Swim @janetkswim.bsky.social · Jan 8

Looking at fig 2, it seems there are measures of type or degree of negative anticipatory emotion (worry,anxiety,fear) and cognitive or physical markers of stress. Is that fair characterization?

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

Gale Sinatra @galesinatra.bsky.social · Jan 7

Remember facts? Yeah, that’s no longer a thing. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01...

Meta to End Fact-Checking on Facebook, Instagram Ahead of Trump Term: Live Updates

The social networking giant will stop using third-party fact checkers on Facebook, Threads and Instagram and instead rely on users to add notes to posts. It is likely to please President-elect Trump a...

www.nytimes.com

1 6 20

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

Judd Legum @juddlegum.bsky.social · Jan 7

1. Hundreds of companies who pledged to stop donating to members of Congress who voted to overturn the election on 1/6/21 have broken their promise over the last 4 years

But we've identified 10 promise keepers:

Farmers
Airbnb
Expedia
Nike
Clorox
General Mills
Holland & Hart
Qurate
Whirlpool
Lyft

10 corporations that kept their promises after January 6, 2021

After a violent mob stormed the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, hundreds of corporations took action to communicate to the public that democracy itself was more important than maximizing their po...

popular.info

890 12K 39K

Janet K. Swim @janetkswim.bsky.social · Jan 7

Could you add me?

Janet K. Swim @janetkswim.bsky.social · Jan 7

I often talk silently to myself but swear out loud. Does that count?

1 1

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

Nathaniel Geiger @nathanielgeiger.bsky.social · Jan 6

New paper in BJSP! We (me, JanetSwim & JohnFraser) explore how social support can promote climate action. We find that those receiving more social support have more hope about taking action, and this action hope predicts more intended and self-reported behavior. Read here: shorturl.at/HiZHt

3 8

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

John Cook @johnfocook.bsky.social · Jan 5

I've just published an article in @skepticalinquirer.bsky.social on logic-checking as a complementary approach to fact-checking. Logic-checking can tackle misinformation that fact-checking struggles to address, & seamlessly leads to logic-based corrections skepticalinquirer.org/2024/12/the-...

10 37 130

Reposted by Stephen R. Carpenter, Janet K. Swim

Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · Jan 3

"Trump team takes aim at crown jewel of US climate research" by @scottpwaldman.bsky.social for #EENews: www.eenews.net/articles/tru...

Trump team takes aim at crown jewel of US climate research

A top aide to the president-elect wants tighter control over the National Climate Assessment.

www.eenews.net

8 70 100

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · Dec 29

There’s a very credible fiscal policy case to be made for “paying” (which can happen through many kinds of mechanisms) people to bike to work. Investing in safe bike infrastructure and providing financial incentives to ride rather than drive saves and makes public money. HT @momentummag.bsky.social

Here is Why Governments Paying People to Bike to Work Makes Sense

All that is required to make a massive modal shift is safe cycling infrastructure and an incentive, why not paying people to bike to work?

momentummag.com

7 54 250

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · Dec 28

I love that the lawyer who connected climate attribution to health risk science is one of @natureportfolio.bsky.social’s 10 people who shaped science in 2024.

She led the lawsuit against the Swiss govt for violating the rights of older women by failing to take steps to prevent climate change.

The climate-crusading lawyer who sued Switzerland over global warming — and won

Cordelia Bähr is part of Nature’s 10, a list of people who shaped science in 2024.

www.nature.com

9 180 670

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

Liz Krueger @lizkrueger.bsky.social · Dec 26

The Climate Change Superfund Act is now law, and New York has fired a shot that will be heard round the world: the companies most responsible for the climate crisis will be held accountable, and New Yorkers will save $75 billion. www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/pre...

Governor Signs Climate Change Superfund Act

Albany – Today, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Climate Change Superfund Act (S.2129/A.3351), nation-leading legislation that will use the polluter-pays model exemplified by existing federal and stat...

www.nysenate.gov

43 320 860

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

Laura Carter Robinson • Humanity&Planet @humanityandplanet.com · Dec 19

A phenomenal outcome.

Bravo to the incredible Lise Van Susteren @vansusteren.bsky.social, who was an expert witness on the harms of climate change on young people’s mental health.

“The 6-1 decision [was] the first of its kind by a US state supreme court…”

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024...

Montana supreme court upholds right to ‘stable climate system’ for youngsters

Court rules in favor of 16 young people who said their health and prospects were being imperiled by climate crisis

www.theguardian.com

4 12

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

Gale Sinatra @galesinatra.bsky.social · Dec 15

Anyone notice a pattern here?

Make up of congress by race, gender, and religion

1 4 17

Janet K. Swim @janetkswim.bsky.social · Dec 15

PennDOT is developing a “connector” highway next to our house. The have been expanding highway 322 for decades. The section next to our house is the last part,“connecting” two end that have already been expanded. The word connector used here and evidently other places makes it sound inevitable.

Janet K. Swim @janetkswim.bsky.social · Dec 6

Penn State will be hiring an associate or full tenure-line professor with tenure in the Bellisario College of Communications. The review of applications will begin Jan. 13.
lnkd.in/dPCtMJqf

This is in addition to our hire in communication engagement
lnkd.in/dwG6HTX8

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

Andrew Jorgenson @akjorgenson.bsky.social · Dec 4

Given how amazing these starter packs are, for folks following me that might be curious about sociology's contributions to research on the climate crisis, you might find this invited commentary of interest: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

#ClimateCrisis #Sociology #Climate #PoliticalEconomy

Sociology and the climate crisis: A momentum surge and the roots run deep

Click on the article title to read more.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

2 8 29

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

sdclayton.bsky.social @sdclayton.bsky.social · Dec 4

ecoamerica.org/american-cli...

New American Climate Perspectives Survey

ecoAmerica's latest survey reveals that Donald Trump's victory has sparked growing climate concern, even among his supporters. Read more.

ecoamerica.org

2 3

Reposted by Janet K. Swim, Baylor Fox‐Kemper, Martin Jung , and 4 more Janet K. Swim, Baylor Fox‐Kemper, Martin Jung, William C. Clark, Michael Westphal, Daniel S. Cohan, Tyler D. Eddy

Bob Kopp @bobkopp.net · Dec 3

In a new interdisciplinary Nature Climate Change Perspective paper, led by me, @lisgilmore and Rachael Shwom, we offer a critical perspective on #climate and social “tipping points.” 🎁: rdcu.be/d2gBC 🧵

‘Tipping points’ confuse and can distract from urgent climate action

Nature Climate Change - The tipping points framing is widely used in climate discussions but receives mixed feedback. This Perspective critiques it for oversimplifying the complexities of natural...

rdcu.be

31 140 530

Janet K. Swim @janetkswim.bsky.social · Nov 29

“Whataboutism” is certainly something I’ve encountered.

Janet K. Swim @janetkswim.bsky.social · Nov 27

@climatena.bsky.social The Penn State Climate consortium is advertising to hire a community engagement for climate solutions research faculty position at the assistant or associate level. Please see the following link, apply, and/or share with others.
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/PSU_Ac...

Assistant/Associate Research Professor - Penn State Climate Consortium

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, a...

psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com

5 5

Reposted by Janet K. Swim

tdietzvt.bsky.social @tdietzvt.bsky.social · Nov 27

Preprints of Human Ecology Review v. 28 #2 are now available online open access at:
www.societyforhumanecology.org/preprints
Table of Contents
Linda Kalof and Thomas Dietz’s Contributions to Human Ecology: A Celebration of Two Esteemed Careers
There are 12 papers. We are grateful to everyone!

Early Access Prints — Society for Human Ecology

Preprints

www.societyforhumanecology.org

2 3

Janet K. Swim @janetkswim.bsky.social · Nov 22

@katharinehayhoe.com