aprahamian.bsky.social
Ivan Aprahamian
@aprahamian.bsky.social
1.7K followers 620 following 170 posts
Chemistry Professor at Dartmouth. Into adaptive materials using tiny switches and machines
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aprahamian.bsky.social
Ivan Aprahamian @aprahamian.bsky.social · Aug 6
🎉Congrats to David @anbismillah.bsky.social the whole crew + collab Albert Wong on the new @cp-chem.bsky.social paper bit.ly/3J5FFse What started with an effort to tune the activation thresholds in negative #feedback loops so we can couple them took a wild turn #ChemSky #molswitch #chemsky ⚗️🧪
Coupling synthetic negative feedback loops
While coupled biochemical feedback loops are optimized over millions of years of evolution, the rational design of synthetic counterparts, not possess…
bit.ly
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timsteller.bsky.social
Tim Steller @timsteller.bsky.social · 1d
The University of Arizona's faculty senate has voted to ask the UA president to reject the Trump administration's proposed compact. It's among an accumulation of voices who say not to be tempted by the good things in the compact due to its more fundamental threats.
tucson.com/news/local/e...
U of A Faculty Senate opposes Trump compact; provost says no decision yet
The University of Arizona Faculty Senate approved a resolution calling on the UA to reject the White House’s compact requiring ideological, political and financial commitments in return for federal fu...
tucson.com
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carlquintanilla.bsky.social
Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 11h
#WarRavagedPortland
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govpritzker.illinois.gov
Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 9h
I will not back down.

Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power.

What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?
Donald Trump Truth Social Post: Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also.
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aprahamian.bsky.social
Ivan Aprahamian @aprahamian.bsky.social · 10h
I was thinking the same.. He would have been ecstatic today...
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elivalley.bsky.social
Eli Valley @elivalley.bsky.social · 1d
Bari Weiss, CBS News, 1965

- New art in @jewishcurrents.bsky.social
jewishcurrents.org/bari-weiss-c...
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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 1d
I am proud of MIT, where our branch of AAUP has voted unanimously to endorse this statement urging MIT leadership and the MIT Corporation to reject the Compact wholesale
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Letter Regarding Compact
MIT Chapter of the American Association of University Professors October 6, 2025 Statement on the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” MIT has been invited by the federal governmen...
docs.google.com
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heathercherone.bsky.social
Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 1d
Pritzker is also furious: “Should National Governors Association leadership choose to remain silent, Illinois will have no choice but to withdraw from the organization.”
Gov. JB Pritzker’s letter to the National Governors Association
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aprahamian.bsky.social
Ivan Aprahamian @aprahamian.bsky.social · 1d
Congrats
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joelhs.bsky.social
Joel S. @joelhs.bsky.social · 2d
The only thing anyone needs to know about Bari Weiss is that she first came to national attention trying to get a Middle East Studies professor at Columbia fired for anti-Israel views, and yet somehow huge amounts of the US media elite think she is committed to "free speech" and "heterodoxy."
idgordon.bsky.social
Ian Gordon @idgordon.bsky.social · 2d
The NYT's Michael Grynbaum reported that this is the note that Bari Weiss sent to CBS News staffers this morning (1/2)
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aprahamian.bsky.social
Ivan Aprahamian @aprahamian.bsky.social · 2d
It's time for ATRP to get it
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chemkritzer.bsky.social
ChemKritzer @chemkritzer.bsky.social · 2d
Come be my colleague! Tufts Chemistry is hiring a tenure-track Assistant Professor working on materials with energy applications. We have a fantastic, supportive environment for you to start your research career. Send questions to me or @chemysl.bsky.social

apply.interfolio.com/175284
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jlray.bsky.social
JLRay @jlray.bsky.social · 3d
A Texas megachurch pastor and GOP leader has been arrested for crimes against children. Not Robert Morris, a different one. Not Josiah Anthony, a different one. Not Luke Cunningham, a different one. Not Tony Evans, a different one. Not Scott Crenshaw, a different one. Not Steve Lawson, a different o
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andrewjweinstein.com
Andrew Weinstein @andrewjweinstein.com · 3d
ICE admits that up to 50% of arrests in its Chicago raids are "collateral.” These aren't statistics. They are parents taken from their children, neighbors taken from our communities. When does a "collateral" U.S. citizen child's trauma matter? This isn't law enforcement; it's a campaign of terror.
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fishkin.bsky.social
Joey Fishkin @fishkin.bsky.social · 5d
The question journalists need to be asking is: WHY is the government trying this?

It’s because they want to control universities in unlawful ways that courts will not allow; it’s not working; so they’re trying to get universities to sign up “voluntarily” for unlawful levels of government control.
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pehjackson.bsky.social
Patrick Jackson @pehjackson.bsky.social · 5d
UVA Faculty Senate passed a resolution strongly opposing the Trump “Compact.” We, at least, remain committed to the historic values and mission of the university.
Resolution Opposing the "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" WHEREAS the United States Secretary of Education has requested that the University of Virginia enter into a “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”, and WHEREAS the Compact contains provisions antithetical to the mission and traditions of the University, and WHEREAS the Compact contains provisions which endanger the independence and integrity of the University, and WHEREAS the compact likely violates state and federal law, and infringes upon the constitutional rights of members of the University community, and WHEREAS the University of Virginia exemplifies American academic values of the highest standard, including universal right to free speech and the cultivation of academic freedom; therefore BE IT RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate of the University of Virginia firmly opposes this Compact as written and calls upon Interim President Mahoney and the Board of Visitors to also reject this Compact outright as well as any similar proposal compromising the mission, values, and independence of the University.
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jswatz.bsky.social
John Schwartz @jswatz.bsky.social · 5d
“No self-respecting university could ever accept something like this,” said Lee Bollinger, a First Amendment scholar and former Columbia University president. “Trying to protect conservative ideas against being ‘belittled’ — that’s about as violative of the First Amendment interests as you can get.”
Colleges weigh whether to sign onto Trump plan or forgo federal benefits
A new proposal from the Trump administration would give colleges funding advantages if they adopt conservative priorities.
www.washingtonpost.com
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kojamf.bsky.social
KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 3d
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
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paultlevin.bsky.social
Paul T. Levin @paultlevin.bsky.social · 4d
““They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” the Turkish activist ErsinÇelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency.”+
Israel accused of detaining Greta Thunberg in infested cell and making her hold flags
Activist tells Swedish officials she has been subjected to harsh treatment, including insufficient food and water
www.theguardian.com
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gregggonsalves.bsky.social
Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 5d
Here's the assignment folks. Write op-eds for your local papers and campus newspapers too. Just. Say. No. This is a classic authoritarian move and risks the future of higher education and science and innovation in the US. Speak out today. No time to lose. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...
Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion
www.nytimes.com
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katestarbird.bsky.social
Kate Starbird @katestarbird.bsky.social · 4d
Colleagues have pointed out that the Dartmouth response is strategically ambiguous. If I were faculty or alumni, I would provide feedback that: 1) you interpret this to mean that the unviersity is refusing to sign a corrupt contract; and 2) you are proud of the university for taking that stance.
katestarbird.bsky.social
Kate Starbird @katestarbird.bsky.social · 4d
Dartmouth’s response to the Trump admin’s corrupt contract, short and sweet: “You have often heard me say that higher education is not perfect and that we can do better. At the same time, we will never compromise our academic freedom and our ability to govern ourselves.”
dpmoriarity.bsky.social
Daniel P. Moriarity @dpmoriarity.bsky.social · 4d
Dartmouth response to the Trump Administration Compact

president.dartmouth.edu/news/2025/10...
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aprahamian.bsky.social
Ivan Aprahamian @aprahamian.bsky.social · 5d
“There are no firsts in science,” as Fraser (Stoddart) used to like to say. Just as with the phrase “due to,” claiming a “first” was also banned from his writings and publications. Some seem to have forgotten that message.
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profhalloran.bsky.social
John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 5d
If you’re in Illinois and you’re disturbed by the images that you’re seeing of the Illinois State Police in Broadview this morning, please call now. It will honestly take 30 seconds. I spoke to a real person.

Here are the phone numbers:

312-814-2121

312-814-2122

217-782-6830

217-782-6831
profhalloran.bsky.social
John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 5d
FYI:
A screencap of an Illinois state webpage with information about how to contact Governor Pritzker’s office. Contact the Governor To contact the Governor's Office, please use the following information: Constituent Affairs Help Line: Phone: 217-782-0244 Springfield Office of the Governor 401 S. Spring St. Springfield, IL 62704 Phone: 217-782-6830 or 217-782-6831 Chicago Office of the Governor 555 W. Monroe St., 16th Floor Chicago, IL 60661 Phone: 312-814-2121 or 312-814-2122
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rebekahtromble.bsky.social
Rebekah Tromble @rebekahtromble.bsky.social · 5d
Hand holding a frying pan with a fried egg in it, with the words “This is your university if you sign” at the top. Image is from the 1980s “This is your brain on drugs” campaign.
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mbkplus.bsky.social
Mike Boylan-Kolchin @mbkplus.bsky.social · 5d
A reminder that the Trump admin will not be satisfied with attempts to align somewhat with their goals, they want complete capitulation.
Duke Was Paring Back Diversity Programs. Trump Targeted It Anyway.
www.nytimes.com
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aaup.org
AAUP @aaup.org · 6d
The Trump admin’s offer to give preferential treatment to institutions that toe the party line reeks of bribery in exchange for allegiance to a partisan ideological agenda.

This is corruption.

Adherence to ‘loyalty oaths’ would usher in a new era of thought policing in American higher education.
Universities Must Reject Trump Admin 'Loyalty Oath' Compacts
The AAUP and AFT warn that the Trump administration’s offer to give preferential treatment to colleges and universities that court government favor in exchange for allegiance to a partisan ideological...
www.aaup.org
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