Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Katie Loth

Rachel Widome @rwidome.bsky.social · Apr 19

I hope UMN joins the Big 10 Mutual Defense Compact and that the coalition decides that if one university in the Compact is under threat, then ALL athletic programs across the Big 10 are paused.

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Rachel Widome @rwidome.bsky.social · Apr 17

I'm really looking forward to this community forum on free speech and academic freedom at public universities, hope to see you there! cla.umn.edu/cscl/news-ev...

A Community Forum: Free Speech and Academic Freedom at Public Universities

An opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to share their perspectives on recent and emerging threats to the core rights of academic freedom and free speech.

cla.umn.edu

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Erin Maye Quade @erinmayequade.bsky.social · Apr 5

Absolutely incredible turn out at MN State Capitol! #HandsOff

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Katie Loth @klothphd.bsky.social · Apr 5

Riding the wave of energy from the #handsoff Minnesota rally.

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Rachel Widome @rwidome.bsky.social · Apr 4

“After the Trump admin threatened to pull hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants and contracts from Columbia U and the U of Pennsylvania last month, Brown was one of the few universities that released a statement in response, saying that it would not compromise on academic freedom.”

Rachel Widome @rwidome.bsky.social · Apr 3

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/u...

Trump Administration Set to Pause $510 Million for Brown University

The administration has now targeted five schools’ federal funding as part of a pledge to combat what it considers to be antisemitism on university campuses.

www.nytimes.com

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anil oza @aniloza.bsky.social · Apr 3

People who are trying to figure out where the NIH goes in the future are turning to a small, 2 month old journal bc of its connection to the new director, Jay Bhattacharya

As one expert put it: "Is this what Jay thinks? If that’s the case, then we worry" 🧪

www.statnews.com/2025/04/03/a...

Why a small journal’s ‘blueprint for NIH’ may offer clues to the agency's future

A paper proposing NIH reforms is circulating in academic circles and within the agency as scientists search for hints of its direction

www.statnews.com

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Colette Delawalla @cdelawalla.bsky.social · Apr 3

NO 🖤

Alt NIH Bluesky 🧪 @altnih4science.bsky.social · Apr 3

Trump and Musk are demanding NIH cut 35% of contracts.

That will devastate NIH science and grant funding — many of the contracts support people doing extramural work, or extramural/grant databases.

Moreover, the number is bullshit. They just made it up. There is no need—and in fact, it's illegal.

DOGE Orders HHS to Cut 35% of Contract Spending

In one email obtained by NOTUS, NIH employees were told they could not “use mission criticality as a justification to not make cuts.”

www.notus.org

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Katie Loth @klothphd.bsky.social · Mar 31

Hey @rfk-junior.bsky.social! Do you want to #makeamericahealthyagain ?

There are a bunch of us who want to help - keep funding research through #nih and we can learn the best ways to promote health and prevent disease.

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Ariel Beccia @albeccia.bsky.social · Mar 31

are there any efforts focused specifically on pushing back on the CDC’s (and likely, all of HHS’s) decision to not collect or process gender identity data? letters, petitions, etc?

#StandUpForScience
#episky
#medsky

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Ariel Beccia @albeccia.bsky.social · Mar 31

the ABCD Study is an incredibly important and incredibly rich source of data on youth health - one of the very few sources of longitudinal, representative data we have. and yes, ABCD assesses queer identities and SDOH. these data must remain public and uncensored

#episky
#StanUpForScience

Ariel Beccia @albeccia.bsky.social · Mar 31

the NIH isn't taking requests for ABCD Study data access (anymore? right now?)

#episky
#medsky

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Colette Delawalla @cdelawalla.bsky.social · Mar 30

The institution of Science in America is a public good that equalizes. It brings safety, advancement, protection, answers, cures, and economic benefit.

The NIH, alone, turns out $2.46 for every $1 invested.

HANDS OFF OUR SCIENCE!
April 5th, 2025

#scienceforall
#handsoffourscience

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · Mar 29

We are excited to announce our official partnership with @indivisible.org for the National Day of Action on April 5th!

Stand Up for Science says: HANDS OFF OUR SCIENCE!

#standupforscience
#handsoffourscience

Find and register for an event near you: handsoff2025.com?utm_source=s...

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Rachel Widome @rwidome.bsky.social · Mar 29

It’s kinda weird that I even keep having this thought but that thought is: Gosh I hope the US govt doesn’t kidnap my students

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Rachel Widome @rwidome.bsky.social · Mar 29

From the rescinded NIH Final Scientific Integrity Policy:

“The Final NIH Scientific Integrity Policy also includes NIH practices that will address important emerging topics in biomedical research, such as protecting against political interference.”

Liz Borkowski @lizborkowski.bsky.social · Mar 29

NIH has rescinded its scientific integrity policy. Hard to see this as anything other than clearing the way for shoddy research on things like vaccines. Regardless of the rationale, it's bad news for public health.

grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...

NOT-OD-25-080: Rescission of the Final Scientific Integrity Policy of the National Institutes of Health

NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Rescission of the Final Scientific Integrity Policy of the National Institutes of Health NOT-OD-25-080. OD

grants.nih.gov

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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · Mar 30

Here's my speech at the MN State Capitol a few wks ago where I stress the need for science 🧪 & #scicomm to put a lot more effort into K-12 outreach.
Huge thanks to the MN organizers of @standupforscience.bsky.social (esp @lorabishop.bsky.social) for your leadership!
youtu.be/DVI9OeGQDig?... #edusky

Stand Up for Science Saint Paul, MN - Dr. Matt Wilkins

YouTube video by Stand Up for Science MN

youtu.be

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Tina Smith @smith.senate.gov · Mar 29

International students are huge assets to the University of Minnesota. They move thousands of miles away from their families and support systems to learn from the best and the brightest.

I can’t imagine how terrified they are after learning ICE has detained one of their classmates.

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Email from the University of Minnesota that reads: Dear students, faculty and staff,
We are writing to inform you about a deeply concerning situation involving one of our international graduate students at the University of Minnesota.
We learned that, on March 27 at an off-campus residence, U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials detained a graduate student enrolled on our Twin Cities campus. We are actively working to gather more details about this incident.
In cases like this, the University takes steps to ensure students are connected to internal resources and support, such as Student Legal Service and International Student and Scholar Services.
The University had no prior knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities before it occurred.
It is important to note that our campus departments of public safety, including UMPD, do not enforce federal immigration laws, and our officers do not inquire about an individual's immigration status. Their focus remains on public safety, fostering trust and maintaining strong relationships across the University community.
As we work to gather more information, please know the University has information, resources and FAQs about federal immigration policies available on the Rapid Response website.
We understand how distressing this news may be for members of our University community. If you or someone you know needs mental health support during this time, please visit mentalhealth.umn.edu, which connects you to resources across all five campuses.
Rebecca Cunningham
President

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Katie Loth @klothphd.bsky.social · Mar 29

Several weeks ago I spoke at the @standupforscience.bsky.social rally in Saint Paul. My speech, as well as the other awesome speeches are now available in full on YouTube.

Please listen and share widely.

Science is for everyone and we must stand up to defend it.

youtu.be/2phsYqhbldU?...

Stand Up for Science Saint Paul, MN - Dr. Katie Loth

YouTube video by Stand Up for Science MN

youtu.be

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Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · Mar 28

The CDC has officially been compromised. Not by the hardworking and brilliant scientists there, but by the infection that is known as RFK Jr. In suppressing an expert report on the current measles outbreak showing the importance of MMR vaccination, we can no longer trust their communications.

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Katie Loth @klothphd.bsky.social · Mar 29

Please look into the UMN student taken into custody yesterday. We need people to stand up and take on this administration.

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Katie Loth @klothphd.bsky.social · Mar 28

We cannot allow this on our campus. This is one of our students and we need to do everything in our power to make sure they are safe and are provided due process. #umn #universityofminnesota

Heather Randell @heatherrandell.bsky.social · Mar 28

Well, UMN has officially been hit. We just got an email from our president that an international grad student was detained yesterday. No further details provided.

This. Is. Crushing.

Dear students, faculty and staff,

We are writing to inform you about a deeply concerning situation involving one of our international graduate students at the University of Minnesota.

We learned that, on March 27 at an off-campus residence, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials detained a graduate student enrolled on our Twin Cities campus. We are actively working to gather more details about this incident.

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Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · Mar 28

I'd like to see a response from the NIH and CDC on this one- the US scientific enterprise is under attack, no wonder scientists are considering leaving.

75% of US scientists who answered Nature poll consider leaving

More than 1,600 readers answered our poll; many said they were looking for jobs in Europe and Canada.

www.nature.com

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Colette Delawalla @cdelawalla.bsky.social · Mar 27

Just so we are clear, this is authoritarian censorship.

Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · Mar 27

At NIH, new fudging opportunities (NOFO) will need to be approved by DOGE. That should be a NOGO.
www.science.org/content/arti...

Trump officials will screen NIH funding opportunities

Staff at biomedical agency worry about political interference in setting priorities

www.science.org

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Rachel Widome @rwidome.bsky.social · Mar 27

I recently attended a really good talk by someone who does firearm injury epidemiology. She said one of the lasting legacies of the severe US funding restrictions and exile of this work from research spaces for nearly two decades was losing a potential generation of scientists in the field. 1/n

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Colette Delawalla @cdelawalla.bsky.social · Mar 26

The President of the US and richest man on earth, unilaterally STOPPED children’s cancer research and clinical trials because they view them as “wasteful”.

If this doesn’t get your feet in the streets, I don’t know what will.

#standupforscience
#scienceforall

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Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · Mar 24

I still don’t get one thing. If COVID was a hoax what killed over 1 million Americans btwn 2020 and today?

‘The goal is to disassemble public health’: experts warn against US turn to vaccine skepticism

As measles sickens hundreds and health secretary RFK Jr spreads dubious information, experts sound the alarm

www.theguardian.com

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Colette Delawalla @cdelawalla.bsky.social · Mar 24

FREEDOM OF SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY IS FOUNDATIONAL TO A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY!

#standupforscience
#scienceforall

Claire Kamp Dush @clairekampdush.bsky.social · Mar 20

My federal grants with @wendymanning.bsky.social and Ann Meier were terminated last week. The language from the termination is below. It has been sad as we are being forced to say goodbye to members of our team. We are figuring out next steps. We remain deeply committed to studying all families.

This award no longer effectuates agency priorities. Research programs based primarily on artificial and non-scientific categories, including amorphous equity objectives, are antithetical to the scientific inquiry, do nothing to expand our knowledge of living systems, provide low returns on investment, and ultimately do not enhance health, lengthen life, or reduce illness. Worse, so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) studies are often used to support unlawful discrimination on the basis of race and other protected characteristics, which harms the health of Americans. Therefore, it is the policy of NIH not to prioritize such research programs.

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