Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Matt Wilkins

Jocelyn Bosley @scitalker.bsky.social · 6d

DEADLINE EXTENDED to Oct. 12!✨

I don't need to tell you that public support is crucial to sustaining science. #SciComm has never been more important, so don’t miss this chance to give the public a window into how science really works—and why it works so well. Join the #MySciJourney Challenge!

Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 24d

Scientists, only 2 weeks left to share your work, why it matters & win up to $500!
It's as easy as making a slideshow with our template. This #MySciJourney challenge sponsored by @ncse.bsky.social #scicomm 🧪🔊🐸
👉https://galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scijourney-scicomm-competition-2025

4 5

Reposted by Matt Wilkins

Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 9d

Scientists, here's your chance to remind the public about the beauty of science & why your work matters!
Make a 3min presentation with a template; cash prizes! 💰 Deadline extended to Oct 12. www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scij... Funded by @ncse.bsky.social Plz repost! 🧪🪶🐸🔊 #scicomm #MySciJourney

Win Cash, Save Science: Share Your SciJourney! — Galactic Polymath

Join the 2025 #MySciJourney Challenge! We are looking for scientists at all stages to share their journeys in science! Teachers: You and your students can help decide the winners! #scicomm #SaveNSF

www.galacticpolymath.com

3 7

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 9d

Undergrads, grad students, professors, medical researchers, scientists in industry: help middle and high schoolers across the country understand what you *actually* do and why it matters! Be a source of inspiration amid all this chaos.

Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 9d

Scientists, here's your chance to remind the public about the beauty of science & why your work matters!
Make a 3min presentation with a template; cash prizes! 💰 Deadline extended to Oct 12. www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scij... Funded by @ncse.bsky.social Plz repost! 🧪🪶🐸🔊 #scicomm #MySciJourney

Win Cash, Save Science: Share Your SciJourney! — Galactic Polymath

Join the 2025 #MySciJourney Challenge! We are looking for scientists at all stages to share their journeys in science! Teachers: You and your students can help decide the winners! #scicomm #SaveNSF

www.galacticpolymath.com

1 2

Reposted by Matt Wilkins

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 15d

Friends—1 week left! If you use science in your job (undergrad, in academia, in industry...anything!) & you want to help students understand what it's really like & why it's important—here's your chance! 🧪 from @galacticpolymath.com & @ncse.bsky.social
👉 www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scij...

6 9

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 15d

wow, yeah I thought it was a parasitoid, so I was like what's it doing on the tree? Laying eggs into insect larvae under the bark?! 😲 Thanks for the ID!

1

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 15d

anybody know what kind of wasp this is?

1 1

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 15d

Friends—1 week left! If you use science in your job (undergrad, in academia, in industry...anything!) & you want to help students understand what it's really like & why it's important—here's your chance! 🧪 from @galacticpolymath.com & @ncse.bsky.social
👉 www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scij...

6 9

Reposted by Matt Wilkins

Jocelyn Bosley @scitalker.bsky.social · 21d

To appreciate the power & promise of science, people need a deeper understanding of the _processes_ of science. Join the #MySciJourney Challenge to show the world what “doing science” looks like for you! Scientists at all stages are invited to submit their short videos by September 30.

Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 24d

Scientists, only 2 weeks left to share your work, why it matters & win up to $500!
It's as easy as making a slideshow with our template. This #MySciJourney challenge sponsored by @ncse.bsky.social #scicomm 🧪🔊🐸
👉https://galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scijourney-scicomm-competition-2025

3 4

Reposted by Matt Wilkins

Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 24d

Scientists, only 2 weeks left to share your work, why it matters & win up to $500!
It's as easy as making a slideshow with our template. This #MySciJourney challenge sponsored by @ncse.bsky.social #scicomm 🧪🔊🐸
👉https://galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scijourney-scicomm-competition-2025

2 9 10

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 28d

Awesome visual! Congrats!

Reposted by Matt Wilkins

Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 29d

"...it checks all the boxes — authentic science, student-led inquiry, & ready-to-go NGSS-aligned materials..." 😊

Check out this guest post from @brewerbiology.bsky.social after teaching our free unit about @reichertfroglab.bsky.social's research 🐸🔊🧪 www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/what-ca...

What Can Singing Frogs Teach Us About Evolutionary Tradeoffs? — Galactic Polymath

Will female frogs be attracted to males who produce many short calls or to males with fewer, longer calls? This evolutionary tradeoff was the question my high school biology students investigated in t...

www.galacticpolymath.com

3 8

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · Sep 4

this is the craziest abstract I think I've ever read 😲 this is why physics has laws and biology has "well, typically..."

2

Reposted by Matt Wilkins

Jente Ottenburghs | Avian Hybrids @jenteo.bsky.social · Sep 4

Crazy discovery in ants 🤯🐜

One mother for two species via obligate cross-species cloning in ants | Nature
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

"Males from the same mother exhibit distinct genomes and morphologies, as they belong to species that diverged over 5 million years ago."

One mother for two species via obligate cross-species cloning in ants - Nature

In a case of obligate cross-species cloning, female ants of Messor ibericus need to clone males of Messor structor to obtain sperm for producing the worker caste, resulting in males from the same moth...

www.nature.com

2 8 23

Reposted by Matt Wilkins

Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · Aug 21

Scientists, here's your chance to share your work, why it matters, and win up to $500!
It's as easy as making a slideshow and recording it. We made templates and examples to make it easier. Our #MySciJourney challenge sponsored by @ncse.bsky.social & @civicscimedia.bsky.social sky.social #scicomm

1 4 5

Reposted by Matt Wilkins

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · Aug 21

What would you tell your younger self about why your research matters & what's happening to science in the US?
I made an example #MySciJourney video (not part of the contest) & a Slides template to simplify the creation of classroom- & social media-friendly vids. Make it your own! 🧪

Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · Aug 21

Scientists, here's your chance to share your work, why it matters, and win up to $500!
It's as easy as making a slideshow and recording it. We made templates and examples to make it easier. Our #MySciJourney challenge sponsored by @ncse.bsky.social & @civicscimedia.bsky.social sky.social #scicomm

1 1 2

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · Aug 21

What would you tell your younger self about why your research matters & what's happening to science in the US?
I made an example #MySciJourney video (not part of the contest) & a Slides template to simplify the creation of classroom- & social media-friendly vids. Make it your own! 🧪

Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · Aug 21

Scientists, here's your chance to share your work, why it matters, and win up to $500!
It's as easy as making a slideshow and recording it. We made templates and examples to make it easier. Our #MySciJourney challenge sponsored by @ncse.bsky.social & @civicscimedia.bsky.social sky.social #scicomm

1 1 2

Reposted by Matt Wilkins

Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · Aug 18

🎉 We're so excited to announce the 2025 #MySciJourney Challenge: A #scicomm competition for researchers to share their authentic journeys in science with students, teachers, & the broader public! 🧪

💸 $1k in cash prizes, thanks to @ncse.bsky.social!
👉 www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scij...

Win Cash, Save Science: Share Your SciJourney! — Galactic Polymath

Join the 2025 #MySciJourney Challenge! We are looking for scientists at all stages to share their journeys in science! Teachers: You and your students can help decide the winners! #scicomm #SaveNSF

www.galacticpolymath.com

1 11 11

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · Aug 19

Looking for a forum to speak to K-12 students & the public to let them know what science & scientists are really like?
Want to tell them why your research matters & what defunding science will do to our way of life? Here's your chance! 🧪🔉🪶🐸

Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · Aug 18

🎉 We're so excited to announce the 2025 #MySciJourney Challenge: A #scicomm competition for researchers to share their authentic journeys in science with students, teachers, & the broader public! 🧪

💸 $1k in cash prizes, thanks to @ncse.bsky.social!
👉 www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scij...

Win Cash, Save Science: Share Your SciJourney! — Galactic Polymath

Join the 2025 #MySciJourney Challenge! We are looking for scientists at all stages to share their journeys in science! Teachers: You and your students can help decide the winners! #scicomm #SaveNSF

www.galacticpolymath.com

1 2 7

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · Aug 17

it would depend on species. Feel free to give it a try and let me know if it works for you! This was an open access passion project and will not likely be updated

1 1

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · Aug 8

Great news for those who love the Merlin app, but wish it helped you identify frogs and other critters!
deepmind.google/discover/blo... 🪶🐸🔉

How AI is helping advance the science of bioacoustics to save endangered species

Our new Perch model helps conservationists analyze audio faster to protect endangered species, from Hawaiian honeycreepers to coral reefs.

deepmind.google

4 13

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · Aug 1

Hey! Yes I remember chatting briefly. That's cool we have a birdsong connection as well! I hope this is useful to you! It was a very challenging side project that I just wanted to exist. Glad to hear others value it.

1

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · Jul 31

ICYMI, we (@galacticpolymath.com) created a free web-based sound analysis tool. Great for teaching about birdsong, physics of sound, band, or advanced #bioacoustics! Just a free app with no installation or coding needed thanks to NSF funding! #SaveNSF 🧪
www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/dive-in...

Dive into Sound with SoundLab: A Free Tool for Acoustic Exploration — Galactic Polymath

Ever wondered what a bird song looks like, or how to visually understand the different frequencies in your favorite music? That's where SoundLab comes in! SoundLab is a free, web-based app designed to...

www.galacticpolymath.com

2 5 25

Reposted by Matt Wilkins

Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · Jul 30

Check out these #bird scientists showing how to be observant and ask good questions! 🤩🪶 Featuring Drs. Allison Johnson & Dai Shizuka, and some adorable Australian fairywrens! #NSF -funded research and #BroaderImpacts 🧪
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjve...

Practice observing birds and asking questions with 2 biologists!

YouTube video by Galactic Polymath

www.youtube.com

2 9

Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · Jul 30

If you're teaching any science class (middle school to college) where you want students to learn how to ask better questions, check this out! Free thanks to funding from NSF. #saveNSF #birds #Edusky🧪

Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · Jul 30

Who played Carmen Sandiego as a kid? You're gonna love our latest video series helping students be observant and ask good questions!
#NGSS #EduSky
youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Fairywrens - YouTube

youtube.com

1 6

Reposted by Matt Wilkins

Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · Jul 15

THIS! 🔥👇
"We’re not going to fix education with more technology...
we’re putting too much emphasis on what looks innovative, and not enough on what’s actually effective."
#EduSky #EdTech
Wonderful guest blog by Michelle Blanchet of The Educators' Lab! 👏
www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/stop-ch...

Stop Chasing Shiny Tech: Invest in Teachers if You Actually Want to Improve Education — Galactic Polymath

We’re not going to fix education with more technology. Let’s reframe what innovation in education actually means. It doesn’t have to mean new tech. Sometimes, it means trusting teachers to lead.

www.galacticpolymath.com

1 3