Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Olivia Bernauer, PhD @oliviabernauer.bsky.social · 9d

Curious about the current happenings in the Bernauer Pollinator Conservation lab? Check out our latest blog post by UW-EC undergraduate researchers on Which bumble bees are in Eau Claire? 🐝
www.oliviabernauer.com/post/which-b...

Which bumble bees are in Eau Claire?

Hello! Kinsley and Orlean here, We are the bumble bee surveying team here with updates about how our research went over the summer in Eau Claire, WI. For starters, the weather over summer was very int...

www.oliviabernauer.com

Reposted by Olivia Bernauer, PhD

Jason Williams @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social · 10d

The new #NSF #GRFP application now excludes 1000’s of students, including those who were told they could apply this year, or who planned to apply next year.

We have a new specific petition urging #NSFGRFP undo this harmful action. If you are impacted sign here: laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/

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Reposted by Olivia Bernauer, PhD

Jason Williams @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social · 14d

Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.

The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP

jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/

An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

jasonjwilliamsny.github.io

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Reposted by Olivia Bernauer, PhD

Rebecca Sear @rebeccasear.bsky.social · 20d

Tl;dr = No.

www.science.org/content/blog...

Can ChatGPT help science writers?

www.science.org

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Olivia Bernauer, PhD @oliviabernauer.bsky.social · 21d

Congrats!! 🥳

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Reposted by Olivia Bernauer, PhD

Rigorous, Fred-based Reporting @thefred.bsky.social · 29d

I would like to take this opportunity to remember Melissa Hortman, a serving Democratic politician assasinated by a right-winger.

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Reposted by Olivia Bernauer, PhD

Dr. Jessica L Ware @jessicalwarelab.bsky.social · Sep 6

AMNH is hiring a #curator! We are searching for an “Assistant Curator in #Climate #Physics: #Atmosphere or #Ocean”! Join us! careers.amnh.org/postings/4579 #academicjobs #tenuretrack

careers.amnh.org

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Reposted by Olivia Bernauer, PhD

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · Sep 6

Know your rights, Illinois.

Stay safe and stay informed.

Know & Exercise Your Rights Flyer provided by the Illinois Immigration Information Hub.

1. Remain Calm. 2. You have the right to deny entry without a valid warrant. 3. You have the right to remain silent. 4. You have the right to speak with an attorney. 5. You have the right to not sign anything.

For more information, head to: https://www.illinoisimmigrationinfo.org/

Know & Exercise Your Rights Flyer provided by the Illinois Immigration Information Hub.

For more information, head to: https://www.illinoisimmigrationinfo.org/

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Olivia Bernauer, PhD @oliviabernauer.bsky.social · Aug 29

Hey #ento folk- any ideas on what might be eating these tomatillos? Eau Claire, WI, found late August 2025. Thanks in advance!

Reposted by Olivia Bernauer, PhD

Simon Tierney @biol-si.bsky.social · Aug 27

Fresh global-analysis admirably lead by @eeraertsmaxime.bsky.social (+ @oliviabernauer.bsky.social PhD data) indicates native bee pollination services leads to higher-quality apples = improved weight & seed set.

How do you like them apples? 🍎

besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Global synthesis of apple pollination research highlights general pollen limitation and positive contributions of wild bees compared to honeybees

Our study highlights that pollen limitation is common in this global crop. While managed honeybees are dominant pollinators, a diverse community of wild bees contributes significantly to apple pollin...

besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Reposted by Olivia Bernauer, PhD

D. Allan Drummond @dadrummond.art · Aug 17

Shocked and sad and amazed to see my first live spotted lanternfly in our own backyard (Chicago). Gorgeous animal—I wasn’t prepared for how beautiful it was. 🥲 Squashed and reported on @inaturalist.bsky.social

A large black bug with black-spotted brown wings held in my fingers

Closeup of the underside of the bug showing its legs and mouthparts

Closeup of the underside of the bug showing its black legs and mouthparts, a full ventral shot

The squashed bug showing beautiful brown forewings with intricate patterns, and striking red inner hindwings.

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Olivia Bernauer, PhD @oliviabernauer.bsky.social · Aug 11

Do you like safe food? Agricultural innovations? Informed farmers?

Reminder to voice your opinion about the restructuring of the USDA to the USDA and to your elected officials if you have not yet done so.

www.usda.gov/about-usda/n...

www.usda.gov

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Reposted by Olivia Bernauer, PhD

Colette Delawalla @cdelawalla.bsky.social · Aug 6

🚨ACTION OF THE DAY🚨
@standupforscience.bsky.social

Day 6! Leave a public comment opposing the repeal of the EPA Endangerment Finding.

✍️ Comment here: www.regulations.gov/commenton/EP...

🧠 Learn more here: www.cnn.com/2025/08/03/p...

🌿 Here is a script (copy and paste alt text for ease!)
#31days

Use and adapt our drafted comment below or write your own!

I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the Endangerment Finding. The science is clear: greenhouse gases unequivocally harm our health and our environment. Weakening or repealing the Endangerment Finding will make it harder, and costlier to protect our communities from pollution and from the effects of climate change.

Optional: I care about this issue because [insert your personal reasoning here -e.g. "my father has COPD," "I recently lost my home to a devastating hurricane"]

I urge you to keep the Endangerment Finding in place and to apply science to protect our health and our environment for generations to come.

****Remember, if you want to cite research to upload the paper as a file.****

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Reposted by Olivia Bernauer, PhD

Ami Berger @amiberger.bsky.social · Aug 2

absolutely wild to think about how much better off we'd be if we just believed girls and women

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Olivia Bernauer, PhD @oliviabernauer.bsky.social · Aug 2

Colors of summer

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Reposted by Olivia Bernauer, PhD

Terry McGlynn @hormiga.bsky.social · Jul 30

Everybody working on social insects: the IUSSI has a fancy new website and they're building a map of all the labs that focus on social insects. Is this you? Add yourself to the map:

www.socialinsects.org/map

IUSSI = International Union for the Study of Social Insects

Map | IUSSI

www.socialinsects.org

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Olivia Bernauer, PhD @oliviabernauer.bsky.social · Jul 29

I think I'll always have a soft spot for cool citizen science, not only because I love contributing to iNaturalist, but because my master's research involved conducting citizen science. Go document your world! 🦦🌾🪸🪰🦜

iNaturalist accelerates biodiversity research url: academic.oup.com/bioscience/a...

iNaturalist accelerates biodiversity research

Abstract. Participatory citizen science is expanding, with iNaturalist emerging as one of the most widely used platforms globally. However, its application

academic.oup.com

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Olivia Bernauer, PhD @oliviabernauer.bsky.social · Jul 25

Feeling so lucky to have had the opportunity to meet many endangered Karner blue butterflies today. Such a little, beautiful thing flittering by. Also saw many other lovely pollinators 🦋🐝🌻

Inside of the male karner blue butterfly’s wings

Karner blue butterfly perched on a finger

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Reposted by Olivia Bernauer, PhD

Ryan Norris @ryannorrissci.bsky.social · Jul 24

Our new paper published today in Current Biology shows that immediate international cooperation is needed to conserve the eastern North American monarch butterfly.

www.cell.com/current-biol...

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Olivia Bernauer, PhD @oliviabernauer.bsky.social · Jul 19

Saturday backyard pals

A grey cat smelling a hornworm on a hand

Squash bee drinking nectar from a squash flower

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Olivia Bernauer, PhD @oliviabernauer.bsky.social · Jul 17

Check out the latest episode of Human Footprint (The Honey Trap) for some insight into my recent research and the things happening in @jamescrall.bsky.social's lab!🐝 Honored to be a part of this, it was so fun! Many thanks to the crew at Day's Edge @neillosin.bsky.social
www.pbs.org/video/the-ho...

Human Footprint | The Honey Trap | Season 2 | Episode 4

Shane investigates the future of bees, from honey bees to wild native species, in a changing world.

www.pbs.org

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Reposted by Olivia Bernauer, PhD

Simon Tierney @biol-si.bsky.social · Jul 4

first phylogeny for nocturnal foraging nomiine bees:
doi.org/10.1007/s118...

Origin of obligate dim-light foraging in nomiine sweat bees (Halictidae: Nomiinae), with the description of a new species of Mellitidia - Arthropod-Plant Interactions

Dim-light foraging is exhibited by the majority of the seven bee families (facultative behavior—five families; obligate behavior – four families) and represents an underappreciated aspect of pollinati...

doi.org

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Olivia Bernauer, PhD @oliviabernauer.bsky.social · Jun 5

After finishing my first year of teaching as a new asst. prof it is so nice to have my brain back and to have the bandwidth to ask questions and ponder new research ideas ✨🧠

Bombus rufocinctus queen on purple catmint flowers

Reposted by Olivia Bernauer, PhD

Alexandra Klein @naturealexk.bsky.social · May 6

We are #hiring a lecturer and #researcher:

- Teaching in ecology and nature conservation
- Research on plant-pollinator interactions
- Supervision of students
- Contribution to our major collaborative projects

Start 01.09.2025
Salary according to TV-L E13, 100%

🔗 uni-freiburg.de/stellenangeb...

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