Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Lauren Kuehne

CantlonLab @cantlonlab.bsky.social · 1d

The AAUP is doing a skills training for campus organizing. Is your school participating?

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

AAUP Organize Every Campus: Core Skills Training (Oct 2025 Registration Form)

Chapters are encouraged to send at least five people to the training. Please choose one person to serve as a coordinator for your chapter. *Only the coordinator should complete this registration* If...

docs.google.com

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Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 19h

🧪 Please boost to your science networks!

@sufsseattle.bsky.social
@standupforscience.bsky.social
@uwsmea.bsky.social
@snapcoalition.bsky.social
@aguscipolicy.bsky.social
@cornellasap.bsky.social
@sciencehomecoming.bsky.social
@rebelscienceunion.bsky.social
@sciforgood.bsky.social

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Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 19h

🧪Excited to co-present this @standupforscience.bsky.social event next week with UW's Dr. Ryan Kelly

We'll cover how to effectively engage in public comments, to help shape public policy at all levels, federal to local. Attend in person or virtually!

RSVP: act.standupforscience.net/events/power...

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Reposted by Lauren Kuehne

Retraction Watch @retractionwatch.com · 1d

Several organizations are now putting more than $1 million toward reimagining hiring, promotion and tenure at U.S. universities.

$1.5 million program targets changes to academic incentives

The incentive systems that drive academic research underlie nearly every story we write: publication counts for promotion, pressure to produce positive results, hitting certain metrics, and so on. …

retractionwatch.com

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Reposted by Lauren Kuehne

Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 1d

Reporting from @cenmag.bsky.social on the last-minute announcement and eligibility changes to the NSF GRFP program, including a link to the petition to restore eligibility to 2nd year PhD students + more.

Petition:
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/

Story:
cen.acs.org/policy/resea...

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Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 1d

I've been sharing it with people as part of these "Boycotting 101" and "Boycotting 102" community workshops I'm doing, because it's full of mind-blowing insights about connections between identity, insecurity, and consumption. You'll be glad you listened, promise!

moneywithkatie.com/the_mwk_show...

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Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 1d

Ooohhhhh...I see an opportunity to boost the amazing @tressiemcphd.bsky.social discussion with Katie Gatti Tassin from June.

I'm on my 4th listen, and keep getting something new every time - if you missed it, listen!

moneywithkatie.com/the_mwk_show...

A Masterclass on Status, Power, & the Economy with Tressie McMillan Cottom - Showit Blog

moneywithkatie.com

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Reposted by Lauren Kuehne

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 3d

This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will. It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.

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Reposted by Lauren Kuehne

Linda Holmes @lindaholmes.bsky.social · 3d

This is great work. Great. And you know what? A librarian might not know all this off the dome, but they would absolutely help you find out.

Downtown Brandi Frown 😾 @itsthebrandi.bsky.social · 4d

The LA Public Library research librarian explaining what is going on with Charli and Taylor is outstanding work

www.instagram.com/reel/DPXZIUa...

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Reposted by Lauren Kuehne

AGU Science Policy @aguscipolicy.bsky.social · 4d

A government shutdown and the current FY26 proposed federal budget will have lasting impacts on scientific agencies, researchers, universities and students. Learn what’s at stake and how to respond on 23 Oct at 2 p.m. ET.

Register today. 👉 lite.spr.ly/6004zxTM

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Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 4d

No, no insights on how it impacts this specifically, especially given that this is a "different" shutdown. Depends a lot on the duration...

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

This US government shutdown is different: what it means for science

President Trump’s budget office lays out guidelines for mass lay-offs across the federal government.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Lauren Kuehne

American Institute of Biological Sciences @aibsbiology.bsky.social · 4d

Please sign and share this petition to #NSF to Restore Eligibility for the 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Competition. laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/

Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 6d

📣 🧪 Update: #GRFP petition went to #NSF and OSTP (w/ the growing* comments list) yesterday.

We are now working to get these impacts in front of Congress, so PLEASE keep signing/sharing the petition!

*nearly 900!

@danielbolnick.bsky.social @joshuasweitz.bsky.social @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social

Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 8d

🧪 Were you one of the many thousands of STEM students (and mentors) impacted by the sudden change in #NSF #GRFP eligibility last week?

We created a petition to NSF leadership and Congress to reverse the changes - please sign and share your stories here!!

laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/

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Reposted by Lauren Kuehne

AAUP @aaup.org · 5d

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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Reposted by Lauren Kuehne

Hunter Walker @hunterw.bsky.social · 5d

UPenn professors have responded forcefully to the Trump administration's that colleges sign a "compact" in order to secure funding:

"When an invitation is accompanied by consequences for not accepting it, it is in fact a threat, not an invitation." aaup-penn.org/statement-by...

Statement by the AAUP-Penn Executive Committee on the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education | AAUP–Penn

October 2, 2025 We have received reports that Penn has been “invited” to sign a so-called “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” by the federal government, and that failing to do so wou...

aaup-penn.org

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Reposted by Lauren Kuehne

Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · 5d

👍

The Hollywood Reporter @thr.com · 5d

Dave Chappelle criticized the status of free speech in the United States while on stage at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia.

Dave Chappelle Criticizes Free Speech in America at Saudi Arabia Comedy Festival

Dave Chappelle criticized the status of free speech in the United States while on stage at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia.

bit.ly

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Reposted by Lauren Kuehne

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 5d

NEW—US Department of Education sent out standard Out of Office language to employees on Wednesday in light of shutdown. Later yesterday, workers tell me they found someone had updated their auto-responses without consent to a new one blaming Democrats.

Version of original on left, updated on right:

Thank you for your email. There is a temporary shutdown of the U.S. government due to a lapse in appropriations. I will respond to your message as soon as possible after the temporary shutdown ends. Please visit ED.gov for the latest information on the
Department's operational status.
Thank you.

Thank you for contacting me. On September 19, 2025, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5371, a clean continuing resolution. Unfortunately, Democrat Senators are blocking passage of H.R. 5371 in the Senate which has led to a lapse in appropriations. Due to the lapse in appropriations I am currently in furlough status. I will respond to emails once government functions resume.

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Reposted by Lauren Kuehne

Scientist Network for Advancing Policy @snapcoalition.bsky.social · 6d

Please sign and keep sharing, this is important!

#NSFGRFP

Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 6d

📣 🧪 Update: #GRFP petition went to #NSF and OSTP (w/ the growing* comments list) yesterday.

We are now working to get these impacts in front of Congress, so PLEASE keep signing/sharing the petition!

*nearly 900!

@danielbolnick.bsky.social @joshuasweitz.bsky.social @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social

Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 8d

🧪 Were you one of the many thousands of STEM students (and mentors) impacted by the sudden change in #NSF #GRFP eligibility last week?

We created a petition to NSF leadership and Congress to reverse the changes - please sign and share your stories here!!

laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/

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Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 6d

Please boost, on behalf of STEM grad students!

@aaup.org
@cgsgraded.bsky.social
@standupforscience.bsky.social
@ecologicalsociety.bsky.social
@sacnas.bsky.social
@sicb.bsky.social
@snapcoalition.bsky.social
@agu.org
@aguscipolicy.bsky.social
@asm.org
@asmedotorg.bsky.social
@sciam.bsky.social

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Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 6d

📣 🧪 Update: #GRFP petition went to #NSF and OSTP (w/ the growing* comments list) yesterday.

We are now working to get these impacts in front of Congress, so PLEASE keep signing/sharing the petition!

*nearly 900!

@danielbolnick.bsky.social @joshuasweitz.bsky.social @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social

Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 8d

🧪 Were you one of the many thousands of STEM students (and mentors) impacted by the sudden change in #NSF #GRFP eligibility last week?

We created a petition to NSF leadership and Congress to reverse the changes - please sign and share your stories here!!

laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/

Petition to NSF to Restore Eligibility for the 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Competition

laurenkuehne.github.io

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Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 6d

Take a moment to breathe, and remember, "People are in motion everywhere" (quoting @prisonculture.bsky.social)

Sharing some hints of autumn from yesterday in #Bremerton, WA - fallen leaves with fog droplets, before the sun came out and dried them up.
@thedeerwhisperer.bsky.social

fallen leaves with fog droplets, before the sun came out and dried them up. Yellow round leaf with drops and smaller brown-yellow leaf above. taken sept 30th on a walk in my neighborhood

fallen leaves with fog droplets, before the sun came out and dried them up. Brownish-red mottled leaf on moss-colored grass. taken sept 30th on a walk in my neighborhood

fallen leaves with fog droplets, before the sun came out and dried them up. Light brown oval leaf with yellow lance-shaped leaf above. taken sept 30th on a walk in my neighborhood

fallen leaves with fog droplets, before the sun came out and dried them up. Brown oval leaf with black veins in green grass. taken sept 30th on a walk in my neighborhood

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Reposted by Lauren Kuehne

Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 7d

Who has watched the 24 hour live stream so far that the house Dems are doing on the shutdown?????

This should be the biggest story right now and literally 45 people are watching
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrBY...

Stop the Republican Shutdown PT.2

YouTube video by Rep. Jeffries

www.youtube.com

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Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 7d

Note to self: Enough already, buy some tap shoes.

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Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 7d

For years, I've been hoping/working to get a beer named after our local endemic Olympic mudminnow - I mean, just look at that fish!!! 🐟 + 🍺 + 🧪

"Mudminnow Stout: complex, smooth stout that captures the dark local waters of these small fish, with big charisma"

Photos: Lawrence Kent, Lewis Hakam

Gorgeous underwater image of an Olympic mudminnow (Novumbra hubbi), a small (<90mm) fish that's endemic to western Washington State. Olympic mudminnow typically have light to dark brown bodies, with bars ranging from pale brown to glorious iridescent blues and greens. Photo by Lawrence Kent.

Underwater image of an Olympic mudminnow (Novumbra hubbi), taken in Puget Sound area of Washington State. Olympic mudminnow are small (<90mm) fish that eat a large variety of small invertebrates, to help them survive in the often small wetlands where populations are known to persist over long time periods. Photo by Lewis Hakam.

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Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 8d

If you know students (or mentors) impacted by the #GRFP eligibility changes, please share this petition with them - we could use signatures and comments!

bsky.app/profile/jaso...

Jason Williams @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social · 8d

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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Lauren Kuehne @omfishient.bsky.social · 8d

If you know students (or mentors) impacted by the #GRFP eligibility changes, please share this petition with them - we could use signatures and comments!

bsky.app/profile/jaso...

Jason Williams @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social · 8d

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/