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Dr. Stepfanie Aguillon 😷

@s-m-aguillon.bsky.social

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Dr. Stepfanie Aguillon 😷 @s-m-aguillon.bsky.social · 26d

The first Aguillon Lab paper is officially out in early view at Evolution!! Led by postdoc @devonderaad.bsky.social, we’ve explored the hybrid zone between black-headed and rose-breasted grosbeaks in the Great Plains. #ornithology #hybridization #speciation #evolution doi.org/10.1093/evol...

Figure 1A from the paper shows the distribution of black-headed (western) and rose-breasted grosbeaks (eastern) throughout North America. Small illustrations of males of each species are shown. Black-headed has a rusty orange breast and black head, while rose-breasted has a small reddish bib with a bright white belly. There is an inset map of South Dakota showing the transect across the hybrid zone

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David Kaye @davidakaye.bsky.social · 12h

i can say with confidence that this is how most faculty senate meetings discussing the 'compact' would go down. it's terrible and seen for what it is - trump's effort to end university autonomy in favor of rw dominance.

faculty get it. the question is whether administrators do.

USC faculty members denounce Trump compact that would shift university to the right

The USC Academic Senate held a special meeting to discuss the Trump administration's education compact, which was presented to the school last week.

www.latimes.com

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Joey Fishkin @fishkin.bsky.social · 3d

I thought I'd put the administration's proposed "compact" with universities in context, so I wrote the blog post below.

It's especially for journalists covering this story!

Many details about how the compact itself works and why the administration has retreated to this strategy.

Balkinization: The Art of Replacing the Law with the Deal

A group blog on constitutional law, theory, and politics

balkin.blogspot.com

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Jeremy BOO! Yoder 🎃💀🕷️ @jbyoder.org · 4d

this is, predictably, some wild reading

Heidi Kitrosser @heidikitrosser.bsky.social · 6d

I just saw a copy. Will send it in a series of screenshots to protect the source.

COMPACT FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION
INTRODUCTION
American higher education is the envy of the world and represents a key strategic benefit for our Nation. In turn, the U.S. university system benefits in a variety of ways from its extraordinary relationship with the U.S. government. These include (i) access to student loans, grant programs, and federal contracts; (ii) funding for research directly or indirectly; (iii) approval of student and other visas in connection with university matriculation and instruction; and (iv) preferential treatment under the tax code. To advance the national interest arising out of this unique relationship, this Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education represents the priorities of the U.S. government in its engagements with universities that benefit from the relationship. Institutions of higher education are free to develop models and values other than those below, if the institution elects to forego federal benefits.
1 – EQUALITY IN ADMISSIONS
Discriminatory admissions processes reflect a fundamental misunderstanding not only of Civil Rights law and the U.S. Constitution, but of the damaging impacts such practices have on individuals and our Nation as a whole. Treating certain groups as categorically incapable of performing — and therefore in need of preferential treatment — perpetuates a dangerous badge of inferiority, destroys confidence, and does nothing to identify or solve the most pressing challenges for aspiring young people.

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Lawprofblawg @lawprofblawg.bsky.social · 5d

I, a University Administrator, am very much interested in signing a vague agreement with someone who has persistently operated in bad faith, breaks agreements, and has dictatorial fantasies.

#Satire

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Brian Soucek @brsoucek.bsky.social · 4d

Strong statement today from UC's Academic Senate:

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AAUP @aaup.org · 4d

UC’s Academic Council calls on the Office of the President & the UC Board of Regents to unequivocally reject governmental demands that compromise institutional autonomy and #academicfreedom.

This is the way.

#DefendHigherEd

Brian Soucek @brsoucek.bsky.social · 4d

Strong statement today from UC's Academic Senate:

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Tanja Slotte @tanjaslotte.bsky.social · Sep 2

*Postdoc in Evolutionary genomics at Stockholm University*
We are recruiting a postdoc for a large interdisciplinary project to investigate evolutionary drivers and genomic consequences of pollen evolution in response to pollination mode shifts in flowering plants. 1/5

su.varbi.com/what:job/job...

Purple pollen visible in a dissected flower of Linum grandiflorum, flowering flax, an insect-pollinated species.

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Esotouric's Secret Los Angeles @esotouric.bsky.social · 5d

South Bay folks, close your windows and mask up. If you're driving, set air to recycle. The Chevron refinery in El Segundo just blew up.

citizen.com/-OacL7_yVyF5...

Massive Fire After Explosion at Refinery in Manhattan Beach

El Segundo - The refinery involved in the blast has been identified as Chevron Products Company in El Segundo.

citizen.com

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Buffalo Bills @buffalobillsnfl.bsky.social · 5d

Ornithology is all about the process.

#GoBills | #BillsMafia

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Erin Biba @erinbiba.bsky.social · 5d

The Bills social media team is unmatched in complete and utter randomness.

Buffalo Bills @buffalobillsnfl.bsky.social · 5d

Ornithology is all about the process.

#GoBills | #BillsMafia

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Lucilla Piccari @lucillapiccari.bsky.social · 5d

Well, it's finally happening
#Pubmed is being defunded 😢

#MedSky #AcademicSky

Dr van Tilburg @drvantilburg.bsky.social · 6d

The Trump administration has stopped funding of PubMed, not considering a vital service.

Your doctor will not know the newest information that affects your health. This will cost lives.

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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 5d

California vows to ‘instantly’ cut funding to universities that cave to Trump ‘compact’

Governor Gavin Newsom urges schools not to sign ‘radical agreement’ to cuts to departments, students and speech Any California universities that sign the Trump administration’s proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” will “instantly” lose their state funding, California governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. The Trump administration on Wednesday offered nine prominent universities, including the University of Southern California, the chance to sign a “compact” that asks the universities to close academic departments that “purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas”, limit the proportion of international undergraduate students to 15% , accept the administration’s definition of gender and ban the consideration of race or sex in hiring and admissions, in exchange for “substantial and meaningful federal grants”. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Sebastian S. Cocioba @atinygreencell.bsky.social · 5d

Evolution be like:

franz @franzanth.bsky.social · Aug 12

just make it exist first
you can make it crab later

a comic in two parts.
part one. text says, just make it exist first. image is a drawing of a circle.
part two. text says, you can make it crab later, but the word crab is scribbled as if it replaced something. image is a drawing of a crab.

footer says: by joabaldwin, based on the comic by growthbyvisuals, then carcinized by franzanth.

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compost is the ghosts of food @compostwitch.bsky.social · 15d

A small fish with the caption "Do you see the minnow fin?" and an arrow to its fin. Then "Yes, comma" and then a box of acetaminophen.

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Michael Rosenberg @mrosenberg.bsky.social · 6d

Attention Academics: The Anthropic settlement includes many academic works. A book I edited is listed and eligible for a claim. If you've ever written or edited a book, check to see if its part of the settlement and make a claim:
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup

Submit a Claim

secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com

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Science Vs @sciencevs.bsky.social · 7d

This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is 🔥

We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪

Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇

open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...

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AAUP-CSU @aaupcsu.bsky.social · 7d

Again and again over the past six months, the AAUP has shown that the key to fighting back against injustice and executive overreach is ... fighting back!
There has never been a better time to join AAUP and help protect free speech at all US Universities. When we unite and fight, we win.

AAUP @aaup.org · 7d

BREAKING: WE WON!!!
💥 💥 💥

Federal Judge William G. Young ruled today in our lawsuit against the Trump administration that the policy of arresting, detaining, & deporting noncitizen students & faculty members for their pro-Palestinian advocacy violates the 1st Amendment.

Full ruling here:

Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law – #261 in American Association of University Professors v. Rubio (D. Mass., 1:25-cv-10685) – CourtListener.com

Judge William G. Young: ORDER entered. FINDINGS OF FACT AND RULINGS OF LAW, PURSUANT TO FED. R. CIV. P. 52(A)(Sonnenberg, Elizabeth) (Additional attachment(s) added on 9/30/2025: # 1 Main Document) (J...

www.courtlistener.com

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Ryan Marino, MD @ryanmarino.bsky.social · 7d

This is why we fund scientists to study things like oyster slobber even if you don’t think it sounds important

Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 9d

⚠️ Chinese researchers have invented bone glue that mimics how oysters stick to surfaces underwater.

The adhesive can reportedly repair orthopedic fractures in 2-3 minutes, even in blood-rich environments, and is bioabsorbable.

interestingengineering.com/science/chin...

China's oyster-inspired 'bone glue' bonds fractures in minutes

A new oyster-inspired Bone-02 adhesive can revolutionize bone repair without metal fasteners.

interestingengineering.com

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Miriam Posner @miriamposner.com · 7d

If this sounds familiar, it’s because faculty are also responsible for the court case that returned to UCLA its NIH and NSF grants. I’m sure administrators were busy with other things.

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Miriam Posner @miriamposner.com · 7d

cucfa.org

Council of UC Faculty Associations – Coordinating the Faculty Associations of the University of California

cucfa.org

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Miriam Posner @miriamposner.com · 7d

If you are UC senate faculty and you have not joined, now is the time. We are just beginning to demonstrate what’s possible when we coordinate our efforts.

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Miriam Posner @miriamposner.com · 7d

Once again, it is *faculty*—not administrators—who brought this case and won. Including UC Faculty Association chapters of the AAUP.

Court Rules in AAUP v Rubio: Trump Admin Violated First Amendment

The AAUP and partners sued to block the Trump administration from carrying out large-scale arrests, detentions, and deportations of noncitizen students and faculty members for ideological reasons.

www.aaup.org

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Dr. Headbutt 🌈🧪 @nicoleackermans.com · 8d

I'm trying to remain polite but... what is this AI anatomy junk!!? A folded brain? Super thick skull? Random brown organs in the head? PLEASE call a biologist. This should never have gotten through review.

AI generated image falsely representing woodpecker brain anatomy

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Dr. Headbutt 🌈🧪 @nicoleackermans.com · 8d

Usually with these types of bio-inspired projects, the engineering is solid but the biological premise is faulty. The engineers don't tend to collaborate with biologists and don't investigate the biology further, perpetuating misconceptions like that of the woodpecker being "immune to brain damage"

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Dr. Headbutt 🌈🧪 @nicoleackermans.com · 8d

A perfect example of why my research is needed. The tagline "woodpeckers don't suffer brain injuries" is not entirely true!
My review on why is out soon! 🧪
newatlas.com/drones/swift...

Crash-proof drone inspired by the head of the woodpecker

Despite the fact that they bang their heads against trees on a daily basis, woodpeckers don't suffer brain injuries. Inspired by the tough-headed birds, scientists have developed a fixed-wing drone th...

newatlas.com

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