Sam McKagan
@sam-mckagan.bsky.social
Physics education researcher. Director of PhysPort, Living Physics Portal, and Energy and Equity Portal. Editorial Director of Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3).
Reposted by Sam McKagan
BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.
July 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.
Reposted by Sam McKagan
🥳 UPDATE (good): NSF's website now says that, effective today, it's restoring these subset of terminated NSF awards.
Applies to 114 NSF awards to 45 institutions that had U of California researchers as project leaders.
www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
Applies to 114 NSF awards to 45 institutions that had U of California researchers as project leaders.
www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
June 30, 2025 at 7:59 PM
🥳 UPDATE (good): NSF's website now says that, effective today, it's restoring these subset of terminated NSF awards.
Applies to 114 NSF awards to 45 institutions that had U of California researchers as project leaders.
www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
Applies to 114 NSF awards to 45 institutions that had U of California researchers as project leaders.
www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
Reposted by Sam McKagan
Yesterday's Supreme Court decision on nationwide injunctions is one of the worst of 2025 so far.
Yet, these tools still exist:
1️⃣ More class-action lawsuits
2️⃣ More plaintiffs joining
3️⃣ Faster final judgements on the merits
4️⃣ Arguments about "complete relief"
🧵 Using science funding as example...
Yet, these tools still exist:
1️⃣ More class-action lawsuits
2️⃣ More plaintiffs joining
3️⃣ Faster final judgements on the merits
4️⃣ Arguments about "complete relief"
🧵 Using science funding as example...
a yellow minion wearing red boxing gloves is standing in a boxing ring .
Alt: A yellow minion wearing red boxing gloves is standing in a boxing ring .
media.tenor.com
June 28, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Yesterday's Supreme Court decision on nationwide injunctions is one of the worst of 2025 so far.
Yet, these tools still exist:
1️⃣ More class-action lawsuits
2️⃣ More plaintiffs joining
3️⃣ Faster final judgements on the merits
4️⃣ Arguments about "complete relief"
🧵 Using science funding as example...
Yet, these tools still exist:
1️⃣ More class-action lawsuits
2️⃣ More plaintiffs joining
3️⃣ Faster final judgements on the merits
4️⃣ Arguments about "complete relief"
🧵 Using science funding as example...
I am proud to work for an organization (AAPT) that is part of this awesome lawsuit: democracyforward.org/updates/coal...
Coalition Files Suit Challenging DOGE Attacks on Congressionally-Approved STEM Programs - Democracy Forward
democracyforward.org
June 18, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I am proud to work for an organization (AAPT) that is part of this awesome lawsuit: democracyforward.org/updates/coal...
Reposted by Sam McKagan
For those with despair about today's extreme proposed funding cuts for NIH, NSF, NASA, NOAA, etc... remember:
CONGRESS 👏 SETS 👏 BUDGET 👏 LEVELS
Today's news is simply just the President's **request**.
Tell your elected representatives to REJECT this assault on science and scientific training.
CONGRESS 👏 SETS 👏 BUDGET 👏 LEVELS
Today's news is simply just the President's **request**.
Tell your elected representatives to REJECT this assault on science and scientific training.
NIH was the most extreme:
Trump in 2017: "Please cut NIH's budget by -22%" (yellow bars below)
Republican House: "Nah health research is important...let's increase it by +3%!"
Republican Senate: "How about +6%??"
Final Congress: "Actually...let's do +9%!!"
ww2.aip.org/fyi/fy2025-n...
Trump in 2017: "Please cut NIH's budget by -22%" (yellow bars below)
Republican House: "Nah health research is important...let's increase it by +3%!"
Republican Senate: "How about +6%??"
Final Congress: "Actually...let's do +9%!!"
ww2.aip.org/fyi/fy2025-n...
May 2, 2025 at 6:34 PM
For those with despair about today's extreme proposed funding cuts for NIH, NSF, NASA, NOAA, etc... remember:
CONGRESS 👏 SETS 👏 BUDGET 👏 LEVELS
Today's news is simply just the President's **request**.
Tell your elected representatives to REJECT this assault on science and scientific training.
CONGRESS 👏 SETS 👏 BUDGET 👏 LEVELS
Today's news is simply just the President's **request**.
Tell your elected representatives to REJECT this assault on science and scientific training.
Reposted by Sam McKagan
🧪 What the f is going on with NSF right now??? 🚨🚨🚨
There's been so many NSF updates within the past 48 hours that it's hard to keep track.
It feels like an onslaught. It *is* an onslaught. But it's still vital to remain focused, organized, and strategic.
So here's my recap of past 48 hours...
There's been so many NSF updates within the past 48 hours that it's hard to keep track.
It feels like an onslaught. It *is* an onslaught. But it's still vital to remain focused, organized, and strategic.
So here's my recap of past 48 hours...
a man is holding his head with his eyes closed and the words focus focus focus behind him .
Alt: A man is holding his head with his eyes closed and the words focus focus focus behind him .
media.tenor.com
May 2, 2025 at 6:04 PM
🧪 What the f is going on with NSF right now??? 🚨🚨🚨
There's been so many NSF updates within the past 48 hours that it's hard to keep track.
It feels like an onslaught. It *is* an onslaught. But it's still vital to remain focused, organized, and strategic.
So here's my recap of past 48 hours...
There's been so many NSF updates within the past 48 hours that it's hard to keep track.
It feels like an onslaught. It *is* an onslaught. But it's still vital to remain focused, organized, and strategic.
So here's my recap of past 48 hours...
Reposted by Sam McKagan
NEW: We (mostly @noamross.net) launched a website to shine a brighter light on terminated NIH and NSF grants.
grant-watch.us
It links to our NIH & NSF trackers, grant info submission forms, and other info. We'll also add new analyses soon.
Check it out and let us know what else you'd like to see.
grant-watch.us
It links to our NIH & NSF trackers, grant info submission forms, and other info. We'll also add new analyses soon.
Check it out and let us know what else you'd like to see.
Grant Watch
grant-watch.us
April 30, 2025 at 4:19 AM
NEW: We (mostly @noamross.net) launched a website to shine a brighter light on terminated NIH and NSF grants.
grant-watch.us
It links to our NIH & NSF trackers, grant info submission forms, and other info. We'll also add new analyses soon.
Check it out and let us know what else you'd like to see.
grant-watch.us
It links to our NIH & NSF trackers, grant info submission forms, and other info. We'll also add new analyses soon.
Check it out and let us know what else you'd like to see.
Reposted by Sam McKagan
🚨 Attention NSF folks with terminated grants!
This guide on filing appeals is for another agency (NEH), but has a lot of helpful general tips that also apply to NSF.
Loved this point on *why* you should appeal. I'll add: it gets you in a head space for arguments to advance elsewhere too.
This guide on filing appeals is for another agency (NEH), but has a lot of helpful general tips that also apply to NSF.
Loved this point on *why* you should appeal. I'll add: it gets you in a head space for arguments to advance elsewhere too.
April 28, 2025 at 5:09 PM
🚨 Attention NSF folks with terminated grants!
This guide on filing appeals is for another agency (NEH), but has a lot of helpful general tips that also apply to NSF.
Loved this point on *why* you should appeal. I'll add: it gets you in a head space for arguments to advance elsewhere too.
This guide on filing appeals is for another agency (NEH), but has a lot of helpful general tips that also apply to NSF.
Loved this point on *why* you should appeal. I'll add: it gets you in a head space for arguments to advance elsewhere too.
Reposted by Sam McKagan
Shout out to all the hard working program officers and administration staff holding on at the NSF (and other federal agencies). Your work is appreciated and more meaningful with every passing day.
a woman is making a peace sign with her hand and the words `` stay strong '' behind her .
Alt: a woman is making a peace sign with her hand and the words `` stay strong '' behind her .
media.tenor.com
April 26, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Shout out to all the hard working program officers and administration staff holding on at the NSF (and other federal agencies). Your work is appreciated and more meaningful with every passing day.
Reposted by Sam McKagan
University leaders need to understand: they are holding INCREDIBLY good cards.
It is so rare in today's polarized era to have the support of 70+ percent of the public against the Trump admiministration on anything. Universities have that—AND winning legal arguments.
It is so rare in today's polarized era to have the support of 70+ percent of the public against the Trump admiministration on anything. Universities have that—AND winning legal arguments.
April 27, 2025 at 5:29 AM
University leaders need to understand: they are holding INCREDIBLY good cards.
It is so rare in today's polarized era to have the support of 70+ percent of the public against the Trump admiministration on anything. Universities have that—AND winning legal arguments.
It is so rare in today's polarized era to have the support of 70+ percent of the public against the Trump admiministration on anything. Universities have that—AND winning legal arguments.
Reposted by Sam McKagan
⛔ NIH ended ALL of my grants mid-project, given LGBTQ health focus 🏳️🌈
⚖️ So what am I doing? Suing RFK, Jr.
As one team member shared in this story👇: "The threats to our work don’t just make me fear for my career — they make me fear for my safety.“
#SaveDemocracy #SupportScience #PublicHealth
⚖️ So what am I doing? Suing RFK, Jr.
As one team member shared in this story👇: "The threats to our work don’t just make me fear for my career — they make me fear for my safety.“
#SaveDemocracy #SupportScience #PublicHealth
Harvard Medical researcher sues NIH for cutting grant to study LGBTQ mental health
"This is not just an attack on the LGBTQ community — it is a blow to the integrity of science and the health of every American," a Harvard Medical School associate professor studying the mental…
www.masslive.com
April 27, 2025 at 2:24 PM
⛔ NIH ended ALL of my grants mid-project, given LGBTQ health focus 🏳️🌈
⚖️ So what am I doing? Suing RFK, Jr.
As one team member shared in this story👇: "The threats to our work don’t just make me fear for my career — they make me fear for my safety.“
#SaveDemocracy #SupportScience #PublicHealth
⚖️ So what am I doing? Suing RFK, Jr.
As one team member shared in this story👇: "The threats to our work don’t just make me fear for my career — they make me fear for my safety.“
#SaveDemocracy #SupportScience #PublicHealth
Reposted by Sam McKagan
I have work to do but I'm distracted by watching US scientific progress & leadership being irreversibly undermined because a few unelected malcontents are penalizing researchers for following legal requirements set out by congressional orders to augment basic research with benefits to society.
February 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I have work to do but I'm distracted by watching US scientific progress & leadership being irreversibly undermined because a few unelected malcontents are penalizing researchers for following legal requirements set out by congressional orders to augment basic research with benefits to society.
Reposted by Sam McKagan
Received this e-mail from the NSF this morning.
The webpage it directs you to for submitting questions doesn’t give you any way to receive a response; when you submit a question it says “Your response has been submitted” and claims that they’ll put together a FAQ page.
The webpage it directs you to for submitting questions doesn’t give you any way to receive a response; when you submit a question it says “Your response has been submitted” and claims that they’ll put together a FAQ page.
January 29, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Received this e-mail from the NSF this morning.
The webpage it directs you to for submitting questions doesn’t give you any way to receive a response; when you submit a question it says “Your response has been submitted” and claims that they’ll put together a FAQ page.
The webpage it directs you to for submitting questions doesn’t give you any way to receive a response; when you submit a question it says “Your response has been submitted” and claims that they’ll put together a FAQ page.
More details about Trump's reversal of the spending freeze: The reversal was due to pressure from Republican lawmakers who didn't like the chaos. Schumer now urging Republican senators to vote against Trump’s nominee for the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought.
thehill.com/homenews/511...
thehill.com/homenews/511...
thehill.com
January 29, 2025 at 7:29 PM
More details about Trump's reversal of the spending freeze: The reversal was due to pressure from Republican lawmakers who didn't like the chaos. Schumer now urging Republican senators to vote against Trump’s nominee for the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought.
thehill.com/homenews/511...
thehill.com/homenews/511...
"The White House budget office on Wednesday rescinded an order freezing federal grants, according to a copy of a new memo obtained by The Washington Post, after the administration’s move to halt spending earlier this week provoked a backlash."
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Trump White House reverses course, rescinds freeze on federal grants
The reversal followed criticism of the sudden freeze by the White House budget office.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 29, 2025 at 6:18 PM
"The White House budget office on Wednesday rescinded an order freezing federal grants, according to a copy of a new memo obtained by The Washington Post, after the administration’s move to halt spending earlier this week provoked a backlash."
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Please call or write to your senators and representatives and ask them to speak up about the illegal and unconstitutional impoundment of federal funds. My representatives are Democrats, but contacting Republicans is even more important.
letterstothepeopleincharge.wordpress.com/2025/01/28/i...
letterstothepeopleincharge.wordpress.com/2025/01/28/i...
illegal impoundment of federal funding
Sent this to my senators Murray and Cantwell and my congresswoman Jayapal: Dear Representative, I am physics education researcher. I conduct research on how physics teachers thinking about their te…
letterstothepeopleincharge.wordpress.com
January 28, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Please call or write to your senators and representatives and ask them to speak up about the illegal and unconstitutional impoundment of federal funds. My representatives are Democrats, but contacting Republicans is even more important.
letterstothepeopleincharge.wordpress.com/2025/01/28/i...
letterstothepeopleincharge.wordpress.com/2025/01/28/i...
I'm hearing reports that National Science Foundation review panels were canceled this morning while "the agency is assessing the impacts of last week’s Executive Orders on our grantmaking."
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
bsky.app/search?q=nsf
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
bsky.app/search?q=nsf
January 27, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I'm hearing reports that National Science Foundation review panels were canceled this morning while "the agency is assessing the impacts of last week’s Executive Orders on our grantmaking."
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
bsky.app/search?q=nsf
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
bsky.app/search?q=nsf