Sarah Loebman
@sloebman.bsky.social
Astrophysics faculty, diversity, equity, & inclusion enthusiast, passionate about Big Data and the Milky Way.
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
periodic reminder of the existence of Atkinson Hyperlegible, a free font available from the Braille Institute designed to improve readability for people with low vision
I use it in talks because it's pretty and also because, as an audience member, I am perpetually squinting at people's slides
I use it in talks because it's pretty and also because, as an audience member, I am perpetually squinting at people's slides
Atkinson Hyperlegible Font - Braille Institute
Read easier with Atkinson Hyperlegible Font, crafted for low-vision readers. Download for free and enjoy clear letters and numbers on your computer!
www.brailleinstitute.org
November 17, 2025 at 4:19 AM
periodic reminder of the existence of Atkinson Hyperlegible, a free font available from the Braille Institute designed to improve readability for people with low vision
I use it in talks because it's pretty and also because, as an audience member, I am perpetually squinting at people's slides
I use it in talks because it's pretty and also because, as an audience member, I am perpetually squinting at people's slides
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
If any of you fine folks are planetarians in (or want to be in) mid-Michigan, the Abrams Planetarium is hiring a full-time-staff position for the first time in 11 years!! Come work with the astro, scicomm, and informal ed folks at MSU!! 🔭 🧪 (reskeets welcome) careers.msu.edu/jobs/educati...
Educational Program Coordinator II - East Lansing, Michigan, United States
Position Summary
The program coordinator will maintain the planetarium, present live shows, and create new planetarium visualizations. In addition, this position will assist customers, assist in educa...
careers.msu.edu
September 29, 2025 at 4:21 PM
If any of you fine folks are planetarians in (or want to be in) mid-Michigan, the Abrams Planetarium is hiring a full-time-staff position for the first time in 11 years!! Come work with the astro, scicomm, and informal ed folks at MSU!! 🔭 🧪 (reskeets welcome) careers.msu.edu/jobs/educati...
Merced, CA this morning. #MorningWalk
September 11, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Merced, CA this morning. #MorningWalk
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
This scientific visualization takes viewers on a journey to a glittering young star cluster called Pismis 24. #NASAWebb captured this fantastical scene in the heart of the Lobster Nebula, approximately 5,500 light-years from Earth. 🔭 🧪
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
September 9, 2025 at 2:39 PM
This scientific visualization takes viewers on a journey to a glittering young star cluster called Pismis 24. #NASAWebb captured this fantastical scene in the heart of the Lobster Nebula, approximately 5,500 light-years from Earth. 🔭 🧪
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
You have just 3 weeks to object to the Roadless rule rollback.
Link to USDA public comments here:
Link to USDA public comments here:
You Have Just 3 Weeks to Object to the Roadless Rule Rollback, Which Will Affect 45 Million Wild Acres Across the U.S.
The Trump administration just opened a three-week comment period for revoking the Roadless Rule, which keeps wilderness intact.
www.outdoorlife.com
August 30, 2025 at 12:06 PM
You have just 3 weeks to object to the Roadless rule rollback.
Link to USDA public comments here:
Link to USDA public comments here:
Our wonderful dog, Captain Fluff, through a series of unfortunate events got a sunburn 1.5 months ago. To aid in his skin recovering, our vet has been giving him periodic laser treatment, and Fluff has to wear goggles for the treatment. He *loves* the experience so much. Our vet happily shared this!
July 29, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Our wonderful dog, Captain Fluff, through a series of unfortunate events got a sunburn 1.5 months ago. To aid in his skin recovering, our vet has been giving him periodic laser treatment, and Fluff has to wear goggles for the treatment. He *loves* the experience so much. Our vet happily shared this!
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
Are you from one of these states? Then we need your help to save American science!
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be marking up the President's Budget Request for science on Wednesday. People have been saying the proposed cuts "decimated" US science, but that's wrong: they are apocalyptic
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be marking up the President's Budget Request for science on Wednesday. People have been saying the proposed cuts "decimated" US science, but that's wrong: they are apocalyptic
July 7, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Are you from one of these states? Then we need your help to save American science!
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be marking up the President's Budget Request for science on Wednesday. People have been saying the proposed cuts "decimated" US science, but that's wrong: they are apocalyptic
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be marking up the President's Budget Request for science on Wednesday. People have been saying the proposed cuts "decimated" US science, but that's wrong: they are apocalyptic
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
My latest for American Scientist Magazine helps give scientists the tools to fight back against politicized charges that our research is silly or pointless- tools that will work whether you’re asked “why are we funding this” from your asshole uncle at Thanksgiving or an asshole US Senator.
🧪🌎
🧪🌎
“Why Are We Funding This?”
Long-standing myths about “silly science” have contributed to the reckless slashing of government-supported research.
www.americanscientist.org
June 17, 2025 at 9:47 PM
My latest for American Scientist Magazine helps give scientists the tools to fight back against politicized charges that our research is silly or pointless- tools that will work whether you’re asked “why are we funding this” from your asshole uncle at Thanksgiving or an asshole US Senator.
🧪🌎
🧪🌎
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
🔭 Friendly advice for astronomers in the US and Chile--if you are excited to access @vrubinobs.bsky.social Data Preview 1 on Monday, request your account *now*--it has to get approved by a human. For best results use your university single-sign on, if available.
rsp.lsst.io/guides/getti...
rsp.lsst.io/guides/getti...
Getting an account on the RSP
Before getting started: Understand whether you have Rubin data rights.- Rubin data rights are required in order to hold an account in the Rubin Science Platform., All scientists and students affili...
rsp.lsst.io
June 27, 2025 at 12:06 AM
🔭 Friendly advice for astronomers in the US and Chile--if you are excited to access @vrubinobs.bsky.social Data Preview 1 on Monday, request your account *now*--it has to get approved by a human. For best results use your university single-sign on, if available.
rsp.lsst.io/guides/getti...
rsp.lsst.io/guides/getti...
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
Experience NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory’s Cosmic Treasure Chest with sound!🎶
Just as an image conveys data visually, sonification conveys data with sound. No two people will explore Rubin’s images the same, & no two listening experiences will be the same. 🔭🧪
skyviewer.app/skysynth
Just as an image conveys data visually, sonification conveys data with sound. No two people will explore Rubin’s images the same, & no two listening experiences will be the same. 🔭🧪
skyviewer.app/skysynth
June 25, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Experience NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory’s Cosmic Treasure Chest with sound!🎶
Just as an image conveys data visually, sonification conveys data with sound. No two people will explore Rubin’s images the same, & no two listening experiences will be the same. 🔭🧪
skyviewer.app/skysynth
Just as an image conveys data visually, sonification conveys data with sound. No two people will explore Rubin’s images the same, & no two listening experiences will be the same. 🔭🧪
skyviewer.app/skysynth
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
From Amaya Sinha @astroamaya.bsky.social : Stars in binaries can have very unusual evolutionary paths, which can also affect their chemistry! Today’s paper takes a look at one such peculiarity: Mass transfer, and it’s resultant heavy element enhancement. 🔭✨☄️
astrobites.org/2025/06/23/l...
astrobites.org/2025/06/23/l...
Let’s Ce(rium) What’s Up With Mass Transfer!
Stars in binaries can have very unusual evolutionary paths, which can also affect their chemistry! Today's paper takes a look at one such peculiarity: Mass transfer, and it's resultant heavy element e...
astrobites.org
June 25, 2025 at 4:13 AM
From Amaya Sinha @astroamaya.bsky.social : Stars in binaries can have very unusual evolutionary paths, which can also affect their chemistry! Today’s paper takes a look at one such peculiarity: Mass transfer, and it’s resultant heavy element enhancement. 🔭✨☄️
astrobites.org/2025/06/23/l...
astrobites.org/2025/06/23/l...
Feeling so moved 💫
This 3,000-piece LEGO Milky Way—complete with our solar system’s location + a LEGO Gaia telescope—was assembled + gifted to me by Steven Umbarger, an amazing UC Merced graduating senior heading to UMich for his PhD with fellow LEGO lover Eric Bell. I’m so grateful. 💙
This 3,000-piece LEGO Milky Way—complete with our solar system’s location + a LEGO Gaia telescope—was assembled + gifted to me by Steven Umbarger, an amazing UC Merced graduating senior heading to UMich for his PhD with fellow LEGO lover Eric Bell. I’m so grateful. 💙
May 9, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Feeling so moved 💫
This 3,000-piece LEGO Milky Way—complete with our solar system’s location + a LEGO Gaia telescope—was assembled + gifted to me by Steven Umbarger, an amazing UC Merced graduating senior heading to UMich for his PhD with fellow LEGO lover Eric Bell. I’m so grateful. 💙
This 3,000-piece LEGO Milky Way—complete with our solar system’s location + a LEGO Gaia telescope—was assembled + gifted to me by Steven Umbarger, an amazing UC Merced graduating senior heading to UMich for his PhD with fellow LEGO lover Eric Bell. I’m so grateful. 💙
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
This is a terrible budget proposal for NASA. While some cuts are justifiable, the largest part of the $5B cut comes out of space science including eliminating funding for "low-priority" climate monitoring satellites. Eliminating climate change research funding doesn't make the problem go away.
May 2, 2025 at 5:17 PM
This is a terrible budget proposal for NASA. While some cuts are justifiable, the largest part of the $5B cut comes out of space science including eliminating funding for "low-priority" climate monitoring satellites. Eliminating climate change research funding doesn't make the problem go away.
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
NASA’s science programs are facing what experts are calling an “extinction-level event” under Trump’s proposed budget.
From climate monitoring to planetary research, entire fields of discovery are on the chopping block.
eos.org/research-and...
From climate monitoring to planetary research, entire fields of discovery are on the chopping block.
eos.org/research-and...
April 29, 2025 at 9:38 PM
NASA’s science programs are facing what experts are calling an “extinction-level event” under Trump’s proposed budget.
From climate monitoring to planetary research, entire fields of discovery are on the chopping block.
eos.org/research-and...
From climate monitoring to planetary research, entire fields of discovery are on the chopping block.
eos.org/research-and...
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
The president's budget proposal cuts billions in funding from the DOE Office of Science, NIST, NASA, and the NSF — but there’s still time to change it. Tell your lawmakers why they should stand up for science using our letter-writing toolkit, targeted to your state: go.aps.org/3RP9EWF
May 2, 2025 at 9:32 PM
The president's budget proposal cuts billions in funding from the DOE Office of Science, NIST, NASA, and the NSF — but there’s still time to change it. Tell your lawmakers why they should stand up for science using our letter-writing toolkit, targeted to your state: go.aps.org/3RP9EWF
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
No matter what comes of the next few years and beyond, I will fight fight fight for those who need me 💪🏼 🏳️⚧️ 🌈 ❤️ 💪🏼
March 9, 2025 at 7:10 PM
No matter what comes of the next few years and beyond, I will fight fight fight for those who need me 💪🏼 🏳️⚧️ 🌈 ❤️ 💪🏼
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
Helpful table to determine how much your University or health system is set to lose if the NIH indirect cap is suddenly lowered to 15%. For SJSU it is $374k which is on the smaller end but devastating considering our other budget issues. datawrapper.dwcdn.net/l0ZqA/8/
Estimated Single Year Loss of NIH Funding if 15% Indirect Cost Rate is Imposed
Based on analysis of 2024 NIH funding data. Sums are totals of losses in funding to programs if indirect costs had been capped at 15%
datawrapper.dwcdn.net
February 9, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Helpful table to determine how much your University or health system is set to lose if the NIH indirect cap is suddenly lowered to 15%. For SJSU it is $374k which is on the smaller end but devastating considering our other budget issues. datawrapper.dwcdn.net/l0ZqA/8/
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
8 years ago @asbmb.bsky.social gave me +18 more trainees a crash course in advocacy for their DC Hill Day. With NIH slashing indirect costs effective immediately, university Govt Affairs teams will be swamped. Here's 10 tips for scientists contacting lawmakers +pics from Denver's 2017 Science March.
February 8, 2025 at 7:24 PM
8 years ago @asbmb.bsky.social gave me +18 more trainees a crash course in advocacy for their DC Hill Day. With NIH slashing indirect costs effective immediately, university Govt Affairs teams will be swamped. Here's 10 tips for scientists contacting lawmakers +pics from Denver's 2017 Science March.
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
Modern-Day Oracles or Bullshit Machines?
Jevin West (@jevinwest.bsky.social) and I have spent the last eight months developing the course on large language models (LLMs) that we think every college freshman needs to take.
thebullshitmachines.com
Jevin West (@jevinwest.bsky.social) and I have spent the last eight months developing the course on large language models (LLMs) that we think every college freshman needs to take.
thebullshitmachines.com
INTRODUCTION
thebullshitmachines.com
February 4, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Modern-Day Oracles or Bullshit Machines?
Jevin West (@jevinwest.bsky.social) and I have spent the last eight months developing the course on large language models (LLMs) that we think every college freshman needs to take.
thebullshitmachines.com
Jevin West (@jevinwest.bsky.social) and I have spent the last eight months developing the course on large language models (LLMs) that we think every college freshman needs to take.
thebullshitmachines.com
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
Fun facts about physics & astronomy, according to the American Institute of Physics (AIP):
Fewer than one quarter of astronomy faculty or instructors, at any rank, are women. Fewer than one in five physics faculty or instructors, at any rank, are women.
(Source links in 3/3)
🔭🧪
1/3
Fewer than one quarter of astronomy faculty or instructors, at any rank, are women. Fewer than one in five physics faculty or instructors, at any rank, are women.
(Source links in 3/3)
🔭🧪
1/3
January 29, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Fun facts about physics & astronomy, according to the American Institute of Physics (AIP):
Fewer than one quarter of astronomy faculty or instructors, at any rank, are women. Fewer than one in five physics faculty or instructors, at any rank, are women.
(Source links in 3/3)
🔭🧪
1/3
Fewer than one quarter of astronomy faculty or instructors, at any rank, are women. Fewer than one in five physics faculty or instructors, at any rank, are women.
(Source links in 3/3)
🔭🧪
1/3
All of this thread is amazing, but the intense joy on Animal's face, wayward gaze on Snuffleupagus', and the come hither look on Gonzo really made me happy.
i’m just photoshopping muppets onto the cover of harper’s bazaar: thread
January 25, 2025 at 3:44 PM
All of this thread is amazing, but the intense joy on Animal's face, wayward gaze on Snuffleupagus', and the come hither look on Gonzo really made me happy.
Reposted by Sarah Loebman
Nice piece on @karenlmasters.bsky.social's work at Haverford: "Teach for the Stars." (Came out a few weeks ago, was just featured in the Haverford Headlines email.)
www.haverford.edu/college-comm...
www.haverford.edu/college-comm...
Teach for the Stars
For her latest book, Professor of Astronomy and Physics Karen Masters compiled a reading list of the best books in—and about—the universe.
www.haverford.edu
December 23, 2024 at 5:24 PM
Nice piece on @karenlmasters.bsky.social's work at Haverford: "Teach for the Stars." (Came out a few weeks ago, was just featured in the Haverford Headlines email.)
www.haverford.edu/college-comm...
www.haverford.edu/college-comm...
Astronomy Hive Mind:
Is there a journal devoted to reproducibility in astronomy? I'm trying to get the lay of the land, so to speak. Any thoughts or feedback would be appreciated!
Is there a journal devoted to reproducibility in astronomy? I'm trying to get the lay of the land, so to speak. Any thoughts or feedback would be appreciated!
August 16, 2024 at 2:47 PM
Astronomy Hive Mind:
Is there a journal devoted to reproducibility in astronomy? I'm trying to get the lay of the land, so to speak. Any thoughts or feedback would be appreciated!
Is there a journal devoted to reproducibility in astronomy? I'm trying to get the lay of the land, so to speak. Any thoughts or feedback would be appreciated!
Not a bad way to wait for kid karate to be done. Enjoying "The Last Stargazers" by @emsque.bsky.social quite a bit!
July 18, 2024 at 1:59 AM
Not a bad way to wait for kid karate to be done. Enjoying "The Last Stargazers" by @emsque.bsky.social quite a bit!
Proud parent moment: in the car, 9 year old daughter called out that every pop song that has played is a sappy love song. "Don't the girls singing have anything better to worry about?" Then she asked me to put on Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill (perfect antidote), & we sang along loudly all the way home.
July 17, 2024 at 1:41 AM
Proud parent moment: in the car, 9 year old daughter called out that every pop song that has played is a sappy love song. "Don't the girls singing have anything better to worry about?" Then she asked me to put on Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill (perfect antidote), & we sang along loudly all the way home.