Maru

Thank you very much!

In an immunocompromised older adult, is there a way to distinguish between sepsis and a flareup of the autoimmune condition? (anca-associated vasculitis)? All regularly tested sources of infection were ruled out.

Saturday in D.C.

Stand Up for Science rally poster March 7th, 1:00 PM at Allegheny Landing in Pittsburgh.

Very excited to be speaking at the @standupforscience.bsky.social rally in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

I am speaking just prior to Dr. Rachel Levine

1/2

Honored to have been elected as a Council Member for AAAS Section Q (Education).

In this role, I will support the AAAS mission to advance science and serve society. Science education leadership matters deeply right now.

@aaas.org

Border Patrol agent's texts after he shot a Chicago woman five times will be released, judge rules The text messages a Border Patrol agent sent to colleagues and family after he shot a Chicago woman five times can be released to the public, a federal judge ruled.

"I fired five rounds, and she had seven holes. Put that in your book, boys.”

That’s Border Patrol agent Charles Exum, texting after shooting U.S. citizen Marimar Martinez—no body cam. He later said he was “proud” of his shooting skills. A federal judge just okayed releasing the texts, 1/2

The Board of Governors decided, unilaterally, that no published textbook in the field of sociology could be used in compliance with the law for an Intro to Sociology class. None. Victor: There's not a single existing textbook on the market that could be used that would qualify under state law? Zachary: Correct. Victor: I'm sorry, that's kind of funny. Like, the absurdity of not a single sociology textbook getting past the censors. I mean, it makes me kind of proud of our colleagues, but...

I do want to shout-out my fellow sociologists, who have collectively created a discipline so woke that not a single one of our introductory textbooks can make it past Florida's censors.

Great work everyone.

Greenland's Cooperation Party: Tillie Martinussen says the people of Greenland flat out say NO to MAGA's bribery & propaganda.

Turns out, it doesn't work on people whose government invested in educating their own citizens. 🙌🏻💪🏼

(Which is exactly why Republicans don't do it) / Pt1

Applications are open for the ACS-GCI Adapt & Implement FMN (Spring 2026), a collaborative space to adapt and implement green chemistry teaching modules with peer support. Apply by Jan 23 → qubeshub.org/community/gr...

#GreenChemistry #ChemEd #FacultyDevelopment

That’s why Faculty Mentoring Networks matter so much to me. As one FMN participant put it:

“[The] FMN is more than a network, it is a living ecosystem of people who believe education can change the world.”

— Flavia Zacconi, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

One of the things I keep learning in my work is that meaningful curricular change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when faculty have time, trust, and community to learn together.

This role connects directly with my leadership at BioQUEST and with my own genomics teaching.

I’m grateful for the invitation and energized to collaborate with GEP colleagues during this next phase of growth.

#Genomics #STEMEducation #HigherEdLeadership

Excited to share some good news: I was invited to join the Board of Directors for the newly established @genomicsed.bsky.social nonprofit. GEP has grown into a national community with real momentum — supporting faculty, expanding access to genomics + bioinformatics, and building equitable CUREs.

A slide titled “What happened to Flint,” with several photos illustrating the water crisis. Images include: a “Before” photo of downtown Flint; a cross-section of a lead pipe with corrosion control; a technician adjusting treatment controls in April 2014; the Flint River; the Flint Water Plant tower; two water samples labeled Flint and Detroit showing stark color differences; a diagram showing chloride-driven corrosion without phosphates; and a beaker of brownish, contaminated water. Text overlays emphasize more chlorination, more ferric chloride, and no phosphates added.

Slide titled “Flint River Restoration” with three photos. Left: the Hamilton Dam, showing water flowing over a concrete spillway. Center: Chevy Commons, a restored green space with walking paths, native plants, and the river running alongside. Right: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and other officials at a podium announcing the creation of Michigan’s 104th state park, a 230-acre project scheduled for completion in 2026. Text on the slide notes the park acreage and 2026 completion date.

There’s work happening now: river restoration, a new state park coming in 2026, and baby-tooth testing to understand historical lead exposure. #EnvironmentalJustice #Sustainability

A slide titled “The Flint Water Crisis” with an infographic explaining how trihalomethanes formed when chlorine disinfectant reacted with organic matter in Flint’s water. The diagram compares corrosion levels in Detroit vs. Flint water, shows phosphate-based corrosion control chemistry, and illustrates pipes with and without phosphates. Bullet points on the left summarize the causes: organic materials not oxidized, chlorine reacting with organics, trihalomethane formation, and no phosphate corrosion control.

Flint wasn’t just a chemistry failure — it was a community crisis.
Huge thanks to @nkingsley.bsky.social for sharing the science, policy story, and his experience living and teaching through it with my Greener by Design class.
#WaterJustice #GreenChemistry

This grant supports next steps in building durable, scalable frameworks for climate-smart teaching — work shaped by ACS-GCI collaborations and national FMNs. More updates soon as we deepen this effort and connect it across higher ed. #GreenChemistry

A dwarf multi-bloom sunflower from my homestead, growing on a single sturdy stalk with bright yellow petals radiating in several directions. The flower is small but vibrant, surrounded by green leaves and soft summer light.

🌱 This season, I’m grateful for the seeds of possibility — including a new one I’m excited to grow.

I’ve received a UNH Sustainability Seed Grant to advance systems-level sustainability education and expand green chemistry pathways across #STEM. #Sustainability

Always a pleasure to discuss the wonders of lignin.

Note: it’s not suggested to hug the big ball of Twine in Cawker City KS. It’s rumored the locals pee on it.

With that said it has over a literal ton of lignin in it.

🌰 Tie-dyeing with acorns and rust
🌿 Transforming lignin (“nature’s plastic”) into new materials
🎨 Blending art, design, and green chemistry

Proof that waste isn’t waste at all — it’s untapped potential.

Slide 9 shared with permission featuring Julian and the largest ball of twine, obviously.

Slide titled ‘Lignin, Nature’s Plastic.’ The slide shows a pile of lignin powder next to a labeled cross-section of a corn cob (chaff/beeswing, woody ring, pith), chemical structures of lignin units and vanillin, and two images on the right: Dr. Julian Silverman standing beside the world’s largest ball of twine, and an SEM microscopic image of lignin globules.

🍂 From acorns to lignin — chemistry, creativity, and a dash of twine.
This week’s Greener by Design guest, @manhattanscientist.bsky.social (SUNY FIT), showed how sustainability can be both brilliant and fun:

#GreenChemistry #Sustainability #STEMEducation #GreenerByDesign

Kicking off a new Adapt Faculty Mentoring Network with @acs.org Green Chemistry Institute this week! 🌱
Eight new participants, eight returning as facilitators—shared leadership in action. 💚
How do you build communities that help people grow into leadership roles?
#GreenChemistry #Community

Ionic Liquids: A Cautionary Tale in Green Design and Lessons Learned YouTube video by Sarah Prescott

Recording here if you want to check it out:
🔗 youtu.be/BmbtCO7pdyM

#GreenChemistry #Teaching #ScienceCommunication #Sustainability #STEMEducation #Chemistry

She kept everyone engaged with examples ranging from Legos and Vicks VapoRub… to QSAR, microwave-assisted synthesis, and yes—even fart smell. That’s how you make chemistry memorable. 🔬✨

We kicked off our Greener by Design guest speaker series with Dr. Meghna Dilip (Worcester State University) and wow — what a talk.

“Ionic Liquids: A Cautionary Tale in Green Design and Lessons Learned” explored both the promise and the pitfalls of ionic liquids.

painted turtle hatchling crawling over rocks and grass

Life’s been busy with fall course prep, but I finally wanted to share this: we got to help at least 7 tiny painted turtle hatchlings cross the road safely after they hatched near our mailbox. 🐢💚 A magical summer moment. #sustainability #wildlife #EverydayJoy

White flowers in the foreground with a small pond behind

Apples need pruning work, ducks are happy with a clearer pond, and I’m grateful for the food + lessons this year. Onward to Maru’s Meadows. 🌱💚

Closeup picture of unripened peaches in small mesh bags on a peach tree

Tried fruit bags on peaches to keep pests out… accidentally hosted an ANT PARTY. 🐜😂 Lesson learned.

Two bowls of peaches on a counter

Peaches were the stars — so many that I had to thin them mid-season. Flash frozen for winter PEACH CRISP (better than apple crisp, fight me). 🍑🔥

Cucumbers and assorted colored tomatoes in pans

This season’s garden experiments had wins, fails, & surprises. Tomatoes thrived this year (drought & all) — heirlooms from local plant sales. Even got some yummy yellow ones! Pickle-palooza: sweet, dill, garlic-dill, & my grandmother’s sour (mustard) pickles. (Only I eat those… but it’s tradition.)

This is truly well said