Jackie Caplan-Auerbach's Avatar

Jackie Caplan-Auerbach

@geophysichick

Seismologist, volcanologist, professor, and hazards junkie. Soapbox stander. Opinions are my own but I'm happy to share. She/her.

3,725
Followers
435
Following
859
Posts
24.07.2023
Joined
Posts Following

Latest posts by Jackie Caplan-Auerbach @geophysichick

Preview
A Sweet Tradition: Whitman Sends Walla Walla Sweet Onions to New Students Every summer, new Whitman College students are welcomed with a gift of Walla Walla Sweet Onions in a tradition that has been enjoyed by Whitties since 1992.

A Whitman College tradition! www.whitman.edu/whitman-stor...

24.02.2026 00:38 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

If you happen to be in Memphis, do NOT miss the Civil Rights museum. It's located in the Lorraine motel, where Martin Luther King Jr was shot, and it's immensely powerful.

21.02.2026 23:31 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

MLK Jr was right: the long arm of the universe bends towards justice. But friends, we have to make it bend. Without action--brave, bold, action--it does not bend.

21.02.2026 23:31 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

And we are at risk of people not understanding this because the government is trying to erase this history. It is critical that we keep it alive. Restore the signage at national parks. Restore the flags at Stonewall.

21.02.2026 23:31 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I look at the US today--the obliteration of the rights of trans people, the brutal treatment of immigrants, the blatant killings by government officials of protesters. Friends, we've been here before.

21.02.2026 23:31 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Governments and "law enforcement" agencies ignoring court rulings they dislike.

21.02.2026 23:31 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Attempts to restrict voting to a privileged few

21.02.2026 23:31 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Pardoning criminals whose actions support the status quo.

Court rulings that clearly violate the Constitution.

People denied fundamental rights because is who they are.

21.02.2026 23:31 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I just visited the National Civil Rights museum in Memphis and holy shit.

Terrifying to see how history is repeating itself.

21.02.2026 23:31 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I vaguely remember Watergate (I was 7) but never learned about it in school. Had to read All The President's Men to really understand it. My recollection is that all of my US history classes went from pilgrims to industrial revolution and then started over again.

21.02.2026 23:19 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I used to emphasize the importance of putting units on answers by asking my students "If I say that I'm 61, am I telling the truth?", since I'm 61 inches tall. Students used to look shocked and puzzled when I asked, assuming I was asking about my age.

They now consider it and slowly nod.

07.02.2026 21:12 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Assistant Professor in Cognitive Psychology, Tenure-Track Position

The Department of Psychology at Western Washington University seeks applicants for a tenure track Assistant Professor position with expertise in applied cognitive psychology to begin September 16, 2026.

This is an assistant professor position in applied cognitive psychology. The position is open with respect to area of expertise. Possible applied topics in cognitive psychology might include, but are not limited to: culture and cognition, memory, human-computer interaction, eyewitness memory, learning and education, aging, embodied cognition, social cognition, and judgment and decision-making concerning current social issues. We are seeking candidates who have experience with equitable and inclusive teaching, mentorship, and research practices and share a strong commitment to promoting the success of students from historically underrepresented groups. The candidate will have teaching experience commensurate with their career level. They will be required to teach courses at the undergraduate level in cognitive psychology and research methods and statistics. The candidate should also be prepared to teach a cognitive course in a master’s level program. Responsibilities also include establishing and maintaining an active research program that involves undergraduate and graduate students, as well as service activities as appropriate. Review of files will begin on February 18th, 2026. 

More information at: https://hr.wwu.edu/careers-faculty?job=502873

Assistant Professor in Cognitive Psychology, Tenure-Track Position The Department of Psychology at Western Washington University seeks applicants for a tenure track Assistant Professor position with expertise in applied cognitive psychology to begin September 16, 2026. This is an assistant professor position in applied cognitive psychology. The position is open with respect to area of expertise. Possible applied topics in cognitive psychology might include, but are not limited to: culture and cognition, memory, human-computer interaction, eyewitness memory, learning and education, aging, embodied cognition, social cognition, and judgment and decision-making concerning current social issues. We are seeking candidates who have experience with equitable and inclusive teaching, mentorship, and research practices and share a strong commitment to promoting the success of students from historically underrepresented groups. The candidate will have teaching experience commensurate with their career level. They will be required to teach courses at the undergraduate level in cognitive psychology and research methods and statistics. The candidate should also be prepared to teach a cognitive course in a master’s level program. Responsibilities also include establishing and maintaining an active research program that involves undergraduate and graduate students, as well as service activities as appropriate. Review of files will begin on February 18th, 2026. More information at: https://hr.wwu.edu/careers-faculty?job=502873

Assistant Professor in Cognitive Psychology, Tenure-Track Position at Western Washington University.

This is an assistant professor position in applied cognitive psychology.

Short 🧡 about this position. 1/?

Here is the link with details and for applying: hr.wwu.edu/careers-facu...

28.01.2026 18:39 πŸ‘ 30 πŸ” 36 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 4

One armed goon loses his shit at an observer who's backing up, and then several more armed goons tackle the observer to the ground, and then even more armed goons form a protective shield around the armed goons handcuffing the observer for hurting an armed goon's feelings.

This can't be "reformed"

27.01.2026 15:20 πŸ‘ 5990 πŸ” 2356 πŸ’¬ 279 πŸ“Œ 148
A pit bull mix sleeps in a sunny spot, his head supported by a small speaker.

A pit bull mix sleeps in a sunny spot, his head supported by a small speaker.

Timeline cleanse. The sun is warm, but Titan's head is very heavy.

25.01.2026 22:24 πŸ‘ 245 πŸ” 13 πŸ’¬ 10 πŸ“Œ 1
Post image Post image

Anyone want to rate this translation, as requested?

25.01.2026 21:02 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

ICE has now carried out two summary executions of innocent people in the streets of an American city.

If you work for ICE, there's no denying that's the mission you're supporting now. You don't get to claim in one year or ten or twenty that you didn't know what ICE was doing. You're complicit.

24.01.2026 15:55 πŸ‘ 20860 πŸ” 7056 πŸ’¬ 523 πŸ“Œ 261

ICE is a paramilitary that summarily executes people who dare to protest against them. That is who they are. They cannot be reformed. Everyone who works for them at this point must face consequences.

24.01.2026 16:06 πŸ‘ 234 πŸ” 70 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

The absolute best part of being an educator and scientist is the students I get to mentor. How proud I am of @infrasound.bsky.social who took an undergraduate project and turned it into a scientific career. ❀️

22.01.2026 05:18 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Fabulous thread on aurora generation and forecasting! Check it out and if you're in an affected area, look up in the skies tonight!

19.01.2026 19:45 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Video thumbnail

I can't believe I'm posting this video - but we actually have to have a conversation about the real world implications of America going to war over Greenland.

Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.

11.01.2026 02:44 πŸ‘ 24520 πŸ” 9950 πŸ’¬ 1990 πŸ“Œ 935
Amber Glenn wearing her gold medal after winning the US National Championship Women’s Singles Competition. She is dressed in a black short sequined gown and proudly holding a progress pride flag behind her. There is a gaggle of photographers in front of her.

Amber Glenn wearing her gold medal after winning the US National Championship Women’s Singles Competition. She is dressed in a black short sequined gown and proudly holding a progress pride flag behind her. There is a gaggle of photographers in front of her.

Things are grim right now but as a reminder of who we are and why we fight, this is the US Women’s figuring skating champion.

10.01.2026 23:43 πŸ‘ 18298 πŸ” 3240 πŸ’¬ 103 πŸ“Œ 134

It guess I thought it would be obvious, but this is intended to be (a) a simple model and (b) a bit of social-media based education (based on the first day of a quarter-long undergraduate seismology class). Of course there is oversimplification.

10.01.2026 18:32 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This one is on a motor, so stress is continuous and smooth. Unfortunately it means we can't easily stop the system after a quake, which is what I usually do to give students time to measure the slip. Hence the video--allows them to measure after the fact.

10.01.2026 06:09 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Oh, there's a lot that I skimmed over here, so yes to the need for more detail. Appreciate this, though!

10.01.2026 06:06 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Great point and important correction. Thank you!

10.01.2026 01:21 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Of course! If you need a higher resolution video let me know.

10.01.2026 01:20 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Anyhow, I just love my little multi-brick model, and I love how similar it is to these finite fault models of REAL QUAKES. The brick system was built for me by one of my students years ago and I wanted to share, particularly with those of you who teach about earthquakes.

09.01.2026 23:52 πŸ‘ 24 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0

We don't know how much each spring is stretched. We don't know how much friction is holding things in place. These are not measurable parameters. We just know that small quakes are common and large quakes are rare.

Ultimately, we have to just wait to see what the Earth does.

09.01.2026 23:52 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

But slowly, over time, those springs will stretch again. Sometimes--actually most of the time--we'll get small slip events. Small earthquakes. But they can also fail in a big way.

09.01.2026 23:52 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

You can imagine little spring between those rectangles. Some are really stretched out after that quake, while others were stretched before and have now released a lot of that elastic energy.

09.01.2026 23:52 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0