@ljrissler
Evolutionary Biologist | @DEB @NSF | Fighter for Science and Scientists | Former Prof of Bio @Univ AL, Postdoc @UC Berkeley, PhD @UVA | More than just science, but science is my love (views always my own)
Excited to share a new paper written by a AAAS Policy Fellow I mentor, Dr. Lisa Walsh.
“This review synthesizes literature on fieldwork safety across scientific disciplines, highlighting four facets of safety for leaders and researchers to address: physical, social, financial, and psychological.”
“At NSF, the net reduction of 205 STEM Ph.D.s between 1 January and 30 November constituted 40% of its total pre-Trump Ph.D. workforce of 517, by far the largest percentage at any agency. STEM Ph.D.s also make up a larger percentage of the total workforce at NSF than at any other agency…”.
NSF building on Eisenhower Av. HUD now owns.
Destroying the NSF mural in the foyer. Of the Eisenhower building.
The National Science Foundation sign on our Eisenhower Av building is now gone.
The NSF mural in the foyer is removed and torn off in sheets.
We were supposed to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the agency in May 2025. That never happened.
News to me:
“The National Science Foundation will be breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado," Russ Vought, … said in a statement to USA TODAY. "This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country.”
Boxing up the NSF at Eisenhower Av for the forced relocation. Boxes have “Details Matter” signage.
NSF
- Forced reorg
- POs down ~ 40% (DRP, most rotators not renewed, retirements)
- Forced move (and we have to pack and clean) to a building with no furniture, little to no conference space for panels, inadequate 🛜, …)
I personally love the boxes they gave us for packing.
“Details matter” 🙃
Golden Retriever puppy in owner’s lap.
Golden Retriever puppy
One bright light of 2025 - Cyrus, our new addition. He joins Asa, my beloved golden who was diagnosed with cancer in June.
Isn’t he a cutie?
All federal employees took an oath to the constitution. I’ve worked with many leaders across multiple agencies, including the military. It’s our duty and an honor to defend the constitution. We believe in America and the principles that made this country special. The oath demands we protect it.
Ha! Hope you’re doing well.
NSF is open again!
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
As one of those federal employees, I couldn’t agree more.
“Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.”
Way to go, Virginia!
Spanberger wins!
“So basically, we swear we’re going to follow Trump’s policies, which is ridiculous,” the HHS employee, who was granted anonymity, told the outlet.
Alexandria VA No Kings! Sign
Amphifa sign
Old Town Alexandria
We were told this morning that NSF will override our out of office emails with their own generic one, so forget what I said. ☹️
NSF’s doors will be closed at 1:30 pm today. While you may be able to submit things, there will be no staff to process anything. In fact it is illegal for us to even open our work computers or email during a shutdown. A very few rotators may be able to communicate, so check out of office responses.
Economic loss from the White House's NSF FY 2026 Proposed Budget
New from #SCIMaP - analysis of the White House’s Proposed FY 2026 National Science Foundation Budget.
Take-home: Slashing NSF by >50% will lead to ~$11 billion in economic loss and extensive job loss and reduced training opportunities in communities nationwide.
Report: osf.io/e8rnc
a 🧵
There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge. Isaac Asimov
My quote of the day
Congratulations! ❤️
If there’s one thing that I have learned from engaging with primary sources, it is that people in the past weren’t smarter or more principled than we are today they just weren’t drowned in omnipresent propaganda and/or prosperous enough to be detached from material conditions
Think how I feel taking conflicts of interest and ethics training when I work for the executive branch.
“This Executive Order is nothing short of obscene," said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). "In what world does Donald Trump think that Americans want political appointees – who, need I remind the President, are unelected bureaucrats – making decisions on what science gets funded?”
“Federal workers can hold prayer circles with members of the public and tell colleagues to rethink their religious beliefs, according to new guidance the Trump administration released...” 🤯
Well as long as I can tell people to rethink their religious beliefs, I’m good. Thanks for the reminder.
NSF’s Union President epitomizes moral leadership. I’m proud to have him as a colleague and friend.
The best week of my summers is spent doing this grant workshop, sometimes in VA and sometimes in CO. It’s always filled with amazing people, and I am inspired by you!
Letter to Representative Lofgren - Appeal to Defend Civil Service Protections and the Mission of the NSF
“More than 140 employees of the National Science Foundation have signed a letter denouncing what they described as efforts to undermine one of the country’s main science funding agencies. … Out of fear of retaliation, all but one of the employees’ signatures are redacted.”
As in it’s worse than you think.
Today!
Started the day by reading the Declaration of Independence.
Happy 4th - the original No Kings Day 🇺🇸
