I hope UMN joins the Big 10 Mutual Defense Compact and that the coalition decides that if one university in the Compact is under threat, then ALL athletic programs across the Big 10 are paused.

A Community Forum: Free Speech and Academic Freedom at Public Universities An opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to share their perspectives on recent and emerging threats to the core rights of academic freedom and free speech.

I'm really looking forward to this community forum on free speech and academic freedom at public universities, hope to see you there! cla.umn.edu/cscl/news-ev...

Absolutely incredible turn out at MN State Capitol! #HandsOff

Riding the wave of energy from the #handsoff Minnesota rally.

“After the Trump admin threatened to pull hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants and contracts from Columbia U and the U of Pennsylvania last month, Brown was one of the few universities that released a statement in response, saying that it would not compromise on academic freedom.”

Why a small journal’s ‘blueprint for NIH’ may offer clues to the agency's future A paper proposing NIH reforms is circulating in academic circles and within the agency as scientists search for hints of its direction

People who are trying to figure out where the NIH goes in the future are turning to a small, 2 month old journal bc of its connection to the new director, Jay Bhattacharya

As one expert put it: "Is this what Jay thinks? If that’s the case, then we worry" 🧪

www.statnews.com/2025/04/03/a...

NO 🖤

Hey @rfk-junior.bsky.social! Do you want to #makeamericahealthyagain ?

There are a bunch of us who want to help - keep funding research through #nih and we can learn the best ways to promote health and prevent disease.

are there any efforts focused specifically on pushing back on the CDC’s (and likely, all of HHS’s) decision to not collect or process gender identity data? letters, petitions, etc?

#StandUpForScience
#episky
#medsky

the ABCD Study is an incredibly important and incredibly rich source of data on youth health - one of the very few sources of longitudinal, representative data we have. and yes, ABCD assesses queer identities and SDOH. these data must remain public and uncensored

#episky
#StanUpForScience

The institution of Science in America is a public good that equalizes. It brings safety, advancement, protection, answers, cures, and economic benefit.

The NIH, alone, turns out $2.46 for every $1 invested.

HANDS OFF OUR SCIENCE!
April 5th, 2025

#scienceforall
#handsoffourscience

It’s kinda weird that I even keep having this thought but that thought is: Gosh I hope the US govt doesn’t kidnap my students

From the rescinded NIH Final Scientific Integrity Policy:

“The Final NIH Scientific Integrity Policy also includes NIH practices that will address important emerging topics in biomedical research, such as protecting against political interference.”

Stand Up for Science Saint Paul, MN - Dr. Matt Wilkins YouTube video by Stand Up for Science MN

Here's my speech at the MN State Capitol a few wks ago where I stress the need for science 🧪 & #scicomm to put a lot more effort into K-12 outreach.
Huge thanks to the MN organizers of @standupforscience.bsky.social (esp @lorabishop.bsky.social) for your leadership!
youtu.be/DVI9OeGQDig?... #edusky

Email from the University of Minnesota that reads: Dear students, faculty and staff, We are writing to inform you about a deeply concerning situation involving one of our international graduate students at the University of Minnesota. We learned that, on March 27 at an off-campus residence, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials detained a graduate student enrolled on our Twin Cities campus. We are actively working to gather more details about this incident. In cases like this, the University takes steps to ensure students are connected to internal resources and support, such as Student Legal Service and International Student and Scholar Services. The University had no prior knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities before it occurred. It is important to note that our campus departments of public safety, including UMPD, do not enforce federal immigration laws, and our officers do not inquire about an individual's immigration status. Their focus remains on public safety, fostering trust and maintaining strong relationships across the University community. As we work to gather more information, please know the University has information, resources and FAQs about federal immigration policies available on the Rapid Response website. We understand how distressing this news may be for members of our University community. If you or someone you know needs mental health support during this time, please visit mentalhealth.umn.edu, which connects you to resources across all five campuses. Rebecca Cunningham President

International students are huge assets to the University of Minnesota. They move thousands of miles away from their families and support systems to learn from the best and the brightest.

I can’t imagine how terrified they are after learning ICE has detained one of their classmates.

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Stand Up for Science Saint Paul, MN - Dr. Katie Loth YouTube video by Stand Up for Science MN

Several weeks ago I spoke at the @standupforscience.bsky.social rally in Saint Paul. My speech, as well as the other awesome speeches are now available in full on YouTube.

Please listen and share widely.

Science is for everyone and we must stand up to defend it.

youtu.be/2phsYqhbldU?...

The CDC has officially been compromised. Not by the hardworking and brilliant scientists there, but by the infection that is known as RFK Jr. In suppressing an expert report on the current measles outbreak showing the importance of MMR vaccination, we can no longer trust their communications.

Please look into the UMN student taken into custody yesterday. We need people to stand up and take on this administration.

We cannot allow this on our campus. This is one of our students and we need to do everything in our power to make sure they are safe and are provided due process. #umn #universityofminnesota

75% of US scientists who answered Nature poll consider leaving More than 1,600 readers answered our poll; many said they were looking for jobs in Europe and Canada.

I'd like to see a response from the NIH and CDC on this one- the US scientific enterprise is under attack, no wonder scientists are considering leaving.

Just so we are clear, this is authoritarian censorship.

I recently attended a really good talk by someone who does firearm injury epidemiology. She said one of the lasting legacies of the severe US funding restrictions and exile of this work from research spaces for nearly two decades was losing a potential generation of scientists in the field. 1/n

The President of the US and richest man on earth, unilaterally STOPPED children’s cancer research and clinical trials because they view them as “wasteful”.

If this doesn’t get your feet in the streets, I don’t know what will.

#standupforscience
#scienceforall

‘The goal is to disassemble public health’: experts warn against US turn to vaccine skepticism As measles sickens hundreds and health secretary RFK Jr spreads dubious information, experts sound the alarm

I still don’t get one thing. If COVID was a hoax what killed over 1 million Americans btwn 2020 and today?

FREEDOM OF SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY IS FOUNDATIONAL TO A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY!

#standupforscience
#scienceforall

Science is for everyone!

This is a colleague of mine. A brilliant researcher, a fierce advocate for mothers and children, and a wonderful human. Termination of previously funded current research studies is censorship. If hearing this troubles you - call your representatives. They work for you.

I hope that folks in media know the scope of the bloodbath that is happening across the #NIH. They are literally cutting millions of $ focused on #HIV, improving human health across populations, & PREVENTING DISEASES. I can't go 1 hour without another colleague telling me their work was ended (1/3)

I'm so sorry to hear this. Please take care of yourself. We need you well. It's okay to take breaks to allow yourself to show up when you need to.

Please reach out if you are looking for people willing to talk. I'll try to help connect you with people who are.