And with that, #2025ISMPMI is a wrap! Great to make some new connections, discuss my project, and hear about cool science. Tschüss Köln!

Want to learn about the role of nitrogen in microbiota-mediated plant immunity? Come check my poster out now (P-345)
#2025ISMPMI

🚨 A new rule would let career scientists like NSF/NIH program officers be replaced by political appointees

Already 14,000+ public comments, deadline is Friday

📣 Comments can be short. Courts consider them—and scientists with NSF/NIH experience are especially impactful

Speak up! shorturl.at/WKuBj

Welcome to Save The U.S. National Science Foundation A Girl Looking at a Physics Model TAKE ACTION Save NSF is a coalition of concerned scientists and allies who are working to save funding for scientific grants through the U.S. National Science Foundation. Our mission is to support and advocate for the continuation of vital research and innovation in various scientific fields. NSF funding is critical to this work. Join us in our endeavor to ensure a sustainable future for scientific exploration and discovery.

I am so heartened to this seriously AWESOME #SaveNSF website go up today!!!!

Has a take action toolkit with:

1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points

Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.

www.savensf.com

Without graduate programs, no trained scientists will be available to work in industries, severely crippling US businesses. We will have to rely on other countries for medical and agricultural innovations, and their agricultural problems are not our problems, which will threaten our food supply

Pope Francis receiving a warming stripes stole. Photo: Vatican Media

“Never have we so hurt and mistreated our common home as we have in the last two hundred years. Reducing greenhouse gases requires honesty, courage and responsibility. Those who will have to suffer the consequences will not forget this failure of conscience and responsibility.” — Pope Francis

My quote of the day

Faith and science can be united in charity if science is put at the service of the men and women of our time, and not distorted to their detriment or even destruction.

Pope Francis, June 2024

Excited to say that I received an honorable mention for my NSF-GRFP proposal! Congratulations to all the awardees. Now back to studying plant-microbiota interactions!

Inside the Collapse at the NIH Administration officials pressured the NIH to avoid clear advice from the agency’s own lawyers to restart grant funding now.

The devastating consequences of NIH not awarding research grants anytime soon. Will there even be medical schools left to train doctors? Maybe this is another goal of Republicans trying to kill sick people

www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...

A Direct Hit, by @holdenthorp.bsky.social @science.org
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
"This is a moment to unite."

Happy International Day of Women in Science. The National Science Foundation’s list of flagged words includes both “Women” and “Female.”

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The American Association of University Professors is organizing a concerted response to the NIH/NSF/OMB funding pause as it impacts our intellectual pursuits. 🧪
They have a form where scholars, particularly those who are in unions, can list impacts anonymously:
airtable.com/appMQQqeVbCY...

To update people on the NSF PRFB situation: despite the court challenge and rescinding the original memo, the NSF has continued to comply with the executive order. They have not communicated with us at all and our paychecks are still canceled indefinitely. I know people who cannot pay their rent.

Use of Generative AI in the genomics module Computer programming – generating linux code, R code, etc. - green light Writing tool – improving readability, structure, grammar of report - amber light Planning out your presentation - amber light AI art for presentations – no need for “art” in a scientific presentation - red light Finding references – either hallucinations or vastly insufficient - red light Factual information – AI makes serious mistakes about niche subjects - red light Remember to always disclose any use of AI in whatever you submit!

Also what to think about when using generative AI tools… Am I becoming dependent on a commercial tool that may start to cost money or otherwise be taken away from me? Where did the training data come from (were the authors informed or compensated?) What is the agenda of the people who made this tool, and how can this affect its operation? Where is my data going? (USA, China?) Are there protections in place to prevent it being misused? How much energy and other resources are going into my AI use? Is this consistent with other choices I make in my life (e.g. transportation, food etc.)

Today I'm accepting the inevitable reality of students using generative AI in my course and helping them navigate it

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans.

We saw this coming, now is the time to stand up for science. Contact your local representatives and explain the importance of federal science funding from all agencies