Woohoo! Perfect reentry and splashdown!
Welcome home Integrity and the incredible crew!
Huge day for science and humanity. 🚀🌘

So wonderful to see the innovative design that includes composting toilet and preservation of pieces from the historic barn that was on the land before the UC Merced campus was built.

Department of LIfe and Environmental Sciences faculty at the the new UC Merced Field Research and Education Center, located in the The Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve

Opening celebration of the new UC Merced Field Research and Education Center, in the The Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve

Congraulations to my LES dept colleagues Jessica Blois & Jason Sexton (past & current Faculty Directors of UC Merced Natural Reserve System) and team on the official opening of the Field Education and Research Center at the Merced Vernal Pools & Grassland Reserve today ucnature.org/reserves/mer...

Same. So heart breaking.

FY2027 Budget Request Slashes Billions in Science Funding The Trump administration is requesting the cancellation of billions of dollars in funds for space science, renewable energy, carbon removal, and climate change education in its FY 2027 budget.

President's FY 2027 budget request is out today and requests major cuts to STEM funding, with implications for U.S. global competitiveness and S&T innovation. eos.org/research-and...

Thank you, Kate. Bummer. Hopefully another time.
Likewise, I am so honored to be in the same group with you.

Thank you, Scott.

Thank you, Jim.

Wait, I know a person in this list!
🎉 Truly honored to be included among such an incredible group.

Yay! Congratulations @kateclancy.bsky.social and I’m also excited that this means, I finally might get to meet you in person at the Fellows Forum.

Thank you for your kind words!

No government, no regime, no budget cut, can ever take away what you learned. That's yours for always. That's the whole point.
So, to every student feeling uncertain right now: stay in. Education is always the right choice. Build or lean on a supportive community to help you through tough times.

I grew up during political turmoil and war. My community faced many challenges. What kept me going in school during all that was something my parents instilled in me from early on. Money can disappear. Fame & beauty fade. Politics changes. "Education is the only lasting wealth in the world".

Of course, policy changes have real-life impacts on many levels. But none of that changes the value of what you learn. Don't let the noise of today pull you off your educational path.
In my attempt to answer more questions, my answer to her was brief. But, I should've also said ...

My answer: education is always the right choice. Always.
I can't think of anything better than learning and building a career where you spend your life chasing unanswered questions. That never goes out of style, no matter who's in office. No matter how politics change, or budget priorities change.

This past weekend, I had the honor of keynoting an event hosted by CSU Channel Islands, Oxnard College, & ACS CA Los Padres section. A student asked what I'd say 2 some1 excited about higher ed, but is horrified by today's political climate. It's an important question that deserves a serious answer.

A pictures of Asmeret with the Rev Jesse Jackson

May your soul rest in eternal peace and power, Rev. Jesse Jackson.
I had the honor of meeting him my first week in DC, as I started my DOE appointment. He couldn't have been kinder. That moment served as an incredible motivator as I began my journey in government. A giant, in every sense.

Assistant Project Scientist University of California, Merced is hiring. Apply now!

Please help us spread the word about this great opportunity for a scholar with a strong publication, and funding record related to climate and environmental research; and excellent written communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills. aprecruit.ucmerced.edu/JPF02050

I just returned from Dakar where I co-chaired the NASEM US-Africa Frontiers in Science, Engineering, & Medicine symposium tinyurl.com/ybdjn22m. It was an extraordinary gathering of leading scholars from across Africa & US discussing timely research.
Truly one of the highlights of my career!

Fig. 2 Individual and interactive impacts of soil physicochemistry, microbes, fauna, and plants on soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics.

#TansleyReview: #Soil organic matter dynamics under changing #precipitation regimes

@aaberhe.com et al.
👇

📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

#LatestIssue @teamrat.bsky.social

New paper on role of polyvalent cations in buried soil C stabilization led by my former lab group members Manisha and Teneille, working with the best collaborators.

Attending today's California's First Nature Based Solutions Summit, it was so lovely to meet our @ucmerced.bsky.social @snriucmerced.bsky.social alumni who now hold key positions across the state.

A lot going on in the world these days.
It is an incredible privilage to live & work in our state where today CNRA, CARB and CDFA hosted California's First Nature Based Solutions Summit.
It was an honor to be invited to speak along with many folx I admire. So much soil love throughout the day 🤎!

It was so lovely to meet you in person @christinatoms.bsky.social. Sci-twitter connections are the best!

The Dangers Inherent to RFK Jr. Defunding mRNA Vaccines BY ESSEY AFEWERKI It is not particularly groundbreaking to say that the state of public health in the United States is in a historically precarious position. With the re-election and inauguration o…

My son, Essey's, latest article in the Yale Global Health Review, on the dangers of defunding mRNA vaccines. yaleglobalhealthreview.com/2026/01/15/t...

Fig. 1 Research history of soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics at the plant–fauna–microbe interfaces under changing precipitation and soil water availability.

✨ Paper spotlight ✨

(🧵 1/6) Soil organic matter dynamics under changing precipitation regimes
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

@teamrat.bsky.social @aaberhe.com

🌟✨New paper: Check out our New Phytologist Tansley review on how changing precipitation patterns (changes in amount, intensity, & frequency of ppt already being observed due to climate change) affect soil organic matter dynamics.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
@ghezzehei.bsky.social

The science breakthrough of 2025 is Solar Energy, not because it is new but because of how successful its deployment has been. This year renewable energy surpassed coal as a source of electricity worldwide. Hopeful sign for what’s to come.
www.science.org/content/arti...

TFW your professional society, at a conference you've been attending for 20+ years, finally gets your name to appear on the badge correctly. #AGU25

If you are going to be at AGU, you don't want to miss this one. I am so looking forward to Markus' 2025 Reeburgh Lecture.