In August, Jay Bhattacharya said “Training future biomedical scientists” was the 1st priority for his version of NIH.

But talk is cheap. Let’s see how JB’s doing. 🤔

NIH supports trainees mostly via fellowship (F), training (T), and career development (K) awards.

Here are funding curves for each.🧵

Year 2, Week 16 Apr 11-17 - tomato/xitomatl

Each Friday night, I write a briefing on what happened in US science & higher ed. 🧪 

Apr 17 (Year 2, Week 16)
- new CDC director nominated w/ credentials!
- closure of Hampshire College. Other schools at risk
- changes to federal loans for grad students
& much more

buttondown.com/liminalcreat...

This image is a poster titled "What is a public library?" followed by translations in several languages. It illustrates various activities and uses of a public library, such as reading, using reference materials, and attending events. The phrase "Who is it for?" is accompanied by translations and a drawing of a diverse group of people highlighted with text saying, "for everyone," in multiple languages.

We're kicking off #NationalLibraryWeek with a special selection from the archives! This offset lithograph poster illustrates a few of the many resources and programs that a public library offers its community. It emphasizes that these resources are free and for everyone in multiple languages.

I’m so very sorry, Adam.

I appreciate this model for being a researcher so much. It's why I don't care if someone thinks I spend too much time on the impacts of my work or listening to what students and activists tell me are problems with higher ed.

These actions beg the very obvious question: Whose “trust” are they interested in regaining? 🤔

Belief in & support for vaccines is normal.

“But that reality is not immune to the stories we tell about it… [Bad polls] change what clinicians say in the exam room, the decisions policymakers & leaders make, and ultimately become a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Methods matter for talking points

So What Is the Real Oil Price Right Now? For all my reporting life, I’ve dreaded one question: What is the price of oil — the real one? Invariably asked during a crisis, it demands a neat answer, a precise dollar-per-barrel figure. But each ...

I find this distinction between financial & physical markets to be helpful. Thinking about mathematics vs logistics and understanding why the two are disconnected right now—and not only b/c systems are fundamentally broken—makes it easier for me to interpret news.

www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

When I think about public engagement & science communication, *this* is the kind of work I most admire.

Me too! I keep thinking I’ve finally sorted them, and no. And I *really* don’t like feeling like a big baby man

Year 2, Week 16 Apr 11-17 - tomato/xitomatl

Each Friday night, I write a briefing on what happened in US science & higher ed. 🧪 

Apr 17 (Year 2, Week 16)
- new CDC director nominated w/ credentials!
- closure of Hampshire College. Other schools at risk
- changes to federal loans for grad students
& much more

buttondown.com/liminalcreat...

Another example demonstrating that the federal science and research ecosystem is being seriously damaged regardless of what’s ultimately appropriated

Briefing: Data Security + more — Unbreaking This week, we have a briefing on Data Security, quick updates on Infectious Disease Control and Archives & History, and a timeline update for Trans Healthcare.

This week, we have a new briefing from our Data Security team and short updates from Archives & History and Infectious Disease Control. unbreaking.org/blog/briefin...

Data centers are a physical manifestation of AI infrastructure and they've become a flashpoint precisely because they're tractable. They exist in specific places, consume specific resources, can be seen and pointed to. I spoke with @lorenaoneil.com @rollingstone.com about our urgent AI reckoning.

Highlighted in red: "Political interference is inappropriately shaping or interfering in the conduct, management, communication, or use of science for political advantage or such that it undermines impartiality, nonpartisanship, or professional judgement"

"HHS works to promote a culture of scientific integrity by creating an empowering environment for innovation and protecting scientists and the process of science from inappropriate interference. Scientific findings and products must not be suppressed, delayed, or altered for political purposes and must not be subjected to political interference or inappropriate influence. The responsible and ethical conduct of research and other scientific activities requires an environment that is safe and free from harassment and discrimination" Highlighted in red are "suppressed, delayed, or altered for political purposes", "subjected to political interference", and "inappropriate influence."

"HHS works to promote a culture of scientific integrity by creating an empowering environment for innovation and protecting scientists and the process of science from inappropriate interference. Scientific findings and products must not be subjected to interference or inappropriate influence and must not be inappropriately suppressed, delayed, or altered. The responsible and ethical conduct of research and other scientific activities requires an environment that is safe and free from harassment and discrimination." Highlighted in green are "subjected to interference or inappropriate influence" and "inappropriately suppressed, delayed, or altered."

Text, with "political" highlighted in red to indicate removal: I. Protecting Scientific Processes Scientific integrity fosters "honest scientific investigation, open discussion, refined understanding, and a firm commitment to evidence" (OSTP 2010). It also enables consideration and documentation of differing scientific opinions. Practices that support scientific integrity may include peer review and open science. Science, and public trust in science, thrives in an environment that prevents political interference and inappropriate influence from impacting scientific data and analyses and their use in decision making. It is the policy of HHS to: 1. Prohibit political interference or other inappropriate influence in the design, proposal, conduct, review, management, evaluation, communication about, and use of scientific activities and scientific information. Prohibit inappropriate restrictions on resources and capacity that limit and reduce the availability of science and scientific products (e.g., manuscripts for scientific journals, presentations for workshops, conferences, and symposia) outside of normal budgetary or priority-setting processes or without scientific, legal, or security justification. 3. Require that leadership and management ensure that covered individuals engaged in scientific activities can conduct their work objectively, free from political interference or other inappropriate influence, and free from retaliation.

HHS just published an update to its Scientific Integrity Policy. Notably, it has removed the concept of political interference, and no longer calls it out as something specifically to be prevented.
www.hhs.gov/sites/defaul... (deletions in red, insertions in green)

I’m so sorry for you loss, Tim.

Hello, Bluesky! We, the staff of Scientific American, are pleased to announce we have formed a union with @wgaeast.bsky.social. Just as mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, we are the powerhouse of the publication, and we’re excited to have a new way to contribute to its success.

The Internet's Most Powerful Archiving Tool Is in Peril As major news outlets cut off the Wayback Machine, journalists and advocacy groups are rallying to protect the Internet Archive’s vast collection of web pages.

Journalists know that losing the Wayback Machine would be a nightmare: www.wired.com/story/the-in...

2,599 applicants offered NSF GRFP awards! Congrats to all the NSF GRFP award winners and recipients of honorable mention. https://www.research.gov/grfp/AwardeeList.do?method=loadAwardeeList

Massive and important positive news...

#NSF #GRFP awards are out.

2,599 awards!
+
1,440 Honorable Mentions.

A significant boost from last year.

Congratulations to the winners (and HM-s)!

& many thanks to the reviewers & program officers who made this possible.

www.research.gov/grfp/Awardee...

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán concedes defeat after 'painful' election result Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has conceded defeat after what he called a ″painful″ election result, ending 16 years in power for a powerful figure in the far-right movement allied with U.S.

Congratulations Hungary!! apnews.com/article/hung...

Each Friday night, I write a briefing on what happened in US science & higher ed. 🧪 

Every few weeks I step back from headlines & think about threats ahead

Apr 10 (Year 2, Week 15) focuses on
- the “civics” centers playbook
- accreditation & student aid $
& more

buttondown.com/liminalcreat...

(Sigh. Focused on focusing. Super duper focused. Apologies. I am tired)

Tonight’s issue of Meeting the Moment focuses on two major threats I think we need to be focusing on: accreditation & state-mandated, autonomous “civic” centers at universities

buttondown.com/liminalcreat...

The alphabet and numerals 0-9 in the Artemis mission typeface

Just so you know what kind of dork I am: I was looking at the Artemis II mission stuff and said to @kaylahornbrook.bsky.social, “The cutaway in those letters in the bottom left corner definitely means something super specific…”

I liiiive for competency. It's one of my favorite things to watch.

Thanks Julia. @msallisonbailey.bsky.social I don't know of any audio-specific projects, I'm sorry! Will keep my ears open

Tela Coral/Chad Cannon: Music for the Ocean | Atlas Performing Arts Center Immerse yourself in the ocean—while sitting in the concert hall. Music for the Ocean is an evening of new compositions ...

DC-based friends, mark your calendars. www.atlasarts.org/events/tela-...

After the concert, there's a science panel w/ @momedinamunoz.bsky.social & others. Raises $$ to build a coral gene bank & marine lab in Honduras. Vetted & endorsed by Storymaker fellow & trusted researcher @drcarl.bsky.social

And there is a modest strike fund (quite close to its goal!) to support striking @propublicaguild.org workers. If you have the capacity to donate www.gofundme.com/f/support-pr... (h/t @ethanmarcotte.com)

Screen shot of part of an award's event history with sources: 2025-05-26: Award termination date in TAGGS PDF (TAGGS PDF) 2025-05-27: 'TERMINATED' action added (HHS TAGGS) 2025-05-27: End date cut off from 2026-05-31 to 2025-08-31 (USAspending awards) 2025-05-31: Other amendment (USAspending File C) 2025-06-03: Grant marked as terminated (RePORTER website) 2025-06-13: Added to TAGGS PDF of terminations (TAGGS PDF) 2025-06-18: Court-ordered reinstatement (MA v. RFK ) (Court case) 2025-06-18: Court-ordered reinstatement (APHA v. NIH ) (Court case) 2025-06-30: End date extended from 2025-05-31 to 2026-05-31 (USAspending File C) 2025-07-03: Removed from TAGGS PDF of terminations (TAGGS PDF)

We've released a major update to our #NIH tracking at Grant Witness. We now publish a complete, multi-source history of events to track the complex administrative and legal history of each grant.
grant-witness.us/posts/2026-0...

Unionized ProPublica staff are on strike over AI, layoffs, and wages A key issue is protections against layoffs from AI

New: 150 unionized ProPublica workers are on strike TODAY over AI, layoff protections, wages, and more.

They're asking readers to not visit ProPublica or engage with content on other platforms. It's the first work stoppage of its kind at the newsroom.

www.theverge.com/news/908401/...