Ok scientists. How do we respond? Scientific strike starting on Monday? Something has to be done to let people know what is going on. - ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

mikefeigin.bsky.social • 21 days ago

Ok scientists. How do we respond? Scientific strike starting on Monday? Something has to be done to let people know what is going on.

Reposted from Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽

what a fucking Friday afternoon news dump: they are capping indirects at 15%

grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...

Comments

immunofever.bsky.social•21 days ago

Are we protesting on Monday? I'm in if you're in.

chrstne.bsky.social•21 days ago

people should stop teaching their classes

sammons.bsky.social•21 days ago

I will march/call/protest any moment I'm not in the classroom. Students pay my salary with their tuition and they deserve me teaching them a few hours a week.

chrstne.bsky.social•21 days ago

as someone *still* with student debt, fair. was hoping angry parents would do something in response but that's probably asking too much

sammons.bsky.social•21 days ago

Indirect costs are just too esoteric for students and parents to understand, I expect. I hope I'm wrong.

Even faculty fight over whether rates are too high and whether there is just too much waste. Unfortunately, we are about to find out how important they are.

chrstne.bsky.social•21 days ago

i just also had the thought that even if we did protest via not teaching universities will use elon musk's AI service to "teach" at a fraction of the cost!

sammons.bsky.social•21 days ago

I've always thought the broadest impact I can have is to teach a few hundred students per year the awesomeness of science. It can be a multiplier; they go out and contribute to science and are informed citizens. I hope I get to keep doing that...

shaunmahony.bsky.social•21 days ago

Yeah, it needs to be put in concrete terms. For example, I back of the envelope reckon this would cost Penn State on the order of $50M a year, which is used to pay admin staff, builders, etc, etc

sammons.bsky.social•21 days ago

It'll be a massive blow. The Universities worried about speaking out to avoid being targeted were just targeted...

I actually just received an internal grant TODAY that I'm confident will be revoked by Monday....

nehc0925.bsky.social•21 days ago

I'm scared. Wtf am I supposed to do now?

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

🤷‍♂️

nehc0925.bsky.social•21 days ago

Tonight, we drink. I guess.

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

That’s what I’m doing.

joshuasharp.bsky.social•21 days ago

I'm down for whatever, but there needs to be leadership. And so far, I'm not seeing it.

grimmrad.bsky.social•20 days ago

More like @hhmi.bsky.social bending the knee all the way. Then this is what you get.

professorantony.bsky.social•21 days ago

I think we wait for two-three weeks. I’m sure the suits at larger research institutes (even in red states likeTexas) will need to figure out options to sustain. So, I’m sure deals will be made to appease the mad king!

You make sure to keep your focus on the Chiefs-refs at the superbowl!

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

I will be “happily” not watching the game!

professorantony.bsky.social•21 days ago

Come on - victors rule 😂

factsmustwin.bsky.social•21 days ago

Order of business #1 is translating this into English. I'm pretty science adjacent and I know people are saying this is bad and will have dire consequences but I have no idea what "this" is even after reading a bunch of posts.

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/mikefeigin.bsky.social/post/3lhmsc7sau224

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

You are 100% right. I forget that non-scientists follow me on here. We need to do better at communicating.

factsmustwin.bsky.social•21 days ago

I get that this is a shock and so it's shop talk right now, and I don't fault you. But when it gets to "let people know what's going on," you'll need a story to get from "15% cap" to "bad things" and you'll be up against a maelstrom of disinformation.

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

That’s why I’m convinced we need a walkout, coupled with plain language explanations, to spread the word.

maggiechasse.bsky.social•21 days ago

What do early career/postdocs do? It’s hard to just say strike

chrstne.bsky.social•21 days ago

do what you can to take care of yourself first. and apply for jobs outside the US

chrstne.bsky.social•21 days ago

and call reps of course

maggiechasse.bsky.social•21 days ago

I do that!!! And I have my family too

chrstne.bsky.social•21 days ago

i figured you did 😊

timtriche.bsky.social•21 days ago

✊

maggiechasse.bsky.social•21 days ago

Is that really the solution?

chrstne.bsky.social•21 days ago

honestly imo yes. if this gets fixed, it will take too long for the job market/federal funding to get better. try to get a job at novartis in switzerland or a faculty position over there

maggiechasse.bsky.social•21 days ago

This is helpful to hear…. I appreciate you!!!

chrstne.bsky.social•21 days ago

i could be wrong but i think it is too risky for postdocs to bank on things getting better in time for a good career here. it's going to be very competitive & difficult to get jobs there bc of how few there are compared to past US. so it's important to think about early

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

Agreed. What do any of us do? It should be on the senior people to take the lead.

lindacphd.bsky.social•21 days ago

I feel like the senior people who are likely to take the lead are already on this platform. I don't know anyone else who has been vocal about anything. I am really disappointed.

grimmrad.bsky.social•20 days ago

It needs to be the universities presidents and deans etc. with big repercussions through the communities. No overhead: Sorry, hospital is closed. Oh, the senator is being treated here? Well, that’s too bad now, isn’t it if he only could do something.

austenlied.bsky.social•21 days ago

Universities and colleges protesting this all on the same day would send a powerful message.

lilysch.bsky.social•21 days ago

I wish there was big nationwide protests right this weekend. They pulled it off in Germany in a short time last week to protest the far-right. I’ve been looking for protests to join –apart from writing my reps– but nothing. I’m not an activist or organizer, so 🤷🏼‍♀️.

deznite.bsky.social•18 days ago

https://www.statnews.com/2025/02/10/nih-indirect-costs-lawsuit-state-attorneys-general-sue-to-block-research-spending-cuts/?_hsmi=346606928

deznite.bsky.social•20 days ago

Spit balling. Re budgets. Going to need to justify all necessary expenses. IE All UG items will need to be listed in budgets and justifications. Mandatory work from home to reduce real estate costs/maintenance. Reduce property tax and utility costs. College town economy is going to suffer.

nakiajpnw.bsky.social•21 days ago

Non-scientist here and ready to do my bit if there’s a bit for me to do.

brandimwynne.bsky.social•21 days ago

Yeah. That only works for those of us who don’t have grants due next week.

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

What’s the point? Unless we fight, what is going to be left?

brandimwynne.bsky.social•21 days ago

You are telling someone worried about tomorrow to fret about a year from now?

In the time that I started my lab, all I have seen are unprecedented times. Those of us who aren’t tenured won’t make it to be with wha is ‘left’ for the rest of you.

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

People can do whatever they want. I don’t have the protection of tenure either.

brandimwynne.bsky.social•21 days ago

I can just imagine the response I would receive if I emailed and informed them I was no longer working…through multiple grant deadlines.

brandimwynne.bsky.social•21 days ago

Unfortunately, many of us don’t have this ability. Fighting back is something generations before us should have done. Now we’re in a hole. Trust me, the faculty with multiple R01’s already will be around. But the early career people, tenure or no, won’t be.

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

Fighting back is on all of us.

seantbres.bsky.social•21 days ago

MDs and teaching faculty should strike. Everyone else should support them. We need leadership to start helping us to organize.

pjenkinslab.bsky.social•21 days ago

Kinda goes against the whole "do no harm" thing, no?

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

Yeah MDs probably can’t strike.

grimmrad.bsky.social•20 days ago

Oh we can. They did in Germany a while ago.

pjenkinslab.bsky.social•20 days ago

And let's be honest. We're pretty much on the "they did it in Germany a while ago" path

grimmrad.bsky.social•20 days ago

Dark double meaning here. I meant a few years back to get better salaries as they were exploited, particularly residents.
And then there is the pother context a larger while back.

seantbres.bsky.social•21 days ago

Agree, protest though

annakornbluh.bsky.social•21 days ago

@higheredlabor.bsky.social is coordinating a day of nationwide action for science faculty and uni based researchers on feb 19 but sooner and ongoing basis sounds important

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

Awesome. But I agree, has to be NOW. We need to move at the speed that the admin is moving.

annakornbluh.bsky.social•21 days ago

are you in a position to get your campus to mobilize monday? and call a few local media folks?

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

Good question. I’m going to contact the media people I know.

laurakwhite.bsky.social•20 days ago

Congratulations, every NIH funded scientist’s job just became political advocacy on top of everything else. Read up, because your employer’s government affairs team is waaaaaay too busy to train you effectively.

annikabarber.bsky.social•21 days ago

I ask myself why TF I'm doing my study section reviews like a good little scientist. But if I don't do them...the NIH won't care, and I only hurt my colleagues. No good options, and the void is too full of screams.

mattyousefzadeh.bsky.social•21 days ago

I'm going to do them in hopes that some of those grants get funded. At least, I hope.

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

Same. I’m going to puke.

rolanddunbrack.bsky.social•21 days ago

My RPPR is due. I don’t care any more.

grimmrad.bsky.social•20 days ago

Do it. By the book. Don’t give them ANY openings. They are just waiting for a reason.

traver.bsky.social•20 days ago

💯

neurodevkathy.bsky.social•21 days ago

Samesies. 🧪

madamescientist.bsky.social•21 days ago

I had the same thought..why am I the sucker doing free work for the NIH?

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

It’s so sad. We do the work for our colleagues, of course (we all know this) and hurt no one but ourselves. But I don’t think we get out of this without more pain.

madamescientist.bsky.social•21 days ago

So much for my university's clever plan of laying low and not drawing attention to themselves.

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

Yeah, I can think of one person in particular who has been eerily silent on here recently.

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

If only there was a famous poem about not speaking out when others are attacked…

mariagcas.bsky.social•20 days ago

Exactly! And one needs to ask oneself, why this is the case?!

neurodevkathy.bsky.social•21 days ago

AND JOURNALS!!!! This year I had already decided I was only going to submit and review to society journals. At least that... but OOF!

nicoleschuman.bsky.social•21 days ago

What does this mean

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

When I get a grant, the NIH sends extra money (usually upwards of 60% of the grant total) to my institution. This is used for support staff, literally keeping the lights on, etc. The NIH has now capped this at 15%. This is a massive loss of funds. Impossible to support science.

lindacphd.bsky.social•21 days ago

It will destroy a lot of universities and research institutions.

lindacphd.bsky.social•21 days ago

Then they may need to substantially increase tuition and fees, further marginalizing underrepresented students and trainees.

lindacphd.bsky.social•21 days ago

You know how those university leaders have been quiet? Didn't they know that keeping quiet won't spare them?

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

They going to speak up now?

chasingmicrobes.bsky.social•21 days ago

This could actually cause the first nationwide Uni strike if UNis coordinated

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

Would love to see it. Anything to alert the public. Even a week long walk out.

chasingmicrobes.bsky.social•21 days ago

This is going to sound dumb, but the number affected by this is absurd and somebody is bound to know non-scientific "influencers" they can ask favors of to make "content"

peterjwagner3.bsky.social•21 days ago

How do we strike? The whole point of the exercise from their point of view is to get us to stop doing science, so we shouldn't take a day off from that.

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

What else gets the public to notice what is going on?

peterjwagner3.bsky.social•21 days ago

I do not know. But they already deem us freeloaders who only "really" work when we are in the classroom, and who just want grants for personal profit. Their ideas about science are silly caricatures from TV and film. And they still are mad at all of us because they had to wear masks 4 years ago.

mikefeigin.bsky.social•21 days ago

Some do. I think most people want cancer research, for example, to continue.

peterjwagner3.bsky.social•21 days ago

Sure: but I suspect that most of them assume that the medical industry does that all by itself. Remember, most of them have swallowed the lie that drug prices are so high in the US because of research costs.

The big problem is that people have no idea how much medical and engineering advancement…

peterjwagner3.bsky.social•21 days ago

… comes serendipitously from scientific research that was never about the medical or engineering issue in the first place. After all, on TV, the scientist just spends an all-nighter in his garage to devise the cure, right?

johnjmckevitt.bsky.social•21 days ago

Protests and call local news.