There’s been some talk on here about communicating more with undergrads about science funding, policies, outlook etc. I admit I was skeptical there would be interest. I polled my course. 70% were interested in having a discussion. The other 30% were “maybe interested.” 0% were not interested. - ThreadSky

dgonzales1990.bsky.social • 56 days ago

There’s been some talk on here about communicating more with undergrads about science funding, policies, outlook etc.

I admit I was skeptical there would be interest. I polled my course. 70% were interested in having a discussion. The other 30% were “maybe interested.” 0% were not interested.

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adel-aide.bsky.social•56 days ago

I spent half of journal club time with my undergrads discussing the state of things and they were rapt the whole time. I’ve urged them to share with their families, esp the immediate impacts on THEM (finding a job post graduation, med school tuition hikes, grad school admissions freezes/chills).

lianafaye.bsky.social•56 days ago

I asked my lab to vote on journal club this week: 12 in favor of hearing me talk about science funding, 0 in favor of a free afternoon. I started doing this several years ago, actually (annual state of the lab with info about how grants work), but I'll add more detail now that it's so crucial.

gfaranjuez.bsky.social•56 days ago

I teach a laboratory-based class so I started talking about how money works in a research lab, NIH/NSF grant review process, IDC cuts, mass firing, court rulings, etc. Most are shocked and appalled, but more importantly, most didn't even know it was happening.

dgonzales1990.bsky.social•56 days ago

We set aside 20min in class for a Q&A on funding a lab, federal funding, IDCs, and ongoing policy shifts. Was definitely not enough time. Such great and insightful questions

Probably could have taken the whole class

Anyway. 10/10 would recommend

analog-ashley.bsky.social•56 days ago

Yessss!!! I had the same experience (captured here https://www.thetransmitter.org/how-to-teach-this-paper/how-to-teach-students-about-science-funding/, where there also a starter slide deck!)

stephrstephr.bsky.social•56 days ago

Yeah, would have been great to know what I was signing up for before I got to my first rotation in PhD and found out PI job is *writing* and then starting faculty job to learn that actually PI job is *pay yourself*. Some warning would have been great.

molliebatmit.bsky.social•56 days ago

I did probably about the same -- 20 minutes in each of my two courses. They were extremely engaged (and also horrified that funding rates are so low).

jennifer-honeycutt.bsky.social•56 days ago

Yessss!! My students have been very curious and wanting to discuss this! Have had conversations in my seminar and my lab meetings. Haven’t in my intro class…yet.

edgigante.bsky.social•56 days ago

Did the same thing. Mentioned that the ripples are affecting and could continue to worsen things like their ability to get into med school or grad school. Invited them to join us at the Capitol to stand up for science.

labonnelab.bsky.social•56 days ago

Undergrads=infrequent voters. They need to understand the urgency.

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