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marymunson4.bsky.social
Multidisciplinary research at UMass Chan focused on membrane trafficking. Striving to make academic science a more diverse, equitable, welcoming and inclusive place. President of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB). Opinions are mine (she/her)
92 posts 4,007 followers 5,995 following
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OMG these are so good, read the whole thread

Guardian story about Federal Register issue is up. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

So important!

Sharing this article about @edyong209.bsky.social in the NY Times "Ed Yong Wants to Show You the Hidden Reality of the World" Ed Yong in my opinion is the best science journalist of our times - and there are many great ones www.nytimes.com/2025/02/22/m...

😡 F'ing ridiculous. After updating its FAQ yesterday, NSF refused to directly answer a simple question: "Will the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) continue to award fellowships in 2025?" GRFPs are a lifeline that support 2,000+ graduate students/year. www.nsf.gov/executive-or...

(AP) — Elon Musk’s cost-cutting team is eliminating jobs at the vehicle safety agency that oversees Tesla and has launched investigations into deadly crashes involving his company’s cars. #OligarchEra 🇺🇸 apnews.com/article/musk...

This is the first movement from Sen. Fetterman, please fill out immediately if you have been impacted. Please circulate Penn, Pitt, PSU, Temple etc @cbartman.bsky.social

The next step in trying to dismantle Infectious Diseases research - dismantle @niaidnews.bsky.social - should surprise no one that this a R-led proposal. An unmitigated disaster for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pathogens that affect everyone in the US www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

I think it’s not helpful to repeat claims that the administration is working on eliminating “DEIA” as though it’s some kind of corporate strategy; just say explicitly that they’re trying to eliminate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and explain how.

It’s probably a good day to explain to your non-scientist socials that graduate students are not merely the next generation of academic science, they are an important component of the current scientific labor force. Feel free to mention that this is cut rate labor as well.

On the cutting room floor is the bit where the host introduced their interview series, The Interview, and I asked how long it took to come up with the name. Anyway, here’s me talking about birds and science and burnout and moving through the world. The photo’s nice! www.nytimes.com/2025/02/22/m...

Anti-DEI is an attack on civil rights by segregationists. Most white "allies" are completely silent while segregationists attack Black people and our civil rights. These silent "allies" without a shred of shame or self-awareness, fully expect Black voters to make sacrifices to save them at midterms

Deep and thoughtful reporting on the crises of the NIH funding and review blocks. Share locally, share widely. And make sure your reps know! www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...

Every Friday, I write a debrief about what’s happening in science & higher ed. It goes out late, and is written for all the friends & colleagues I wish I could sit down and talk it through with over drinks. buttondown.com/liminalcreat...

We need to make sure that everyone understands how important science is for EVERYONE not just for scientists...

I truly think people don’t realize how many universities and colleges — especially public ones — may shut down if restrictions on and withholding of federal funding persists for even one presidency We are facing the demolition of American higher education

The National Institutes of Health had to stop considering new grant applications, delaying funding for research into diseases ranging from heart disease and cancer to Alzheimer's and allergies.

“Our Constitution protects all Americans–whether you are a professor or restaurant worker–from unlawful intrusion on speech, ideas, & expression, & it entitles all to fair process. Trump’s anti-equity directives violate these core protections” - @skyeperryman.bsky.social, CEO, @democracyforward.org

We are honored to represent @nadohe.bsky.social, @aaup.bsky.social, Baltimore and ROC, who each bravely pushed back against Trump’s intimidation & scare tactics, securing a victory for women, minorities, people with disabilities, veterans, and so many more. Full article: www.cnn.com/2025/02/21/p...

Yesterday marked one month of the Trump-Vance administration. Here's a roundup of some of the recent efforts made by the Democracy 2025 coalition to block this administration’s unlawful actions. Visit Democracy2025.org to learn more.

1. On Friday Night, it became apparent that historic LGBTQ+ clinic Whitman-Walker in DC had erased trans care and resources from it's website. The stated reason is harmful to us all. I make my case against it, and other orgs, erasing us for federal dollars. Subscribe to support my journalism.

He nails it.

@npr.org and @pbs.org are so important for sharing accurate information in areas with expensive Internet connections that frequently go out. This Native American Calling episode highlights the importance of public broadcasting for Natives across the US, including my first employer, KOTZ-AM

Deeply concerned about NSF. They fired more people than they needed and now leadership is illegally reclassifying employees as probationary. www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

Graduate admissions being put on hold because of the chaos...

Most viewed in the last 7 days from JAMA: US states that adopted abortion bans had higher than expected infant mortality after the bans took effect. https://ja.ma/3X711tB

A federal judge blocked Trump's sweeping executive order ending government support for DEI programs

Guardian article on NIH www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

My statement regarding the decision to drop the second round of the CZI Science Diversity Leadership Award funding opportunity:

PLOS has issued a statement on recent US Executive Orders and scientific integrity. We are determined to stand firmly behind our mission, our values and our principles, and against any attempt at censorship or undermining of the core principles of scientific inquiry. plos.io/3D4O8cH

I'm begging people to remember that 'meritocracy' was coined for a work of satirical fiction. It is not a real thing, and, as the satire suggested, defining 'merit' as a standalone measurable individual quality is impossible.

War on Poverty 1964 War on Drugs 1971 War on Cancer 1971 War on Terror 2001 War on Science 2025 www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Reminder - still one month to apply to be a tenure track group leader at MRC LMB. Please do reach out for any information.

Summary of the infuriating blockade of US medical research “This crisis...has already consumed one funding cycle” Carole LaBonne said. “But if this block to publishing in the register continues on much longer, it’s going to swallow two funding cycles, and that will put many labs out of business.”🧪⚕️

Once again, these include a host of individual and institutional training grants that broaden participation in biomedical research: IMSD, MARC, U-RISE, G-RISE, Bridges to Doctorates, MOSAIC, etc. This strategy is nefarious and in direct conflict with the recent injunction against Trump anti-DEI EOs

More Friday night villainy: many NIH grant opportunities that disappeared two weeks ago and then reappeared last week have now disappeared again 🤬 Search grants.gov with close date in ascending order - 2 pages with closing dates now today (2/21/25), many with archive date tomorrow (2/22/25)

Donald Trump’s firing of military leaders — four-star General Brown and four-star Admiral Franchetti — along with top legal officers is a betrayal of legions of first rate service members who dedicate their lives to our nation’s defense. This is a growing national security risk.

“What part of diversity, equity, and inclusion do you have a problem with?” www.science.org/content/arti...

JUST IN: A judge has enjoined President Trump's effort to block federal funds from going toward grant recipients who engage in DEI practices. The judge says the orgs are likely to succeed on claims that this is viewpoint discrimination, among other issues storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

🚨BREAKING: Federal Court GRANTS sweeping nationwide injunction against Trump DEI executive orders finding that they violate First and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution. A huge victory for @democracyforward.org and its clients. A stinging loss for Trump. Visit www.democracydocket.com for details.

BREAKING — States attorneys general lead by @newyorkstateag.bsky.social were just granted a preliminary injunction in their case against DOGE. The team cannot access Treasury Department payment systems or data while the lawsuit proceeds. Major.

A US Senator Joins the Fray. Thank you @murray.senate.gov ! More of this, please! www.murray.senate.gov/senator-murr...

I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but the Federal Register block is intentionally being used to stop NIH from awarding grants. They might not call it a freeze, but things are effectively frozen. We need legal action ASAP.

The perfect repost to that recent Musk 🪢 @royalsociety.org @resprofnews.bsky.social article about how scientists should stay out of politics…

New York Times article now up on Federal Register stuff. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/s... 1/n

"Science is at the core of our missions and we remain firmly committed to supporting, elevating, and fighting for science and those who further it." unitedsciencealliance.org