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sarahhird.bsky.social
Associate Professor at University of Connecticut studying evolution & bird microbiomes. More importantly: I’m an aspiring anti-racist, raging feminist & trying to ACT NOW on the climate crisis. Please read The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg et al.
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Today I’m grateful for our local library’s semi-annual book sale. Not a bad haul for $8.

submitted 4 days ago • 1 comment

Connecticut is still loading. I think.

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment

So I did this today: banged out a couple hundred words of a pitch while managing lab, sent it to the opinion page editor at the newspaper my parents still somehow get in print, and got back a "yes" in, I absolutely kid you not, under 15 minutes

submitted 7 days ago • 7 comments

I do this with my students sometimes and it can be cathartic. So. As a gif - how y’all doin?

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

Firings happening right now at the NSF.

submitted 8 days ago • 45 comments

A jaw-dropping lack of understanding. About, well, everything? I think?

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

NEW PAPER: Geographic distance, not host factors, shapes Canada goose gut microbiota. Microbial diversity correlates with state + geography. Machine learning predicts state + flyway of origin from bacterial composition alone. ➡️ https://vist.ly/3mv5qi2 #ornithology #microbiome

submitted 10 days ago • 1 comment

This graphic is…fascinating. How do you lose a fight to a rat? How do you win a fight against an elephant?? We are a very silly species.

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

ctnewsjunkie.com/2025/02/15/u... #nutmegsky

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

Professional societies stand together in defense of science & scientists. “science has led to humanity’s greatest advances, improving people’s lives & the health of our planet … (we’re) committed to supporting, elevating, & fighting for science & those who further it.“ www.unitedsciencealliance.org

submitted 14 days ago • 7 comments

I’m starting to worry that the general public has as little knowledge about how science/academia works as I do about how literally everything else works.

submitted 14 days ago • 1 comment

Saw this special blooming orchid at the UConn Botanical Collection today. It improved my day. And made me think: not all science cures cancer. Documenting and protecting and cherishing biodiversity should also be valued and supported for the good of society.

submitted 15 days ago • 3 comments

Press conference (everyone welcome!) this Friday with AAUP to support 16 weeks paid parental leave for UConn employees! I ❤️ 16 weeks! #nutmegsky #UConn

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

I almost never remember my dreams but last night I dreamed the final Super Bowl score was 45 - 672. Presumably for the Eagles but there’s no way to be sure.

submitted 16 days ago • 0 comments

Heck yes. Scientists standing up for science! (And also for humans.)

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

I’m looking for book recommendations on the topic of fascism. If you have any ideas, please let me know!

submitted 19 days ago • 4 comments

I usually reserve this account for my personal views; but today I want to represent my position as President of @asn-amnat.bsky.social to post a message that will shortly go out to the membership of the American Society of Naturalists from the ASN Executive Council

submitted 20 days ago • 35 comments

“USE THE WORDS, NOT THE ACRONYM” seems like a GREAT idea.

submitted 21 days ago • 0 comments

asm.org/press-releas...

submitted 23 days ago • 1 comment

Happy to see this :) LEGO Ideas - The Evolution of STEM Building Set with Marie Curie, Sir Isaac Newton and George Washington Carver minifigs. www.lego.com/en-us/produc...

submitted 23 days ago • 2 comments

My letter to ASM leaders that I sent is too long to be posted here, so I'm going to post highlights in case anyone else needs information for their letter. 🧵

submitted 24 days ago • 10 comments

I’m an editor at mSystems. Anyone considering resigning (from ASM journal editorial boards)? Or is contacting leadership more effective?

submitted 24 days ago • 0 comments

So what. We just…go back to work tomorrow? Like…like normal? And basically do last week over again?

submitted 24 days ago • 0 comments

The opposite of Diversity is homogeneity. The opposite of Equity is bias/unequal. The opposite of Inclusion is exclusion. The opposite of Accessibility is inaccessible/gatekeeping. The opposite of Justice is injustice.

submitted 27 days ago • 1 comment

They want to ban the teaching of the unpleasant facts of American history because people might conclude injustices in the past that contribute to inequalities in the present should be rectified, instead of their belief, which is that some groups of people are inherently superior to others

submitted 28 days ago • 350 comments

Striking “DEIA” from the world in the name of protecting the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is literal doublethink. And also horseshit. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

submitted 28 days ago • 1 comment

*TRUMP'S FREEZE ON GRANT FUNDING TEMPORARILY HALTED BY JUDGE per @zoetillman.bsky.social

submitted 29 days ago • 6 comments

UConn breaks the silence - today.uconn.edu/2025/01/mess...

submitted 29 days ago • 0 comments

This pin has been taped to my computer since HRC ran in 2016. It’s the small things.

submitted 29 days ago • 0 comments

This is the white lady energy I aspire to bring to 2025. (The vocal one, not Buttercup, the Queen of Refuse). BOOOO! m.youtube.com/watch?v=OAQy...

submitted 30 days ago • 0 comments

Just in case you weren’t aware @carlbergstrom.com & @jevinwest.bsky.social have their “Calling Bullshit” syllabus with links to reading, videos, tools, case studies here FOR FREE: www.callingbullshit.org/syllabus.html

submitted 30 days ago • 2 comments

HAS YOUR UNIVERSITY PUT OUT ANY STATEMENTS SUPPORTING FEDERAL DEI INITIATIVES?!?!?!? Anyone??? As far as I can tell, @UConn has not & like a colleague just said, the silence is deafening.

submitted 30 days ago • 1 comment

If you’re looking for something Good you can DO - I highly recommend donating blood. High need, low effort, local impact. Plus. The Red Cross app works well and makes checking in, scheduling, etc. really easy. So there’s that.

submitted 30 days ago • 0 comments

How are y’all handling the Trump supporters in your life right now? (The ones you feel you can’t just fully cut out, that is.) Like. How do we do this. How. Seriously.

submitted 33 days ago • 0 comments

I’m starting to see the appeal of being severed.

submitted 33 days ago • 0 comments