iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

As seen in rural Manitoba. 🇨🇦❤️

A sign that says
Hot food
Cold drinks
Tackle
Cannabis!

Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

A career highlight was the Winnipeg meeting, in my hometown. So fun to be with old friends, see folks discover how pretty great Winnipeg is, and present in the same session as some of my favourite scientists. Best of all was how wonderful it was seeing my own students present their work! 2/2

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

I secretly snuck into the first #SCEECSEE20 meeting! I had just come back from six months of backpacking and landed in Toronto a couple of days beforehand. @ariannealbert.bsky.social I subsequently attended and paid for (well, @sarperotto.bsky.social grants paid for) many more in grad school. 1/2

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

🇨🇦 We should also push our government to end the Safe Third Party Agreement. This blocks anyone who is in the US from applying for refugee status in Canada. The US is not a safe country for refugees. People who are following the rules and doing everything right are being disappeared into ICE custody.

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Just look at this phenomenal content currently at the top of r/winnipeg.

Iconic Rod Peeler photo of him standing beside one of his real estate for sale signs from a 2017 CBC article.

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

How did humanity get so ugly when the world is so beautiful?

Winter morning with hoarfrost on trees and different colours from light pink to deep blue in the sky.

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Winter moment of zen for a world that seems to have gone crazy. Hoarfrost morning #3! This time with blue skies and a beautiful moon view. Everyone @umanitoba.bsky.social should really take a morning walk today, it’s utterly beautiful out there.

Blue skies and hoarfrost trees with a field of snow

Blue skies and hoarfrost trees with the moon

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

On the other hand, @umanitoba.bsky.social gets a 10/10 from me so far for this winter for clear bike paths. This is how you do. Bonus pic- beautiful hoarfrost on campus this morning!

Hoarfrost on University of Manitoba campus trees

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

I admit I have no domain expertise in this, but surely it can't be that hard to schedule the sidewalk and bike lane plow to come after the road one? Alas, I think this is a feature, not a bug, for #Winnipeg, which purposefully prioritizes cars over #activeTransportation at every opportunity.

Perfectly plowed road with snow windrows covering the bike lane

Snow windrows from the raod blocking access to the pedestrian and bike signal buttons

Huge windrow blocking most of the pedestrian path over a major bridge

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

Here’s the “path” along Academy heading east towards the bridge after Stafford last night. There’s a sidewalk somewhere underneath there.

Terrible snow clearing in Winnipeg completely burying sidewalk beside very clear road.

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Winter morning zen. Aka, a thing I saw because I biked to work in -20 °C (-30 °C with the windchill) weather!

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

One of the best things that has happened on this platform for me so far is that on the day that Watson died I saw nothing positive about him but a wall of posts about Rosalind Franklin. This is the way. This also seems as good a time as any to announce that this summer I got my first tattoo!

Tattoo of photo 51 centred on the inner arm

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Totally here for Mark Carney giving Jim Halpert face in the Oval Office. #elbowsUp

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

A pal is in a relationship with someone in Gillam. She doesn't have a car. It is unbelievable how difficult it is and how many hours she requires to get there. It would faster to fly to Europe.

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

This made me giggle out loud today. We all need some giggles in our life. One that didn't make me giggle because it's all too real:

Verb the noun PP simulator: "Separate the Society"

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Immediate action item: Flood the cross-country checkup inbox. www.cbc.ca/radio/checku... @ianhanomansing.bsky.social @cbcnews.ca #StrongAsFuck #Never51 Here's mine:

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

I found some perfect books to take out from the #Winnipeg public library today. Thanks for the rec @genandgenes.bsky.social

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Seen @umanitobapress.bsky.social Grateful as always for a true press in my city that isn’t ruled by the politics of an oligarch. Out of view- the free daily newspapers in the bottom of the box. @winnipegfreepress.com

Newspaper box that says “Fact based news js good news” and “students read free”

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Some moons ago, I used to do a lot of hiking in mountains. The best of all was a multiday backpacking trip in Denali. This prairie girl will never, ever, forget reaching the summit of a peak and seeing this view. (2005 era Canon PowerShot Digital Elph FTW!) #Denali

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

We can all use some light at the end of the day (5:32 pm in Winterpeg)

The last moments of sun over a snowy field.

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Big day in Canadian politics and first day of a new semester coming up. Winter morning moment of zen from my favourite view @umanitoba.bsky.social

Sun rising below the clouds over a frozen river

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

From earlier today, winter moment of zen (in “too cold to snow Winterpeg”) - sun dog!

Sun dog (looks like a small rainbow) in the sky

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Moment of winter zen from Winterpeg.

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Moment of zen outside my office window. It's finally winter in Winterpeg!

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Good message to everyone from the cafe in my building for today.

Sign that says “may your coffee be strong and your Mondays be short”

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Seen in the Denver airport tram. Got dystopia*? *Unless maaaaybe you’re planning to hike a 14er and are not acclimated, I suppose

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

There's a quote in Ministry for the Future about how we used to travel in airplanes, and rather than marvel at the beauty of the sky, we would close the windows on it. (@bpincott.bsky.social help me out?) Here's a picture of clouds with the sun about to break, blocking the gloomy ground below.

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Hey @winnipegfreepress.com, I so appreciate having a non-billionaire influenced newspaper in town. I want to share articles/editorials like this one here. Can your webdev team please update the share options?

Winnipeg Free Press editorial showing the share links that include X (still annotated as Twitter) but not bluesky.

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 25/10/2024

"Democracy dies in darkness". Seriously, Washington Post?

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 17/04/2024

signals the end of their ability to have a viable research program. Nearly HALF of all @NSERC Discovery Grant holders can not afford even a single PhD student off their grant at the new rates (data from 2023). A small general funding increase won’t compensate. This isn’t equitable unless 2/4

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 07/02/2024

I love everything about this. The made-up word paired with branding meant to make me feel bad that I don't know what a 'Parianna' is. I've listened to all the Maintenance Phase episodes---there's no way something as artificial sounding as "Oleato" could be good for me. @michaelhobbes.bsky.social

A starbucks sign board that says "Introducing Oleato. A luxurious coffee experience. velvety smooth. deliciously lush. Infused with Parianna"

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 05/10/2023

Ready to showcase your research on microbes and their ecological/evolutionary roles? We're seeking diverse contributions to our collection in the Canadian Journal of #Microbiology. Learn more: ow.ly/42ll50PLI5P @leagrie.bsky.social

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Aleeza Gerstein @acgerstein.bsky.social · 24/09/2023

I don't think too many of my Winnipeg pals are here, but for those who are, hope to see you here tomorrow:

Poster that says
"Sunday, September 24,
Rally+March, 11am-1pm
Manitoba Legislature,
*Rally for trans youth*
We take care of us."

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