Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtJosh Eyler @josheyler.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Excited to team up with these amazing folks to talk about the moral, ethical, and pedagogical reasons to resist the use of AI in our classrooms. You can register here: olemiss.zoom.us/webinar/regi... 16924
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 18/12/2025My first paper as a faculty member! Was a lot of fun working w/Tom Kuntzleman, Dean Campbell, & James Hurst on a new oscillating rxn for students to use in lab. You can see, hear, & measure the oscillations, which my students loved! Let me know if you need a PDF copy! pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...pubs.acs.orgExperimental Observation and Modeling of Potential Oscillations on Iron ElectrodesA comprehensive laboratory exercise is described whereby students measure oscillations in electric potential between iron and carbon electrodes immersed in an acidic solution of hydrogen peroxide. The... 030
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 11/07/2025Thrilled to have receive this fellowship to help add new skills to the chemistry curriculum that will help my students become better scientists! And thanks to the college for highlighting it! www.kzoo.edu/news/faculty...kzoo.eduThat Computes: Faculty Member's Fellowship to Benefit StudentsCecilia Vollbrecht is one of just 10 faculty members from around the country to earn a fellowship that will help students learn new skills. 273
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtOlúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · 30/06/2025I gotta say I find a lot of AI discourse around higher ed very confusing. "if ChatGPT can write your essays is college even worth it?" did people think math teachers were assigning problem sets because *they* couldn't figure out the answers? 18577681368
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 27/06/2025I am happy and tired after an awesome week of learning with the MolSSI Act-CMS group. And I regret nothing 🤣 120
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtMarie van Staveren @chemdrv.bsky.social · 27/06/2025Lesson learned from the MolSSI ACT-CMS workshop: If @cvollbrecht.bsky.social invites you to the hotel lobby for an evening 'work' session after dinner, don't bother bringing your laptop and be ready to be up past your bedtime 011
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtNelson Flores @nelsonlflores.bsky.social · 14/05/2025Two possible reasons for this are: 1.) Women, POC and/or disabled people are more likely to do equity oriented work 2.) Women, POC and/or disabled people have been marked as DEI regardless of what they do The government will try to point to the former reason when it is in reality the latter 0158
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtDr. Katy Croff Bell @katycroffbell.bsky.social · 03/05/2025📣🧪 $25k grants for those who: 1. are working on research on STEM and education (including AI and CS, graduate education and MSIs, and scholarship that aims to reduce inequality), and 2. have had a recently terminated or cancelled grant from NSF. Early-career scholars prioritized 211280
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 02/05/2025A lot is wrong in the world, but a student told me they look forward to office hours every week and I'm holding that close for the day. 020
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtPaul Byrne @theplanetaryguy.com · 29/04/2025This is a new image from #JWST. The bright points with spikes are stars in the Milky Way. Everything else is a galaxy. Everything. Else. Is. A. Galaxy. 607188024034
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtDavid Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 21/04/2025It's really ok to say "I am not well-informed enough about this news item that people are discussing to feel like my opinion will contribute meaningfully to the discussion, and therefore I will choose to say nothing." 520520
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtKatharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · 15/04/2025Students often talk with friends & fam about climate, @lizbarnes.bsky.social + colleagues find. But they tend to go heavy on the stats & facts, and don't know how to bring up solutions. They rarely learn how to have effective conversations, and would love training & practice. Well, guess what! 🧵lifescied.orgUndergraduate Biology Students’ Climate Change Communication Experiences Indicate a Need for Discipline-Based Education Research on Science Communication Education about Culturally Controversial Scien...Science communication is a key skill for undergraduates, but little research explores how biology students communicate about societally important, yet controversial topics like climate change. In this... 1231197
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrechtc0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 15/04/2025If you visit the Upper Peninsula of Michigan & go to the shores of Lake Superior at night, be sure to bring a long-wave UV light source so you can hunt for fluorescent Yooper Stones. "Yooper" here is a play on 'U.P.' (Upper Peninsula), but they're rocks that contain a fluorescent mineral, sodalite. 1737672
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtNeedhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · 01/04/2025Hi all, I'm hiring a junior specialist/research technician for my lab at UCSC. An ideal applicant would be an undergraduate who would like more research experience before applying for grad school but all are welcome to apply 🧪 recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01882recruit.ucsc.eduBhalla Lab - Research Specialist (Junior Specialist)University of California, Santa Cruz is hiring. Apply now! 24156
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtDrug Monkey @drugmonkey.bsky.social · 04/03/2025For any REI members who may not realize there is a Board election, or that it is contentious, see this. I ended up supporting one and not supporting the other two. do your research, make your call and VOTE. 7262143
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtLiz Neeley @lizneeley.bsky.social · 17/02/2025Does anyone have a running list of universities that have paused or slashed graduate admissions? We’ll add it to ours if it doesn’t exist 37754
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtDr. Robin Bond, biogeochemist at a PUI 🧪 @diygeochemist.bsky.social · 13/02/2025Hey folks-- If you're a recent (or soon-to-be) analytical chem PhD, or if you know of one... We're hiring a 1-year VAP as sabbatical replacement. We don't do a national search for 1-year positions; it's completely word of mouth. DM me if you want details. #ChemSky 137
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtCooper Battle @chbattle.com · 05/02/2025Extremely disappointed to see HHMI decide to kill their Inclusive Excellence program, including terminating the current IE3 awards to over a hundred institutions effective this year in the middle of a 6-year grant. I was hoping HHMI (and other private funders) would continue to lead the way. 15344141
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 31/01/2025Way too much going on in the world. So here’s a #funnyfriday from our dept hallway where we put up a new chemistry joke each week. And yes there is a backstory to the crepe paper horse 020
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 30/01/2025Another day of checking the news post-coffee and wanting to scream. 020
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtAaron - Thorgi's Haunted Arcade @thorgisarcade.bsky.social · 28/01/2025I used to work for an elected official as the person who answered their emails. I can tell you from personal experience, if even twenty or thirty people all call an official in a day, they start panicking. This stuff does help. 8181874158
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtJacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 23/01/2025What can you do? Talk loudly about what government actually does for you. Call your reps and tell them to protect federal research and to make government work for all Americans. Write op-eds. Talk about the medical research that saved your life. Share your stories. Help people make the connections. 219777
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtEllen Roche @ellroche.bsky.social · 22/01/2025Fellow scientists, please consider speaking w/ media about what this means for "regular Americans." The link below is to contact a reporter who's collecting stories about the unfolding NIH situation - pls share anonymously or on record. @anniewaldman.bsky.social www.propublica.org/people/annie...propublica.orgAnnie WaldmanProPublica is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. 221260849
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtJenny Yang @chemjen.bsky.social · 23/01/2025Saw people posting on this and was hoping they were isolated incidents… but nope, it’s real and it’s bad www.science.org/content/arti...science.orgTrump hits NIH with ‘devastating’ freezes on meetings, travel, communications, and hiringResearchers facing 065
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 22/01/2025Day 5 of a 3 day weekend. And I don't teach on Thursdays... 010
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 19/01/2025Local government and elections have a lot of power on communities….just another reminder 020
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 16/01/2025Haven’t had a coffee shop workday in a while and it’s bringing me a lot of joy and productivity this morning. Most impressive is maybe the fact that I even had a morning without meetings. 030
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtSarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 14/01/2025I am extremely excited to announce that for the first time ever, Skype a Scientist is offering mini-grants to support IRL science communication!! Communicating science out in our communities is critical. We want to enable others to get their projects off the ground! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...docs.google.comSCIENCE IRL: Community SciComm mini-grantSkype a Scientist is offering $300-1,000 mini-grants to support boots-on-the-ground science communication. The Science IRL mini-grants will support projects that put either 1) important science messa... 20863424
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtAndré K. Isaacs @drdre4000.bsky.social · 12/01/2025Happy to announce I will be guest editing a special issue highlight PUI research! Please share axial.acs.org/cross-discip...axial.acs.orgCall For Papers: Undergraduate Research as the Stimulus for Scientific Progress in the USA | ACS Publications Chemistry BlogThis Special Issue will highlight the significant research activities at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) in the United States and their unique focus on fostering student engagement in STEM... 612662
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 12/01/2025My partner (a biologist) just asked me (the chemist) if it was cooler to root for a "really smart bird or an alloy" and we are now rooting for different teams in this football game (which neither of us had strong opinions on until 5 minutes ago). 0130
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 10/01/2025I have my first students graduating (all undergrads) from my lab this year. I'm trying to think of some fun graduation traditions for the lab! What are everyone's favorite traditions they have/have seen? 151
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtBCCE 2026 @bcce2026.bsky.social · 09/01/2025It's not to early to start thinking about how you will contribute to #BCCE2026! We have six #forward looking Conference Contexts around which programming will focus. What symposia would you like to see associated with these Contexts? #chemistry #chemsky #ChemEd #ChemEdResearch 021
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 19/12/2024The meeting you didn't realize you were stressed about til it was over is either the best or worse kind of stress. Like no wonder I couldn't focus all morning even though I told myself I wasn't worried. Verdict is still out. But I am glad it is over 000
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtOChemistree Competition @ochemistree.bsky.social · 18/12/2024We have winners! Well done everyone & thank you for sharing your festival creations! There were many great ideas this year for the theme of "Complex Molecules" Check them out in the link here, and follow the hashtag #Chemistree and #OChemistree ochemistree.wordpress.com/2024/12/18/o...ochemistree.wordpress.comOChemistree Winners 2024Well done to everyone who entered this year. We had plenty of Chemistree’s to choose from once again! Thank you for sharing your chemistree creations with us, it always brightens up our Christmas t… 3289
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtShannon Watts @shannonrwatts.bsky.social · 17/12/2024"Stop asking why schools don't have bulletproof glass and metal detectors at all the doors. Ask why schools have to. That's the question that needs to be asked,” Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes 362174554216
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtRike Stelkens @stelkens.bsky.social · 11/12/2024Posting this cartoon every once in a while for anyone struggling with imposter syndrome. I think it's a really helpful perspective. I don't know who originally made this, please add a link if you do. 🧪 316442
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 11/12/2024Note of appreciation for the people that don't wait until the first week of the term to schedule our weekly meetings with >5 people. Hard enough to find a time even before everyone has office hours and other meetings scheduled in. 000
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtDr. Kat Napaaqtuk❄️ @napaaqtuk.bsky.social · 10/12/2024I will never pass up posts about lab safety gone wrong, in part bc there are always more stories in the replies. 🧪 1213024
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtDakota McCoy, PhD @reallymccoy.bsky.social · 09/12/2024New paper out! We show that heart cockles use bundled fiber optic cables to transmit light through "skylights" in their shell for their photosynthetic algae. The skylights filter out harmful UV radiation. These coral analogues are cool critters!! www.nature.com/articles/s41...nature.comHeart cockle shells transmit sunlight to photosymbiotic algae using bundled fiber optic cables and condensing lenses - Nature CommunicationsSome bivalves have evolved photosynthetic symbioses. Here, the authors show that heart cockles transmit light through their upper shell to internal photosynthetic symbionts, using mineral fiber optic ... 5309109
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtDavid Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 04/12/2024Science friends 🧪🌎🦑, @altmetric.com tracks Bluesky posts now! Quote or reply to this post with a link to the paper you’re best known for or most proud of, and a brief plain-language summary of what you found and why it matters! Let’s fill Bluesky with SCIENCE!media.tenor.coma man with glasses and suspenders is standing in front of a group of people and says science !!ALT: a man with glasses and suspenders is standing in front of a group of people and says science !! 121681171
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 04/12/2024Discussion point that came up with a group of pchem instructors today but applies to a lot of educators. What exactly are we trying to teach when we say we are teaching problem solving? Thoughts? 100
Ceci Vollbrecht @cvollbrecht.bsky.social · 03/12/2024This is one of those weeks where I love the trimester system. (Our classes & finals wrapped up before Thanksgiving). Making note of this now to remember when we are still having classes in June. For now though, writing, emails, & deep thinking time on the couch at home with snow outside is so nice. 000
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtFerris Jabr @ferrisjabr.bsky.social · 27/11/2024I was deeply disappointed by the lack of nature/science/climate/enviro on many major end-of-year book lists—so I decided to make my own! Introducing: ✨🎁📚 The 2024 Holiday Gift Guide to Nature & Science Books ✨🎁📚 Please share: Let's make this go viral in time for Black Friday / holiday shopping! 35394172638
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtAlex Brown 🇵🇸 (they/them) @bookjockeyalex.bsky.social · 25/11/2024Speaking of clicking links to articles I’ve written about books, NPR’s Books We Love 2024 is live! I have a ton of recs in here. 🧵 apps.npr.org/best-books/#...apps.npr.orgBooks We LoveHere are 350+ great reads from 2024 hand-picked just for you by NPR staff and trusted critics. 822375
Reposted by Ceci VollbrechtJohn Janetzko @jjanetzko.bsky.social · 26/11/2024“May you all be rated above the mean” 041