iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Horrific tragedy. The videos are frightening.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Hi, I'm a waterfall that people like to dive into and swim under.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Happy #ThinSectionThursday! Hope you enjoy this thin section of a bryozoan-crinoid dominated grainstone from the Permian of Western Australia.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

The band might be wider. The sky is orange in CT just now.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Same with the screwworm fly. There used to be a program that would periodically release sterile flies to keep populations from reproducing. DOGE wanted to save a few dollars.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

In the NE US, AC still often gets treated as optional in university buildings, but I don’t think that’s a sustainable position anymore.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Of course, on all four cruises I participated onthe science was exciting as heck and led to substantial improvements on our understanding of particular climatic events.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

The story that stays with me most is being in the middle of the Pacific on 9/11. Despite being thousands of miles away, the tragedy felt immediate. The way everyone came together to support one another, especially those with loved ones in NYC and at the Pentagon, is something I'll never forget.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

I'm glad to hear they are still planning to have panels.

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Reposted by Tracy Frank

Dr. Thomas Ronge @thomasronge.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Today, the legendary JR begins her last journey to the shipwrecking yard. Home to many of us, she helped to understand plate tectonics, climate, deep biosphere, earthquakes/volcanoes, and was an integral part in international science and collaboration 🫡 www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/...

The research drillship JOIDES Resolution sailing into the sunset.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

It's also viewed by many as a potential lever to get Trump and the Republicans to change course. Rising costs are tanking approval ratings & we know how he feels about that. There aren't many ways to fight the administration with the GOP majority across government. Petrol prices might be one way.

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Reposted by Tracy Frank

The Geological Society of America (GSA) @geosociety.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

New in Geosphere's themed issue "Uplift History of the Sierra Nevada, USA": M.T. Hren and M.T. Brandon use leaf wax hydrogen isotope data to show that the Sierra Nevada experienced renewed uplift in the late Cenozoic. Read the full issue: geosociety.co/FossilLeaf Image: Figure 3. (A)

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Congratulations to Julia Daniel, a student in my lab group, who just successfully defended her MS thesis! Rock on, Julia!

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

UConn Gives 26 "Because of You" Undergraduate research is fundamental to the UConn Department of Earth Sciences experience. Your support helps cover critical costs, ensuring students can fully participate in these transformative experiences. Make your impact here: tinyurl.com/3se25mmv

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

🌎 UConn Gives starts now! 🌎 Hands-on experiences like this class field trip at the core of Earth Sciences at UConn. From fieldwork to research, our students gain the skills they need to succeed beyond the classroom. Any level of support helpssupport helps. Make your impact today: lnkd.in/eAYjs3NB

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Congratulations to Olivia Adams, a student in my lab group, who just successfully defended her MS thesis! Rock on, Olivia!

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

But the price per barrel is influenced by global markets. In New England, we get our heating oil from Canada. Price has increased $2 per gallon in the last month.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

I logged that section with Chris Fielding and John Isbell, many years ago. Beautiful section!

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Possibly, but I'm not sure. I've seen most of the key outcrops for the Late Paleozoic Ice Age in Tasmania, but not this one!

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Very nice. Permian, I'm guessing, possibly latest Carboniferous.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

This reviewer has to be >80 years old if they have done 60 years worth of reviewing. As an AE, I generally avoid asking retirees to do this work and I don't expect them to be keeping up with who the younger scientists are, either.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

At the same time, they are threatening to break up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Climate scientists, meteorologists, state/federal agencies, and private industry, including in CT, rely on NCAR for models, forecasts, and more.

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Reposted by Tracy Frank

Olga Nesterova @onestpress.onestnetwork.com · 22/12/2025

NYT: Trump Halts Five Wind Farms Off the East Coast The Interior Department said the projects posed national security risks, without providing details. The decision imperils billions of dollars of investments.

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Reposted by Tracy Frank

Sarah Hird, PhD @sarahhird.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Hmmm. I wonder how much $$$ UConn will spend building a whole new facility for its 9 member golf team + 3 COACHES: updc.uconn.edu/gpf/?brid=NC... Meanwhile my department is having to cut our incoming graduate class by half… #nutmegsky @uconnaaup.bsky.social

updc.uconn.edu

Golf Practice Facility | University Planning, Design and Construction

Project InformationThe University of Connecticut (UConn) plans to construct a golf practice facility for its men’s golf team. The 9-member team and their 3 ...

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Clearly!! I'm also thinking about the teaching collections, the fossil and mineral collections, equipment, and the geo library. Dumpsters? None of this will save any money when you factor everything in, including renovation, tuition and grant income, but it will generate ill will.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Something for football, I expect.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Isn't NCAR considered mission-critical by the US military?

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Reposted by Tracy Frank

Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

NSF is about to dismantle NCAR at Russell Vought's direction to protect the fossil fuel industry. It's hard to communicate just how much NCAR does, so let's take a look: I've never worked at NCAR, and I've worked with NCAR researchers once ever. What scientific discoveries has NCAR made possible? 👇

Russ Vought (piss man) tweet about doing piss man shit: The National Science Foundation will be breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country. A comprehensive review is underway & any vital activities such as weather research will be moved to another entity or location.

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Reposted by Tracy Frank

Alexandra Witze @alexwitze.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

#AGU25 folks, there is a rapid- response town hall TODAY on the #NCAR dismantling at 1 pm, La Nouvelle Orleans ballroom C (per an AGU media advisory)

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

Just saw Senator Cassidy on CNN leveraging the shooting on Bondi Beach, Australia to "prove" that gun laws don't prevent mass shootings. I expect we'll hear more of this nonsense.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Thanks for documenting all of this so we can understand how it went down! It's information for those who may someday suffer a similar fate. I spent most of my career in EAS at UNL, and so have been following closely, wishing I could do more than write letters. It's horrific.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

The Drought Monitor is in a different college and is not being cut. Sorry if I wasn't clear. That said, the loss of EAS will certainly impact them, since there were ties between.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

Those units are not being eliminated, but will definitely feel the loss of EAS. EAS does attract funding from all of those agencies. I don't know whether US DM or HPRCC are eligible for federal support.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

And despite the fact that the department has large endowments and loyal alumni, and despite the fact that the department has brought in a lot of external funding. They can't change their minds in a few years and try to bring back something that took 150 years to build. It's devasting.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

I watched the testimony, uniformly professional, compelling and factual, from students, faculty, alumni, employers, and others. I'm furious about the outcome and the process. UNL can never take this back, and the damage will go well beyond EAS. Wish I could have done more than write letters. 💔

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

At my institution, it is against policy to consider attendance alone as a factor in grading. That said, we can include a grade for participation in in-class activities, but what this involves needs to be spelled out in the syllabus.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

These cuts include eliminating the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, its degree programs in meteorology and geology, faculty, and staff.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

If only that were true, my job would be easy!

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

In case it's helpful, I leave the lid on until the last 10-15 minutes. Lovely loaf!

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

There are also a lot of physical resources in the department that will now go unused. Moreover, the department has had outstanding alumni backing, with endowed professorships, endowments to support students, as well as support to build computational facilities for geology and meteorology. 💔

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

True, but it can't happen overnight (unfortunately).

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

If there's a local orienteering club, they might have some beginner level maps for nearby areas.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

I think they want the employer to pay it, but in any case this is a terrible idea.

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

It also eliminates the geology programs at all levels.

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Reposted by Tracy Frank

Peter Wagner (a Real Dr., not a surgeon-barber/body-tech/golfer) @peterjwagner3.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

A few people have asked if there is anything that they can do about UNL's decision to cut its Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Department. There is a public feedback from that one can submit to UNL that you can access here: apc.unl.edu/fall-2025-bu... Clint Rowe (our dept. chair) has asked to get…

apc.unl.edu

Fall 2025 Budget Reduction Feedback Form | Academic Planning Committee | Nebraska

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Tracy Frank @drtracydfrank.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

My former department, where I spent most of my career. 💔

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