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David Kerstetter, Ph.D.

@fishguydave.bsky.social
1.1K followers 364 following 1.4K posts

NSU Fisheries & Avian Ecology Lab PI. Proud 3x W&M grad. Posts on non-biology topics too, especially regarding academia and enviro/ed politics. Opinions solely my own.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 6h
A fantastic thread that all male parents of sons should read. I'd add that yes, talk with your sons (not AT them), but also live the example you want them to become, with how you interact with your spouse, your mother, and your female friends and colleagues. They learn what they see.
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Anita Devineni @anitadevineni.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The Emory Biology department is hiring a tenure-track ecologist at any rank. Deadline is Nov 1, link below! As I've said many times before, I couldn't ask for a more supportive department. Our faculty colleagues, dept chair, and admin staff are truly awesome ❤️ apply.interfolio.com/191783
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Dominique Baker @bakerdphd.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Shot: "We asked 37 top academics and researchers who study education to rate a range of ideas for both effectiveness and cost, on a scale of 1 to 7." Chaser: "The panel included: Dominique Baker..." LOL y'all I read so many papers to complete this survey on k12 www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/u...
nytimes.com
30 Ideas for Fixing U.S. Schools, Ranked by Experts
Math and reading scores are in a decade-long slump. We asked three dozen experts: What could turn things around?
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
This horrific outcome is being repeated across agencies, as outlined in Project 2025. It’s intentional.
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David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Hey @governor.pa.gov , want the easiest win of the year? Wildly popular, good policy, real impact, low cost? Help save the academy of Natural Sciences in Philly. creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/st...
creators.yahoo.com
America's oldest natural history museum is closing this week — but not without a fight
The oldest natural history museum in America shuts its doors this month. Here's what we're losing inside (it's big), and why City Hall is fighting back.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I’d add “restore decision-making based on science” (and “restore scientific funding”), but… priorities. This list is a great start.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Semi driver filling up his tank six days ago breaks $1,000 for 155 gals: "Almost 30 years of driving trucks and that's a first." Now, imagine this scene in front of every offshore commercial fishing boat loading 2500 gals before a trip. These costs are not sustainable for most US fisheries.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Then again, historians of South Florida would recognize this as *exactly* the way that Napoleon Bonaparte Broward — 19th Governor of Florida — approached “developing” South Florida.
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Dominique Baker @bakerdphd.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
This would align with what I pointed out in last months column: the money is a means to control over higher ed. It's not a genuine interest in funding "better science." www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...
insidehighered.com
That Same Ol’ Authoritarian Playbook
Throughout history, autocrats have gone after higher ed finances to control institutions’ culture.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Anyone else miss the days when the USG used evidence-based infrastructure for decision-making? I sure do. An interesting thread 🧵 below.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Seems like it would be a great opportunity for any elected official Democrat to remind voters what they stand to protect, not just what they oppose.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The US commercial and recreational fishing interests — which both backed him by large margins — would like a word.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Wait until recreational charter boats and commercial crab/lobster boats in the Florida Keys face similar restrictions re diesel and non-ethanol gas. French and other EU countries’ fishers have blocked entire ports for less.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
My latest turtle rescue, a large-ish native Florida red-bellied cooter, just prior to release in a nearby freshwater lake — with a release assist from my excited-to-help teenage daughter.
Teenage girl standing on a dock, ready to release a 12-in Florida rebellied cooter turtle into a freshwater lake
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
In a sane world, SCOTUS would recognize that they shouldn’t be hearing these cases, that lower courts and *adherence to existing law* would be sufficient. CJ Roberts owns all of this chaos.
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Ward Q. Normal (he/him) @wardqnormal.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
The cognitive dissonance of "we can't lose the technology & innovation race to China" vs. "we're gonna charge taxes and deny visas and basically make it impossible for anyone to come here to do scientific research" is astonishing, even for this administration.
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SFDB @sfdb.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Good explainer from @theatlantic.com on the impact the proposed reduction of property taxes will have on Floridians. "...property taxes are levied on people who can afford them. The typical homeowner earns twice as much as the typical renter, and has 43 times the net worth."
theatlantic.com
The Property-Tax Revolution
States can’t afford these cuts.
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Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Cheers! #Florida craft breweries launch 'Pints for Parks' initiative. www.tallahassee.com/story/news/l...
tallahassee.com
Cheers! Florida craft breweries launch 'Pints for Parks' initiative
Florida State Parks Foundation is partnering with eight craft breweries to release special beers for public lands.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Yes, but with a tweak: two of the three are actually just too busy on social media and their phones to notice that they could have prevented us all from being there in the first place. 
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
While the article focuses on the Census Bureau, NOAA is also under Commerce, to say nothing about how this rule change could serve as a template for US scientific agencies in other departments. newsletter.platypuseconomics.com/p/the-senten...
newsletter.platypuseconomics.com
The Sentence That Used to Protect American Statistics
"Protection from inappropriate influence is a hallmark of scientific integrity." That line governed the Census Bureau and then the White House quietly disappeared it.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Indeed. I grew up in PG County, Maryland taking amazing school field trips to these museums. It’s also a daily reminder that the GOP-controlled US Congress could stop this at any time… but doesn’t.
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Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Connecting the Corridor: A state-supported land conservation effort is trying to save remaining #Florida green spaces before development creeps in. www.floridatrend.com/feature/2026... via @floridatrend.bsky.social
floridatrend.com
Connecting the Corridor
A state-supported land conservation effort is trying to save Florida’s remaining green spaces before development creeps in.
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MGB💙 @wtpmary.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
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Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 01/09/2026
"Under systems of intimidation and fear, seemingly impartial processes [for hiring, promotion, and recognition] will tend to reward whoever is least targeted by censorship. " - J. Nathan Matias @natematias.bsky.social Essential reading.
blog.ucs.org
Protecting Science from Government Intimidation
In an era where people can easily publish ideas and find an audience online, how much damage can a travel and immigration policy actually do to the integrity of science and industry? Lots.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
A really good read on why our Navy is structured as it is, as well as what we’re losing under our dimwitted current (mal)Administration.
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Matt Shipman (he/him) @shiplives.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
“Sad” = absurd, infuriating, and tragic.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
The worst part of this EO (like the EO renaming the Gulf) is that otherwise bright, insightful agency employees are legally required to follow this bullshit. Most seem visibly pained when they have to explain the renaming, both during live presentations and in their written explanations in papers.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
The most amazing cover song you'll see this week. We truly lost a national treasure.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
An interesting take that I want to digest further. However, I certainly notice in my own college classes that women are generally more organized and more engaged. Whatever the ultimate reason, it’s an increasingly unhealthy divide for society. celestemdavis.substack.com/p/male-fligh...
celestemdavis.substack.com
Why aren't we talking about the real reason male college enrollment is dropping?
We would rather talk about literally everything else.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I’m saddened by the loss to humanity today but simultaneously reminded of the change that even one person can do with goodwill in their heart. We need to remember that take-home. Thank you and Godspeed, Dolly.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Clearly, I’m not the only one who noticed.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
We so soon forget — or never learned — that the destruction of civil service employment protections was an explicit Project 2025 goal. It’ll take a lot of assurances to get those good folks back and/or recruit new ones.
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Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
NSF just announced its GRFP solicitation due in October - deadline varies by field: www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo... Now for the bad news... * NSF estimates they will issue 1,500 awards, down from 2,500+ last year. * NSF removed STEM Education and Learning Research as a Major Field.
nsf.gov
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Competency was a liability in Trump I, which is why “the adults in the room” were all either excluded or purged in Trump II. There was never, ever even the hint of a mystery why we couldn’t “win” a war-of-choice against Iran.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
The quote of the year. If repairable at all, the destructiveness of this (mal)Administration on the US reputation will take decades to rebuild.
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 24/08/2026
🚨WARNING🚨 Today is the LAST DAY to leave your public comment on the NSF Proposal. The Proposal implements some of Vought's Science-Destroying OMB Proposal plans in advance: zurl.co/9nywR Leave your public comment TODAY using our guide & tool: fight2win.standupforscience.net/campaign/Pro...
fight2win.standupforscience.net
Stand up for Science
Stand up for Science
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
“Come from Away” is an amazing musical based on this story — we re-listen to it every September. How the US government is now choosing to demonize *Canada* is a statement. To my Canadian friends and family, please know that we are fighting this abhorrent decision as best we can. Elbows up, indeed.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
If I’d written on a law exam simply an answer, my profs would’ve laughed at it. Given the short decision by CJ Roberts to stay the injunction that would’ve halted East Wing construction, we should put it in everyday context. If they don’t show the work, we don’t need to follow SCOTUS either.
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Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
year 1: there's still grant funding, but we may need to change how we talk about our work, or what we work on year 2: the government has disappeared one billion dollars of science funding. it is unclear why they did that or where that sits within concepts like "the rule of law"
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Matt Shipman (he/him) @shiplives.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Buying rare books so that you can feed them to a machine and then destroy them sounds like the plot of a cartoon bad guy in the 1980s. But it’s real now. These people are just total jerks. www.404media.co/we-tracked-a...
404media.co
We Tracked a Shipment of Rare Books. It Ended at an Amazon AI Training Facility
We placed a tracking device in a shipment of rare books to see which AI company was buying it, and found an Amazon facility where Amazon scans and destroys books.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
I actually do try to moderate my language here, but as a prior service member, it’s infuriating that (a) it’s *still* happening, (b) GOP Senators and Representatives aren’t being grilled about it by the press, and (c) it’s not front-page, leading story stuff on every venue.
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David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Ten very bad, no good things the latest Trump Administration has done to the oceans – Southern Fried Science
southernfriedscience.com
Ten very bad, no good things the latest Trump Administration has done to the oceans
The last 18 months have been an absolute nightmare for U.S. ocean and conservation policy. But here are the top ten worst things (in no particular order) this administration has done to marine cons…
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
For those in the back, this is how peer-reviewed science dies at the hands of political missives. US science developed a mechanism for removing political influence on funding decisions; this rule change eliminates decades of work. If you’re a scientist that votes for any Republican candidate, GFY.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Every local TV station and newspaper should be checking *right now* whether any of their local folks are aboard. I suspect that their family members would like a word.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Another way of framing this wildly erratic and costly decision is: “Who would benefit from this order?” If your easy answer is Russia or China (ie, a Taiwan invasion), then there might be a reason for that.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Another reminder that this (mal)Administration wouldn’t be able to do these regulatory changes without someone knowing specific details about these programs. Russ Vought is an easy target, but they also have some folks within these agencies that are similarly complicit.
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Anonymous Potato @anonymouspotato.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
EcoEvoJobs 2026-27 just opened for business and we've already got 79 faculty / permanent jobs listed. Please repost! ecoevojobs.net
ecoevojobs.net
ecoevojobs.net 2026-27
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
A great thread. The systematic dismantling of the administrative state was well-planned by the execrable Heritage Foundation in its Project 2025. We'll need an opposite of the similarly execrable Russ Vought to even start to rebuild it -- and the guardrails to prevent this from happening again.
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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Yes, I will be that one anti-AI person. Anyway, some good advice here, and same concepts apply to those students looking for MS/PhD program major advisors. We can see a list of accomplishments in your CV. Instead, tell that potential advisor how/why you’d help make their lab group better.
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Jeff (Hot Type) Jarvis @jeffjarvis.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
WTF, NYer. "If we agree that college primarily serves a credentialling process that stamps select young people as worthy of work..." We do not. So much for the bastion of erudite journalism. This is sensationalism, damaging our most vital institution: education. www.newyorker.com/news/fault-l...
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