Sign in

Flemmy Wallstein

@flemmywallstein.bsky.social
110 followers 133 following 28 posts

I’m just gonna go with: fantastic hermit. I'm a senior science historian.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Anthony Edwards @edwardsanthonyb.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
The Hanford weather service office is closed for 5.5 hours every night due to critically low staffing levels. The Sacramento and Hanford offices collectively serve more than 7.3M Californians in the Central Valley and some of the state's most wildfire-prone landscape in the Sierra foothills. #CAwx
sfchronicle.com
‘This is a big problem’: Two California weather offices no longer provide 24/7 warnings
Collectively, the Central Valley offices issue forecasts and warnings from Redding to Bakersfield, including Lassen, Yosemite, Kings and Sequoia National Parks.
413271
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Bob Kopp @bobkopp.net · 12/05/2025
I was wondering who’s responsible for the ongoing demolition of NSF. Aside from Chief Management Officer Cheatham, whose resignation the staff union seeks, it appears to be 3 DOGE agents: Farritor (23), Terrell (25), and Riley (33). None appear to have any familiarity with scientific research.
projects.propublica.org
Elon Musk’s Demolition Crew
Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has been unleashed on federal agencies. ProPublica is attempting to document who is working with him and what they are doing.
4213123
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Thiago Carvalho @cyrilpedia.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
'I did not complete a customs declaration for frog embryos (...) this would normally result in a warning or fine. Instead, my visa was revoked & I was sent to a detention center in Louisiana, where I have spent the past 3 months with roughly 100 other women. We share one room w dormitory-style beds'
nytimes.com
Opinion | I Came to Study Aging. Now I’m Trapped in ICE Detention.
24018
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Amkg @amkg.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Disgusting.
021
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 14/05/2025
Rep. Julie Johnson to Noem: "Are you aware that ICE agent jackets are available on Etsy for $20? Anybody can throw a mask on and run around and terrorize people of color without any regard for the law because your agency does not have proper protocols to make sure your agents are clearly identified"
15273779511951
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
At the Cato Institute today, Secretary McMahon suggested that required Dept of Ed data collections could be transferred to NSF, where Trump admin is gutting its ed unit, as rightly noted below. But McMahon may also be referencing transfer to NCSES too (Nat'l Center for Science & Engineering Stats).
191
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
Senator Alsobrooks: You’ve been unable to address specific questions about your agency. Can you name which office the Safe to Sleep program operates out of? RFK Jr.: Guesses wrong 5 times Alsobrooks: It is the Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD.
408129433375
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
"For me, the answer now lies in refusal, the withdrawal of participation from systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging." Today I am resigning from the National Science Board and the Library of Congress Scholars Council. I wrote about my decision in TIME. time.com/7285045/resi...
time.com
Why I’m Resigning from the NSF and Library of Congress
I cannot participate in systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging.
471171215922
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Alt Acadia National Park @altacadia.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
In case you needed that final straw to get offline and foster real, physical community, how about a budget reconciliation bill that (inexplicably) includes language completely deregulating AI and "automated decision systems" for ten years. Do you want Skynet? Because this is how you get Skynet.
35125
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
And why the administrative shakeup with the NSF division directors matters for the approval of new funds: "The process for reviewing and approving future research grants was thrown into chaos with the elimination of division directors who were stripped of their powers."
021
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
Appreciate the vital and helpful context in this NSF update from @jillbarshay.bsky.social! "Several congressionally mandated programs are housed within the eliminated equity division, including Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) and the Eddie Bernice Johnson initiative."
hechingerreport.org
Three-fourths of NSF funding cuts hit education
More research eliminated and mass firings
11310
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
If anyone knows what is actually going on at LOC/Copyright, I would like to talk with you. Please reach out via Signal — crg.32 — via a nonwork phone.
7319103
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Jacob T. Levy @jacobtlevy.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
I know NIH is ~5x bigger than NSF but I think the gutting of NSF is getting a lot less than 1/5 the attention— in the news media and in higher ed— compared with what's happened to NIH.
1832275
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Yes! Exactly what’s needed to #SaveNSF include letters like these that use stories of **local** impact to call on specific reps in Congress.
02012
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Ankit Panda @nktpnd.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
I'll just take this moment to point out that the US Institute of Peace, just a few weeks ago, contained one of the finest concentrations of US expertise on India and Pakistan, and crisis management in South Asia.
119127493582
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Alessandro Rigolon @alerigolon.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Everybody I know at a research university works at a department that lost federal or state money in the last 5 months. The destruction of higher education is occurring at a scale and speed that nobody could imagine
1127875
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Dr. Robin Tanamachi 🌪️ @tornatrix.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
My graduate research was funded by the National Science Foundation. The research that sealed my tenure case was majority funded by NSF. Five of my graduate students have been funded by NSF. My current sabbatical is #NSFfunded. In short, #withoutNSF, I would not be the scientist I am today. #saveNSF
Prof. Tanamachi in the field with UMass Skyler mobile phased array radar in 2019. Frame grab from a Raytheon promotional film.
24816
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
ithaca-is-georges.bsky.social @ithaca-is-georges.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Scientists, tell your story in a LOCAL HOMETOWN PAPER op-ed, to publish on June 16! #McClintockLetters #saveNSF We have to move the needle on public opinion. Fight this attack by sharing how we serve the public with fed dollars, & insights into fed funded research. tinyurl.com/McClintockLetters
01612
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Gina Baucom @gbaucom.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
#WithoutNSF my research on plant adaptation won’t receive the critical funding it needs to continue studying weediness, herbicide resistance, and other plant traits that improve agriculture. #SupportNSF #SaveNSF
13319
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Physghoul 👻 🎃 @physgal.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
This is one of the absolute best resources out there for science teachers to use to help students visualize and understand scientific processes. It was a godsend during the pandemic when in-person labs were not possible. And it's free for all to use. So disappointing. 🧪🎢 ⚛️ 🥽 🍎 #WithoutNSF #SaveNSF
78629
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Steve Brusatte @stevebrusatte.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
Without the National Science Foundation, I'd be nothing. NSF funded my PhD (GRF, DDIG) on bird origins and later my work on dinosaur extinction & rise of mammals. Now it's being dismantled for pure political reasons. Our country culture & economy will all suffer. Disgraceful! #WithoutNSF #SaveNSF
3879
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 10/05/2025
(11/11) Want to help save science? Here’s how to get started: 1. Call your reps: 5calls.org/issue/nih-ns... 2. Join the fight: savensf.com/join-our-list 3. Take action: savensf.com/take-action 4. Spread the word. Science needs you. #SaveNSF #StandUpForScience #WithoutNSF
A red and navy graphic titled ‘What You Can Do Right Now’ lists four action steps to support the National Science Foundation: contact your representatives via 5calls.org, join the SaveNSF.com mailing list, check out their action toolkit, and spread the word. Illustrated icons include a megaphone, raised fist, and protestors. At the bottom, black-and-white images show people at a science march holding signs, including one reading ‘My kids’ careers require science’ and another that says ‘Brains love science’.
313573
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
🧪 Ranking member Lofgren and 11 other House dems sent a fiery 7-page letter to acting NSF director today "The cancelation of these awards suggests instead that NSF is willing to apply political censorship of awards under direction from President Trump and the DOGE teenagers" Share widely #SaveNSF
democrats-science.house.gov
10303162
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
DrDinD.bsky.social @drdind.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
This article makes a good case that every dollar spent on Federal research & development generates between $5-12 in return. In the graph below, the lower line is economic benefit alone, while the upper includes health and other benefits. So why the rush to drastically cut R&D?
Graph of benefits to cost ratio for federal R&D over time.  Bottom: 1 dollar spent. Solid blue line: economic benefit alone.   Upper dashed line all benefits (primarily economic plus health).  Graph runs from 1975 to 2020.  Peak at $8 for economic benefits and $16 for all benefits. 2020 at $5 for economic benefits, $9 for all.
13298129
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
RogueFEMA @roguefema.altgov.info · 10/05/2025
While going about your Saturday routine, please take a minute to stop and think about this. #Altgov exists because regular employees of the federal government must FIGHT this administration to simply be allowed to do the work we were hired and funded to do for the American people. THIS IS INSANE.
31985195
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Alt NIH Bluesky 🧪 @altnih4science.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Marc Andreesen received government funding from NSF to create Mosaic.
22951220
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Susan E. Brennan @susanelise.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Here is a letter that we (2 former NSF GRFP program officers) sent to the National Science Board Fri 5/9. The NSB is the Exec Branch's lawful governing board for NSF (as opposed to DOGE).
253
Flemmy Wallstein @flemmywallstein.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Hi. I'm Amy. Today's NSF's 75th anniversary, so I made a video: youtu.be/xnt2V4ygBG0 #ScienceMatters #NSFExcellence #AmericanInnovation #NSF #FederalScience #SciencePolicy #NSFRotator #PublicService #WeAreNSF #SaveNSF #NSF75 #Scienceat75 #ISupportNSF #FundNSF
youtu.be
lastnsfhistorian
YouTube video by Amy Rodgers
11814
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Judd Legum @juddlegum.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
1. Clay Jackson, a Texas lawyer, provided basic legal advice to an immigrant family fearing deportation Then, two officers visited him at his home, accusing him of "obstructing an ongoing immigration investigation" Then, after speaking publicly, he was fired from his job at a Fortune 500 company
popular.info
Fortune 500 company abruptly fires lawyer who helped immigrant family
On March 4, Clay Jackson, an attorney in the Dallas area, was at a gas station near his home when the attendant asked if he would help a local immigrant family.
1193188839140
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Brad Johnson @climatebrad.hillheat.com · 29/04/2025
Here's the chart with the off-the-charts rise in atmospheric CO2 - NOAA officials had a news story ready, but were blocked from publishing. gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/...
Annual Global Increase of CO2
02012
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Julian Sanchez @normative.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
I see the already historically unpopular president is exploring how to get the military invovled in “assisting” local law enforcement just a few weeks before the real shortages caused by his inept economic policy start hitting. Probably nothing to worry about.
388142654193
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
digby @digby56.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
This stuff has to be blown up much bigger than it has been. You want a kitchen table issue? Cancer is a kitchen table issue.
161337487
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Piper @the-pied-piper.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
Fellow Dems, This. Anyone who isn’t fighting for us right now, against actual Nazis, is never going to Every sector of America’s economy is undermined, and the rule of law that makes our economy reliable is also being dismantled. All of us face economic ruin, arbitrary punishment, and worse
1132
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Leslie Rissler @ljrissler.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
"I want parents who have children to know that opportunities for your kids, if they aspire to be scientists or engineers, are being stripped away right in front of you," the NSF employee told Axios. www.axios.com/2025/03/10/a...
axios.com
Exclusive: Science and tech agency cuts spark industry pushback
As Trump administration cuts hit research, some fear American leadership in computer science is at risk.
116391
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Emilio M Bruna @brunalab.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
My last NSF grant is going to land me in jail.
1207
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Terry McGlynn @hormiga.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
When NSF cancelled its panels at the last moment, some folks took a financial hit on their housing reservations and NSF doesn't have any way to pay these folks back. So here's a fundraiser that I'm running to collect a bit of cash to help out a few of these junior colleagues in need.
gofundme.com
Donate to Help junior scientists recoup funds from panel cancellations, organized by Terry McGlynn
Remember when the National Science Foundation abruptly cancel… Terry McGlynn needs your support for Help junior scientists recoup funds from panel cancellations
13228
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
The facts are just so disheartening.
On February 18, Dr. Andrew Frassetto, a probationer terminated by the NSF, received the OPM template (Dkt. No 18-9 at 38). In a February 13 performance review - five days before he was terminated "based on [his] performance" - Dr. Frassetto's supervisor reported in a
performance review:
[His role [is] mission critical. Dr. Frassetto has been an outstanding program director, and he has taken the lead role in overseeing this important and complicated portfolio for the division. Dr. Frassetto came to NSF with a unique skill set in interdisciplinary scientific research... He has already demonstrated an outstanding ability to balance the various aspects of his job responsibilities and is highly effective at organizing and completing all his work in an accurate and timely manner.
....
Dr. Frassetto's work on this portfolio has been outstanding and he has brought important experience to the role and has demonstrated highly competent project management and oversight. He is a program director who has needed minimal supervision and eagerly
agency.
(id. at 7-8).
NSF said: "The cause comes from boilerplate we received from OPM. The cause says that the agency finds based on your performance that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the agency would be in the public interest" (id. at 30 (emphasis added)).
228350
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Mekka Okereke @mekka.mekka-tech.com · 16/03/2025
If you think the US is getting to Mars anytime soon without NASA, the NSF, research universities, and a functioning FAA, you are not being serious. I'm not arguing with y'all on this. The European Space Agency is now closer to Mars than the US is (2040). And they might get there with our scientists
theregister.com
France offers to take in US scientists
: Aix-Marseille University rolls out welcome mat for American researchers facing funding cuts
310317
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
If the government can do this to universities, we don't live in a free society. Five alarm fire.
452399697
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Noelle @finallynoelle.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Here’s a cheat sheet with all the phone numbers for the US Senate. I have a feeling we’ll be calling them a lot in the near future.
41186535072
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Flemmy Wallstein @flemmywallstein.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Don’t forget that the penultimate paragraph of the letter references NSF’s rich history, yet as of last Friday they have no history office or historian anymore and are trying to keep that quiet.
031
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
New data from the US Treasury reveals that federal spending was $603 billion in February, which is $36 billion HIGHER than February last year under Biden. This suggests that DOGE has done nothing to cut spending.
axios.com
Trump's first month showed $36 billion more in spending than last year
This February's monthly statement showed federal payments that were $36 billion higher than last February's.
25469132597
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Judge Chuang is mulling whether to grant a preliminary injunction in a suit alleging that DOGE violates the Appointments Clause. He asked the government to file documents that reflect who authorized certain actions related to the dismantling of USAID. Some of the responses are..interesting. 1/
521969648
Flemmy Wallstein @flemmywallstein.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Matt’s great post on the NSF-funded shows of the 80s and 90s. As NSF’s senior historian I tried to do a project on this. These were the first science shows for children built on rigorous academic research. They’re the reason I decided to become a scientist. I wasn’t allowed to do this project.
010
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Frazz @mrs-frazzled.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
New Organizational Chart for the U.S. Department of Education shows the scale of the "reduction in force" yesterday. The link below leads to a PDF. www.politico.com/f/?id=000001...
politico.com
4337
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
4/4 Therefore, they demanded agency heads to: 1. Immediately share the plans for firing staff with Congress by end of tomorrow. 2. Brief the science committee within a week of potential impact on agency mission. Something to watch very closely 👀
In order to conduct oversight of NSF’s ability to uphold its mission and legal obligations, we request that you provide the Committee your Agency Reorganization Plan immediately upon transmitting it to OMB and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). We also request that you brief Committee staff, within one week of the plan’s transmittal to OMB and OPM, on how NSF created the plan, any analysis performed to inform the plan, and the projected impact of the plan on NSF’s workforce and activities.
064
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
3/4 These members of Congress therefore reminded science agency heads (e.g., NSF director) of their duty to uphold the law, even while Trump & Vought are asking them to break it.
Congress appropriated NSF the money to pay staff and fulfill your legal obligations. Firing employees and diminishing your agency past the point where it can function does not deliver money back to the taxpayer; it violates the laws enacted by representatives elected by the American people, and it violates the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.8 President Trump and Elon Musk are lying to the American people when they claim that terminations, cuts, and cancellations will put more money in Americans’ pockets. As Director of NSF, you are obligated to spend the money appropriated to your agency as Congress intended. You must ensure your Agency Reorganization Plan does not break the law.
175
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Alexis Licht @alexislicht.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Dear US colleagues, In response to the Trump administration, my university @univ-amu.fr is setting up a new program dedicated to welcoming American scientists wishing to pursue their work in France. There are several M$ in the budget. www.univ-amu.fr/en/public/ac...
univ-amu.fr
Safe Place For Science: Aix Marseille Université ready to welcome American scientists | Aix Marseille Université
In a context where some scientists in the United States may feel threatened or hindered in their research, our university is announcing the launch of the Safe Place For Science program, dedicated to w...
4423841009
Reposted by Flemmy Wallstein
Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
Again, while the NYT frets about how <complicated> Trump is, it's useful just to state things in plain language: 1. Trump & fake federal employees are dismantling pieces of the government in direct violation of the constitution & laws passed by Congress 2. Congress is doing nothing to stop it
516253