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Joni Lakin

@jlakin.bsky.social
311 followers 177 following 68 posts

Professor, crafter, world-class worrier. Educational research at The University of Alabama

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Reposted by Joni Lakin
Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 29/01/2026
Easy action of the day: It takes just 30 seconds to send a message to your representative to #RemoveRFKJr. Articles of impeachment are in the house as we speak — we need to urge ACTION! ✊📲 tr.ee/impeach-email #standupforscience #takebackscience
Ending clinical trials, canceling public health programs, attacking vaccines, closing hospitals... won't make America healthy. Got 30 seconds? Ask your rep to #removeRFK tr.ee/impeach-email
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 28/01/2026
Get in, dorks. We're ready for round two. RALLY TO TAKE BACK SCIENCE! 🔬🧪✊ March 7th, 2026 in Washington, DC Learn more at www.standupforscience.net/ma... (link in our bio.)
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Wrapping up day 1 of the Summit for Alabama STEM Education and Workforce. It's been a great day of learning and celebration Alabama's STEM Excellence #SASEW #alabamaSTEM
Virginia Davis speaking to audienceLeeanne Gleim speaking to audienceCelebration of STEM excellence with students from across the state
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
A short piece on the value of identifying academic talent. Great timing after @nagcgifted.bsky.social 2025 in Pittsburgh! @riversideinsights.bsky.social www.smartbrief.com/original/how... #nagc2025
smartbrief.com
How to see every student clearly in gifted education - SmartBrief
The debate over gifted and talented programs misses a larger point: Schools can’t deliver the right challenge until they can see every learner’s potential with clarity and precision, writes Joni Lakin...
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Day 1 of #nagc25 Please support our organization by participating in our raffles! givebutter.com/DgTin8
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Creativity night at #AAGC25 #alabamagifted is always a blast. I'm bringing squishy circuits!!! #alabamaachieves
Presentation on creativity night: STEAM fun with squishy circuits
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 25/08/2025
🚨 It’s the 20th anniversary of Katrina + FEMA workers are warning us: cuts + censorship are gutting the agency meant to keep us safe. Delayed disaster response = lives at risk. Sign the Katrina Declaration + demand Congress protect FEMA. 👉 www.standupforscience.net/fema-katrina-declaration
Newspaper image with a FEMA Worker fighting a wildfire : The Science times
VOL. 11, NO.5
SPECIAL EDITION
25 AUGIST 2025
BREAKING NEWS
FEMA
ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF HURRICANE KATRINA, FEMA WORKERS FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR NATION FROM ANOTHER DISASTER.
WILL YOU JOIN THEM?* FEMA WORKERS SOUND THE ALARM* 
FEMA is in chaos. Unqualified leaders, funding cuts and censorship of climate science are putting lives at risk.
The agency is being gutted from within, and the American people will pay the price. Image of FEMA workers cleaning up after hurricane WHAT THESE
CUTS WILL DO:
Delayed disaster responses, a reduced capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters, censorship of critical climate science information and detrimental losses of experienced staff and institutional knowledge.
All completely preventable and terrifying outcomes that will directly impact the American People.
The Trump administration is putting you and your family in danger. Image of fema worker holding a dog saved from a floodTAKE ACTION
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TO PROTECT FEMA AND SUPPORT THE DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO KEEP US SAFE.
TOGETHER, WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE LESSONS OF HURRICANE KATRINA ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.
SIGN THE KATRINA DECLARATION AND PETITION TO CONGRESS.
YOUR VOICE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
www.standupforscience.net/fema-katrina-declaration
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 01/08/2025
This August, we’re turning concern into collective action and you’re invited. Our founder & executive director @cdelawalla.bsky.social breaks it down here 👇 youtu.be/AaYs9Il9Hy0?... We’ve got the tools, training, & community to make it easy. Links in thread to get involved!
youtu.be
Stand Up for Science 31 Days of Action
YouTube video by Stand Up for Science!
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Compliance training is a fun annual tradition. This year is especially interesting as the *federal government is now requiring me to learn about the importance of *international research collaboration and working with international students.
Screenshot of training website
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 04/06/2025
President Trump has slashed funding for medical research, threatening a longstanding alliance between the federal government and universities that helped make the U.S. the world leader in medical science. Here are the nearly 2,500 grants that have been canceled or delayed. trib.al/iBstU2B
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 03/06/2025
🔔Trump’s Fool’s Gold EO is facing MAJOR backlash. THOUSANDS of scientists, academics, & physicians - including us - are speaking out against this political assault on science. Our Open Letter is featured here: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/c...
nytimes.com
The White House Gutted Science Funding. Now It Wants to ‘Correct’ Research.
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 28/05/2025
Thank you to @policyhound.bsky.social for covering this EO and our open letter. We have over 5k signatures now! You can sign here: www.standupforscience.net/open-letter-...
standupforscience.net
Open Letter in Support of Science — STAND UP FOR SCIENCE
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
UAlabama researchers not only conduct basic science but also lead applied research that translates to better medical and accessibility (along many things! news.ua.edu/2025/05/igni...
Motorized robotic walker that senses its surroundings
Lead Inventor: Xiangrong Shen
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Reposted by Joni Lakin
Colette Delawalla, PhD @cdelawalla.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
If you are in any of these cities or states and want to do SUFS things, we have people needing assistance in: Tuscaloosa Salt Lake City Denver or Boulder Ohio Indiana Iowa Minnesota Wisconsin Michigan SO, GO SIGN UP! #StandUpForScience #SummerFightForScience
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 15/04/2025
Tax Day next up: NSF! 🛰️ $40 a year. That’s what the average U.S. taxpayer pays annually to fund the National Science Foundation. 💡 Science isn’t luxury - it’s infrastructure. From disaster prediction to cybersecurity to the tech in your phone, NSF powers the systems that keep society running.
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
media.tenor.com
a baby is screaming in a crowd while a woman holds it .
Alt: a baby is screaming in a crowd while a woman holds it . let's go!!!
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American Council on Education @aceducation.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) funds education research, evaluates federal education programs, and collects and reports info about education in America to inform the public. Cutting nearly the entire staff at IES will keep us in the dark about student learning.
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
We had a fantastic turn out and participation. Most important thing was the sound system. A representative of Birmingham Alliance for Safer space hooked us up and took care of AV for the whole event. linktr.ee/bhambass #standupforscience2025
linktr.ee
bhambass | Instagram | Linktree
B.A.S.S. - Birmingham Alliance for Safer Spaces
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Jaap de Roode @jaapderoode.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Standing up for science here at the Georgia State Capitol. @standupforscience.bsky.social
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Everyone of starting to arrive at Railroad park to #standupforscience
Group gathering for rally
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
A small action you can take from anywhere for @standupforscience.bsky.social Please subscribe to the Birmingham event YT so they can livestream the rally today youtube.com/@standupfors...
youtube.com
Stand Up for Science Alabama
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
The Birmingham site for @standupforscience.bsky.social has a great line up planned with representatives from the medical field as well as researchers in immunology, neurology, and epidemiology. We will also feature community members who have directly benefited from NIH research discoveries.
Stand Up for Science
March 7
Railroad park
12-3pm
Standupforscience2025.org
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Reposted by Joni Lakin
Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
SCOOP: Now that Linda McMahon is confirmed/sworn in as secretary, Trump will be imminently issuing an executive order eliminating the Department of Education. I’ve obtained a draft of an email that McMahon will be sending to staff re: the EO and the department’s “final mission”. Here is a portion:
After President Trump's inauguration last month, he has steadily signed a slate of executive orders to keep these education promises: combatting critical race theory, DEl, gender ideology extremism, and discrimination in admissions. President Trump has also been focused on eliminating wasteful bureaucracy and harmful programs in the federal government. To that end, today he signed [Executive Order XYZ, entitled "Eliminating the Department of Education,] which has given us a clear and final mission.

We are to identify which of the Department's functions, programs, and offices are not mandated by statute, and eliminate them. This reorganization will impact staff, budgets, reporting, and more —and in coming months, we will determine how it can be accomplished with minimal delay and disruption. The President further tasked us with creating a plan to reallocate and reassign functions of the Department of Education that would be more effectively managed by other agencies. This plan will offer Congress a road map toward fulfilling the expectations of the President and the American people.

The new vision—which I hope each of you will embrace going forward—can be expressed as four main convictions:
Parents are the primary decision makers in their children's education.
Students deserve to be protected from physical violence, racial discrimination, medical tyranny, and gender extremism ideology on campus.
Postsecondary education should be a path to a well-paying career aligned with workforce needs. 
Taxpayer-funded education should refocus on meaningful learning: proficiency in math, reading, and core subjects, and patriotism in American history and civics.
As we move to reduce the Department's middleman role in education, these four convictions must guide us toward conscientious and pragmatic action. The elimination of bureaucracy should free us, not limit us, in our pursuit of these goals

Removing red tape and bureaucratic barriers will empower parents to make th
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Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Francis Collins, the NIH Director for 12 years, led the Human Genome Project and other NIH efforts for 32 years, resigned today. Key words from his resignation letter www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...
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leslie berntsen, ph.d. 😷 👩🏽‍🏫 🇳🇮 @leslie-bern.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
I’m just a girl, speaking in her personal capacity, standing in front of all of you making your little protest signs And I am ABSOLUTELY BEGGING you not to make some kind of “joke” that involves some play on the phrase “Make America Great Again” Please, please do not do that.
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 26/02/2025
So excited to see how quickly #StandUpForScience has grown from a single rally to rallies in 32 cities in 27 states and counting! Let's go! Thank you for your leadership @standupforscience.bsky.social! They also opened up a donation page 🧪 standupforscience2025.org/local-event-...
standupforscience2025.org
Local Event Information
Below are the state capitals and major cities (alphabetized by state) hosting official Stand Up for Science events. If your city is listed, a confirmed site leader—backed by our core team—is active…
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Stand Up for Science is a nationwide protest to promote awareness of the federal cuts to research. Our event is at railroad park in Birmingham, AL, 12-3 on March 7th. standupforscience2025.org
Flyer for Birmingham, al, March 7 12-3pm at railroad park. More info https://standupforscience2025.org/
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
@500womensci.bsky.social has shared these stats on how much Alabama benefits from two federal agencies. These funds mean employment and economic growth in addition to scientific innovations.
Alabama received $386 million from NIH last year. This provides $909 million in economic activity.Alabama received $103 million from NSF last year. That includes funds to protect food security, train STEM scholars, and growing EV industry.
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Dr. Rebecca Barnes (she/her) @waterbarnes.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
This is amazing 😍😍 @500womensci.bsky.social has made cards for each state on funding for NSF and NIH avail for download bit.ly/NSF_bystate & bit.ly/NIH_bystate if they are helpful for folks
bit.ly
NSF state cards - Google Drive
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Alright. Officially had a grant terminated bc of DEI. Our team was developing science labs to get more high school students interested in pursuing a STEM career in the Navy. #subversive
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Celeste Pewter @celestepewter.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Call script:
YOU: Hi, my name is [NAME]. I’m calling from [ZIP CODE].

YOU: I am calling on [HOUSE MEMBER/SENATOR] to speak out against President Trump’s actions on Monday in freezing all federal aid. This is blatantly illegal; the Executive Branch can’t unilaterally decide to ignore laws that were passed by Congress, especially when it comes to financial aid. 

YOU: MOC must take action, and clarify how they will stop the freeze and ensure that the millions who are directly impacted by financial aid will not be harmed. 

YOU: [OPTIONAL COMMENT]
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
We had another article published over the break (TY editorial teams for proofs ON Christmas. 😀) Methodologically, this is Kaiwen's work, but I'm excited about the new opportunities in eye tracking data for understanding cognitive test item engagement.
Graphs showing pattern and frequency of eye gaze shifts
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
My colleagues and I have published a new OPEN ACCESS piece on identifying sources of difficulty for cognitive test items. If you develop tests or care about item quality, you'll be interested
Example graph from paperExamples of mental rotation items
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Prof Dynarski @dynarski.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
WWE meet Department of Education
media.tenor.com
a man in a wrestling ring with a referee behind him .
ALT: a man in a wrestling ring with a referee behind him .
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Looking forward to seeing folks at NAGC24! I’ll be presenting on talent scouting to broaden identification. #NAGCgifted #gifteded #giftedminds
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Cara Cahalan Laitusis @claitusis.bsky.social · 19/10/2024
Looks like bluesky “starter packs” are hot, so I created one for assessment and measurement accounts (mostly K12 because that’s who I follow). Let me know if you want to be added but here is my start at a few of us. Follow them. go.bsky.app/DW9LoQa
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 20/01/2024
My interview with #adventuresinbeinggifted podcast is up. We talked about test wiseness, test validity, and spatial thinking. I think I did alright. I appreciate the hosts for inviting me! #ohioassociationforgiftedchildren
open.spotify.com
Test Taking and Visual Spatial Intelligence with Dr. Joni Lakin and Professor Anne Flick
Listen to this episode from Adventures in Being Gifted on Spotify. In our season finale of AIBG, we're excited to welcome two renowned experts for an insightful discussion on test-taking and visual-sp...
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Joni Lakin @jlakin.bsky.social · 12/10/2023
Squishy circuits at creativity night for #aagc
Teachers using playdoh for circuitsPlaydoh witch with led detailsPlaydoh cauldron with led detail
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