iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

The Division of Social, Biological, and Economic Sciences in NSF is gone. It used to support the history of science, too. What are the consequences? www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/o...

nytimes.com

Opinion | We Can’t Know Our A.I. Future if We Don’t Study It (Gift Article)

Just as A.I. is poised to change the world, we’re losing our best ways of studying what that change will look like.

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Brant Reeves @bireeves95.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Absolutely 💯 “The best legacy we can leave our children isn't more infrastructure. It's healthier rivers, cleaner lakes, and protected aquifers.”

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Reposted by Kathryn Olesko

Will Thomas @williamthomas.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

We have a new landing page for the three Robert Oppenheimer oral histories we released this spring. You can now access audio/video on the same page as the transcript. We also have video from the fireside chat event we had with two of Oppenheimer's grandchildren, Kai Bird, and Dave Kaiser.

aip.org

Robert Oppenheimer: Oral histories

Three interviews in AIP's collections explore Oppenheimer's perspective on his life and work.

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Reposted by Kathryn Olesko

Will Thomas @williamthomas.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

A blog post from our summer Society of Physics Students intern Amelie Heying on the American Astronomical Society's 1978 decision to not hold future conferences in states that hadn't ratified the Equal Rights Amendment. Particularly interesting on how the question of what is "political" was debated.

aip.org

Equal Rights Amendment Controversy in the American Astronomical Association

How the Women’s Rights Movement Collided with the AAS

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

This is what happens when you object to the admin's actions againat science. DISGUSTING! substack.com/@formernih/n...

substack.com

Former NIH Program Staffer | Substack

Click to read Former NIH Program Staffer, a Substack publication.

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

In May, Republican lawmakers argued for defunding that the NAS b/c the climate sci chapter of the REFERENCE MANUAL ON SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE (produced by NAS) “violates Gold Standard Science” and because the NAS excluded scientists with differing views on climate science. www.aip.org/fyi/republic...

aip.org

Republican Lawmakers Suggest Cutting Off Funding for National Academies

A letter from 11 Republican representatives has caught the White House’s attention.

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

The deadline for posting objections to the proposed OMB rules restricting federal grants ends tomorrow. Post yourobjections now.https://wapo.st/4fwgGMw

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

The Smithsonian includes scientific institutions, among them, the NMAH, National Museum of Natural History, and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. The executive branch is seeking to control them. Yet another attempted takeover of the scientific enterprise. www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026...

theatlantic.com

First the Kennedy Center, Now the Smithsonian

How long can the museum system’s leader, Lonnie Bunch, survive?

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Reposted by Kathryn Olesko

Liz Neeley @lizneeley.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Oh I *LOVE* the @planetarysociety.bsky.social's dashboard of OMB proposed rule changes. The clarity of their thematic clusters is great, but the insertion/deletion tracked changes is outstanding. I hope everyone prepping comments makes great use of it. dashboards.planetary.org/rules-change...

Screenshot of dashboard summarizing OMB's proposed changes to 2 CFR.

Thematic cluster 1: Political control of grantmaking is described as,
"New rules let political appointees deny and rescind grants based on research topic, institution, or a recipient's activities."
They cite three sections, each of which you can click to see tracked changes.
§200.204
Grant competitions exempt from public notice
Agencies must normally post every funding opportunity on Grants.gov. This adds an exception letting an agency head keep a competition off the public site whenever they decide it serves the “national interest.”

§200.205
Political-appointee review of grants
A senior political appointee must personally review and sign off on every discretionary grant before it is awarded. They can reject any applicant and need not defer to the scientists who peer-reviewed the proposal.

§200.340
Grant termination without cause
Lets an agency cancel a grant mid-project simply because it decides the award no longer fits “agency priorities or the national interest.” No finding of fraud or noncompliance is required.

Screenshot of track-changes view for 2 CFR Section 200.205
Note at top says that 17 paragraphs are changed. 22 additions are highlighted in green text and 5 deletions highlighted in red text.

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

“Who Controls Science”? By Jorge A. Huerta-Pérez On the relationship between power and knowledge and how certain types of science can be and are suppressed. The author focuses on Nicaragua, but the analysis applies to the US as well. sciencepolitics.org/2026/06/10/w...

sciencepolitics.org

Who Controls Science? - Science Politics

Competing narratives emerge not because evidence is inherently ambiguous, but because power determines which knowledge is visible, legitimate, or silenced.

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Reposted by Kathryn Olesko

ESA Space Science @science.esa.int · 04/06/2026

Mars Express was crucial to this study, with its mineral-mapping OMEGA instrument spotting extensive clay deposits in this part of Mars. Clay requires liquid water to form, potentially indicating a huge ocean once existed where Rosalind Franklin will look for signs of life 👇 🔭 🧪

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Margaret Harris @drmlharris.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

I'm delighted to share that my deep dive into the early history of the physics Nobel Prize has been named as a finalist in the 2026 Association of British Science Writers @absw.bsky.social awards. It's such an honour to be in the list with so many great writers! 🧪⚛️ www.absw.org.uk/pages/meet-t...

absw.org.uk

Meet the finalists – ABSW Awards 2026 | Association of British Science Writers

Who has made it to the finals in the ABSW Awards 2026?

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Another federal data system dusmantled, without any input from the public or scientists www.nytimes.com/2026/06/01/c...

nytimes.com

Trump Administration to Dismantle Ocean Monitoring System

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

An uplifting opinion piece on how Hungary just must provide a model for taking back the US from all this corruption and nonsense. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/29/o...

nytimes.com

Opinion | This Is the Formula That Defeated Orban. It Would Defeat Trump, Too.

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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 29/05/2026

Vought is trying to destroy American science as we know it. Here's what you can do to stop him: 👉 Visit our action center: zurl.co/Hsflw 👉 Donate to Fuel the Fight for Science: zurl.co/mQlwe LINK IN BIO

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Reposted by Kathryn Olesko

elizabethginexi.bsky.social @elizabethginexi.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Calling all Scientists! Research Administrators! Deans! Fans of Science! No one is coming to save us. Here is your assignment. I have written a step by step, easy to understand "how-to" document to help you comment on the proposed OMB rule. elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/what-we-ne...

elizabethginexi.substack.com

What We Need to do NEXT: OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule (OMB 2026-10817)

What OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule Means in Practice

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Reposted by Kathryn Olesko

Princess Vimentin PhD | Cancer Biologist @princess-vimentin.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Make your voices heard! The proposed OMB rule negates peer review for approval of grant applications. The political appointee will have the power to randomly override peer review. The last thing we need is the fear of grants getting terminated based on whim. Russ Vought is all over this.🧪

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Reposted by Kathryn Olesko

Marie 🇨🇦 @pawbaby2.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

The DOJ didn’t delete Jan. 6 records quietly. They bragged about it. “We are proud,” they said. So @lawfaremedia.org recovered 5,769 pages…95% of what was scrubbed and published them all. They can’t erase what happened. #USDemocracy #Pinks www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...

lawfaremedia.org

The Justice Department Erases History; Lawfare Restores It

Last week, the Justice Department deleted thousands of press releases related to the Jan. 6 insurrection and other matters. Here they are.

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Reposted by Kathryn Olesko

Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 30/05/2026

While regulations.gov incorrectly lists this action as "closed for comments", you can submit your comments directly here: www.regulations.gov/commenton/OM... My response is below, but don't feel that you need to draft anything nearly so long-winded. A short statement will also be very helpful.

For the better part of a century, US science has been the envy of the world, propelled by Eisenhower-era
investment in every level of research and education, up through and including the American research
university system. The best and brightest from around the world have come to the United States to study and
work. Some stayed, bringing their exceptional talent here; others returned home, often carrying with them
professional norms, institutional ties, and democratic ideals encountered in the United States, a process that
has been a critical form of US soft power for many decades. This vibrant ecosystem of science, technology,
engineering, and medicine has led the US through its transformation from a manufacturing economy to a
technology and information economy, and ensured US prosperity and economic power up to the present day.
Our funding agencies have not only promoted the technological discoveries and medical breakthroughs that
transform our world and extend our lives, but also have been instrumental in developing the human capital
that flows into our commercial science and technology sector and generates the growth and innovation that
has given US businesses a worldwide competitive advantage.
These proposed changes to the Regulations for Federal Financial Assistance undercut all of this. By
transferring decision-making authority from scientific experts to political appointees in the grantmaking
process, we lose the competitive edge and innovative capacity provided by the most eHective research
funding system in history. The numerous provisions allowing administrators to exclude individuals and
institutions based on political litmus tests serve to squander the diverse talent available in this country,
undermine basic principles of free speech, and run counter to the very ethos of science as described by
Robert Merton in 1942.
Science costs money, and scientific research is planned out on the scale of years. When any grant can be
terminated at any time for any …

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Mark Histed @markhisted.org · 29/05/2026

Scientists must mobilize against this new OMB move and @standupforscience.net is doing that. And we can’t just be reactive - we have to look to the next Trump admin steps too. To stop the destruction we have to take on the Roberts Court because it is effectively part of Project 2025.

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

On "Magnifica Humanitas," Pope Leo's encyclical on AI. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/25/w...

nytimes.com

Pope Leo Warns of Risks From A.I. in 42,300-Word Encyclical

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Worth reading. Great Britain is doing a lot to assure safe AI. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/24/t...

nytimes.com

Inside the British Lab Hunting for Dangers Lurking in A.I.

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Georgetown environmental historian Dagomar Degroot on Project Hail Mary: "Our past, present, and future, in other words, resembles the plot of “Project Hail Mary” — more, perhaps, than even its creators intended." sciencepolitics.org/2026/05/01/p...

sciencepolitics.org

Project Hail Mary Tells a True Story About Humanity’s Past and Future - Science Politics

Changes in solar environments could pose serious risks to modern life.

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Interestingly, JD Vance wrote an article in The Atlantic in 2016 m. After mentioning that his mother was a herion addict, he wrote: “Trump is cultural heroin. He makes some feel better for a bit. But he cannot fix what ails them, and one day they’ll realize it." www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

theatlantic.com

Opioid of the Masses

To many Americans, Donald Trump feels good, but he can’t fix America’s growing social and cultural crisis, and the eventual comedown will be harsh.

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

For up-to-date reflections, opinions, and commentaries on the current state of science in the world, subscribe to SciencePolitics, issued by my former home at Georgetown, the Program in Science, Technology, and International Affairs. sciencepolitics.org

sciencepolitics.org

Science Politics

We examine how scientific knowledge is transformed through politics, society, and environments.

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Reposted by Kathryn Olesko

Will Thomas @williamthomas.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

If you work in or around the history of physics, take a look at the list of past winners, think of someone who deserves it, and then find some folks who agree with you to put together a nomination. Only a bit over a month left!

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Nominations are open for the Pais Prize in the History of Physics, awarded by the American Physical Society. Information on the Prize, and a link to the nomination process, are found here: www.aps.org/funding-reco...

aps.org

Abraham Pais Prize for History of Physics

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society.

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Uplifting news, for once, and something to be happy about. There's hooe for the future. wapo.st/3Oz4xM9

wapo.st

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Argument for the humanities and informed foreign service officers, and against AI-driven machinery of warfare. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/29/o...

nytimes.com

Opinion | Is It 1914 in America?

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

You have to commend Anthropic for having a philosopher responsible for training Claude in ethics. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/10/o...

nytimes.com

Opinion | How 6,000 Bad Coding Lessons Turned a Chatbot Evil

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Yes, why have you started this war? NYT Editorial Board: “ . . . he has offered no credible explanation for why he is risking the lives of our service members and inviting a major reprisal from Iran. Nor has he involved Congress, which the Constitution grants the sole power to declare war.”

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Kathryn Olesko @kathrynolesko.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Just where "Gold Standard Science" was written and engineered to lead: the elimination of EPA's 2009 (Obama-era) guideline for controlling greenhouse gases: the endangerment finding. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/c...

nytimes.com

Trump Administration Erases the Government’s Power to Fight Climate Change

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