iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I pick up a lot of random books vaguely related to gender issues. While in Sweden this summer, I bought “The Bones of Birka” about the Viking warrior grave whose inhabitant was assumed male but was genetically proven female.

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Reposted by Laura McCullough

Kelly McCullough @kellydmcc.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

So, one of my oldest friends @petsnakereggie.bsky.social is dying of cancer right now and that sucks, but he is a hellaciously funny man, I am going to miss him, and I wanted to write an appreciation while he was still alive to complain about the bits I got wrong: kellymccullough.com/tim-wick-an-...

kellymccullough.com

Tim Wick, An Appreciation – Kelly McCullough

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

First-year students are so cute! This morning someone hopped on their bike and when they got to a crosswalk on a minor street they stopped fully, one foot down, and looked both ways before crossing. I give that behavior a week, at most.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Irony, you're a bastard. This is the first time in 27 years of teaching that I didn't have school stress dreams ahead of the semester. My dreams are always about missing the first day of class: I'm in the wrong building, my car breaks down, I oversleep, I have the wrong schedule, etc.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

I have had a realization that has completely changed how I view some fairy tales and stories set in ancient times. (Kelly has been playing a bunch of video games set in historic Japan.) There are many, many stories about the lazy spouse (usually a husband) who just sits around and does nothing.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Getting back into exercising and today was a glorious morning and only 65 deg F. Walked along the river and saw this fellow napping.

Lake view from a bridge with a compactly resting Great Blue heron

View of a lakeshore with a compactly resting great blue heron

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

I heard a fascinating conversation between two students last week. One was saying: “yeah, but with all the ‘tism going around in engineering…“ I guess autism really is becoming accepted when it gets a nickname.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Walking to school in 20°. In October: winter coat, scarf, midweight hat, midweight gloves. In April: baseball cap, fleece jacket, consider a windbreaker.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Grading discussion posts. 25 years ago when I started this assignment, students had mixed feelings about climate change. Now it's a given, as I was reminded by this one: " I picked [this article] because there is always talk of us having to leave earth some day...."

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Pretty sure this is an AI fail. "Hi Laura, I was looking at the presentations list for the APS Global Physics Summit and saw that you are an author on "A Committee of One's Own: A History of the CSWP" that will be presented next week. Based on the title, you might be using vacuum equipment...

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

We got into our hotel last night and I slept 10 hours. Had a leisurely breakfast, then I spent 7 hours writing the keynote talk I am giving on Wed. Normally I write talks over a week or two, so I don’t notice how much work they are. I am exhausted and my brain is just pudding. Now to bed.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Got lucky with parking at the airport and found a charging space. It’s getting harder and harder. Now waiting to board. Eight hour flight then <sigh> a seven-hour layover in Amsterdam Schiphol. Then finally we will get to Helsinki in time to collapse in a heap. Gonna be a loooooooooong day.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

New experience: I was just handed a sealed envelope from the City of Menomonie by a uniformed police officer. It is a formal records request from when I was on the City Council.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

The last two flights I have done the Touchless TSAPre and it is amazing! No ID needed, just stand for your picture. Today I walked straight to the agent, no waiting. @kellydmcc.bsky.social did not have it and was sad.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Last spring, I heard a talk by my grad supervisor Ken H. arguing compellingly for a different order for teaching intro physics. I thought about it all fall, and decided to give it a try. (Kelly's response: "Never listen to Ken! Listening to Ken means work!")

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Today for the first day of class I tried a new-to-me activity. Students wrote their hopes/fears about the class on a scrap of paper, crumpled it up and threw it to the front of the room. I picked out random "snowballs" and read the hopes/fears to the class. It was very interesting.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Proud of Minnesota, where I grew up and learned that bullies are not to be tolerated.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

My first hot tubbing in a snowfall for this season. It is peacefully quiet, just light enough to see the falling snow, and absolutely relaxing.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Crocheted most of this last year but gave myself tennis elbow doing it. Finished it a month ago and finally got to wear it!

A woman in a black and white skirt and a black shirt with a white crocheted spiderweb top.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Exciting news: I have been elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society! I am so thrilled, and my citation makes me extremely happy: "For sustained, significant, and impactful research on and service towards promoting gender equity in physics." www.aps.org/funding-reco...

aps.org

APS Fellows Archive

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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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Climate change for the...fail. Big old fail. This is the week that I start teaching static electricity. Early October. Works great since the humidity is low and static demos work well. Today will get into the high 80s and the current humidity is about 85%.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

We got a message from the cats this morning, but I’m not sure what it means.

A litter box with three long, parallel, poops slightly off shifted from each other.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

“Excuse me, can you help me find my class?”

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Hey women in physics! I am co-authoring a forthcoming book focused on helping women thrive in physics, and we are looking for success stories! We are collecting short quotes and stories from women in physics who have successfully navigated challenges they faced due to being a woman in physics.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

This has been one of the worst days in years. All I want now is to spend 12 hours in one place with a good bed and no problematic texts or calls or emails. Just 12 hours, please.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

I have submitted my grades and my gen ed assessments. I am now weeping with relief. It was a more stressful semester than ever, and I had to take several mental health days. But I survived. And my students did very well. Now to prepare for three trips in one week. <sigh> But done!

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

I witnessed an unusual encounter as I was walking home the other day. A male-female couple were holding hands and chatting. The guy said something, and the young woman whacked him on the shoulder. He said a fake “ow!” and then said “That’s not fair!” She responded with “Why isn’t it fair?”

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Last night I finished the last of Andre Norton’s Magic series. I especially enjoyed Octagon Magic and Fur Magic. I gave up on Lavender Green Magic since I thought the main character too stupid about life. A kid probably wouldn’t have that problem. They were a great gentle read for these times.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

From a student: "Laura, I felt you greatly helped show me that it isn’t scary to be wrong, as sometimes during lecture you would even get things wrong, and you would fix them and explain why you went wrong...

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

I had a delightful day at a local conference, seeing one of my undergrad professors and my doctoral supervisor. Good to see them continuing to keep physics education moving forward!

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Tonight’s dinner finds me pairing a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with a bowl of Lucky Charms in whole milk. Living the dream, here.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Uff da. Didn’t need tonight’s added stress on top of the existing piles. But I got my poster finished and can print it tomorrow, so there’s one thing taken care of. I’m not sure why I agreed to go to a local conference and present. Momentary lapse of judgment, clearly.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

This is a delightful analogy for a crappy feeling: "I have been unable to sleep or breath for the last week from an unknown sickness. I felt microwaved: cold in the middle and hot/sweaty everywhere else."

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

[Long post] Friday I took a day off for mental health and told my students that it was for mental health. I just checked my email and now I'm crying. Two students from different classes sent me notes on Friday.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

First bike ride of the season! 11.3 miles with a stop for errands. My legs will hate me tomorrow, but at the moment they are enjoying the hot tub. I very nearly had to stop on one hill but managed it in the lowest gear with much panting and some swearing.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

A palpable hit, direct to the heart. From a student: “Hey Laura, you know RateMyProfessor? Your first rating was posted six days before I was born!” Which was my fourth year teaching. Ouch.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Yesterday the dandelions popped up, and today the anthills popped up. It is finally spring!

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Feeling kind of Jewish, having Asian food for dinner on a Christian holiday. It was delicious! @kellydmcc.bsky.social had pork dumplings and udon noodles. He _may_ have been immersed for the last two weeks in AC Shadows and thereby Japanese food.

A plate with five sashimi, nine sushi, and a California roll. There is a decorative glowing cube and a small floral arrangement on the plate as well,

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Reposted by Laura McCullough

Artologica aka Michele Banks @artologica.net · 20/04/2025

Happy Easter from Chemistry Cat 🧪

Cat with glasses and bow tie. Caption of course He is risen. Helium is lighter than air

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Emotional work day. A student who has been missing for 3-4 weeks came to my office. He was visibly nervous and very apologetic. He had been dumped by his girlfriend and he “lost all his confidence.” He has been running to train for a marathon to help get confidence back. Good coping strategy! 1/x

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

2/2 "This applied physics will then be able to calculate the force of particle physics, mass and motion at lightspeed. This is also a code free systems God damn fucking computer. Thank you for your time, Have a good day. Bye."

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

1/2 Why I don't answer unknown phone numbers at work: Transcription: Hi, Laura. This is <redacted>. I have new research into the second law of motion. Update the equation to F = m * 2300.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

In spring, on my walk into school each day, I check the status of a magnolia tree that I pass. I love to feel the velvety softness of the buds, and today there were three that had just started to show white. Hopeful signs of spring. And it reminds me to be present and mindful on my walk.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

I just inhaled that book! An amazing work set in WWI with a great protagonist and a very interesting world. I can highly recommend Ghost Talkers.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

I recently finished reading Dorothy Sayers’ Clouds of Witness. It was a delight to finally get to read the trial of the Duke of Denver. Now I am moving onto Mary Robinette Kowal’s Ghost Talkers. 30 pages in and I am totally sold.

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Laura McCullough @lauramccphd.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Ugh. Four years after I started teaching. Sometimes what students write is a gut punch. "I thought that the blueberry rock looked pretty cool, and it was amazing to me that the photo was taken in 2004 the year I was born."

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Reposted by Laura McCullough

Jonathan Slater @jonathanslater.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Best cat video of the day

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