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Matt Wilkins

@mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com
654 followers 392 following 299 posts

Biologist, Founder of @galacticpolymath.com (GP). We help scientists do outreach in K-12 #SciComm #EduSky When not doing that I like doing silly voices & juggling 🧪Hire Us bit.ly/3NiUzdn 🍎Get free lessons bit.ly/GPlessons

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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 24/09/2026
this video & its connected unit is the product of many months of work with Vanderbilt researchers. Please check it out and share 🙏
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 01/09/2026
Preventable diseases getting out of control! Check out this visual of measles cases in 2024 & 2025. I made this in #Rstats with ggplot2 + gganimate with CDC data. (Yep, still here 👉 www.cdc.gov/measles/data...) 🧪 Connected to an upcoming unit from @galacticpolymath.com! Stay tuned!
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 05/08/2026
Just a little sneak peek at a simulation we're developing to visualize how vaccination rates affect public health outcomes. What do you think?
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Michael Reichert @reichertfroglab.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Check out this video highlighting our research and explaining how scientists use spectrograms to study animal communication! In collaboration with @galacticpolymath.com as part of our Balancing Act lessons for high school biology students www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLPL...
youtube.com
Spectrogram Explained: Seeing the Sounds of a Swamp
YouTube video by Galactic Polymath Education Studio
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Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 28/06/2026
Come along for a night in the swamp with @reichertfroglab.bsky.social's Lab to learn how spectrograms help us visualize and analyze the hidden world of sound! 🧪🐸🔊 🍎 youtu.be/iLPL9tqNrs4?...
youtu.be
Spectrogram Explained: Seeing the Sounds of a Swamp
YouTube video by Galactic Polymath Education Studio
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 09/06/2026
JobViz is a project I started years before I founded Galactic Polymath. My sister found her current job through an earlier version. Students don't know what they don't know. This is about giving them search terms and systems understanding for the world of career possibilities. Plz share
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Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 21/05/2026
Science class should spark “wait…WHAT?” moments. GP makes free, low-prep lessons for grades 6-college built with researchers so students can chase real questions, primary lit, and explore rabbit holes of curiosity. Please read/share! www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/turning... #SciEd #NGSS #EduSky 🧪
galacticpolymath.com
Bringing Research to Life: Turning Research into Classroom-Ready STEM Lessons — Galactic Polymath
Teachers are asked to bring complex, real-world ideas into their classrooms, often without the time or resources to make those ideas truly engaging and accessible for students.  That’s where…
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Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
On NSF’s postdoc page, the biology and earth science fields have been completely eliminated; the only remaining fellowships are in math, astronomy, engineering, and “entrepreneurship.” Weird choice not to support research on the life support system for 8 billion people. www.nsf.gov/funding/post...
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Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 12/05/2026
Out today! 🎉 Protists aren’t just pond water blobs. They hunt. Flee. Compete. Shape food webs. Duke ecologist Jean Philippe Gibert reacts to real microscope footage from our Micro Matchups series—and explains why it’s like the Serengeti in a drop of water. 🧪 🎥 youtu.be/oHhSDO9Hu74
youtu.be
Duke Ecologist Reacts to Protist Predator Battles | Real Microscope Footage
YouTube video by Galactic Polymath Education Studio
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 09/05/2026
In 10 years of doing #scicomm & STEM education, this is the most entertaining thing I've ever made. I really wish we had the budget to make 20 more of these. So fun! 😆🧪
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eke @eke.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
this is, for colbert's pretty studiously generous approach, remarkably brutal
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 06/05/2026
I haven't seen this since I was a kid, but I gotta say I do not remember this very significant plot thread. Also, man I wish we had trains youtube.com/shorts/JRPuZ...
youtube.com
Who Framed Public Transit in LA?
YouTube video by Pop Culture Detective
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Tim Varga @tvargs.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Seems like a useful framework to introduce graphs and data comfort!
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 05/05/2026
If you're teaching #dataliteracy at the K-12 or college level, I think you'll find this useful! The blog links to videos of scientists doing a "think aloud" where they model for students how they notice patterns and make sense of figures. We created it b/c we've never seen it done before
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 11/04/2026
important for students to see that tinkering with Arduinos is a gateway to "real" science. A lot of research doesn't require fancy, expensive equipment 🧪🪶🍎
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 09/04/2026
I learned a ton from Drs. Dai Shizuka and Maria Stager in making this video--so fun! 😁🪶
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 02/04/2026
Really excited to share this @galacticpolymath.com unit: The Science of Craft: Building New Materials with Old Techniques teach.galacticpolymath.com/units/en-US/19. Worked on w/ Dr. Trevor Jones for 6 months to help connect STEM to students who don't see it is "for them." 🧪🍎 #openaccess #STEMed
class.galacticpolymath.com
The Science of Craft | GP Unit
STEM is older and more expansive than you might imagine. Crafted materials, like knit sweaters and woven baskets, were our ancestors’ solutions to everyday p...
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Smart Tea Podcast @smartteapodcast.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
NEW EPISODE! We sit down with Andrew Robertson (@andrew-antdude.bsky.social) winner of the #myscijourney competition hosted by @galacticpolymath.com. Dive into the remarkable world of ants and learn how complicated these tiny creatures are! Listen now www.smartteapodcast.com/andrew-rober...
smartteapodcast.com
Smart Tea Podcast | Andrew Robertson
Ants may not be very big, but we have a lot to learn from these tiny creatures! Andrew Robertson, a PhD candidate at Georgia Tech and winner of Galactic Polymath Education Studio's 2025 #MySciJourney ...
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 09/12/2025
"every student deserves the chance to see the world like an entomologist — to think across scales and understand how the smallest lives steer planetary cycles." Even though I'm a "bird guy," Aram makes a convincing argument 😁 This is a good read! 👇
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 25/11/2025
In this chaotic world, I thank @jamesweiss.bsky.social for showing me this footage of a tardigrade "making biscuits" like a cat 😺 youtube.com/shorts/D215E...
youtube.com
Tardigrade Making Biscuits Like a Cat
YouTube video by The Microscopic Odyssey
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Andrew Robertson @andrew-antdude.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Thanks to everyone who supported me! Thanks especially to @galacticpolymath.com for hosting the competition and helping me to get deeper into science communication! More #ant research is on the way!
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Jocelyn Bosley @scitalker.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
#SciComm friends! It's the last day for late submissions to @galacticpolymath.com's #MySciJourney Challenge! www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scij...
galacticpolymath.com
Win Cash, Save Science: Share Your SciJourney! — Galactic Polymath
Join the 2025 #MySciJourney Challenge! We are looking for scientists at all stages to share their journeys in science! Teachers: You and your students can help decide the winners! #scicomm #SaveNSF
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Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 19/10/2025
This is what democracy looks like. #NoKings
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Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 16/10/2025
Time to stop doom scrolling & check out some AMAZING 3 min science videos. Your thumbs up could decide who wins the #MySciJourney challenge! 🧪🐸🪶🔊 Thanks to lead funder @ncse.bsky.social & organizers @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com @scitalker.bsky.social 🙌 www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scij...
galacticpolymath.com
Bring Authentic Science Into Your Classroom and Decide Who Wins the #MySciJourney Challenge! — Galactic Polymath
Peek behind the curtain of  cutting-edge research AND help decide the winners of the 2025 #MySciJourney Challenge! (Scientists, we’re accepting late entries until Nov. 3!)
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Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 15/10/2025
Teachers, check it out! Andrew's awesome video is part of our growing collection of short, classroom-ready videos. Watch them and vote with likes to decide who wins the #scicomm competition! #edusky
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 15/10/2025
Scientists, you can still join Andrew & share your 3 min science journey with classrooms across the US (and compete for cash prizes). Accepting late submissions till Nov 3! 🧪🪶🔉 www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scij...
galacticpolymath.com
Win Cash, Save Science: Share Your SciJourney! — Galactic Polymath
Join the 2025 #MySciJourney Challenge! We are looking for scientists at all stages to share their journeys in science! Teachers: You and your students can help decide the winners! #scicomm #SaveNSF
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Jocelyn Bosley @scitalker.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
DEADLINE EXTENDED to Oct. 12!✨ I don't need to tell you that public support is crucial to sustaining science. #SciComm has never been more important, so don’t miss this chance to give the public a window into how science really works—and why it works so well. Join the #MySciJourney Challenge!
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Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 29/09/2025
Scientists, here's your chance to remind the public about the beauty of science & why your work matters! Make a 3min presentation with a template; cash prizes! 💰 Deadline extended to Oct 12. www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scij... Funded by @ncse.bsky.social Plz repost! 🧪🪶🐸🔊 #scicomm #MySciJourney
galacticpolymath.com
Win Cash, Save Science: Share Your SciJourney! — Galactic Polymath
Join the 2025 #MySciJourney Challenge! We are looking for scientists at all stages to share their journeys in science! Teachers: You and your students can help decide the winners! #scicomm #SaveNSF
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 29/09/2025
Undergrads, grad students, professors, medical researchers, scientists in industry: help middle and high schoolers across the country understand what you *actually* do and why it matters! Be a source of inspiration amid all this chaos.
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 23/09/2025
Friends—1 week left! If you use science in your job (undergrad, in academia, in industry...anything!) & you want to help students understand what it's really like & why it's important—here's your chance! 🧪 from @galacticpolymath.com & @ncse.bsky.social 👉 www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scij...
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 23/09/2025
anybody know what kind of wasp this is?
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 23/09/2025
Friends—1 week left! If you use science in your job (undergrad, in academia, in industry...anything!) & you want to help students understand what it's really like & why it's important—here's your chance! 🧪 from @galacticpolymath.com & @ncse.bsky.social 👉 www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scij...
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Jocelyn Bosley @scitalker.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
To appreciate the power & promise of science, people need a deeper understanding of the _processes_ of science. Join the #MySciJourney Challenge to show the world what “doing science” looks like for you! Scientists at all stages are invited to submit their short videos by September 30.
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Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 13/09/2025
Scientists, only 2 weeks left to share your work, why it matters & win up to $500! It's as easy as making a slideshow with our template. This #MySciJourney challenge sponsored by @ncse.bsky.social #scicomm 🧪🔊🐸 👉https://galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scijourney-scicomm-competition-2025
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Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 09/09/2025
"...it checks all the boxes — authentic science, student-led inquiry, & ready-to-go NGSS-aligned materials..." 😊 Check out this guest post from @brewerbiology.bsky.social after teaching our free unit about @reichertfroglab.bsky.social's research 🐸🔊🧪 www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/what-ca...
galacticpolymath.com
What Can Singing Frogs Teach Us About Evolutionary Tradeoffs? — Galactic Polymath
Will female frogs be attracted to males who produce many short calls or to males with fewer, longer calls? This evolutionary tradeoff was the question my high school biology students investigated in t...
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Jente Ottenburghs | Avian Hybrids @jenteo.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Crazy discovery in ants 🤯🐜 One mother for two species via obligate cross-species cloning in ants | Nature www.nature.com/articles/s41... "Males from the same mother exhibit distinct genomes and morphologies, as they belong to species that diverged over 5 million years ago."
nature.com
One mother for two species via obligate cross-species cloning in ants - Nature
In a case of obligate cross-species cloning, female ants of Messor ibericus need to clone males of Messor structor to obtain sperm for producing the worker caste, resulting in males from the same moth...
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Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 21/08/2025
Scientists, here's your chance to share your work, why it matters, and win up to $500! It's as easy as making a slideshow and recording it. We made templates and examples to make it easier. Our #MySciJourney challenge sponsored by @ncse.bsky.social & @civicscimedia.bsky.social sky.social #scicomm
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 21/08/2025
What would you tell your younger self about why your research matters & what's happening to science in the US? I made an example #MySciJourney video (not part of the contest) & a Slides template to simplify the creation of classroom- & social media-friendly vids. Make it your own! 🧪
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 21/08/2025
What would you tell your younger self about why your research matters & what's happening to science in the US? I made an example #MySciJourney video (not part of the contest) & a Slides template to simplify the creation of classroom- & social media-friendly vids. Make it your own! 🧪
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Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 18/08/2025
🎉 We're so excited to announce the 2025 #MySciJourney Challenge: A #scicomm competition for researchers to share their authentic journeys in science with students, teachers, & the broader public! 🧪 💸 $1k in cash prizes, thanks to @ncse.bsky.social! 👉 www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/my-scij...
galacticpolymath.com
Win Cash, Save Science: Share Your SciJourney! — Galactic Polymath
Join the 2025 #MySciJourney Challenge! We are looking for scientists at all stages to share their journeys in science! Teachers: You and your students can help decide the winners! #scicomm #SaveNSF
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 19/08/2025
Looking for a forum to speak to K-12 students & the public to let them know what science & scientists are really like? Want to tell them why your research matters & what defunding science will do to our way of life? Here's your chance! 🧪🔉🪶🐸
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 08/08/2025
Great news for those who love the Merlin app, but wish it helped you identify frogs and other critters! deepmind.google/discover/blo... 🪶🐸🔉
deepmind.google
How AI is helping advance the science of bioacoustics to save endangered species
Our new Perch model helps conservationists analyze audio faster to protect endangered species, from Hawaiian honeycreepers to coral reefs.
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 31/07/2025
ICYMI, we (@galacticpolymath.com) created a free web-based sound analysis tool. Great for teaching about birdsong, physics of sound, band, or advanced #bioacoustics! Just a free app with no installation or coding needed thanks to NSF funding! #SaveNSF 🧪 www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/dive-in...
galacticpolymath.com
Dive into Sound with SoundLab: A Free Tool for Acoustic Exploration — Galactic Polymath
Ever wondered what a bird song looks like, or how to visually understand the different frequencies in your favorite music? That's where SoundLab comes in! SoundLab is a free, web-based app designed to...
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Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 30/07/2025
Check out these #bird scientists showing how to be observant and ask good questions! 🤩🪶 Featuring Drs. Allison Johnson & Dai Shizuka, and some adorable Australian fairywrens! #NSF -funded research and #BroaderImpacts 🧪 www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjve...
youtube.com
Practice observing birds and asking questions with 2 biologists!
YouTube video by Galactic Polymath
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 30/07/2025
If you're teaching any science class (middle school to college) where you want students to learn how to ask better questions, check this out! Free thanks to funding from NSF. #saveNSF #birds #Edusky🧪
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Galactic Polymath Education Studio (GP) @galacticpolymath.com · 15/07/2025
THIS! 🔥👇 "We’re not going to fix education with more technology... we’re putting too much emphasis on what looks innovative, and not enough on what’s actually effective." #EduSky #EdTech Wonderful guest blog by Michelle Blanchet of The Educators' Lab! 👏 www.galacticpolymath.com/blog/stop-ch...
galacticpolymath.com
Stop Chasing Shiny Tech: Invest in Teachers if You Actually Want to Improve Education — Galactic Polymath
We’re not going to fix education with more technology. Let’s reframe what innovation in education actually means. It doesn’t have to mean new tech. Sometimes, it means trusting teachers to lead.
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 24/06/2025
When I began studying bird song 16 yrs ago, my daily experience of the world changed forever. Since then, I've wanted to help others get curious about croaks, chirps & whistles at the edge of their hearing. What's making that? Why? What are they saying? Plz check it out & share! 👇🐋🐦‍⬛🐸🔊 #EduSky
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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 27/06/2025
this court says that allowing EPA to regulate carbon emissions is a "major question" that demands congressional debate. but allowing the president to, with a flick of the wrist, end a straightforward constitutional right is something that must be allowed to stand?
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Matt Wilkins @mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com · 25/06/2025
It makes me very happy to see teacher demand grow for these resources we developed with scientists over the last 4+ years with Broader Impacts NSF grant funds 😊 And very dismayed that future funds are being slashed & news today that NSF is even being booted out of its office building 😖 #SaveNSF 🧪
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