iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

The #NASA Roses call came out today & I am beside myself. There exists no #earthsci funding. None. And like, yes, duh, has the LCLUC meeting been indefinitely postponed; have I mourned the loss of #SERVIR; have I been paying attention to everything around me. All yes. Still hurts.

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

Main takeaways: -NWS did their jobs -Breakdown in warning/alert system (this isn't NWS) -DOGE cuts mean fewer instruments (weather balloons) & studies that allow us to predict these events -BBB gutting of climate change progress will make these rare and devastating events more frequent

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Rep Rob Wittman just outright lying in his email after he voted yes on BBB.

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Sean Sublette @subletteweather.com · 02/07/2025

Y'all... I had to pull some numbers for my congressional district here in Virginia (VA-01). And not to be lost — for my friends outside of the weather business — the budget proposal this week that *shuts down* key weather research labs. So here's an open message to my congressman — Rob Wittman.

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

#RVA, help us map flooding in and around Richmond this summer. It's so easy! We're collecting data all summer - fill it out every time it rains! survey123.arcgis.com/share/e6e2ab... Thanks, @subletteweather.com for post. Everyone should subscribe to his amazing substack!

survey123.arcgis.com

Go with the Flow Flood Survey

This survey asks the Richmond community to record flooding events with a location and a photo if they have one.

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

#Richmond / #RVA, we have a powerful cold-front moving through, so it's going to rain! And we want to know where flash flooding occurs. Help us out by sharing this (beta version of a) survey and filling it out if you're out and about. (But stay safe!) #participatoryscience #scicomm

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Some of our students are trying to collect data on where there's flash flooding around #rva #richmond - and it's going to storm tomorrow! See their flyer below. If you're out and about when / shortly after it rains, fill out this link: survey123.arcgis.com/share/e6e2ab...

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Where my brain immediately goes every time I read about how Elon Musk is destroying democracy.

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Clayton Page Aldern @compatibilism.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

ICYMI, last week we published an interactive map of more than $300 billion worth of Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure law funding. Enter your ZIP code or city and a search radius and find projects in your area: grist.org/accountabili...

grist.org

Where did billions in climate and infrastructure funding go? Search our map by ZIP code.

From clean energy projects to bridges, this interactive tool shows what projects lawmakers announced in your neighborhood.

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Yes, trump/elon are ruining everything. But in particular, dems should be SHOUTING from the rooftops about decreased flight safety, national parks not having working bathrooms, grocery prices, everything bipartisan that this new administration is ruining. (along with all of the other stuff).

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Richmond! Everything is awful right now but it's one of the three days a year you can have windows open and there's no pollen and low humidity and you get a delightful cross breeze! If we're in this hellscape, you might as well embrace the (unseasonably warm) weather.

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Ayana Elizabeth Johnson @ayanaeliza.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

There is *a lot* going on right now. My hot take, as I try to keep up wrt our planet: “These executive orders will make our air dirtier, make people sicker, make energy more expensive, and make our communities less prepared for extreme weather.” apnews.com/article/trum...

apnews.com

What to know about Trump's first executive actions on climate and environment

President Donald Trump’s first week in office included a flurry of executive orders with implications for Earth’s climate and environment.

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Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

I moved it up a bit from earlier

A badly drawn graph with benevolent -- malevolent on the x axis and competent -- incompetent on the y axis and a red x indicating very malevolent and very incompetent

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Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Anyone who read Project 2025 saw things like this coming a mile away

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Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Per an NIH source: “Discussions with colleagues have suggested that if the universities all come together and raise hell about the delays to funding caused by not holding meetings, that might move the needle. From every state. There are well-funded universities in red states that will be impacted.”

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

I am begging the national media to start taking this seriously. Stop buying the claims that the framing of "temporary" or "pause." They are altering the review processes of federally funded scientific research from merit-based peer review processes to political screening by ideologues.

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Can someone explain to me, like a 5 year old, why the dems aren't putting up any fights right now? It's stomach churning to realize how little it takes to dismantle a democracy, how quickly it can happen, and how few people at the top are even pretending to try and fight back.

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

We're #hiring a #postdoc to work in collaboration with Native Co-Is on #climate resilience. (Grant deets: tinyurl.com/nasagrnt) Skills = remote sensing, GIS, climate data analysis, and, importantly, community-engaged collaborative research. Deets here: tinyurl.com/ykrxan2u #academia Plz share!

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

just watching videos from my bird feeder and ignoring all news today.

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

World's literally on fire so let's all just look at this lady cardinal glowing in some great morning light.

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

The fires in LA are everywhere on the news - as they should be - climate change is here and now and affects everyone. But I don't see nearly as many national news updates about how there are over 200,000 people here in Richmond, VA without water. (1/4)

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

We made our annual pilgrimage to the delightfully cold climates where parents live. My oldest LOVES snow; lives for snowtivities. But now the snow doesn't stick around as long as it used to. We felt lucky to get a day of icy sledding in. It's unsettling the amount of green outside. #climatechange

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Woodwell Climate Research Center @woodwellclimate.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

8️⃣ Our cartographers @gfiske.bsky.social and @cmshintani.bsky.social shared captivating visuals inspired by our research with thousands in the science community and beyond. Scroll to see their stunning work. Want to propel more impact in 2025? www.woodwellclimate.org/givenow/

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Hi! I'm Steph, a land-change scientist who thinks about how changes in the landscape affect climate and how changes in the climate affect landscapes. I'm a geog prof at @urichmond.bsky.social (go 🕷️s!). I’ll likely post about remote sensing, climate, academia, pop culture, and some family life.

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Come for the science, stay for the puppies. #AGU24 #AGU2024

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

In the giant #AGU24 exhibition hall and hear @bzgeo.bsky.social's delightful voice presenting on my favorite NASA program, NASA Servir.

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Huge shout out to @morganahcrowley.bsky.social and her team for convening a fantastic science and society / using social science to advance remote sensing and earth science session at #agu2024 this morning and building a sense of community in our little slice of the giant poster hall.

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

"I pursued outside funding for my research for my next book...However, I am still awaiting the final word, as the grant is contingent upon whether the incoming presidential administration declares the National Endowment for the Humanities a terrorist organization." www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/a-f...

mcsweeneys.net

A Faculty Member’s Self-Evaluation at the End of the Semester

Dear Committee Members, As part of the faculty review process, I am pleased to report to you on my work. In this letter, I will offer information ...

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Although @loopdlupien.bsky.social & I don't record our climate careers podcast anymore, it's so fun to see that people are still listening & that our conversations about #academia resonate. Always happy to chat about the highs and lows of this silly field. #scicomm #climatechange

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

RVA Rapid Transit is an amazing, grass roots non-profit focused on public transit, access, equity, free fare, and environmental justice. It's Giving Tuesday, y'all, and this is such a great campaign to support. Link here: givebutter.com/coolingtheco... #climate #rva #freefare

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Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Happy Last Day of Atlantic Hurricane Season to all who celebrate

National Hurricane Center map of the Atlantic, reading "tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next 48 hours"

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Important @dailykos.com map highlighting gerrymandering from @mollyjongfast.bsky.social's instagram and the importance of geography. My one nitpick is i would I like to see divided vs neutral category separated. (Also do I just not understand how to go from Instagram to Bluesky properly? Probably.)

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Yes, all about planting natives - our yard is riddled with oaks, but also, this Japanese maple brings me immense joy in the fall. What doesn't bring me immense joy in thr fall: temperatures nearing 70 today when historical averages for Richmond in late November are in the mid-40s. #climatechange

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Riley Champine @rileydchampine.com · 25/11/2024

Obsessed with this spider style 🕷️

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

I tend to lean more into my New England-y tendencies having moved to the South, but I have fully embraced 'y'all.' It's shorter / less weird (looking at you, 'folks') that alternatives, gender-neutral, and honestly a fun to say!

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Konrad Kording @kordinglab.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

NSF makes you say who you got conflicts (coauthored) with. We (really just Jordan Matelsky) just built you a tool for that. Literally one click: bib.experiments.kordinglab.com/nsf-coa

bib.experiments.kordinglab.com

NSF COA | Jordan Matelsky

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Show me your cat and what they're named for:

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Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Decades into this social media thing and a lot of folks still haven't grokked that it's not possible to account for all possibilities, contexts, caveats, and scenarios in a character-limited setting, and that failure to do so is not the equivalent of consenting to be a punching bag.

A screen shot of a social media post from the user @kimpossiblefact that reads in black text on white background:

hi there! i'm a random weirdo who doesn't follow you.

just wanted to let you know that i misinterpreted your post in a bizarrely specific way and now I am fucking furious about some shit you didn't say.

could you spare 20 minutes or so for me to explain why this is your fault?

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Still figuring out how to dip my toe into the bluesky waters. But here's my pitch: come for the climate science and stay for the chicken content.

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Steph Spera @steph-spera.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Finally moved over to bluesky to see @loopdlupien.bsky.social has obviously been here the whole time.

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