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Virginia Schutte

@vgwschutte.bsky.social
4.2K followers 264 following 2.1K posts

Independent (freelance) #SciComm practitioner: storyteller, consultant, trainer. Specialties: social media, communications strategy, building community. Background: (marine) ecology PhD. Open to work. VirginiaSchutte.com

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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 2h
Don't waste budget on fancy imagery: transcripts or cover art or waveforms are all standard practice, or you could literally put up a split screen of the people who are talking to one another. Many people play from YouTube but they're folding laundry, cooking, etc.- listening, not watching
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 2h
...YouTube suggests something else you might like based on what you just listened to + their algorithm, which is very often from a different podcast, show, etc. Discovery happens on YouTube, specifically, even if a user behaves the same (listens to podcasts in the same way) across platforms
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 2h
I get asked a lot abut podcasts, specifically video. YouTube is the biggest podcasting platform and you should have your (#SciComm) show on it, but being on YT is all about discovery Spotify plays another episode of the podcast you just listened to after the current episode ends. Meanwhile...
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Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 21h
New Merch Alert!! Fish. The ocean's full of 'em. And protecting the ocean is a global job, so we better learn the word for fish in as many languages as we can fit on a tote bag. Support @skypeascientist.bsky.social by getting a *sturdy* tote bag with a zipper (with a zipper!!!) at SquidFacts.net
4 freak-ass fish illustrated on a tote bag. We got a barreleye, a mola mola, a gulper eel, and a viperfish
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 21h
Bookmarked this forever ago because I loved it. Sharing it now because I still love it.
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cara giaimo @cjgiaimo.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
i was fortunate enough to profile Margaret Hamilton in 2019. A really kind and curious person. This was my favorite story she told me:
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
If you are like me: tell people in your networks. Unfollow. Apply the pressure you can. If you are closer to the source: what are *you* going to do to keep our community safe? No more on our watch.
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I can try and make sure others in #SciComm know about all this, but I'm unfortunately not in a position to bestow or take away privileges or prestige. And phew do these folks have them! bsky.app/profile/jona...
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I'd been hearing warnings through the whisper network for a while, but I didn't know how bad it was lnkd.in/p/gwucKtpK
Screenshot of a LinkedIn post by Jac Goldstein, PhD, that says:

"Sharing this article that brings systemic abuse to light at my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A leading name in science communication research has resigned after an investigation substantiated claims of sexual and homophobic misconduct, and called out those in power who knew and kept quiet. 

While I was in grad school, I was aware of four different faculty responsible for egregious abuse, and double that number who were responsible for “lesser” degrees of abuse.

Students and staff were seriously harmed and threatened, left their programs, and — in one case — committed suicide.

In most cases, victims asked for help. Often, other faculty knew and did nothing. When there were investigations, they were initiated by the victims. But even when investigations found that allegations were substantiated, the impact on faculty was minimal. If there was any support, it came from the student and staff unions. 

The victims suffered once during the abuse, and again after seeing the system protect the abusers. First at UW-Madison, and now at Arizona State University."
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Yes, we all know that institutions should do their part, but people staff institutions. One thing we can do is not let people hide inside organizations Dominique Brossard (@ brossard bsky social, followed by 21 ppl I follow) betrayed students rather than protect them bsky.app/profile/stew...
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Daniel Aguirre wrote this amazing article about accountability in higher ed. He challenges us to "name one thing we will do", and lists pressure points: hiring funding mentorship authorship collaborations committee appointments keynote invitations awards and more www.linkedin.com/pulse/salem-...
linkedin.com
Top Content on LinkedIn
Explore top LinkedIn content from members on a range of professional topics.
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
19 people I follow also follow Dietram Scheufele (@ dietram bsky social). So I want to share this news again, because we all need to know But we also *really* need to talk about enabling and safety: we'll have to protect ourselves and our community members since universities are choosing not to
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I learned all this from this one interview with Mitch Bushuk- one of the most memorable for me from my time with @wclivestream.bsky.social this spring bsky.app/profile/wcli...
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
YES. Ex: many El Nino specialists have been fired from NOAA. NOAA issues forecasts as usual, but without the decades of experience that made the models *excellent* AND that knowledge will never be passed to the next hires, even if positions are filled in the future- it's like hitting a reset button
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I would fund this study : )
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franz @franzanth.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Hello, since Redbubble did me dirty (suspension without explanation while owing me money) let's experiment a little bit! If I've known you long enough not to abuse my work and you want a print/sticker/whatever from me, pay me what you want, I'll give you high resolution files. Try me! #Art #SciArt
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Just judged a scicomm thing and all the candidates were male. This was a commitment I made a while ago and now that I've fulfilled it (+ others), the question is how to be most effectively loud on my way out of the org. This gripe probably won't make it into my resignation- it's eclipsed by others
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paulpro @mariopro.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
https://www.instagram.com/goattoself?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&stkn=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
She is going to be someone's most perfect companion- far and away our favorite that we've fostered
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
We've been fostering a 2-month-old kitten named Honey BBQ
Honey BBQ fiercely attacking my hand. Hey belly is out and her paws are very smallHBBQ as an eyes-and-ears burritoHBBQ curled up on the blankets on my lap. She looks like the softest, most adoptable catMe and HBBQ looking up at the camera. She's got her paws on my leg so she's sitting up like a meerkat and she's looking at the camera like a queen
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Oh we TOTALLY crossed paths Wild!!!
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Wait what?? What is a VTuba
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
2003-2007
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
UNC-Chapel Hill
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Cool jacket
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
fun fact: my best friend and I switched from piccolo to tuba my sophomore year. We were convinced to by my now-husband and his best friend : ) Tuba rituals during a fall game day is a distinct type of happy memory for me
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Examples of "AI" as a tool to scale poopy operations in ways that gum up operations for legit 🧪, in case you haven't seen them: - increases in scientific papers submitted - people posing as science journalists - spam emails sent to scientists - all kinds of fake nature media generated
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I've been thinking about this ever since @rebeccarhelm.bsky.social asked ⬇️ For me, the answer is the same as before "AI": some people always sucked, and I am unwilling to cede my joy to them. But I loathe that "AI" enables being sucky at scale, so it's more profitable now bsky.app/profile/rebe...
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I actually think this and other scams are the best argument for the effectiveness of "AI" (AI here = fascist-supporting, shoved-down-our-throats LLMs) "AI" is objectively bad at increasing productivity for the average worker. But it sure does help bad people scale their operations effectively
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
It meeeeeeeeeeeee If you don't know persimmons: they look and feel like leathery tomatoes and they make your mouth hate itself unless they are nearly too unripe to eat, which is when they taste better than most other fruits there are
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
bonus/🧵 I made this feed for folks to talk about #SciComm and support each other bsky.app/profile/did:...
bsky.app
Science Communication by @vgwschutte.bsky.social
Posts tagged with #SciComm, #InclusiveSciComm, #SciEngage, #SciCommJob, #SciCommJobs, or #SciWri. Created (as in set up to aggregate without curation or moderation) by @vgwschutte.bsky.social and…
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
4/🧵 For a lot of my projects, I chat about science or share what a science life is like on social media WClivestream presenters (for the 2025 @wclivestream.bsky.social) go.bsky.app/HuJzSQu #OceanChat (organized by @whysharksmatter.bsky.social) go.bsky.app/MGCbG19
The starter pack cover art for "WClivestream presenters"The starter pack cover art for "#OceanChat"
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
3/🧵 I do a lot of different things within that general role title! Sometimes art Wildlife Art and Scientific Illustration go.bsky.app/ASnS846
The starter pack cover art for "Wildlife Art and Scientific Illustration"
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
2/🧵 I'm employed as a science communicator Sci-Commers go.bsky.app/NMCFMcj Science communication experts go.bsky.app/J6GgzhV
The starter pack cover art for "Sci-Commers"The starter pack cover art for "Science communication experts"
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Starter packs I'm in, in case you want to find people who are like me to follow (I'm in a few that I don't understand or are just for joke purposes tho and I'm not linking to those in this thread 😇 ) 1/🧵 I'm a marine ecologist Ocean Women go.bsky.app/7MdiLgo Science Intros go.bsky.app/At5DDri
The starter pack cover art for "Ocean Women"The starter pack cover art for "Science intros thread"
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
This guy requested to connect with me on LinkedIn. "AI" right behind his headshot, "top 10% lovable partner" in his bio- I thought it was a profile for an AI agent But no, he created an app called "Lovable" which uses AI to find partners or something
Screenshot of a LinkedIn headshot for a masc-looking person. In the banner behind the headshot is "An AI coach for everyday work..."
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
I say this in every social justice workshop/training, and it's really important: You need food, shelter, and safety secured at minimum. *IF* you have to do things that aren't your favorite to make that happen, you are NOT compromising your values. Society/systems have failed you.
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Forbidden pom poms
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Same
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
😂
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
ha you said mola mola I AM TIRED
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
blobfish tripod fish mola mola stargazer goblin shark
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Goooooood morning to every nerd on this app that knows how graphs work
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I also highly recommend this article and the thread it's a part of bsky.app/profile/bcme...
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
If you prefer to read instead of listen, this episode is primarily an interview (starting at 15:00) with the authors of all these free and excellent resources: datasociety.net/research-lib...
datasociety.net
The AI Factory: Data Centers, Power, and Resistance in Late Industrial Pennsylvania - Data & Society
Our research shows that data centers represent a lightning rod issue for broad, diverse communities that desire both prosperity and power.
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I got asked to make some TikTok/Instagram videos to educate voters on data centers. Instead of sending a quote, I asked for a strategy meeting. We talked about what would actually stop data center approval, how to reach what people, etc. Anyway: this is a good episode. Strategy stops data centers.
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Dr Hannah M. Rowland @hannahmrowland.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Hope your day was better than Darwin’s, on this day 165 years ago
I am very poorly today & very stupid & hate everybody &everything.

Charles Darwin
Letter to Charles Lyell
1st October 1861
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
GOSSIP: Scarlett's mom (see the other posts in my thread below) was about to have an interview with the data center in this article! They advertised themselves in the job ad as a "sustainable" data center. I sent her the article and she canceled it before she even had to waste her time with them
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Neil P Bardhan @neilpbardhan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Please let yourself take part in something communal today: the Thursday scream. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
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Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
"What growth there is tends to favor quick takes and attitude, rather than institutionalized journalism with its commitment to verifying information as well as its costly trappings, including reporters who can spend months on a single project, a gaggle of editors and, yes, lawyers." THREAD ⬇️
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