Dr. Johanna Beam
@birdersci.bsky.social
🏳️🌈 | she/they | birder, scientist, artist.
Avian evolutionary biologist
NSF Postdoctoral Fellow
🦤🧬 🐦⬛ 🎨
Avian evolutionary biologist
NSF Postdoctoral Fellow
🦤🧬 🐦⬛ 🎨
I successfully defended my PhD two days ago! It’s been a whirlwind these last four years but I am so thankful to have finished strong.
August 20, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I successfully defended my PhD two days ago! It’s been a whirlwind these last four years but I am so thankful to have finished strong.
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
RFK Jr. spouted dangerous vaccine falsehoods on national TV. As a parent and infectious diseases doctor, I couldn't stay silent. Here's what the data actually shows. 🧵
June 13, 2025 at 5:26 AM
RFK Jr. spouted dangerous vaccine falsehoods on national TV. As a parent and infectious diseases doctor, I couldn't stay silent. Here's what the data actually shows. 🧵
Been thoroughly enjoying some local PA field work.
Bonus: try ageing all the birds!
All birds handled with extensive training and state & federal permits.
Bonus: try ageing all the birds!
All birds handled with extensive training and state & federal permits.
June 10, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Been thoroughly enjoying some local PA field work.
Bonus: try ageing all the birds!
All birds handled with extensive training and state & federal permits.
Bonus: try ageing all the birds!
All birds handled with extensive training and state & federal permits.
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
Congratulations to our AOS 2025 William Brewster Memorial Award winners, Drs. Kristen Ruegg and Hugh Drummond.
americanornithology.org/aos-announce...
#AOSAwards
americanornithology.org/aos-announce...
#AOSAwards
June 5, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Congratulations to our AOS 2025 William Brewster Memorial Award winners, Drs. Kristen Ruegg and Hugh Drummond.
americanornithology.org/aos-announce...
#AOSAwards
americanornithology.org/aos-announce...
#AOSAwards
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
I will be defending my dissertation this Friday at 10am ET! If you are interested in watching the public seminar DM me for a link!
May 27, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I will be defending my dissertation this Friday at 10am ET! If you are interested in watching the public seminar DM me for a link!
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
🚨 Overdose deaths in the U.S. dropped nearly 30% in 2024, saving 30,000+ lives.
This progress is thanks to public health efforts: wider access to naloxone, addiction treatment, and funding from opioid lawsuit settlements.
Public health works. It's worth fighting for. Let's keep saving lives.
This progress is thanks to public health efforts: wider access to naloxone, addiction treatment, and funding from opioid lawsuit settlements.
Public health works. It's worth fighting for. Let's keep saving lives.
Drug overdose deaths plummet to pre-pandemic levels during fentanyl crisis
Just over 80,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2024, a 27% decline from a year earlier.
eu.usatoday.com
May 15, 2025 at 2:25 PM
🚨 Overdose deaths in the U.S. dropped nearly 30% in 2024, saving 30,000+ lives.
This progress is thanks to public health efforts: wider access to naloxone, addiction treatment, and funding from opioid lawsuit settlements.
Public health works. It's worth fighting for. Let's keep saving lives.
This progress is thanks to public health efforts: wider access to naloxone, addiction treatment, and funding from opioid lawsuit settlements.
Public health works. It's worth fighting for. Let's keep saving lives.
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
My ongoing request:
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
NSF appears to be terminating hundreds of its grants to Harvard, per internal sources at NSF and at Harvard. At least one division has had all its grants cut.
May 14, 2025 at 2:22 PM
My ongoing request:
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
12 highly motivated undergraduate STEM scholars had been offered funding (20 hrs/wk) this summer from the @NSF LSAMP program at Missouri State University.
As far as we know, they no longer have summer funding or any funding going forward.
This was the next generation of NSF scientists.
As far as we know, they no longer have summer funding or any funding going forward.
This was the next generation of NSF scientists.
6 STEM Scholars have been offered funding (20 hrs/wk) this summer from the ISU program.
It is unclear if they will allowed to do paid summer research now.
It is unclear if they will allowed to do paid summer research now.
NSF's EES division includes programs **required by law** like the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP), mandated by Congress since the 1990s.
So far, over 70% of active LSAMP grants have already been terminated. Today's news on EES staff firings only heightens the illegality.
So far, over 70% of active LSAMP grants have already been terminated. Today's news on EES staff firings only heightens the illegality.
May 9, 2025 at 9:06 PM
12 highly motivated undergraduate STEM scholars had been offered funding (20 hrs/wk) this summer from the @NSF LSAMP program at Missouri State University.
As far as we know, they no longer have summer funding or any funding going forward.
This was the next generation of NSF scientists.
As far as we know, they no longer have summer funding or any funding going forward.
This was the next generation of NSF scientists.
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
Exclusive: National Science Foundation staff were told today that the agency’s 37 divisions—across all eight directorates—are being abolished and the number of programs within those divisions will be drastically reduced.
Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions
Changes seen as a response to presidential directives on what research to fund
scim.ag
May 8, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Exclusive: National Science Foundation staff were told today that the agency’s 37 divisions—across all eight directorates—are being abolished and the number of programs within those divisions will be drastically reduced.
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
Trump’s new budget proposal would slash funding for national parks, monuments, historic sites, seashores, and trails by nearly 25%, cutting more than $1.2 billion from the $4.8 billion Park Service budget.
May 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Trump’s new budget proposal would slash funding for national parks, monuments, historic sites, seashores, and trails by nearly 25%, cutting more than $1.2 billion from the $4.8 billion Park Service budget.
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
The first crime is that all of this wildly illegal & unconstitutional & requires immediate impeachment & removal.
The second crime is that we, the richest country in world history, only spend $9 billion in a $1.7 <trillion> budget on the NSF. But that’s a discussion for once we stop the fascism.
The second crime is that we, the richest country in world history, only spend $9 billion in a $1.7 <trillion> budget on the NSF. But that’s a discussion for once we stop the fascism.
$9 billion a year for NSF is absolute chump change. It's nothing. And yet, cutting it will devastate American science for decades.
God, we're led by a morons, empowered by idiots.
God, we're led by a morons, empowered by idiots.
Your regular reminder that NSF grants built the internet and helped the U.S. dominate tech.
May 2, 2025 at 12:09 PM
The first crime is that all of this wildly illegal & unconstitutional & requires immediate impeachment & removal.
The second crime is that we, the richest country in world history, only spend $9 billion in a $1.7 <trillion> budget on the NSF. But that’s a discussion for once we stop the fascism.
The second crime is that we, the richest country in world history, only spend $9 billion in a $1.7 <trillion> budget on the NSF. But that’s a discussion for once we stop the fascism.
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
Jay is the lead author on a fascinating paper I was involved in, about how male mimicry by female hummingbirds provides the first example of a type of signaling system that we predicted from theoretical principles over a decade ago.
This is infuriating.
And I believe it's due to anti-trans bias.
This is infuriating.
And I believe it's due to anti-trans bias.
My NSF PRFB on the genetics of female polymorphism in hummingbirds was terminated yesterday.
I don't have much to say, I'm just sad. We've discovered so much, and could have gone so much further.
If anyone else is in the same boat, esp postdocs, please reach out, it would be good to connect.
I don't have much to say, I'm just sad. We've discovered so much, and could have gone so much further.
If anyone else is in the same boat, esp postdocs, please reach out, it would be good to connect.
April 26, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Jay is the lead author on a fascinating paper I was involved in, about how male mimicry by female hummingbirds provides the first example of a type of signaling system that we predicted from theoretical principles over a decade ago.
This is infuriating.
And I believe it's due to anti-trans bias.
This is infuriating.
And I believe it's due to anti-trans bias.
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
Trans women are women.
April 16, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Trans women are women.
@nws.noaa.gov @rhyall.bsky.social sudden severe thunderstorm with graupel in State College! Didn’t see much “true” hail.
April 15, 2025 at 5:53 PM
@nws.noaa.gov @rhyall.bsky.social sudden severe thunderstorm with graupel in State College! Didn’t see much “true” hail.
Here Bluesky, have some art. I haven’t had much time to paint recently (thanks to this PhD!). This #WesternTanager in #gouache was done for my parents as a Christmas gift.
April 5, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Here Bluesky, have some art. I haven’t had much time to paint recently (thanks to this PhD!). This #WesternTanager in #gouache was done for my parents as a Christmas gift.
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
ITS SHUT THE FUCK UP FRIDAY
This is a very important message you should share with the people in your life that may be hitting the streets to protest: never talk to the police! WATCH:
This is a very important message you should share with the people in your life that may be hitting the streets to protest: never talk to the police! WATCH:
February 7, 2025 at 5:16 PM
ITS SHUT THE FUCK UP FRIDAY
This is a very important message you should share with the people in your life that may be hitting the streets to protest: never talk to the police! WATCH:
This is a very important message you should share with the people in your life that may be hitting the streets to protest: never talk to the police! WATCH:
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
In an extraordinary display of public support, heads of state, heads of government, and foreign ministers from all over Europe and Canada are posting in support of Ukraine in response to the Oval Office meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy, and Vance.
February 28, 2025 at 10:26 PM
In an extraordinary display of public support, heads of state, heads of government, and foreign ministers from all over Europe and Canada are posting in support of Ukraine in response to the Oval Office meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy, and Vance.
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
We want to send a message to the world: what has happened today is an absolute disgrace. It is completely un-American.
February 28, 2025 at 8:41 PM
We want to send a message to the world: what has happened today is an absolute disgrace. It is completely un-American.
What happened today was unamerican.
February 28, 2025 at 9:04 PM
What happened today was unamerican.
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
“People will die, but we will never know, because even the programs to count the dead are cut.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/h...
U.S. Terminates Funding for Polio, H.I.V., Malaria and Nutrition Programs Around the World
Here are some of the 5,800 contracts the Trump administration formally canceled this week in a wave of terse emails.
www.nytimes.com
February 28, 2025 at 3:24 PM
“People will die, but we will never know, because even the programs to count the dead are cut.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/h...
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
YOUR FAVORITE WEATHER APP IS JUST A PRETTY DISPLAY OF NOAA DATA
Ppl seem to think that "NOAA weather forecasts" means climate-, boat-, or "in addition to my app"-weather. But the weather forecasts *we all use* are made from the NOAA data *we all paid for*
Make that part clear when you ⬇️
Ppl seem to think that "NOAA weather forecasts" means climate-, boat-, or "in addition to my app"-weather. But the weather forecasts *we all use* are made from the NOAA data *we all paid for*
Make that part clear when you ⬇️
I’m thinking we should spread this news about the firings at NOAA as far and wide as possible. Like cancer research, weather forecasting seems likely to be broadly popular across the political spectrum. apnews.com/article/nati...
Hundreds of weather forecasters fired in latest wave of DOGE cuts
Federal workers who were not let go said the afternoon layoffs included meteorologists who do crucial local forecasts in National Weather Service offices across the U.S.
apnews.com
February 28, 2025 at 3:23 PM
YOUR FAVORITE WEATHER APP IS JUST A PRETTY DISPLAY OF NOAA DATA
Ppl seem to think that "NOAA weather forecasts" means climate-, boat-, or "in addition to my app"-weather. But the weather forecasts *we all use* are made from the NOAA data *we all paid for*
Make that part clear when you ⬇️
Ppl seem to think that "NOAA weather forecasts" means climate-, boat-, or "in addition to my app"-weather. But the weather forecasts *we all use* are made from the NOAA data *we all paid for*
Make that part clear when you ⬇️
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
22% of Americans speak a language other than English at home, 13% speak Spanish at home, according to the Census Bureau.
Agencies will now (presumably) remove all non-English language support from informational websites.
I honestly can't imagine a defense of this that isn't racist.
Agencies will now (presumably) remove all non-English language support from informational websites.
I honestly can't imagine a defense of this that isn't racist.
Trump to sign order Friday designating English as the official language of the US
President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Friday designating English as the official language of the United States.
apnews.com
February 28, 2025 at 5:52 PM
22% of Americans speak a language other than English at home, 13% speak Spanish at home, according to the Census Bureau.
Agencies will now (presumably) remove all non-English language support from informational websites.
I honestly can't imagine a defense of this that isn't racist.
Agencies will now (presumably) remove all non-English language support from informational websites.
I honestly can't imagine a defense of this that isn't racist.
Reposted by Dr. Johanna Beam
Trump is expected to declare English the nation's official language. America is an Italian word. California, Colorado, Nevada, Montana, and Florida are Spanish, and a bunch of other states have Indigenous names.
February 28, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Trump is expected to declare English the nation's official language. America is an Italian word. California, Colorado, Nevada, Montana, and Florida are Spanish, and a bunch of other states have Indigenous names.
We’re live!!!!
No dictators. No autocracy. No kings.
Enough is enough.
No dictators. No autocracy. No kings.
Enough is enough.
February 26, 2025 at 4:00 AM
We’re live!!!!
No dictators. No autocracy. No kings.
Enough is enough.
No dictators. No autocracy. No kings.
Enough is enough.