Marie van Staveren
@chemdrv.bsky.social
They/them. Chemistry teaching faculty at UMBC. LongCOVID. Programming, equity, and non-traditional paths in chemistry education. Centering humans and hope. Opinions very much my own.
Anyone else picture the Goddess Boys when they wipe down their kitchen counter or is it just me?
November 10, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Anyone else picture the Goddess Boys when they wipe down their kitchen counter or is it just me?
A change for me that predates chatgpt is doing more mental math. For years I've been pausing before I reach for a calculator and pushing myself to do the work in my own brain. Not all math all the time, just more than I used to.
I became very conscientious about this during COVID. I do puzzles, read hard things or read and watch programming with different normative (or cultural) assumptions etc. I would like to keep what I can. Bananas to come out of the forced mediated world of COVID…and jump into AI.
Exactly, including for the long term for health benefits. Friend of mine did Parkinson’s research at Mayo for decades and he tells me all the time how important it is to stay mentally active to reduce the chances of a whole lot of cognitive decline.
November 8, 2025 at 1:49 PM
A change for me that predates chatgpt is doing more mental math. For years I've been pausing before I reach for a calculator and pushing myself to do the work in my own brain. Not all math all the time, just more than I used to.
Latest LMS feature: "Automate encouragement"
November 7, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Latest LMS feature: "Automate encouragement"
The joy on social media this morning is invigorating. Next steps for me: wake up my kid, donate to a good bank, check in on a neighbor who needs a hand, then get to work.
November 5, 2025 at 11:38 AM
The joy on social media this morning is invigorating. Next steps for me: wake up my kid, donate to a good bank, check in on a neighbor who needs a hand, then get to work.
Reposted by Marie van Staveren
I’ll never support Donald Trump or his administration’s aims and actions. But I know too that they’d rather have people like me just give up instead and become apathetic and cynical so they can do what they want without opposition.
I’m doing the reverse instead. (11/11)
I’m doing the reverse instead. (11/11)
October 31, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I’ll never support Donald Trump or his administration’s aims and actions. But I know too that they’d rather have people like me just give up instead and become apathetic and cynical so they can do what they want without opposition.
I’m doing the reverse instead. (11/11)
I’m doing the reverse instead. (11/11)
Reposted by Marie van Staveren
Man, do you know what rules? Actually loving other people, reminding us that we deserve a government that cares for us, and inspiring us to meet our neighbors.
November 5, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Man, do you know what rules? Actually loving other people, reminding us that we deserve a government that cares for us, and inspiring us to meet our neighbors.
I have a colleague who is retiring while he's young enough to enjoy it and it's really throwing some coworkers for a loop
November 4, 2025 at 8:17 PM
I have a colleague who is retiring while he's young enough to enjoy it and it's really throwing some coworkers for a loop
I know gifts like this are negotiated and thoughtful, but I like to imagine her flipping through a deck of HBCU cards, picking a random number, and then picking up the phone to call the school. Always a bright spot to hear of another donation.
Again Mackenzie Scott ftw www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2025/11/03/s...
Spelman College receives $38 million ‘unrestricted’ gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
The university says Scott’s gift lets it address expanding financial aid and scholarship support and investing in a state-of-the-art technology infrastructure “to enhance the academic experience.”
www.atlantanewsfirst.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:11 PM
I know gifts like this are negotiated and thoughtful, but I like to imagine her flipping through a deck of HBCU cards, picking a random number, and then picking up the phone to call the school. Always a bright spot to hear of another donation.
My lunch sandwich this week is salmon salad with fried eggplant and thyme and it's so good you all should try it
November 3, 2025 at 3:23 PM
My lunch sandwich this week is salmon salad with fried eggplant and thyme and it's so good you all should try it
Reposted by Marie van Staveren
In which I check out "Perkins Square," think about housing prices and development and displacement, and then ride over to Patterson Park, Canton Waterfront Park, and then north until North, flying down the bus/bike lane all the way home. whatisawridingmybikearoundtoday.com/2025/11/02/f...
Fall Tree Against a Backdrop of Blue Skies and Construction at Bank & Caroline
I had the time, energy, and weather for a bike ride today, and wow, it had been a long time since I got to do that. I started with a quick ride down the hill to meet friends for brunch, in celebrat…
whatisawridingmybikearoundtoday.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:31 AM
In which I check out "Perkins Square," think about housing prices and development and displacement, and then ride over to Patterson Park, Canton Waterfront Park, and then north until North, flying down the bus/bike lane all the way home. whatisawridingmybikearoundtoday.com/2025/11/02/f...
Reposted by Marie van Staveren
This thread is heartbreaking, this ending picture even more so.
The author is brave.
The US has betrayed so many people we promised to support.
thank you for sharing @wwenneuro.bsky.social
The author is brave.
The US has betrayed so many people we promised to support.
thank you for sharing @wwenneuro.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 12:49 PM
This thread is heartbreaking, this ending picture even more so.
The author is brave.
The US has betrayed so many people we promised to support.
thank you for sharing @wwenneuro.bsky.social
The author is brave.
The US has betrayed so many people we promised to support.
thank you for sharing @wwenneuro.bsky.social
Is there any movie that is both as terrible and with as great of a soundtrack as Streets of Fire?
October 30, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Is there any movie that is both as terrible and with as great of a soundtrack as Streets of Fire?
It never fails: when I realize I'm having a hard time prioritizing what to work on, it turns out I'm anxious about my inbox.
Seven emails in there, and I've been avoiding all seven. Maybe I can clean them out today? And then I'll be able to get work done again.
Seven emails in there, and I've been avoiding all seven. Maybe I can clean them out today? And then I'll be able to get work done again.
October 30, 2025 at 2:50 PM
It never fails: when I realize I'm having a hard time prioritizing what to work on, it turns out I'm anxious about my inbox.
Seven emails in there, and I've been avoiding all seven. Maybe I can clean them out today? And then I'll be able to get work done again.
Seven emails in there, and I've been avoiding all seven. Maybe I can clean them out today? And then I'll be able to get work done again.
omg I haven't gotten brain fog like this in a while
October 29, 2025 at 8:44 PM
omg I haven't gotten brain fog like this in a while
I think there's a malicious ghost in my circuits so it's time to go home
October 28, 2025 at 8:38 PM
I think there's a malicious ghost in my circuits so it's time to go home
Reposted by Marie van Staveren
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
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The official home of the Python Programming Language
www.python.org
October 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
🧵
Seriously I love candy corn
October 27, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Seriously I love candy corn
Bought some shelf stable food at the store yesterday and put it out on the chem dept food pantry, which was completely empty.
October 27, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Bought some shelf stable food at the store yesterday and put it out on the chem dept food pantry, which was completely empty.
Saturday morning Meeting the Moment read, I've learned that @lizneeley.bsky.social and I have similar amounts of plants and completely opposite ways of caring for them.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
Week 40
Oct 18-24, 2025 - care and feeding
buttondown.com
October 25, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Saturday morning Meeting the Moment read, I've learned that @lizneeley.bsky.social and I have similar amounts of plants and completely opposite ways of caring for them.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
I'm WFH this morning and away from the whiteboard I use to do all my long term planning and now I have no idea what I do for a living
October 24, 2025 at 12:07 PM
I'm WFH this morning and away from the whiteboard I use to do all my long term planning and now I have no idea what I do for a living
I think I accidentally found an organic chemistry question I want to know the answer to. I even have to do some baby lab work to learn more. I'm so disappointed in myself.
October 24, 2025 at 9:58 AM
I think I accidentally found an organic chemistry question I want to know the answer to. I even have to do some baby lab work to learn more. I'm so disappointed in myself.
I thought I slept late and woke up with a start, only to find out my alarm wasn't due for a few minutes.
October 24, 2025 at 9:57 AM
I thought I slept late and woke up with a start, only to find out my alarm wasn't due for a few minutes.
For those keeping track at home, in the last three days I've walked eleventy billion steps and listened to The Boxer 4732 times
October 22, 2025 at 9:06 PM
For those keeping track at home, in the last three days I've walked eleventy billion steps and listened to The Boxer 4732 times
Reposted by Marie van Staveren
Those little fucking fake news seeds that turn out not to be rice.
a second day of the same discourse? no. no thank you.
instead I need you to name your least favorite pasta shape
instead I need you to name your least favorite pasta shape
October 22, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Those little fucking fake news seeds that turn out not to be rice.
Took a wonky way to work today because I wanted to know if the ginkos are turning yet
October 22, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Took a wonky way to work today because I wanted to know if the ginkos are turning yet