Cissy Ballen
@cissyballen.bsky.social
Associate professor, biology education research, Auburn University. ballenlab.com
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
@emilydriessen.bsky.social and I wrote a letter in Science calling for us to lean into our communities and increase support for change agents during this time of adversity and funding cuts.
#DBER #BioEd
Community support for inclusive US education | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#DBER #BioEd
Community support for inclusive US education | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Community support for inclusive US education
The Trump administration is working to dismantle inclusive education efforts by opposing diversity, equity, and inclusion (1); encouraging divisive actions in K-12 schools such as banning books (2) an...
www.science.org
August 8, 2025 at 12:53 AM
@emilydriessen.bsky.social and I wrote a letter in Science calling for us to lean into our communities and increase support for change agents during this time of adversity and funding cuts.
#DBER #BioEd
Community support for inclusive US education | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#DBER #BioEd
Community support for inclusive US education | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
Amazing symposium on Sex and Gender at #Evol2025 So grateful to all the speakers for bringing us together to think about how to teach and communicate these complex topics @jacanamama.bsky.social Thomas Sanger @bio-eddy.bsky.social @cissyballen.bsky.social
June 24, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Amazing symposium on Sex and Gender at #Evol2025 So grateful to all the speakers for bringing us together to think about how to teach and communicate these complex topics @jacanamama.bsky.social Thomas Sanger @bio-eddy.bsky.social @cissyballen.bsky.social
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
Educational #equity faces renewed threats across higher #education in the USA. @cissyballen.bsky.social @kzutaustin.bsky.social @hormiga.bsky.social address what can be done by life science instructors and researchers to prioritize equitable, evidence-based teaching for all. 🧪
plos.io/4lm8sa4
plos.io/4lm8sa4
Using anti-DEI policies to dismantle education: A new front in a really old battle
Educational equity faces renewed threats across higher education in the United States. This Perspective addresses what can be done by life science instructors and researchers to prioritize equitable, ...
plos.io
June 25, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Educational #equity faces renewed threats across higher #education in the USA. @cissyballen.bsky.social @kzutaustin.bsky.social @hormiga.bsky.social address what can be done by life science instructors and researchers to prioritize equitable, evidence-based teaching for all. 🧪
plos.io/4lm8sa4
plos.io/4lm8sa4
Using anti-DEI policies to dismantle education: A new front in a really old battle - a perspective with @kzutaustin.bsky.social and @hormiga.bsky.social | PLOS Biology
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Using anti-DEI policies to dismantle education: A new front in a really old battle
Educational equity faces renewed threats across higher education in the United States. This Perspective addresses what can be done by life science instructors and researchers to prioritize equitable, ...
journals.plos.org
June 20, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Using anti-DEI policies to dismantle education: A new front in a really old battle - a perspective with @kzutaustin.bsky.social and @hormiga.bsky.social | PLOS Biology
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
Our #NSF grant, supporting a fruitful collaboration with the @cissyballen.bsky.social Lab, was terminated, along with over 1,600 others. We describe the impact of this loss in a press release here. datanuggets.org/2025/06/nsf-...
June 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Our #NSF grant, supporting a fruitful collaboration with the @cissyballen.bsky.social Lab, was terminated, along with over 1,600 others. We describe the impact of this loss in a press release here. datanuggets.org/2025/06/nsf-...
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
an overwhelming percentage of cuts at the NSF are to STEM education. experts see it as part of a broader attack on DEI, as well as on education as a whole.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/s...
Funding Cuts Are a ‘Gut Punch’ for STEM Education Researchers
www.nytimes.com
May 22, 2025 at 3:01 PM
an overwhelming percentage of cuts at the NSF are to STEM education. experts see it as part of a broader attack on DEI, as well as on education as a whole.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/s...
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
Time to catch up on the past week’s news about science and medicine in the US. Whew. 1/10
May 1, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Time to catch up on the past week’s news about science and medicine in the US. Whew. 1/10
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
“No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities canteach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”
April 21, 2025 at 9:18 PM
“No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities canteach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
My NSF postdoctoral fellowship was one of the grants terminated yesterday. Devastating is an understatement. Thankful for a supportive admin with a plan to support me for now.
April 19, 2025 at 3:11 PM
My NSF postdoctoral fellowship was one of the grants terminated yesterday. Devastating is an understatement. Thankful for a supportive admin with a plan to support me for now.
so well deserved, congrats Liz and Melissa!!
Congratulations to our 2025 Huxley Award recipient, Dr. Elizabeth Schultheis, for her collection of education resources called Data Nuggets, created together with Dr. Melissa Kjelvik! Learn more here: www.evolutionsociety.org/news/display... @datanuggets.bsky.social
T. H. Huxley Award: Dr. Elizabeth Schultheis
Congratulations to this year’s T. H. Huxley Award recipient, Dr. Elizabeth Schultheis ! Dr. Schultheis is the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Kellogg Biological Station…
www.evolutionsociety.org
April 14, 2025 at 3:23 PM
so well deserved, congrats Liz and Melissa!!
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
Undergrad biology instructors! Want to participate in a paid research study to test the impacts of highlighting scientist role models in instructional materials? We are looking for you! #edusky 🧪
See more information and apply here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
@cissyballen.bsky.social
See more information and apply here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
@cissyballen.bsky.social
Recruitment instructors_IUSE2.docx
Which elements of scientist role model stories are effective in improving equity and success in undergraduate STEM education? Interested? Fill out this poll! We are searching for undergraduate bio...
docs.google.com
April 8, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Undergrad biology instructors! Want to participate in a paid research study to test the impacts of highlighting scientist role models in instructional materials? We are looking for you! #edusky 🧪
See more information and apply here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
@cissyballen.bsky.social
See more information and apply here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
@cissyballen.bsky.social
Undergrad biology instructors! Paid opportunity to participate in research that tests the impacts of highlighting scientist role models in instructional materials. 🐌 🧪 🦋 🔬
Check it out and apply! docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Check it out and apply! docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Recruitment instructors_IUSE2.docx
Which elements of scientist role model stories are effective in improving equity and success in undergraduate STEM education? Interested? Fill out this poll! We are searching for undergraduate bio...
docs.google.com
April 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Undergrad biology instructors! Paid opportunity to participate in research that tests the impacts of highlighting scientist role models in instructional materials. 🐌 🧪 🦋 🔬
Check it out and apply! docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Check it out and apply! docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Check out Costello, Hammarlund et al.! We ask how students want to be assessed, and found their preferences aligned with those known to reduce the impact of test anxiety.
April 2, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Check out Costello, Hammarlund et al.! We ask how students want to be assessed, and found their preferences aligned with those known to reduce the impact of test anxiety.
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
Super proud of the Ballen Lab undergrads who presented our work today at the Auburn Reseaech Symposium! @cissyballen.bsky.social
March 26, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Super proud of the Ballen Lab undergrads who presented our work today at the Auburn Reseaech Symposium! @cissyballen.bsky.social
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
🧪🚨 NSF's Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) has halted making nearly all new awards since inauguration day.
Among *many* other things, EDU runs the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).
We need to protect the education & training of the next gen of scientists #StandUpForScience
Thread👇🧵
Among *many* other things, EDU runs the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).
We need to protect the education & training of the next gen of scientists #StandUpForScience
Thread👇🧵
March 3, 2025 at 1:55 PM
🧪🚨 NSF's Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) has halted making nearly all new awards since inauguration day.
Among *many* other things, EDU runs the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).
We need to protect the education & training of the next gen of scientists #StandUpForScience
Thread👇🧵
Among *many* other things, EDU runs the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).
We need to protect the education & training of the next gen of scientists #StandUpForScience
Thread👇🧵
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
Sharing this brave piece that echos a lot of what I have been feeling. The silence around DEI from institutions means the damage is already done. Leadership asking us to keep our heads down to prevent actual damage ignore that it’s already here for people like me.
stanforddaily.com/2025/03/03/f...
stanforddaily.com/2025/03/03/f...
From the Community | I am more than a researcher, but Stanford doesn’t care
Assistant Professor Elliott White Jr. denounces the University's faint response to political threats against DEI, especially compared to the robust support its research initiatives in the wake of NIH ...
stanforddaily.com
March 4, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Sharing this brave piece that echos a lot of what I have been feeling. The silence around DEI from institutions means the damage is already done. Leadership asking us to keep our heads down to prevent actual damage ignore that it’s already here for people like me.
stanforddaily.com/2025/03/03/f...
stanforddaily.com/2025/03/03/f...
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
When featuring scientists in the classroom, what details are most effective for students? We found sharing humanizing information, such as hobbies & interests in & out of STEM, increases student's ability to relate & in turn, engagement.
datanuggets.org/2025/02/more...
@cissyballen.bsky.social
datanuggets.org/2025/02/more...
@cissyballen.bsky.social
More than a token photo | Data Nuggets
When asked to name scientists, students mention the likes of Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Isaac Newton. And when asked to draw a scientist, students almost always draw a white man holding a…
datanuggets.org
February 17, 2025 at 2:50 PM
When featuring scientists in the classroom, what details are most effective for students? We found sharing humanizing information, such as hobbies & interests in & out of STEM, increases student's ability to relate & in turn, engagement.
datanuggets.org/2025/02/more...
@cissyballen.bsky.social
datanuggets.org/2025/02/more...
@cissyballen.bsky.social
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
Hey All, plz repost, and share with grads, post-docs and disease folks! We are hiring a post-doc to work on mechanisms of immune responses of frog hosts to Bd infections. Deadline is February 1, 2025. Details for the position can be found at the link below. 🐸🐸🐸
zamudiolab.org/2024/12/17/p...
zamudiolab.org/2024/12/17/p...
Post-Doc position in the KZLab! Immune responses to pathogen infections in frogs
We are looking for an NSF-funded post-doc in our lab in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Texas at Austin. The work will examine immune mechanisms that potentially underlie…
zamudiolab.org
December 18, 2024 at 2:07 AM
Hey All, plz repost, and share with grads, post-docs and disease folks! We are hiring a post-doc to work on mechanisms of immune responses of frog hosts to Bd infections. Deadline is February 1, 2025. Details for the position can be found at the link below. 🐸🐸🐸
zamudiolab.org/2024/12/17/p...
zamudiolab.org/2024/12/17/p...
Reposted by Cissy Ballen
So excited to see BEES (and their beautiful nest) on the cover of Current Biology!
@currentbiology.bsky.social
This work wouldn't have been possible without a super team of researchers, and the cover wouldn't have been possible without the phenomenal Peter Marting! @aztecacecropia.bsky.social
@currentbiology.bsky.social
This work wouldn't have been possible without a super team of researchers, and the cover wouldn't have been possible without the phenomenal Peter Marting! @aztecacecropia.bsky.social
December 17, 2024 at 8:43 AM
So excited to see BEES (and their beautiful nest) on the cover of Current Biology!
@currentbiology.bsky.social
This work wouldn't have been possible without a super team of researchers, and the cover wouldn't have been possible without the phenomenal Peter Marting! @aztecacecropia.bsky.social
@currentbiology.bsky.social
This work wouldn't have been possible without a super team of researchers, and the cover wouldn't have been possible without the phenomenal Peter Marting! @aztecacecropia.bsky.social