Katie Wilkinson
@drkwilkinson.bsky.social
Neurophysiologist | http://wilkinsonneuro.com | Past Chair of the American Physiological Society's Science Policy Committee | she/hers
Pinned
Katie Wilkinson
@drkwilkinson.bsky.social
· Mar 20
a man says call your senators with his hands folded
ALT: a man says call your senators with his hands folded
media.tenor.com
Heading back from #FASEBOnTheHill and want to share what I learned and why I think all scientists need to be setting up meetings w their reps to talk about the impacts on science of the current chaos. #AcademicSky #NeuroSky @faseborg.bsky.social @apsphysiology.bsky.social 🧪
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
This was a fascinating read!
Opinion | I'm a Minneapolis sociologist who studies violence. Here's how ICE observers are helping.
Research into how violence occurs shows that disapproval from the people around you can help reduce it.
www.ms.now
January 17, 2026 at 4:51 AM
This was a fascinating read!
I can guest lecture on neuroscience, physiology, or Intro Biology
January 16, 2026 at 3:00 AM
I can guest lecture on neuroscience, physiology, or Intro Biology
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
Kennedy, obsessed with vaxxed/unvaxxed studies that would not be approved by US ethical review boards, planned to fund one in West Africa — one that would have caused unnecessary disease and death for extremely vulnerable children. After negative media attention, it was canceled. Coverage matters.
BREAKING: The controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau has been *cancelled,* I can now report. A senior official with Africa CDC confirmed the cancellation and said GB officials are working to make sure any research is conducted ethically:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Controversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled
$1.6m project drew outrage over ethical questions about withholding vaccines proven to prevent disease
www.theguardian.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Kennedy, obsessed with vaxxed/unvaxxed studies that would not be approved by US ethical review boards, planned to fund one in West Africa — one that would have caused unnecessary disease and death for extremely vulnerable children. After negative media attention, it was canceled. Coverage matters.
Still disappointed to not see my rep @liccardo.house.gov supporting Noem's impeachment. As usual, no info available from office staff-just told to check social media. Love to hear what actions he would support to stop ICE from shooting & tear gassing people and entering homes w/o warrants.
WASHINGTON — With the support of nearly 70 colleagues, Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) on Wednesday introduced three articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. www.huffpost.com/entry/democr...
Democrats Unveil 3 Articles Of Impeachment Against Kristi Noem
"Secretary Noem, you have violated your oath of office and there will be consequences," said Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.).
www.huffpost.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Still disappointed to not see my rep @liccardo.house.gov supporting Noem's impeachment. As usual, no info available from office staff-just told to check social media. Love to hear what actions he would support to stop ICE from shooting & tear gassing people and entering homes w/o warrants.
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
this is all to say that should democrats win the house and senate this november, they should hold similarly dramatic — which is to say televised and highly publicized — hearings on the conduct of ICE and CBP, with testimony from victims. we want as much of *this* as possible in the record. (3/?)
ICE detained Arlit Maria Martinez on her way to work. 2 days later, her 15 yo son died of cancer. They wouldn't let her out to say goodbye. The family had planned to move back to Mexico prior to the cancer diagnosis but stayed for his treatment. Now, Mr Martinez has lost his wife to ICE & his son.
Teen dies of cancer days after mother arrested by ICE: ‘She’s never gonna see him’
The mother's family pleaded with federal officers for her release from custody to say her final goodbyes to her son, but their requests went unanswered.
www.wsaz.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:09 AM
this is all to say that should democrats win the house and senate this november, they should hold similarly dramatic — which is to say televised and highly publicized — hearings on the conduct of ICE and CBP, with testimony from victims. we want as much of *this* as possible in the record. (3/?)
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
I've been calling his office to ask him to support impeachment too.
Even set up a feed of Democrats announcing their support for impeachment on here.
bsky.app/profile/davi...
Even set up a feed of Democrats announcing their support for impeachment on here.
bsky.app/profile/davi...
January 14, 2026 at 1:06 AM
I've been calling his office to ask him to support impeachment too.
Even set up a feed of Democrats announcing their support for impeachment on here.
bsky.app/profile/davi...
Even set up a feed of Democrats announcing their support for impeachment on here.
bsky.app/profile/davi...
I’ve been calling too and staff seem to be instructed not to share his position on this or other similar actions. Ready to see him make some commitments to actual action instead of just posting about how these things are bad.
January 14, 2026 at 1:24 AM
I’ve been calling too and staff seem to be instructed not to share his position on this or other similar actions. Ready to see him make some commitments to actual action instead of just posting about how these things are bad.
Disappointed that I don't see my rep @liccardo.house.gov on this list. ICE is acting with impunity and Congress needs to step up.
NEW: Over 50 House Democrats have signed onto Rep. Robin Kelly's articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem.
That includes several swing-district members (Vasquez, Sorensen, Min) as well as other centrists (Craig, Moulton).
Full list in here @axios.com: www.axios.com/2026/01/13/k...
That includes several swing-district members (Vasquez, Sorensen, Min) as well as other centrists (Craig, Moulton).
Full list in here @axios.com: www.axios.com/2026/01/13/k...
Scoop: Over 50 House Democrats sign onto Kristi Noem articles of impeachment
The list of cosponsors includes several Democrats in swing districts.
www.axios.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Disappointed that I don't see my rep @liccardo.house.gov on this list. ICE is acting with impunity and Congress needs to step up.
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
Trump’s EPA is now ONLY considering the costs to corporations when setting air pollution rules, not how many lives could be saved.
He does not care if you live or die — if it means his billionaire buddies can save a buck. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
He does not care if you live or die — if it means his billionaire buddies can save a buck. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
E.P.A. to Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on Air Pollution
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Trump’s EPA is now ONLY considering the costs to corporations when setting air pollution rules, not how many lives could be saved.
He does not care if you live or die — if it means his billionaire buddies can save a buck. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
He does not care if you live or die — if it means his billionaire buddies can save a buck. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
Remembering today that having your heart broken is a necessary step on the path to becoming fully human. Whichever heartbreak is your first, it’s probably critical that a state break your heart so that you can develop a political imagination. If this is your first, I’m sorry and also welcome.
January 8, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Remembering today that having your heart broken is a necessary step on the path to becoming fully human. Whichever heartbreak is your first, it’s probably critical that a state break your heart so that you can develop a political imagination. If this is your first, I’m sorry and also welcome.
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
Once again, I implore media outlets to stop saying these are CDC decisions.
These are changes being made unilaterally by RFK Jr. against the expert advice of CDC scientists.
I note that RFK Jr. no longer recommends flu vaccine for kids in the midst of a horrible influenza year.
These are changes being made unilaterally by RFK Jr. against the expert advice of CDC scientists.
I note that RFK Jr. no longer recommends flu vaccine for kids in the midst of a horrible influenza year.
CDC overhauls childhood vaccine schedule to resemble Denmark in unprecedented move
The new U.S. guidelines recommend all children get vaccines for 11 diseases, compared with the 18 previously on the schedule.
www.nbcnews.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Once again, I implore media outlets to stop saying these are CDC decisions.
These are changes being made unilaterally by RFK Jr. against the expert advice of CDC scientists.
I note that RFK Jr. no longer recommends flu vaccine for kids in the midst of a horrible influenza year.
These are changes being made unilaterally by RFK Jr. against the expert advice of CDC scientists.
I note that RFK Jr. no longer recommends flu vaccine for kids in the midst of a horrible influenza year.
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
"I don’t know why my fellowship was terminated. I suspect that it has something to do with studying a species that doesn’t fit the binary of what we expect to see in nature, with completely different males and females."
@carlzimmer.com profiles my wonderful coauthor @jjinsing.bsky.social Gift link.
@carlzimmer.com profiles my wonderful coauthor @jjinsing.bsky.social Gift link.
He Studied Why Some Female Birds Look Like Males
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:10 PM
"I don’t know why my fellowship was terminated. I suspect that it has something to do with studying a species that doesn’t fit the binary of what we expect to see in nature, with completely different males and females."
@carlzimmer.com profiles my wonderful coauthor @jjinsing.bsky.social Gift link.
@carlzimmer.com profiles my wonderful coauthor @jjinsing.bsky.social Gift link.
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
Updating this graph for the holidays 🎁
(datapoints are a selection of journals publishing in neuroscience)
(datapoints are a selection of journals publishing in neuroscience)
December 24, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Updating this graph for the holidays 🎁
(datapoints are a selection of journals publishing in neuroscience)
(datapoints are a selection of journals publishing in neuroscience)
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
Congratulations to everyone who wrote an op-ed about how he just wants americans to eat better
BREAKING: RFKJr directs that the US instantly stop recommending all vaccinations for children. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Under RFK Jr., U.S. plans to stop recommending most vaccines, defer to doctors
The plan, which is not finalized, suggests children get fewer shots and shifts to a model telling parents to consult doctors to make their own vaccine choices.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Congratulations to everyone who wrote an op-ed about how he just wants americans to eat better
I’d love to see this please!
December 20, 2025 at 1:37 AM
I’d love to see this please!
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
As someone not with NCAR, I use NCAR-based software everyday to help identify and track regions of excessive precipitation to help NWS forecasters protect lives and property. NCAR is extremely valuable and we need them.
December 17, 2025 at 4:16 AM
As someone not with NCAR, I use NCAR-based software everyday to help identify and track regions of excessive precipitation to help NWS forecasters protect lives and property. NCAR is extremely valuable and we need them.
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
Why read a 300-word "abstract" summary of a paper written by the actual authors when one can read a 300-word summary produced by an AI prone to hallucinations?
What the absolute shit is this? ACM using AI summaries instead of abstracts in search results?! So, if I understand correctly, instead of the author's own summary of the work (i.e. an abstract) we are better off with some regurgitated slop version of that summary instead? @chi.acm.org
December 16, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Why read a 300-word "abstract" summary of a paper written by the actual authors when one can read a 300-word summary produced by an AI prone to hallucinations?
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
At least two of the Brown University students who were on campus when a deadly shooting unfolded there on Saturday have survived school shootings before. “What I’ve been feeling most is just, like, how dare this country allow this to happen to someone like me twice?”
2 Students at Brown Witnessed School Shootings as Children
Both women said the shooting on Saturday had damaged a sense of security they had cultivated for years based on the notion that they were unlikely to witness two school shootings in one lifetime.
nyti.ms
December 14, 2025 at 4:28 PM
At least two of the Brown University students who were on campus when a deadly shooting unfolded there on Saturday have survived school shootings before. “What I’ve been feeling most is just, like, how dare this country allow this to happen to someone like me twice?”
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
Gun violence is the number-one cause of death for children. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘Distracting the public’: group of health professionals call for RFK Jr to be removed
Ahead of the second Maha report, grassroots Defend Public Health warns that everything HHS is doing is ‘horrifying’
www.theguardian.com
December 14, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Gun violence is the number-one cause of death for children. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
Each semester I go in my classroom and I try to figure out what we would use to block the doors, if it would be safe to crawl out the windows, where we could hide if there was a mass shooter in campus. It’s such an indictment of this country how we have normalized these preventable tragedies.
December 13, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Each semester I go in my classroom and I try to figure out what we would use to block the doors, if it would be safe to crawl out the windows, where we could hide if there was a mass shooter in campus. It’s such an indictment of this country how we have normalized these preventable tragedies.
This is an absolutely bonkers story. Not the craziest thing but as a physiologist dropping them at 15000ft w no acclimatization and expecting them to not only climb a very challenging mountain but also set up equipment is insane. Also not realizing the heat of the generator would cause issues?!!
An American nuclear device disappeared on one of the world’s highest mountains during a covert mission. After losing it 60 years ago, the U.S. government still refuses to acknowledge that anything ever happened.
How Did the C.I.A. Lose a Nuclear Device in the Himalayas?
A plutonium-packed generator disappeared on one of the world’s highest mountains in a covert mission that the U.S. will not talk about.
nyti.ms
December 14, 2025 at 3:27 AM
This is an absolutely bonkers story. Not the craziest thing but as a physiologist dropping them at 15000ft w no acclimatization and expecting them to not only climb a very challenging mountain but also set up equipment is insane. Also not realizing the heat of the generator would cause issues?!!
A few weeks ago graffiti threatening a mass shooting targeting certain groups was found on my campus. While the police did not find it a credible threat, only 22/115 students came to my class the next day. I wonder how many of my students have lived through a mass shooting. #GunSenseNow.
so far tonight msnbc has interviewed two students from brown university that are also survivors of separate high school shootings.
insanity.
insanity.
December 14, 2025 at 2:04 AM
A few weeks ago graffiti threatening a mass shooting targeting certain groups was found on my campus. While the police did not find it a credible threat, only 22/115 students came to my class the next day. I wonder how many of my students have lived through a mass shooting. #GunSenseNow.
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
in every other advanced nation this is all but impossible statistically
but we live in America, a nation that chooses when, where, and how to be exceptional
the power to do marvelous or terrible things on a global scale is in our hands
but we live in America, a nation that chooses when, where, and how to be exceptional
the power to do marvelous or terrible things on a global scale is in our hands
so far tonight msnbc has interviewed two students from brown university that are also survivors of separate high school shootings.
insanity.
insanity.
December 14, 2025 at 1:54 AM
in every other advanced nation this is all but impossible statistically
but we live in America, a nation that chooses when, where, and how to be exceptional
the power to do marvelous or terrible things on a global scale is in our hands
but we live in America, a nation that chooses when, where, and how to be exceptional
the power to do marvelous or terrible things on a global scale is in our hands
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
Please join me in signing and sharing this petition, and calling your Rep in the House. RFK Jr. must go!
Every day that RFK Jr. remains HHS Secretary endangers the lives of millions. Enough is enough. Congress has the power stop him. We applaud @rephaleystevens.bsky.social for taking action, and we're calling on our other reps. to do the same!
Join us in the fight: standupforscience.net/impeach-rfkjr
Join us in the fight: standupforscience.net/impeach-rfkjr
December 13, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Please join me in signing and sharing this petition, and calling your Rep in the House. RFK Jr. must go!
Reposted by Katie Wilkinson
I still can’t believe the National Science Foundation is being forced to move out of their brand new, purpose-built building because the HUD secretary thought his building was ugly.
The Trump administration is destroying the best parts of this country, and it will take decades to rebuild.
The Trump administration is destroying the best parts of this country, and it will take decades to rebuild.
NSF
- Forced reorg
- POs down ~ 40% (DRP, most rotators not renewed, retirements)
- Forced move (and we have to pack and clean) to a building with no furniture, little to no conference space for panels, inadequate 🛜, …)
I personally love the boxes they gave us for packing.
“Details matter” 🙃
- Forced reorg
- POs down ~ 40% (DRP, most rotators not renewed, retirements)
- Forced move (and we have to pack and clean) to a building with no furniture, little to no conference space for panels, inadequate 🛜, …)
I personally love the boxes they gave us for packing.
“Details matter” 🙃
December 11, 2025 at 1:58 PM
I still can’t believe the National Science Foundation is being forced to move out of their brand new, purpose-built building because the HUD secretary thought his building was ugly.
The Trump administration is destroying the best parts of this country, and it will take decades to rebuild.
The Trump administration is destroying the best parts of this country, and it will take decades to rebuild.