Tracy Frank
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drtracydfrank.bsky.social
Tracy Frank
@drtracydfrank.bsky.social
Geology professor born at 321 ppm CO2. Sedimentologist and geochemist who studies deep time paleoclimate. #Fulbright Alumna. Opinions are my own.
Reposted by Tracy Frank
A few people have asked if there is anything that they can do about UNL's decision to cut its Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Department. There is a public feedback from that one can submit to UNL that you can access here:

apc.unl.edu/fall-2025-bu...

Clint Rowe (our dept. chair) has asked to get…
Fall 2025 Budget Reduction Feedback Form | Academic Planning Committee | Nebraska
apc.unl.edu
September 15, 2025 at 7:16 PM
My former department, where I spent most of my career. 💔
I have just heard an ALARMING report that my former Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Nebraska is threatened with elimination, due to a university & state-wide budget crisis, and despite their ongoing success in scholarship and teaching. This is really shocking.
September 12, 2025 at 8:25 PM
For #ThinSectionThursday, a bryozoan grainstone/rudstone from the Permian of Western Australia.
September 4, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Consider calling your representatives! Many might not be aware of this plan.
My latest: Polar scientists warn that the White House and NSF are planning to terminate the Nathaniel Palmer, the only US research icebreaker capable of handling Antarctic extremes, this October.

So far the plan has seen minimal pushback from Congress.
NSF plans abrupt end to lone U.S. Antarctic research icebreaker
Imminent termination of the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer shocks polar scientists
www.science.org
July 29, 2025 at 3:14 PM
What?
The National Science Foundation plans to abruptly end operation of the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer, the sole U.S. research ship capable of braving the farthest reaches of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. scim.ag/4mB8LOX
NSF plans abrupt end to lone U.S. Antarctic research icebreaker
Imminent termination of the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer shocks polar scientists
scim.ag
July 29, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Reposted by Tracy Frank
Are you looking to share your work on Permian biotic crises at #GSAConnects in San Antonio? If so, check out session T198!
June 2, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Tracy Frank
Pleased to share a new paper out on Early Triassic gymnosperm recovery following the end-Permian event in the southern high latitudes, led by @treeamores.bsky.social!
doi.org/10.1130/B380...
Age-controlled south polar floral trends show a staggered Early Triassic gymnosperm recovery following the end-Permian event | GSA Bulletin | GeoScienceWorld
Abstract. The end-Permian event (EPE, ca. 252.3–251.9 Ma) led to the generalized collapse of gymnosperm-supported ecosystems. They eventually recovered
doi.org
July 1, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Prof. Robert Thorson on how geology helped UConn become UConn.
youtu.be/LMphe5qt2ek?...
How UConn Became UConn | UConn
YouTube video by UConn
youtu.be
June 30, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Another day, another hit to science.

NSF’s HQ was built to purpose. Now, NSF employees are being kicked out with no notice and little information about what's next.

These short-sighted policies will cost U.S. science leadership for decades. #ScienceMatters #NSF #StrongScienceStrongAmerica
June 27, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by Tracy Frank
Carrie Adeline Barbour (1861 – 1942) was a paleontologist and educator.
As an assistant curator of paleontology at the University of Nebraska State Museum and an Assistant Professor of Paleontology, she was among the earliest women paleontologists in the United States.
#WomenInSTEM
June 9, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Reposted by Tracy Frank
US Earth Scientists: We know you have questions, come get them answered directly from NSF/EAR POs! Tuesday, June 17, 2p Eastern. Register here: www.nsf.gov/events/nsf-d...
NSF Division of Earth Sciences Informational Webinar
www.nsf.gov
June 9, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Reposted by Tracy Frank
Can tropical corals find refuge at higher latitudes under future warming? In our new paper in Science Advances, we argue that coral range expansion will be *far too slow* for most coral species to outpace climate change. 🪸🌊
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

A short 🧵 (1/16)
June 7, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Reposted by Tracy Frank
NEW: A nearly 90% funding cut proposed by the Trump administration would likely shut down and devastate the 37 tribal colleges and universities created to serve the students disadvantaged by the nation’s historic mistreatment of Indigenous communities.

By @mattkrupnick.bsky.social
Trump Wants to Cut Tribal College Funding by Nearly 90%, Putting Them at Risk of Closing
ProPublica found that Congress was underfunding tribal colleges by a quarter-billion dollars per year. Rather than fixing the problem, proposed federal funding cuts unveiled this week would devastate ...
www.propublica.org
June 3, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Reposted by Tracy Frank
Surface Geologist 🚨Job opening🚨 #NorthDakota Geological Survey #geology

Field mapping of glacial sediments or sedimentary rock, geologic hazards (landslide) mapping, interpreting aerial and satellite imagery, etc.

www.dmr.nd.gov/dmr/workwith...
Employment Opportunities
Employment Opportunities | Department of Mineral Resources, North Dakota
www.dmr.nd.gov
June 3, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Are you looking to share your work on Permian biotic crises at #GSAConnects in San Antonio? If so, check out session T198!
June 2, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Tracy Frank
And NSF has not faired any better in the proposed budget - tools for action on that are here: www.savensf.com/take-action
Take Action | Save NSF
www.savensf.com
May 30, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Reposted by Tracy Frank
Remember folks, the budget cuts for NSF and NIH *can still be stopped*. That is a luxury not granted to our agency science colleagues who have or could still lose their jobs from the top down. So - Fight! Speak up! Pay attention!
May 31, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Reposted by Tracy Frank
The National Science Foundation budget proposal would be a devastating blow to American science. 240,000 fewer people would be involved in federally-funded science in fiscal year 2026, according to estimates in the document.

nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
May 30, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Reposted by Tracy Frank
Presidential budget is out. Here's NSF. Biggest cut, by amount, is $1 billion, or 66.8%, from MPS (Physics & Math directorate). nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
May 30, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Happy #ThinSectionThursday! Here are paired PL and XPL images of a carbonate grainstone (latest Pliocene, Jamaica). Skeletal grains are overgrown by fibrous cement, which fills primary porosity. Quiz - can you ID the skeletal grains? 🤔
April 24, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Join the Department of Earth Sciences @uconn.bsky.social for a screening TONIGHT of "The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice," 6 PM, Student Union Theatre. Learn how the discovery of a long-lost sediment core revealed startling details about the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet & future sea level.
April 21, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Any one out there making XRF pellets with a press die set? If so, if you have any solutions for a stuck plunger, please let me know. TIA.
April 21, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Lacustrine ooids and coated grains (mainly ostracods) from the Eocene Green River Formation, UT (USA). #ThinSectionThursday
March 20, 2025 at 12:57 PM