Mike MacFerrin
@icesheetmike.bsky.social
Dr in glaciology and expert mapper of coastal topography at a Cooperative Research Institute. An organizer for disability rights in science, which mostly involves yelling at agencies. Science is the easier part of my work. #T1D
I’m very thankful to Stephanie Maltarich at @cires.colorado.edu for this writeup about efforts to reform how scientific fieldwork operates. To make it less hostile & exclusionary, and *actually* safer.
From our research talks @ AGU about this subject. The work is ongoing. #disability 🧪
From our research talks @ AGU about this subject. The work is ongoing. #disability 🧪
CIRES researchers challenge the status quo to make field research safer and more inclusive. New frameworks address both exclusionary policies and recommendations for hostile behaviors that occur once they get there: buff.ly/nn5rcMo #fieldwork #CIRES 📷 Lianna Nixon
December 29, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I’m very thankful to Stephanie Maltarich at @cires.colorado.edu for this writeup about efforts to reform how scientific fieldwork operates. To make it less hostile & exclusionary, and *actually* safer.
From our research talks @ AGU about this subject. The work is ongoing. #disability 🧪
From our research talks @ AGU about this subject. The work is ongoing. #disability 🧪
@fieldinclusive.bsky.social is offering a $500 personal grant to support accessibility and inclusivity in fieldwork. Can be used for supplies, transportation, housing, technician salary, etc.
Applications due February 1, 2026: www.fieldinclusive.org/research-gra...
Applications due February 1, 2026: www.fieldinclusive.org/research-gra...
Research Grants - Field Inclusive, Inc.
Field Inclusive Research Grants help to support applicants who participate in natural science field work. Grants can be used towards equipment purchases, field housing, transportation, or technician s...
www.fieldinclusive.org
December 27, 2025 at 9:05 PM
@fieldinclusive.bsky.social is offering a $500 personal grant to support accessibility and inclusivity in fieldwork. Can be used for supplies, transportation, housing, technician salary, etc.
Applications due February 1, 2026: www.fieldinclusive.org/research-gra...
Applications due February 1, 2026: www.fieldinclusive.org/research-gra...
A whole syllabus of reading materials in this thread if you like books / essays and ever “wanted to learn more about disability rights and politics.”
I’ve read only a fraction of them and hope to pick off a few more this year.
This is a wonderful thread. #disability ♿️
I’ve read only a fraction of them and hope to pick off a few more this year.
This is a wonderful thread. #disability ♿️
Friends, if you or someone you know has published awesome work in disability studies (defined *broadly*), please let me know! I'm updating my "Disability: A Democratic Dilemma" course and would love to include some newer work (both academic and otherwise).
December 27, 2025 at 8:27 PM
A whole syllabus of reading materials in this thread if you like books / essays and ever “wanted to learn more about disability rights and politics.”
I’ve read only a fraction of them and hope to pick off a few more this year.
This is a wonderful thread. #disability ♿️
I’ve read only a fraction of them and hope to pick off a few more this year.
This is a wonderful thread. #disability ♿️
Reposted by Mike MacFerrin
Friends, if you or someone you know has published awesome work in disability studies (defined *broadly*), please let me know! I'm updating my "Disability: A Democratic Dilemma" course and would love to include some newer work (both academic and otherwise).
December 27, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Friends, if you or someone you know has published awesome work in disability studies (defined *broadly*), please let me know! I'm updating my "Disability: A Democratic Dilemma" course and would love to include some newer work (both academic and otherwise).
Reposted by Mike MacFerrin
With another influx of users, a nudge to remind people to use alt text
Reminder to be inclusive to those who need/benefit from alt text. You can enable requiring it so you don’t forget
December 27, 2025 at 7:02 PM
With another influx of users, a nudge to remind people to use alt text
It’s astounding to me how quickly these nitwits pivoted on a tile from
“AGI will outperform all human intellect within a few years”
…to…
“…but if you think about it, software doesn’t actually have to work, does it?”
“AGI will outperform all human intellect within a few years”
…to…
“…but if you think about it, software doesn’t actually have to work, does it?”
Can't wait for the loosened up, non-perfect, but quickly shipped AI-enhanced updates to hit my banking and insurance services next year.
Im sure there will be no issues there at all.
Im sure there will be no issues there at all.
December 26, 2025 at 6:38 PM
It’s astounding to me how quickly these nitwits pivoted on a tile from
“AGI will outperform all human intellect within a few years”
…to…
“…but if you think about it, software doesn’t actually have to work, does it?”
“AGI will outperform all human intellect within a few years”
…to…
“…but if you think about it, software doesn’t actually have to work, does it?”
No shade at all to @scifri.bsky.social, but I truly wish I could “embrace winter” right now.
Denver, CO (the “Mile High City”) clocked 70 °F (21C) today, the warmest Christmas since records began. Some trees and bushes are starting to bud, they’re so confused. It freaks me out.
Denver, CO (the “Mile High City”) clocked 70 °F (21C) today, the warmest Christmas since records began. Some trees and bushes are starting to bud, they’re so confused. It freaks me out.
December 26, 2025 at 12:20 AM
No shade at all to @scifri.bsky.social, but I truly wish I could “embrace winter” right now.
Denver, CO (the “Mile High City”) clocked 70 °F (21C) today, the warmest Christmas since records began. Some trees and bushes are starting to bud, they’re so confused. It freaks me out.
Denver, CO (the “Mile High City”) clocked 70 °F (21C) today, the warmest Christmas since records began. Some trees and bushes are starting to bud, they’re so confused. It freaks me out.
Reposted by Mike MacFerrin
"Even after accounting for the upfront costs and delayed benefits, enrolling marginal applicants to public universities generates substantial net returns for society, the marginal students themselves, and the government budget."
Public Universities FTW!
Public Universities FTW!
December 24, 2025 at 9:00 PM
"Even after accounting for the upfront costs and delayed benefits, enrolling marginal applicants to public universities generates substantial net returns for society, the marginal students themselves, and the government budget."
Public Universities FTW!
Public Universities FTW!
Anyone else get a steady trickle of new follows from hashtag-Resist accounts that do nothing but post anti-Trump “resistance” memes, instantly hit 10k+ followers, but don’t actually do jack squat to organize anything?
I block them on sight. Feels like a whole lotta bad-actor fake accounts.
I block them on sight. Feels like a whole lotta bad-actor fake accounts.
December 24, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Anyone else get a steady trickle of new follows from hashtag-Resist accounts that do nothing but post anti-Trump “resistance” memes, instantly hit 10k+ followers, but don’t actually do jack squat to organize anything?
I block them on sight. Feels like a whole lotta bad-actor fake accounts.
I block them on sight. Feels like a whole lotta bad-actor fake accounts.
December 22, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Reposted by Mike MacFerrin
14 two-year postdocs for academics of any nationality who cannot continue their research due to US politics. Do share if you know of such.
Post-doc positions:
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."
uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."
uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...
Call for Applications: Early Career Rescue Fellowship – Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies
uni-freiburg.de
December 19, 2025 at 5:19 PM
14 two-year postdocs for academics of any nationality who cannot continue their research due to US politics. Do share if you know of such.
I checked out at an unmanned airport kiosk where I grabbed a sandwich & drink from the cooler, scanned them myself, and paid w a CC, at which point it prompted me for a “20% tip.”
a man in a suit and tie is holding a jacket over his shoulder
Alt: Travolta in a suit and tie is holding a jacket and looking around him confused.
media.tenor.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:42 PM
I checked out at an unmanned airport kiosk where I grabbed a sandwich & drink from the cooler, scanned them myself, and paid w a CC, at which point it prompted me for a “20% tip.”
Reposted by Mike MacFerrin
YOU DUMB FUCKS. THIS IS ME.
I have a scooter. I can walk. I can't, however, walk through 80 miles of airport. I can walk onto an airplane or through hallways. I can't walk the .5 mile to the convention center.
People, get smarter, it's embarrassing at this point.
I have a scooter. I can walk. I can't, however, walk through 80 miles of airport. I can walk onto an airplane or through hallways. I can't walk the .5 mile to the convention center.
People, get smarter, it's embarrassing at this point.
Travelers bemoan a rise of able-bodied passengers who game the system to skip the lines. on.wsj.com/3N6apva
They Get Wheeled on Flights and Miraculously Walk Off. Praise ‘Jetway Jesus.’
Travelers bemoan a rise of able-bodied passengers who game the system to skip the lines.
on.wsj.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:39 AM
YOU DUMB FUCKS. THIS IS ME.
I have a scooter. I can walk. I can't, however, walk through 80 miles of airport. I can walk onto an airplane or through hallways. I can't walk the .5 mile to the convention center.
People, get smarter, it's embarrassing at this point.
I have a scooter. I can walk. I can't, however, walk through 80 miles of airport. I can walk onto an airplane or through hallways. I can't walk the .5 mile to the convention center.
People, get smarter, it's embarrassing at this point.
Reposted by Mike MacFerrin
More than 7000 people have already reached out to their representatives about saving NCAR. Join us:
Want to help #SaveNCAR? Join thousands of members of AGU and the public who have visited this
@aguscipolicy.bsky.social page, where you can find email text and a call script to share with your representatives.
agu.quorum.us/campaign/151...
@aguscipolicy.bsky.social page, where you can find email text and a call script to share with your representatives.
agu.quorum.us/campaign/151...
December 18, 2025 at 9:25 PM
More than 7000 people have already reached out to their representatives about saving NCAR. Join us:
Eternal curses and hexes upon whomever decided that between Google Slides, LibreOffice, and PowerPoint, in every case the fonts shall be rendered *completely differently.*
December 17, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Eternal curses and hexes upon whomever decided that between Google Slides, LibreOffice, and PowerPoint, in every case the fonts shall be rendered *completely differently.*
I'm editing a PowerPoint using MS Sharepoint Online (with CoPilot automatically enabled). I can't convey how horrific & painful this is.
It literally added a giant "5 min timer" window (an "Add-in" feature!) to my cover slide that I can't select, disable, nor delete. Because it assumes I want this.
It literally added a giant "5 min timer" window (an "Add-in" feature!) to my cover slide that I can't select, disable, nor delete. Because it assumes I want this.
December 15, 2025 at 3:36 AM
I'm editing a PowerPoint using MS Sharepoint Online (with CoPilot automatically enabled). I can't convey how horrific & painful this is.
It literally added a giant "5 min timer" window (an "Add-in" feature!) to my cover slide that I can't select, disable, nor delete. Because it assumes I want this.
It literally added a giant "5 min timer" window (an "Add-in" feature!) to my cover slide that I can't select, disable, nor delete. Because it assumes I want this.
Welp. ICE agents have been confirmed today in our town in Colorado (Longmont). I was wondering when they'd come. (Took longer than expected, TBH.) I have a bag of small metal whistles, time to hand them out to neighbors with instructions.
For Coloradans: 1-844-UNITE-41
^ Put it on speed-dial.
⇩
For Coloradans: 1-844-UNITE-41
^ Put it on speed-dial.
⇩
Home | CORRN
www.coloradorapidresponsenetwork.com
December 13, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Welp. ICE agents have been confirmed today in our town in Colorado (Longmont). I was wondering when they'd come. (Took longer than expected, TBH.) I have a bag of small metal whistles, time to hand them out to neighbors with instructions.
For Coloradans: 1-844-UNITE-41
^ Put it on speed-dial.
⇩
For Coloradans: 1-844-UNITE-41
^ Put it on speed-dial.
⇩
Not surprising to anyone paying attention, but it's still shocking how much of these "market price shocks" are specifically engineered by CEOs in backroom deals.
In late-stage capitalism: competition yields to market manipulation & reckless corruption.
Break up 100% of these giant conglomerates.
In late-stage capitalism: competition yields to market manipulation & reckless corruption.
Break up 100% of these giant conglomerates.
1. For at least 10 years, Pepsi has conspired with Walmart to force up grocery prices. That’s the shocking evidence made public today in an unsealed FTC lawsuit. The suit was abandoned in May by the Trump FTC just before it was to be un-redacted. We went to court to get it unsealed & won.
December 12, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Not surprising to anyone paying attention, but it's still shocking how much of these "market price shocks" are specifically engineered by CEOs in backroom deals.
In late-stage capitalism: competition yields to market manipulation & reckless corruption.
Break up 100% of these giant conglomerates.
In late-stage capitalism: competition yields to market manipulation & reckless corruption.
Break up 100% of these giant conglomerates.
Reposted by Mike MacFerrin
It’s official: The historic flight of my friend Michi Benthaus, who will become the first wheelchair user to leave our planet’s atmosphere, will launch one week from today: on Dec 18th at 8:30am CT / 3:30pm CET. I’ll be watching live, come hell or high water
December 11, 2025 at 8:51 PM
It’s official: The historic flight of my friend Michi Benthaus, who will become the first wheelchair user to leave our planet’s atmosphere, will launch one week from today: on Dec 18th at 8:30am CT / 3:30pm CET. I’ll be watching live, come hell or high water
Reposted by Mike MacFerrin
Everyone deserves a seat at the table. Especially those of us who literally roll up to it. #AccessibilityMatters
December 11, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Everyone deserves a seat at the table. Especially those of us who literally roll up to it. #AccessibilityMatters
The lack of "Drafts" in Bluesky is annoying. I can build a thread on a science topic (w/ figures, etc). One accidental click away and *poof* it's gone, no way to get it back. This is basic digital stuff; lemme save my progress when I write something!
So... I have to do it offline, then copy-paste.
So... I have to do it offline, then copy-paste.
December 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The lack of "Drafts" in Bluesky is annoying. I can build a thread on a science topic (w/ figures, etc). One accidental click away and *poof* it's gone, no way to get it back. This is basic digital stuff; lemme save my progress when I write something!
So... I have to do it offline, then copy-paste.
So... I have to do it offline, then copy-paste.
“We’ll restructure the university to give everyone AI degrees b/c that’s what they want” is a ludicrous amount of faith to put in a young technology in an enormous bubble already cracking at the seams.
This is, of course, another highly-paid “consultant” whose real job is to destroy higher ed.
This is, of course, another highly-paid “consultant” whose real job is to destroy higher ed.
Yes we all agree that this is the reason colleges are in trouble
December 9, 2025 at 4:54 PM
“We’ll restructure the university to give everyone AI degrees b/c that’s what they want” is a ludicrous amount of faith to put in a young technology in an enormous bubble already cracking at the seams.
This is, of course, another highly-paid “consultant” whose real job is to destroy higher ed.
This is, of course, another highly-paid “consultant” whose real job is to destroy higher ed.
Reposted by Mike MacFerrin
A Colorado state Senator is launching a primary challenge from the left against Colorado's U.S. Senator Hickenlooper: coloradosun.com/2025/12/08/j...
Democratic state senator launches bid as “insurgent progressive” to unseat Colorado’s John Hickenlooper
Julie Gonzales said “go-along-to-get-along, poll-tested incrementalist politics have not made Coloradans’ lives better”
coloradosun.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:25 PM
A Colorado state Senator is launching a primary challenge from the left against Colorado's U.S. Senator Hickenlooper: coloradosun.com/2025/12/08/j...
Reposted by Mike MacFerrin
I will literally give a reporter $1,000 bucks if they ask Elon Musk how it felt to be a DEI admit at UPENN
December 8, 2025 at 4:43 AM
I will literally give a reporter $1,000 bucks if they ask Elon Musk how it felt to be a DEI admit at UPENN