jenna newman phd
@jennanewman.bsky.social
career civil servant: public health, public safety. deep breaths, long horizons.
.public sociology.
.public sociology.
“The history of science is indeed a graveyard of theories, but the fact that science keeps changing is a mark of its strength. It keeps changing because the world is complex and full of wonder. That isn’t a problem; it’s the engine that drives scientific progress.”🧪
January 6, 2026 at 2:48 AM
“The history of science is indeed a graveyard of theories, but the fact that science keeps changing is a mark of its strength. It keeps changing because the world is complex and full of wonder. That isn’t a problem; it’s the engine that drives scientific progress.”🧪
scenes from the wreckage of the endorphin crash, after the most peaceful commute of our lives, gleefully blasting The Dog Days Are Over on repeat, feet perhaps a tad too heavy, wind metaphorically messing w/ already quite messy hair, trying to vaguely remember what exactly our children look like.
"Hope you had a restful break!" we all frantically type, trying to vaguely remember what exactly our jobs are.
January 5, 2026 at 2:23 PM
scenes from the wreckage of the endorphin crash, after the most peaceful commute of our lives, gleefully blasting The Dog Days Are Over on repeat, feet perhaps a tad too heavy, wind metaphorically messing w/ already quite messy hair, trying to vaguely remember what exactly our children look like.
Reposted by jenna newman phd
"Hope you had a restful break!" we all frantically type, trying to vaguely remember what exactly our jobs are.
January 5, 2026 at 1:41 PM
"Hope you had a restful break!" we all frantically type, trying to vaguely remember what exactly our jobs are.
Back to school AM after winter break ends.
January 5, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Back to school AM after winter break ends.
On the recommendation to read a book—listen to Ann Patchett, on Kate DiCamillo’s wonderful world of kids books:
“Don’t miss out. Do not make the mistake I nearly made & fail to read them bc you are under the misconception that they are not for you. They are for you.”
www.nytimes.com/2020/03/30/b...
“Don’t miss out. Do not make the mistake I nearly made & fail to read them bc you are under the misconception that they are not for you. They are for you.”
www.nytimes.com/2020/03/30/b...
January 5, 2026 at 2:34 AM
On the recommendation to read a book—listen to Ann Patchett, on Kate DiCamillo’s wonderful world of kids books:
“Don’t miss out. Do not make the mistake I nearly made & fail to read them bc you are under the misconception that they are not for you. They are for you.”
www.nytimes.com/2020/03/30/b...
“Don’t miss out. Do not make the mistake I nearly made & fail to read them bc you are under the misconception that they are not for you. They are for you.”
www.nytimes.com/2020/03/30/b...
Reposted by jenna newman phd
it is your DUTY as a parent to be basic and cringe. if your child says "6-7" and you do not say, loud enough for their friends to hear, "8-9?", causing profound silence and intense discomfort, you are neglecting your responsibilities. being cool is for kids. your days of being laughed WITH are over
January 4, 2026 at 10:42 PM
it is your DUTY as a parent to be basic and cringe. if your child says "6-7" and you do not say, loud enough for their friends to hear, "8-9?", causing profound silence and intense discomfort, you are neglecting your responsibilities. being cool is for kids. your days of being laughed WITH are over
“It’s true that demographers are real nerds about our data & our statistical methodologies; we are technicians who want to get the numbers as right as they can be.
But the reason we study death rates is that deaths really matter….for our culture & the way our society functions.”🧪
But the reason we study death rates is that deaths really matter….for our culture & the way our society functions.”🧪
January 4, 2026 at 11:09 PM
“It’s true that demographers are real nerds about our data & our statistical methodologies; we are technicians who want to get the numbers as right as they can be.
But the reason we study death rates is that deaths really matter….for our culture & the way our society functions.”🧪
But the reason we study death rates is that deaths really matter….for our culture & the way our society functions.”🧪
“In the Profession of Arms, there are many moral claims, virtues & beliefs that one might consider part of military ethics.…
[*But*] Articulating the virtues, claims or elements of military professionalism is morality.
**Reflecting, questioning or arguing about those things is Ethics**.”
[*But*] Articulating the virtues, claims or elements of military professionalism is morality.
**Reflecting, questioning or arguing about those things is Ethics**.”
January 4, 2026 at 5:41 PM
“In the Profession of Arms, there are many moral claims, virtues & beliefs that one might consider part of military ethics.…
[*But*] Articulating the virtues, claims or elements of military professionalism is morality.
**Reflecting, questioning or arguing about those things is Ethics**.”
[*But*] Articulating the virtues, claims or elements of military professionalism is morality.
**Reflecting, questioning or arguing about those things is Ethics**.”
Reposted by jenna newman phd
Every Day is Ethics Day. This means Ethics as a practice is everyone's concern.
January 4, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Every Day is Ethics Day. This means Ethics as a practice is everyone's concern.
"’[as] a direct result of our work tens of thousands of turtles were rescued, rehabilitated, & released, getting a 2nd chance at life.’
NOAA established the STSSN in 1980, which documents sea turtle strandings along the coastal areas from ME to TX & in parts of the US Caribbean.”🧪
NOAA established the STSSN in 1980, which documents sea turtle strandings along the coastal areas from ME to TX & in parts of the US Caribbean.”🧪
January 4, 2026 at 3:47 PM
"’[as] a direct result of our work tens of thousands of turtles were rescued, rehabilitated, & released, getting a 2nd chance at life.’
NOAA established the STSSN in 1980, which documents sea turtle strandings along the coastal areas from ME to TX & in parts of the US Caribbean.”🧪
NOAA established the STSSN in 1980, which documents sea turtle strandings along the coastal areas from ME to TX & in parts of the US Caribbean.”🧪
Reposted by jenna newman phd
Book 1/2026: Redeployment by @philklay.bsky.social
I don’t know where I got this copy but I remember when it came out. Three deployments done when this was published in 2014.
So much amuses, angers, chastises, and saddens. He writes powerful short stories. Like Owen, I’ll keep writing poetry ✍️
I don’t know where I got this copy but I remember when it came out. Three deployments done when this was published in 2014.
So much amuses, angers, chastises, and saddens. He writes powerful short stories. Like Owen, I’ll keep writing poetry ✍️
January 4, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Book 1/2026: Redeployment by @philklay.bsky.social
I don’t know where I got this copy but I remember when it came out. Three deployments done when this was published in 2014.
So much amuses, angers, chastises, and saddens. He writes powerful short stories. Like Owen, I’ll keep writing poetry ✍️
I don’t know where I got this copy but I remember when it came out. Three deployments done when this was published in 2014.
So much amuses, angers, chastises, and saddens. He writes powerful short stories. Like Owen, I’ll keep writing poetry ✍️
Reposted by jenna newman phd
There is a tiny child riding a tiny tricycle through the grocery store, helping his dad with the shopping, and it's comforting to know that even with all of the awfulness, there is still joy and care in the world.
January 3, 2026 at 2:13 PM
There is a tiny child riding a tiny tricycle through the grocery store, helping his dad with the shopping, and it's comforting to know that even with all of the awfulness, there is still joy and care in the world.
“One of our goals was to publish this huge database of African genomes. This resource would be avail to thousands of biomedical researchers in the US &globally. Now I don’t have money to pay to host the data or run an analysis.I have 200 terabytes of data that’s just sitting on a server in Quebec.”🧪
January 3, 2026 at 3:03 AM
“One of our goals was to publish this huge database of African genomes. This resource would be avail to thousands of biomedical researchers in the US &globally. Now I don’t have money to pay to host the data or run an analysis.I have 200 terabytes of data that’s just sitting on a server in Quebec.”🧪
“…the creators of these [nonconsensual, violent AI] images often seemed to be treating the action like a game or meme, with an air of laughter & detachment.”
January 2, 2026 at 6:51 PM
“…the creators of these [nonconsensual, violent AI] images often seemed to be treating the action like a game or meme, with an air of laughter & detachment.”
Former (forever) New Yorker here — who once conducted a ton of qualitative interviews with seniors living alone in nyc🧪 — footstomping THIS:
January 2, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Former (forever) New Yorker here — who once conducted a ton of qualitative interviews with seniors living alone in nyc🧪 — footstomping THIS:
Reposted by jenna newman phd
if you push the buttons on a vending machine and it spits out a coke, that doesn't mean the vending machine understood thirst
the one that shows the "apology" followed by a prompt and reply for an aggressive non-apology is more accurate imo
it conveys the reality that there is no coherent viewpoint, only text likely to follow other text. ask for insults, get insults. ask for apologies, get "i'm sorry"
it conveys the reality that there is no coherent viewpoint, only text likely to follow other text. ask for insults, get insults. ask for apologies, get "i'm sorry"
January 2, 2026 at 3:47 PM
if you push the buttons on a vending machine and it spits out a coke, that doesn't mean the vending machine understood thirst
Reposted by jenna newman phd
2025 feels like both yesterday and some ancient myth
January 1, 2026 at 8:58 PM
2025 feels like both yesterday and some ancient myth
Reposted by jenna newman phd
“It is no small thing to have the opportunity and permission to use all one's strengths”
🧪
🧪
January 1, 2026 at 1:31 PM
“It is no small thing to have the opportunity and permission to use all one's strengths”
🧪
🧪
Reposted by jenna newman phd
I wish you, and me, and all of us, strength & solidarity & joy in the new year as we find our way together: which we have done this year already, and will arise tomorrow to do again. /thread
December 31, 2025 at 11:21 PM
I wish you, and me, and all of us, strength & solidarity & joy in the new year as we find our way together: which we have done this year already, and will arise tomorrow to do again. /thread
Reposted by jenna newman phd
snakes leave behind whole skins. all manner of flying creatures, not just butterflies, do them one better, whole new selves from wriggling worms. rocks into gems. mystics die to the flesh to be reborn in the spirit. rebirth is the rule, not the stray exception, if we can grasp it
December 31, 2025 at 11:21 PM
snakes leave behind whole skins. all manner of flying creatures, not just butterflies, do them one better, whole new selves from wriggling worms. rocks into gems. mystics die to the flesh to be reborn in the spirit. rebirth is the rule, not the stray exception, if we can grasp it
Reposted by jenna newman phd
The share of counties where 95% or more of kindergartners were vaccinated against measles has dropped from 50% before the pandemic to 28%, according to our analysis of public records from 44 states and the District of Columbia. At least 19,000 schools are now more vulnerable to outbreaks.
December 31, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The share of counties where 95% or more of kindergartners were vaccinated against measles has dropped from 50% before the pandemic to 28%, according to our analysis of public records from 44 states and the District of Columbia. At least 19,000 schools are now more vulnerable to outbreaks.
"When you're in the middle of seeing the curve start to go up, we just don't have any sense of where it's going to stop…. That's the big concern in most of the medical communities right now." 🛟🧪
December 31, 2025 at 2:02 PM
"When you're in the middle of seeing the curve start to go up, we just don't have any sense of where it's going to stop…. That's the big concern in most of the medical communities right now." 🛟🧪
“The share of US counties where 95% or more of kindergartners were vaccinated against measles—the number doctors say is needed to achieve overall protection for the class, known as ‘herd immunity’— has dropped from 50% before the pandemic to 28%”🛟🧪
December 31, 2025 at 1:44 PM
“The share of US counties where 95% or more of kindergartners were vaccinated against measles—the number doctors say is needed to achieve overall protection for the class, known as ‘herd immunity’— has dropped from 50% before the pandemic to 28%”🛟🧪
“I wait for a scream. I wait for a shout. I wait for the muted tone of polite conversation. I wait for anything other than this silence, dark and thick as smoke. I hold my breath against it and I wait, and I wait, and I wait.”
Also: 2025’s ending—perfectly said.
Also: 2025’s ending—perfectly said.
I hope I ever write an ending half as good as "I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?"
December 31, 2025 at 10:25 AM
“I wait for a scream. I wait for a shout. I wait for the muted tone of polite conversation. I wait for anything other than this silence, dark and thick as smoke. I hold my breath against it and I wait, and I wait, and I wait.”
Also: 2025’s ending—perfectly said.
Also: 2025’s ending—perfectly said.