Johanna Kowalko
@johannakowalko.bsky.social
Associate Prof, Lehigh University
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
Great job, @schumer.senate.gov. You've changed the story from "GOP hurting millions of Americans to please unpopular, failing, delusional despot who's destroying his party" to "Dems are too weak and divided in the face of Trump's strength to take a stand and protect Americans"
November 10, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Great job, @schumer.senate.gov. You've changed the story from "GOP hurting millions of Americans to please unpopular, failing, delusional despot who's destroying his party" to "Dems are too weak and divided in the face of Trump's strength to take a stand and protect Americans"
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
Important piece by Prof. Kate Andrias. This is why treating SCOTUS as the only word on the Constitution gives away our power as citizens.
As I frequently say “we are founders and framers” of the next iteration of democracy in this country.
GIFT LINK
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/o...
As I frequently say “we are founders and framers” of the next iteration of democracy in this country.
GIFT LINK
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/o...
Opinion | The Constitution Doesn’t Belong to Trump or the Supreme Court
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Important piece by Prof. Kate Andrias. This is why treating SCOTUS as the only word on the Constitution gives away our power as citizens.
As I frequently say “we are founders and framers” of the next iteration of democracy in this country.
GIFT LINK
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/o...
As I frequently say “we are founders and framers” of the next iteration of democracy in this country.
GIFT LINK
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/o...
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
I have been trying to get this published as an op-ed, but I am going to post it here since I think it is timely in light of the "consent" extortion events.
Deafening Quiet from the Scientific Establishment
jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...
1/14
Deafening Quiet from the Scientific Establishment
jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...
1/14
jeremymberg.github.io
October 6, 2025 at 11:28 PM
I have been trying to get this published as an op-ed, but I am going to post it here since I think it is timely in light of the "consent" extortion events.
Deafening Quiet from the Scientific Establishment
jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...
1/14
Deafening Quiet from the Scientific Establishment
jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...
1/14
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
Day 2 of the Republican shutdown. Your regular reminders:
1. GOP controls government. They control what bills get voted on and the vote thresholds for each bill. Senate GOP can pass their bad funding bill today if they felt like it.
2. Dems are fighting to lower costs and save healthcare.
1. GOP controls government. They control what bills get voted on and the vote thresholds for each bill. Senate GOP can pass their bad funding bill today if they felt like it.
2. Dems are fighting to lower costs and save healthcare.
October 2, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Day 2 of the Republican shutdown. Your regular reminders:
1. GOP controls government. They control what bills get voted on and the vote thresholds for each bill. Senate GOP can pass their bad funding bill today if they felt like it.
2. Dems are fighting to lower costs and save healthcare.
1. GOP controls government. They control what bills get voted on and the vote thresholds for each bill. Senate GOP can pass their bad funding bill today if they felt like it.
2. Dems are fighting to lower costs and save healthcare.
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
Effective and empathetic scientific communication is so critical right now. We had an interactive workshop at the #2025ICDB led by @rebeccacalisi.bsky.social and Dr. Kevin Alicea-Torres and facilitated by @spiraldoc.bsky.social and myself- and we practiced this. Please check out our perspective!
An incredibly important article and increasingly relevant in modern political climates. Thank you to @rogerslabucd.bsky.social and colleagues for writing this for @dev-journal.bsky.social
"Speaking up can feel like walking a tightrope strung between conflict and silence."
#TruthMatters
"Speaking up can feel like walking a tightrope strung between conflict and silence."
#TruthMatters
Speaking science in a fractured world: making truth land when facts alone cannot
ABSTRACT. Scientific misinformation is a defining challenge of our time. As public trust in science declines and falsehoods spread faster than facts, the scientific community must rethink its role in ...
doi.org
September 30, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Effective and empathetic scientific communication is so critical right now. We had an interactive workshop at the #2025ICDB led by @rebeccacalisi.bsky.social and Dr. Kevin Alicea-Torres and facilitated by @spiraldoc.bsky.social and myself- and we practiced this. Please check out our perspective!
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
#ThrowbackThursday: In 1980 the 🌍🌎🌏 was declared #smallpox free, thanks to mass vaccination efforts.
Smallpox was an acute contagious disease caused by the variola virus. It was one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity. #VaccinesWork
Smallpox was an acute contagious disease caused by the variola virus. It was one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity. #VaccinesWork
August 28, 2025 at 9:17 AM
#ThrowbackThursday: In 1980 the 🌍🌎🌏 was declared #smallpox free, thanks to mass vaccination efforts.
Smallpox was an acute contagious disease caused by the variola virus. It was one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity. #VaccinesWork
Smallpox was an acute contagious disease caused by the variola virus. It was one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity. #VaccinesWork
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
Haven’t posted on here in awhile, so sharing my new preprint is a great way to get back into the bluesky science community!
Cellular and molecular mechanisms that shape the development and evolution of tail vertebral proportion in mice and jerboas https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.10.25.620311v1
Cellular and molecular mechanisms that shape the development and evolution of tail vertebral proportion in mice and jerboas https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.10.25.620311v1
Despite the functional importance of the vertebral skeleton, little is known about how individual ve
www.biorxiv.org
November 12, 2024 at 5:14 AM
Haven’t posted on here in awhile, so sharing my new preprint is a great way to get back into the bluesky science community!
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
🚨BREAKING: 300+ NIH employees call out the harm of censorship & politicized science in scathing email to Bhattacharya, demanding an end to political interference, a lift on funding freezes, & rehiring of fired staff whose work saves lives.
This is historic - insiders are blowing the whistle.
🧵(1/5)
This is historic - insiders are blowing the whistle.
🧵(1/5)
June 9, 2025 at 12:03 PM
🚨BREAKING: 300+ NIH employees call out the harm of censorship & politicized science in scathing email to Bhattacharya, demanding an end to political interference, a lift on funding freezes, & rehiring of fired staff whose work saves lives.
This is historic - insiders are blowing the whistle.
🧵(1/5)
This is historic - insiders are blowing the whistle.
🧵(1/5)
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
These are (or were) ongoing projects... no study section review or Advisory Council approval required.
If you weren't angry enough already, here are the rates of non-competitive renewals through May.
4008 Non-competitive renewals were due to be funded in May.
The total funded was 99!
Some is due to terminations, but most is due to slow grant making due to DOGE review and other impediments.
1/2
4008 Non-competitive renewals were due to be funded in May.
The total funded was 99!
Some is due to terminations, but most is due to slow grant making due to DOGE review and other impediments.
1/2
June 9, 2025 at 1:26 PM
These are (or were) ongoing projects... no study section review or Advisory Council approval required.
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
🚨 A new rule would let career scientists like NSF/NIH program officers be replaced by political appointees
Already 14,000+ public comments, deadline is Friday
📣 Comments can be short. Courts consider them—and scientists with NSF/NIH experience are especially impactful
Speak up! shorturl.at/WKuBj
Already 14,000+ public comments, deadline is Friday
📣 Comments can be short. Courts consider them—and scientists with NSF/NIH experience are especially impactful
Speak up! shorturl.at/WKuBj
May 21, 2025 at 5:39 PM
🚨 A new rule would let career scientists like NSF/NIH program officers be replaced by political appointees
Already 14,000+ public comments, deadline is Friday
📣 Comments can be short. Courts consider them—and scientists with NSF/NIH experience are especially impactful
Speak up! shorturl.at/WKuBj
Already 14,000+ public comments, deadline is Friday
📣 Comments can be short. Courts consider them—and scientists with NSF/NIH experience are especially impactful
Speak up! shorturl.at/WKuBj
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
This is absolutely terrible news.
With the shifting regulatory climate (i.e., antivax ratfuckery), Moderna has withdrawn their application for their eagerly anticipated COVID-flu combo vaccine. This vaccine offered better protection than getting each shot separately.
h/t @merz.bsky.social
With the shifting regulatory climate (i.e., antivax ratfuckery), Moderna has withdrawn their application for their eagerly anticipated COVID-flu combo vaccine. This vaccine offered better protection than getting each shot separately.
h/t @merz.bsky.social
Moderna withdraws application for COVID-flu combination vaccine
Moderna said on Wednesday it has withdrawn an application seeking approval for its flu and COVID combination vaccine candidate after discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
www.reuters.com
May 22, 2025 at 6:46 AM
This is absolutely terrible news.
With the shifting regulatory climate (i.e., antivax ratfuckery), Moderna has withdrawn their application for their eagerly anticipated COVID-flu combo vaccine. This vaccine offered better protection than getting each shot separately.
h/t @merz.bsky.social
With the shifting regulatory climate (i.e., antivax ratfuckery), Moderna has withdrawn their application for their eagerly anticipated COVID-flu combo vaccine. This vaccine offered better protection than getting each shot separately.
h/t @merz.bsky.social
From various sources, it appears that the plan with regard to NIH is that all Institute and Center Directors (as opposed to now where it is just the NIH Director and the NCI Director) would become essentially political appointees as would most or all division directors.
6/n
6/n
May 21, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
I don’t buy the narrative that Trump & President Musk actually WANT a shutdown. If that was the truth, they would’ve put forth an even worse bill that would 100% guarantee zero Dem votes.
What they did was propose a bill that green-lights DOGE & Elon’s billionaire takeover by omitting guardrails.
What they did was propose a bill that green-lights DOGE & Elon’s billionaire takeover by omitting guardrails.
March 14, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I don’t buy the narrative that Trump & President Musk actually WANT a shutdown. If that was the truth, they would’ve put forth an even worse bill that would 100% guarantee zero Dem votes.
What they did was propose a bill that green-lights DOGE & Elon’s billionaire takeover by omitting guardrails.
What they did was propose a bill that green-lights DOGE & Elon’s billionaire takeover by omitting guardrails.
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
"Not only is silence in the face of mounting authoritarianism morally objectionable, but, as the Columbia case suggests, it’s not working. Columbia’s leadership made repeated concessions to right-wing critics, only to be the first to come under attack."
March 14, 2025 at 12:34 PM
"Not only is silence in the face of mounting authoritarianism morally objectionable, but, as the Columbia case suggests, it’s not working. Columbia’s leadership made repeated concessions to right-wing critics, only to be the first to come under attack."
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
🚨 Everyone needs to call their Dem Senator right now. They are starting to cave.
Tell them:
1. Vote NO on Cloture
AND
2. Vote NO on the Republican spending bill.
Don’t let them pivot to reconciliation. GOP doesn’t need Dem votes on that and they know it.
TODAY is the showdown.
🤳🏽: (202) 224-3121
Tell them:
1. Vote NO on Cloture
AND
2. Vote NO on the Republican spending bill.
Don’t let them pivot to reconciliation. GOP doesn’t need Dem votes on that and they know it.
TODAY is the showdown.
🤳🏽: (202) 224-3121
March 12, 2025 at 2:19 PM
🚨 Everyone needs to call their Dem Senator right now. They are starting to cave.
Tell them:
1. Vote NO on Cloture
AND
2. Vote NO on the Republican spending bill.
Don’t let them pivot to reconciliation. GOP doesn’t need Dem votes on that and they know it.
TODAY is the showdown.
🤳🏽: (202) 224-3121
Tell them:
1. Vote NO on Cloture
AND
2. Vote NO on the Republican spending bill.
Don’t let them pivot to reconciliation. GOP doesn’t need Dem votes on that and they know it.
TODAY is the showdown.
🤳🏽: (202) 224-3121
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
From Forbes magazine: “NIH Grants Fueled $95 Billion In FY 2024 Economic Activity, Finds New Report“ www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
NIH Grants Fueled $95 Billion In FY 2024 Economic Activity, Finds New Report
National Institutes of Health grants generated almost $95 billion in economic activity nationwide in FY 2024 according to a new report by United for Medical Research.
www.forbes.com
March 12, 2025 at 11:30 PM
From Forbes magazine: “NIH Grants Fueled $95 Billion In FY 2024 Economic Activity, Finds New Report“ www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
Huge thank you to Chancellor May and our wonderful @ucdavis.bsky.social donors for choosing me as a Chancellor’s Fellow! The UC Davis SVM did a lovely write up if you are interested in learning more about me and this award! www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/crystal...
Crystal Rogers Honored as Chancellor's Fellow
Associate Professor Crystal Rogers is one of eight faculty members who comprise the newest class of UC Davis Chancellor’s Fellows, given to early career academics doing exemplary work in their fields.
www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu
March 5, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Huge thank you to Chancellor May and our wonderful @ucdavis.bsky.social donors for choosing me as a Chancellor’s Fellow! The UC Davis SVM did a lovely write up if you are interested in learning more about me and this award! www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/crystal...
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
There’s been some talk on here about communicating more with undergrads about science funding, policies, outlook etc.
I admit I was skeptical there would be interest. I polled my course. 70% were interested in having a discussion. The other 30% were “maybe interested.” 0% were not interested.
I admit I was skeptical there would be interest. I polled my course. 70% were interested in having a discussion. The other 30% were “maybe interested.” 0% were not interested.
March 4, 2025 at 11:48 PM
There’s been some talk on here about communicating more with undergrads about science funding, policies, outlook etc.
I admit I was skeptical there would be interest. I polled my course. 70% were interested in having a discussion. The other 30% were “maybe interested.” 0% were not interested.
I admit I was skeptical there would be interest. I polled my course. 70% were interested in having a discussion. The other 30% were “maybe interested.” 0% were not interested.
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
Today, a broad coalition of scientific professional societies who represent over 92,000 scientists are speaking out against the politicization and demonization of Federally funded science and government scientist jobs.
It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
48 Scientific Societies Representing Almost 100,000 Scientists Ask Congress to Protect the Future of Science
48 scientific societies representing almost 100,000 scientists signed on to a letter asking Congress to protect the future of science
www.ucsusa.org
March 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Today, a broad coalition of scientific professional societies who represent over 92,000 scientists are speaking out against the politicization and demonization of Federally funded science and government scientist jobs.
It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
NSF plans to reinstate all probationary employees who were fired on 18 Feb!
NSF’s decision. 👏🏻👏🏻❤️
NSF’s decision. 👏🏻👏🏻❤️
March 3, 2025 at 2:33 PM
NSF plans to reinstate all probationary employees who were fired on 18 Feb!
NSF’s decision. 👏🏻👏🏻❤️
NSF’s decision. 👏🏻👏🏻❤️
Reposted by Johanna Kowalko
In today's episode of doomerism isn't a strategy, here's a list of things you can do today to make the world around you suck a little bit less:
Pick ONE thing and do it.
bsky.app/profile/itsa...
Pick ONE thing and do it.
bsky.app/profile/itsa...
February 18, 2025 at 11:56 AM
In today's episode of doomerism isn't a strategy, here's a list of things you can do today to make the world around you suck a little bit less:
Pick ONE thing and do it.
bsky.app/profile/itsa...
Pick ONE thing and do it.
bsky.app/profile/itsa...