Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
@kirkwoodlab.bsky.social
Professor of Aquatic Ecology with a dash of Wastewater-based Epidemiology | PI of the CLEAR research group (https://kirkwoodlab.weebly.com/) | Science Advocacy | Located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island FN
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
New OnlineFirst article: "Design, Disability, and Critical Pedagogy in STS" by Kaitlin Stack Whitney, Kristoffer Whitney, Katie Healey, Jessica Hardin, Anna Carter, Angeline Hamele, + Lee Smith @kstackwhitney.bsky.social #criticalSTS #pedagogy #technoableism journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
November 10, 2025 at 11:37 PM
New OnlineFirst article: "Design, Disability, and Critical Pedagogy in STS" by Kaitlin Stack Whitney, Kristoffer Whitney, Katie Healey, Jessica Hardin, Anna Carter, Angeline Hamele, + Lee Smith @kstackwhitney.bsky.social #criticalSTS #pedagogy #technoableism journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
I feel this is an excellent example of how we massively overestimate the importance of one person (genius complex). I guarantee that the double helix would have been discovered irrespective of Watson, and his remaining contributions of racism and horribleness, far outweighs his stolen valour.
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”
www.vox.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I feel this is an excellent example of how we massively overestimate the importance of one person (genius complex). I guarantee that the double helix would have been discovered irrespective of Watson, and his remaining contributions of racism and horribleness, far outweighs his stolen valour.
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”
www.vox.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
One thing to do, especially if you’re a science writer or editor, is when you have occasion to mention the names of the discoverers of the structure of DNA, just say “Watson, Crick, and Franklin.” No one can stop us, and it is correct.
November 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM
One thing to do, especially if you’re a science writer or editor, is when you have occasion to mention the names of the discoverers of the structure of DNA, just say “Watson, Crick, and Franklin.” No one can stop us, and it is correct.
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
On the event of James Watson's death, I highly recommend this 2023 commentary from @matthewcobb.bsky.social and Nathaniel Comfort with crucial new insights into the discovery of the double helix. (And also check out Cobb's brand new biography of Francis Crick) www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:25 PM
On the event of James Watson's death, I highly recommend this 2023 commentary from @matthewcobb.bsky.social and Nathaniel Comfort with crucial new insights into the discovery of the double helix. (And also check out Cobb's brand new biography of Francis Crick) www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
This is correct, with one important caveat - most decisions on funding, admin, publishing, career, are made (and can be derailed) by people who by definition benefited the most from these metrics and incentives, and stand to lose the most by changing them.
Academics set their metrics and incentives. And that defines everything. Including the future of scientific publishing.
And if at any point, one feels that incentives are being defined from outside, that's what needs to be fought against.
But the power of change lies within.
And if at any point, one feels that incentives are being defined from outside, that's what needs to be fought against.
But the power of change lies within.
November 6, 2025 at 1:25 PM
This is correct, with one important caveat - most decisions on funding, admin, publishing, career, are made (and can be derailed) by people who by definition benefited the most from these metrics and incentives, and stand to lose the most by changing them.
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
The 🇨🇦 Standing Committee on Science and Research passed a modified resolution this afternoon that the requested ricouncil applicant and reviewer data can be aggregated and anonymized. Thanks to the many researchers who signed letters pointing out legitimate data privacy concerns. 👏👏
November 6, 2025 at 12:22 AM
The 🇨🇦 Standing Committee on Science and Research passed a modified resolution this afternoon that the requested ricouncil applicant and reviewer data can be aggregated and anonymized. Thanks to the many researchers who signed letters pointing out legitimate data privacy concerns. 👏👏
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
Thanks to @royalsocietynz.bsky.social for awarding me the Callaghan medal for Science Communication. Thanks to my many supporters, NZ communities for being curious, & the many people in various agencies who really do want to use evidence in decision-making. This is critical now, more than ever. 🌐🌏🧪
November 5, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Thanks to @royalsocietynz.bsky.social for awarding me the Callaghan medal for Science Communication. Thanks to my many supporters, NZ communities for being curious, & the many people in various agencies who really do want to use evidence in decision-making. This is critical now, more than ever. 🌐🌏🧪
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
Very happy and proud to see this one published! Have a look at this global assessment of the effect – or lack of effect – of extra oxygen (hyperoxia) on ectotherm thermal tolerance! Led by @graham-raby.bsky.social and a team of incredible collaborators working on multiple taxa 🐟 🐠 🦀 🦐.
Oxygen supersaturation has been reported to protect aquatic animals from heat waves. We tested this in a large collaborative experiment on many species of fish and crustaceans. Our new paper in @plosbiology.org shows that the effect of hyperoxia on thermal tolerance is negligible. Unfortunately.
November 5, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Very happy and proud to see this one published! Have a look at this global assessment of the effect – or lack of effect – of extra oxygen (hyperoxia) on ectotherm thermal tolerance! Led by @graham-raby.bsky.social and a team of incredible collaborators working on multiple taxa 🐟 🐠 🦀 🦐.
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
New paper out today in Ecology Letters! In this synthesis we dive into the equilibrium assumption in ecology - why it's everywhere in ecological theory, the evidence for it in nature, when meeting the assumption is important, how to achieve it in empirical research, and more! tinyurl.com/yh6kyysm
November 3, 2025 at 1:31 PM
New paper out today in Ecology Letters! In this synthesis we dive into the equilibrium assumption in ecology - why it's everywhere in ecological theory, the evidence for it in nature, when meeting the assumption is important, how to achieve it in empirical research, and more! tinyurl.com/yh6kyysm
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
You might have seen that Siouxsie won her legal battle against the UoA, but even after the damages were awarded she ended up massively out of pocket.
So she's asking for help - There's been lots of support already, which is cool to see - Siouxsie deserves it!
www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/852...
So she's asking for help - There's been lots of support already, which is cool to see - Siouxsie deserves it!
www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/852...
Support Dr Siouxsie After She Supported Us! | PledgeMe
Support Dr Siouxsie to recover some of the money she spent fighting her legal case to protect employees experiencing online abuse
www.pledgeme.co.nz
November 1, 2025 at 7:50 PM
You might have seen that Siouxsie won her legal battle against the UoA, but even after the damages were awarded she ended up massively out of pocket.
So she's asking for help - There's been lots of support already, which is cool to see - Siouxsie deserves it!
www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/852...
So she's asking for help - There's been lots of support already, which is cool to see - Siouxsie deserves it!
www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/852...
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
More necessary awareness: yes, parliament has the legal authority to do this. There are many reasons they should not. That it is legal does not mean it is ethical, necessary, non-destructive, or appropriate. It DEFINITELY doesn't mean it shouldn't be publicly opposed (👀 @u15ca.bsky.social )... /1
Canadian researchers should be aware the there is a motion before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Research to force Tricouncils to hand over disaggregated peer review data on all applications:
Applicant names, profiles, demographics
Reviewers names, profiles, comments, and scores
Applicant names, profiles, demographics
Reviewers names, profiles, comments, and scores
October 31, 2025 at 4:14 PM
More necessary awareness: yes, parliament has the legal authority to do this. There are many reasons they should not. That it is legal does not mean it is ethical, necessary, non-destructive, or appropriate. It DEFINITELY doesn't mean it shouldn't be publicly opposed (👀 @u15ca.bsky.social )... /1
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
So for me a white guy who is heterosexual and pretty open about the disabilities I live with that may not be a big deal, but it doesn't take a genius to know that won't be the case for everyone. I can think of a tonne of bad faith uses for this kind of data and that is the point
October 31, 2025 at 5:52 PM
So for me a white guy who is heterosexual and pretty open about the disabilities I live with that may not be a big deal, but it doesn't take a genius to know that won't be the case for everyone. I can think of a tonne of bad faith uses for this kind of data and that is the point
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
This data must NOT be made public. Doing so would compromise researcher privacy (especially for vulnerable groups), undermine confidential peer review, and expose unpublished research.
We support accountability, but it must preserve privacy and scientific integrity.
#SupportOurScience
We support accountability, but it must preserve privacy and scientific integrity.
#SupportOurScience
October 31, 2025 at 5:41 PM
This data must NOT be made public. Doing so would compromise researcher privacy (especially for vulnerable groups), undermine confidential peer review, and expose unpublished research.
We support accountability, but it must preserve privacy and scientific integrity.
#SupportOurScience
We support accountability, but it must preserve privacy and scientific integrity.
#SupportOurScience
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
We're concerned about the SRSR motion requesting 25 years of disaggregated tri-council data. While we understand the data is intended to be anonymized, this wasn't explicitly stated in the motion – and the specific information requested could still enable re-identification when linked together.
October 31, 2025 at 5:41 PM
We're concerned about the SRSR motion requesting 25 years of disaggregated tri-council data. While we understand the data is intended to be anonymized, this wasn't explicitly stated in the motion – and the specific information requested could still enable re-identification when linked together.
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
Any such request is not only unethical, it is a violation of privacy laws.
It’s tiresome to see American style attacks on EDI being taken up by Canadian politicians.
Equity, diversity and inclusion are hallmarks of Canadian society and should be celebrated and emulated.
It’s tiresome to see American style attacks on EDI being taken up by Canadian politicians.
Equity, diversity and inclusion are hallmarks of Canadian society and should be celebrated and emulated.
Canadian researchers should be aware the there is a motion before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Research to force Tricouncils to hand over disaggregated peer review data on all applications:
Applicant names, profiles, demographics
Reviewers names, profiles, comments, and scores
Applicant names, profiles, demographics
Reviewers names, profiles, comments, and scores
October 31, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Any such request is not only unethical, it is a violation of privacy laws.
It’s tiresome to see American style attacks on EDI being taken up by Canadian politicians.
Equity, diversity and inclusion are hallmarks of Canadian society and should be celebrated and emulated.
It’s tiresome to see American style attacks on EDI being taken up by Canadian politicians.
Equity, diversity and inclusion are hallmarks of Canadian society and should be celebrated and emulated.
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
Canadian graduate students... how do you feel about members of parliament going through your transcripts and the personal information you disclosed in your applications in order to question whether you deserved your fellowship or not?
@supportourscience.bsky.social
@supportourscience.bsky.social
Canadian researchers should be aware the there is a motion before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Research to force Tricouncils to hand over disaggregated peer review data on all applications:
Applicant names, profiles, demographics
Reviewers names, profiles, comments, and scores
Applicant names, profiles, demographics
Reviewers names, profiles, comments, and scores
October 31, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Canadian graduate students... how do you feel about members of parliament going through your transcripts and the personal information you disclosed in your applications in order to question whether you deserved your fellowship or not?
@supportourscience.bsky.social
@supportourscience.bsky.social
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
Halloween costumes to scare scientists (by @twisteddoodles.bsky.social) 🧪
October 31, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Halloween costumes to scare scientists (by @twisteddoodles.bsky.social) 🧪
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
Thanks for flagging this, Michael.
People can also write to the SRSR committee members (email all at the same time is fine), and request a response: www.ourcommons.ca/committees/e...
Ping @e4dca.bsky.social
People can also write to the SRSR committee members (email all at the same time is fine), and request a response: www.ourcommons.ca/committees/e...
Ping @e4dca.bsky.social
SRSR - Members - House of Commons of Canada
A list of current and past members of the Science and Research. Link to each Member's individual profile or find information about associate members of the committee.
www.ourcommons.ca
October 31, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Thanks for flagging this, Michael.
People can also write to the SRSR committee members (email all at the same time is fine), and request a response: www.ourcommons.ca/committees/e...
Ping @e4dca.bsky.social
People can also write to the SRSR committee members (email all at the same time is fine), and request a response: www.ourcommons.ca/committees/e...
Ping @e4dca.bsky.social
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
Attn: Canadian researchers/ If you are looking for text/arguments to mix-n-match in a letter to your MP, the committee, Ministers, etc.. here is some.
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
October 31, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Attn: Canadian researchers/ If you are looking for text/arguments to mix-n-match in a letter to your MP, the committee, Ministers, etc.. here is some.
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
Yes! Contact them and sign this petition here —it’s not just about EDI data! So much personally identifying information for applicants and reviewers will not be protected!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Open Letter to Protect Tri-Council EDI Data
Why do we need urgent action to protect our data?
The mandate of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research is to review and report on topics relating to science and research in ...
docs.google.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Yes! Contact them and sign this petition here —it’s not just about EDI data! So much personally identifying information for applicants and reviewers will not be protected!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
Canadian researchers should be aware the there is a motion before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Research to force Tricouncils to hand over disaggregated peer review data on all applications:
Applicant names, profiles, demographics
Reviewers names, profiles, comments, and scores
Applicant names, profiles, demographics
Reviewers names, profiles, comments, and scores
October 30, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Canadian researchers should be aware the there is a motion before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Research to force Tricouncils to hand over disaggregated peer review data on all applications:
Applicant names, profiles, demographics
Reviewers names, profiles, comments, and scores
Applicant names, profiles, demographics
Reviewers names, profiles, comments, and scores
Reposted by Andrea Kirkwood (she/her)
