Katie Langin
LightNews LightNews
klangin.bsky.social
Katie Langin
@klangin.bsky.social
1.3K followers 79 following 44 posts
journalist covering the scientific community and the environment for @science.org / Ph.D. in ecology / tips to klangin@aaas.org (or Signal: klangin.48)
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Katie Langin
science.org
The evolution of the football helmet, a critical safety device, has accelerated in recent years, driven by concerns over the long-term effects of concussions, new concepts and materials, and data-driven test protocols.

Learn more this week in Science: https://scim.ag/4rAjjjN
February 5, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by Katie Langin
policyhound.bsky.social
The 2026 budgets of individual science agencies may be lean, but Mitch McConnell once again lead Congress in earmarking big bucks for homestate university research facilities www.science.org/content/arti...
Lawmakers spend big on home state science projects
Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, king of congressional earmarks, steers $165 million to his alma maters
www.science.org
February 2, 2026 at 6:21 PM
klangin.bsky.social
"One bad year could kill one of our favorite scientific societies."

In my latest story for @science.org, I explored how U.S. conferences fared over the last year amid concerns about an attendance slump.

www.science.org/content/arti...
Trump slump? Attendance plummets at some science meetings, but others hold steady
Amid travel bans, a government shutdown, and funding crunches, 2025 was a turbulent year for U.S. scientific societies
www.science.org
February 2, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by Katie Langin
policyhound.bsky.social
The US government lost more than 10,000 STEM PhDs last year, according to an analysis by Science of newly released OPM data, with 11 departures for every hire. And many OPM calls "voluntary" separations were probably pushed. www.science.org/content/arti...
U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office
A Science analysis reveals how many were fired, retired, or quit across 14 agencies
www.science.org
January 27, 2026 at 1:28 AM
Reposted by Katie Langin
erikstokstad.bsky.social
Talk about a brain drain. The PhDs who left U.S. federal STEM or health jobs last year had >106,636 years of experience. More grim statistics compiled here: www.science.org/content/arti...
January 26, 2026 at 11:48 PM
klangin.bsky.social
How many STEM Ph.D.s were lost from the U.S. federal government last year?

My colleagues @mghersher.bsky.social and @policyhound.bsky.social dug into a recent data release to find the answer. A @science.org exclusive.

www.science.org/content/arti...
January 26, 2026 at 11:39 PM
Reposted by Katie Langin
science.org
"Research is messy. … Trying to protect students from that reality does them a disservice."

On #InternationalDayOfEducation, take a look back at this Working Life essay on teaching students about scientific failure. https://scim.ag/4sTaQcH
An illustration of people throwing darts at a board, with the hedline: Why I teach my students about scientific failure
January 24, 2026 at 8:10 PM
klangin.bsky.social
"When the paper finally appeared in print, I was in no condition to rejoice."

Our latest Working Life essay explores the burnout a scientist experienced after pouring himself into the pursuit of a Nature or Science publication.

www.science.org/content/arti...
How chasing a high-impact publication nearly broke me
“Looking back, I’m not sure it was worth the sacrifice,” this scientist writes
www.science.org
January 23, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Reposted by Katie Langin
erikstokstad.bsky.social
Whatever Prototaxites was, it wasn't the Godzilla of Fungus. (Or any kind of fungus.) www.science.org/content/arti...
Bizarre 400-million-year-old fossil was an unknown life form
Enigmatic organism known as Prototaxites cannot be fungus, new analysis finds
www.science.org
January 22, 2026 at 11:12 PM
klangin.bsky.social
"What we’re … seeing is the toll of the uncertainty."

My latest story for @science.org—part of a package that explores how the U.S. scientific community has changed under Trump—includes new numbers on graduate enrollment and faculty hiring.

www.science.org/content/arti...
January 22, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Reposted by Katie Langin
davidmalakoff.bsky.social
I actually wrote something for a change: a look at how the US scientific community is trying to push back on Trump policy changes they oppose. | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
In the age of Trump, are U.S. scientists ‘bringing white papers to a gunfight’?
An unprecedented assault has forced researchers to rethink their advocacy tactics
www.science.org
January 21, 2026 at 10:19 PM
klangin.bsky.social
"I wish I could tell my grad school self it’s OK to feel out of your depth; even deans can feel that way."

Our latest Working Life essay. @science.org @sciencecareers.bsky.social

www.science.org/content/arti...
As a new assistant dean, I felt out of my depth—until I looked to my past for guidance
“I … knew any career growth would come with self-doubt and uncertainty,” this university administrator writes
www.science.org
January 16, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by Katie Langin
science.org
"I was thrilled to be on an exchange semester overseas, but I saw it as just a detour from my imagined career path. I didn’t realize I was already pedaling toward a different life ..."

Check out one of our top #ScienceWorkingLife essays of 2025: https://scim.ag/3Y573en
An illustration of a man walking out of a dark, paper-filled world into a bright, colorful one. With text: I thought science hinged on prestige. Moving abroad made me reassess my priorities
December 24, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Reposted by Katie Langin
science.org
"… I share my story in the hope that others … will reflect on moments when trust mattered in their own career journey, and on the responsibility we each hold in ensuring that the next generation enters a scientific world where safety is actively protected." https://scim.ag/4sdMVof
An illustration of a woman with a red hand over her mouth looking at other people. The hedline: After an academic mentor’s unwanted sexual advances, I stayed silent for decades. Now, I’m speaking out
December 22, 2025 at 10:02 PM
klangin.bsky.social
It isn't easy following science as a career path. Our series of personal essays, published on the last page of Science, aim to shed light on the challenges scientists face and, hopefully, help others feel less alone.

Here are @science.org's top essays of the year.

www.science.org/content/arti...
December 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
klangin.bsky.social
"I worried no one would believe me."

Our latest Working Life essay is a deeply personal story that explores how a scientist felt—and continues to feel, decades later—after a mentor made unwanted sexual advances. @science.org @sciencecareers.bsky.social

www.science.org/content/arti...
After an academic mentor’s unwanted sexual advances, I stayed silent for decades. Now, I’m speaking out
“I saw myself as someone who had failed to act,” this scientist writes
www.science.org
December 18, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Reposted by Katie Langin
science.org
Federal researchers are confronting growing uncertainty about their future, as the 10-day-old shutdown of the U.S. government is now poised to extend into at least next week. https://scim.ag/4n1uy22
As U.S. shutdown drags on, ‘it’s just one blow after another’
Federal researchers confront growing uncertainty about future
scim.ag
October 10, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Reposted by Katie Langin
science.org
As government websites go dark, educators across the country have been reworking lesson plans and searching for reliable sources of up-to-date scientific information. https://scim.ag/46Vlwxu
Science teachers scramble as U.S. climate resources vanish
As government websites go dark, some nonprofits are trying to fill the void
scim.ag
October 3, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Reposted by Katie Langin
sciencecareers.bsky.social
“The program showed me I was capable of doing neuroscience research, but it didn’t give me a feeling that I belonged.”

Read this story about an undergraduate student in a program for students with underrepresented backgrounds: https://bit.ly/4gC03hu #DEI #STEMCareers
An illustration of a person standing at the top of stairs that end, with text: To increase diversity in STEM, a foot in the door isn’t enough. We need better support.
October 2, 2025 at 6:46 PM
klangin.bsky.social
Here we go again.

www.science.org/content/arti...
U.S. scientists gird for yet another government shutdown
Political impasse to hobble research agencies—and perhaps enable layoffs
www.science.org
September 30, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Reposted by Katie Langin
sciencecareers.bsky.social
Why scientists should take more coffee breaks

Grad students should make time for casual conversations with peers, this Ph.D. student writes. #NationalCoffeeDay https://bit.ly/4nyTOOe
Illustration of five diverse adults in professional attire, each holding a document, in a collaborative discussion.
September 29, 2025 at 8:17 PM
klangin.bsky.social
Today was a hard day for Ph.D. students who found out that they can no longer apply for NSF's prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Program. "Devastating“ was how one student described it to me. #GradSchool #NSFGRFP

www.science.org/content/arti...
‘Completely shattered.’ Changes to NSF’s graduate student fellowship spur outcry
The announcement comes months later than usual, leaving many would-be applicants stranded
www.science.org
September 26, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Reposted by Katie Langin
science.org
NSF today released instructions for the next round of applicants to its Graduate Research Fellowship Program. A key group—second-year Ph.D. students—is no longer eligible, and students who are still able to apply will face an unusually narrow timeframe. https://scim.ag/3KlQkQk
‘Completely shattered.’ Changes to NSF’s graduate student fellowship spur outcry
The announcement comes months later than usual, leaving many would-be applicants stranded
www.science.org
September 26, 2025 at 11:09 PM
klangin.bsky.social
A week later and prospective applicants are still awaiting the instructions for this year's #NSFGRFP. I checked in with NSF today and was told "I don’t have anything for you at the moment." #GradSchool
klangin.bsky.social Katie Langin @klangin.bsky.social · Sep 17
"We are so very late that many students will not be able to apply this year."

My latest story—about frustration over delays for NSF's graduate research fellowship program. #NSFGRFP #GradSchool @science.org

www.science.org/content/arti...
Delays, uncertainty plague NSF fellowship for graduate students
After an unusual award process this year, applicants for next year are waiting for overdue guidelines
www.science.org
September 24, 2025 at 4:55 PM
klangin.bsky.social
"We are so very late that many students will not be able to apply this year."

My latest story—about frustration over delays for NSF's graduate research fellowship program. #NSFGRFP #GradSchool @science.org

www.science.org/content/arti...
Delays, uncertainty plague NSF fellowship for graduate students
After an unusual award process this year, applicants for next year are waiting for overdue guidelines
www.science.org
September 17, 2025 at 10:31 PM