Liz Neeley
@lizneeley.bsky.social
Founder of Liminal (LiminalCreations.com) & co-founder of Unbreaking (Unbreaking.org) Focused on turning knowledge into action. #science #communication #sensemaking #scicomm She/her. Married to Ed Yong.
Pinned
Storymakers Program - Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability
Creating a more sustainable and environmentally just future for our planet and all who live on it
dornsife.usc.edu
Each summer, I lead a week-long creative retreat for environmental researchers & academics on Catalina Island. We develop your most ambitious project ideas. It's truly life-changing.
Applications for the 2026 Storymakers fellowship are now open! Deadline is Feb 1. dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/enga...
Applications for the 2026 Storymakers fellowship are now open! Deadline is Feb 1. dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/enga...
From American Institute of Physics policy newsletter (reminding myself to subscribe)
January 5, 2026 at 10:49 PM
From American Institute of Physics policy newsletter (reminding myself to subscribe)
Reposted by Liz Neeley
Each Friday, I write a debrief on what happened to science & higher education this week.
For 2026, three themes I’m bracing myself for:
- research interference
- financial pressure
- institutional betrayal
It’s a lot! Horrible, yes, but far from hopeless.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
For 2026, three themes I’m bracing myself for:
- research interference
- financial pressure
- institutional betrayal
It’s a lot! Horrible, yes, but far from hopeless.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
Year 2, Week 1
Dec 29, 2025 - Jan 2, 2026
we begin again
buttondown.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Each Friday, I write a debrief on what happened to science & higher education this week.
For 2026, three themes I’m bracing myself for:
- research interference
- financial pressure
- institutional betrayal
It’s a lot! Horrible, yes, but far from hopeless.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
For 2026, three themes I’m bracing myself for:
- research interference
- financial pressure
- institutional betrayal
It’s a lot! Horrible, yes, but far from hopeless.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
Over the holidays, every single national wildlife refuge, plus some fish hatcheries and marine monuments were directed to conduct a system-wide review. Outrageous deadline of Jan 5 functionally eliminates public input & tribal consultation.
news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-...
news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-...
Interior to Spend Holidays Studying Refuges for Possible Closure
Congress will have to approve any Interior Department plans to abolish national wildlife refuges as staff members spend the next few weeks completing a review the US Fish and Wildlife Service has orde...
news.bloomberglaw.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Over the holidays, every single national wildlife refuge, plus some fish hatcheries and marine monuments were directed to conduct a system-wide review. Outrageous deadline of Jan 5 functionally eliminates public input & tribal consultation.
news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-...
news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-...
Each Friday, I write a debrief on what happened to science & higher education this week.
For 2026, three themes I’m bracing myself for:
- research interference
- financial pressure
- institutional betrayal
It’s a lot! Horrible, yes, but far from hopeless.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
For 2026, three themes I’m bracing myself for:
- research interference
- financial pressure
- institutional betrayal
It’s a lot! Horrible, yes, but far from hopeless.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
Year 2, Week 1
Dec 29, 2025 - Jan 2, 2026
we begin again
buttondown.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Each Friday, I write a debrief on what happened to science & higher education this week.
For 2026, three themes I’m bracing myself for:
- research interference
- financial pressure
- institutional betrayal
It’s a lot! Horrible, yes, but far from hopeless.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
For 2026, three themes I’m bracing myself for:
- research interference
- financial pressure
- institutional betrayal
It’s a lot! Horrible, yes, but far from hopeless.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
Reposted by Liz Neeley
Each summer, I lead a week-long creative retreat for environmental researchers & academics on Catalina Island. We develop your most ambitious project ideas. It's truly life-changing.
Applications for the 2026 Storymakers fellowship are now open! Deadline is Feb 1. dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/enga...
Applications for the 2026 Storymakers fellowship are now open! Deadline is Feb 1. dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/enga...
Storymakers Program - Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability
Creating a more sustainable and environmentally just future for our planet and all who live on it
dornsife.usc.edu
December 16, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Each summer, I lead a week-long creative retreat for environmental researchers & academics on Catalina Island. We develop your most ambitious project ideas. It's truly life-changing.
Applications for the 2026 Storymakers fellowship are now open! Deadline is Feb 1. dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/enga...
Applications for the 2026 Storymakers fellowship are now open! Deadline is Feb 1. dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/enga...
Reposted by Liz Neeley
In 2026 I want all of the decent people to remember one thing.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
January 1, 2026 at 10:30 PM
In 2026 I want all of the decent people to remember one thing.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
Reposted by Liz Neeley
I learned so, so much from this experience. And have come away with an amazing toolbox of ideas (and perhaps more importantly, a team of incredible colleagues and cheerleaders who I remain deeply inspired by).
Apply!
Apply!
Each summer, I lead a week-long creative retreat for environmental researchers & academics on Catalina Island. We develop your most ambitious project ideas. It's truly life-changing.
Applications for the 2026 Storymakers fellowship are now open! Deadline is Feb 1. dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/enga...
Applications for the 2026 Storymakers fellowship are now open! Deadline is Feb 1. dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/enga...
Storymakers Program - Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability
Creating a more sustainable and environmentally just future for our planet and all who live on it
dornsife.usc.edu
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 PM
I learned so, so much from this experience. And have come away with an amazing toolbox of ideas (and perhaps more importantly, a team of incredible colleagues and cheerleaders who I remain deeply inspired by).
Apply!
Apply!
Reposted by Liz Neeley
Highly recommend. It really is a life changing experience. Amazing people and talent and so much care with your creative ideas. All of that in an inspirational place where you can snorkel in kelp 🐙
Each summer, I lead a week-long creative retreat for environmental researchers & academics on Catalina Island. We develop your most ambitious project ideas. It's truly life-changing.
Applications for the 2026 Storymakers fellowship are now open! Deadline is Feb 1. dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/enga...
Applications for the 2026 Storymakers fellowship are now open! Deadline is Feb 1. dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/enga...
Storymakers Program - Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability
Creating a more sustainable and environmentally just future for our planet and all who live on it
dornsife.usc.edu
January 1, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Highly recommend. It really is a life changing experience. Amazing people and talent and so much care with your creative ideas. All of that in an inspirational place where you can snorkel in kelp 🐙
Reposted by Liz Neeley
As I think more about this, I recall that Bhattacharya repeatedly said on podcasts that NIH would not stop funding minority health research… and it did.
So it’s possible that what he says on podcasts won’t be the reality.
So it’s possible that what he says on podcasts won’t be the reality.
On a podcast today, NIH Director Bhattacharya said NIH would not renew grants reinstated under the APHA vs NIH ruling by District Court Judge Young - as reported by @aniloza.bsky.social at @statnews.com.
This means the studies yet again will be cut off midstream.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/31/n...
This means the studies yet again will be cut off midstream.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/31/n...
NIH director says DEI-related grants that were restored under a court order won’t be renewed
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya told a podcaster that DEI-related grants restored under a court order won't be renewed in 2026
www.statnews.com
January 1, 2026 at 3:04 PM
As I think more about this, I recall that Bhattacharya repeatedly said on podcasts that NIH would not stop funding minority health research… and it did.
So it’s possible that what he says on podcasts won’t be the reality.
So it’s possible that what he says on podcasts won’t be the reality.
Reposted by Liz Neeley
Good news; a judge has blocked the detention of a technology researcher that the State Department had slated to deport.
However, this is just the start of what will certainly be a longer-term challenge. What can we do about this? A thread.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/25/u...
However, this is just the start of what will certainly be a longer-term challenge. What can we do about this? A thread.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/25/u...
Judge Blocks Detention of British Researcher Who Scrutinizes Online Hate
www.nytimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Good news; a judge has blocked the detention of a technology researcher that the State Department had slated to deport.
However, this is just the start of what will certainly be a longer-term challenge. What can we do about this? A thread.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/25/u...
However, this is just the start of what will certainly be a longer-term challenge. What can we do about this? A thread.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/25/u...
Reposted by Liz Neeley
We want to highlight the incredible science reporting being done at the local and regional level. Please submit your work for the Victor McElheny Award, which comes with a $10,000 prize. ksj.mit.edu/mcelheny-awa...
The Victor K. McElheny Award for Local and Regional Science Journalism
The Victor K. McElheny Award honors outstanding local and regional journalism covering issues in science, public health, technology, or the environment.
ksj.mit.edu
December 23, 2025 at 7:39 PM
We want to highlight the incredible science reporting being done at the local and regional level. Please submit your work for the Victor McElheny Award, which comes with a $10,000 prize. ksj.mit.edu/mcelheny-awa...
Reposted by Liz Neeley
20,000 words, 150 footnotes, 100+ timeline events = our attempt at documenting and synthesizing all the ways that the federal government has attempted to destroy access to gender-affirming care since January unbreaking.org/issues/trans...
Transgender Healthcare: Explainer — Unbreaking
How the administration is breaking the government, and what that means for all of us.
unbreaking.org
December 19, 2025 at 7:17 PM
20,000 words, 150 footnotes, 100+ timeline events = our attempt at documenting and synthesizing all the ways that the federal government has attempted to destroy access to gender-affirming care since January unbreaking.org/issues/trans...
Reposted by Liz Neeley
US appeals Harvard court victory on $2 billion funding freeze reut.rs/3MDG5In
US appeals Harvard court victory on $2 billion funding freeze
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has appealed a judge's ruling holding that it unlawfully terminated more than $2 billion in grants awarded to Harvard University and can no longer cut off research funding to the Ivy League school.
reut.rs
December 19, 2025 at 8:35 PM
US appeals Harvard court victory on $2 billion funding freeze reut.rs/3MDG5In
Reposted by Liz Neeley
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
December 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Reposted by Liz Neeley
@gregggonsalves.bsky.social on how we can remain hopeful these days as well as the people, institutions, and groups that give him hope
The Public Health Heroes of 2025
www.thenation.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:49 PM
@gregggonsalves.bsky.social on how we can remain hopeful these days as well as the people, institutions, and groups that give him hope
Reposted by Liz Neeley
AGU has a Congressional email and call script up on NCAR:
Save NCAR from being dismantled today!
The Trump Administration has vowed to dissolve the center that provides critical extreme weather and climate data for our nation.
agu.quorum.us
December 17, 2025 at 7:33 PM
AGU has a Congressional email and call script up on NCAR:
Reposted by Liz Neeley
Thinking of Thea Hunter today www.theatlantic.com/education/ar...
The Death of an Adjunct
Thea Hunter was a promising, brilliant scholar. And then she got trapped in academia’s permanent underclass.
www.theatlantic.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Thinking of Thea Hunter today www.theatlantic.com/education/ar...
Reposted by Liz Neeley
Unbelievable. This would be a terrible blow to American science, writ large. It would decimate not only climate research, but also the kind of weather, wildfire, and disaster research that has underpinned half a century of progress in prediction, early warning, and increased resilience.
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Unbelievable. This would be a terrible blow to American science, writ large. It would decimate not only climate research, but also the kind of weather, wildfire, and disaster research that has underpinned half a century of progress in prediction, early warning, and increased resilience.
Reposted by Liz Neeley
"Does OU have resources and plans in place to safeguard the security of its employees or are we just easy targets for vociferous bullying?
Our future depends on...academic freedom, free speech, the pursuit of knowledge, safety, human rights, and trust and belief in mutual coexistence."
Our future depends on...academic freedom, free speech, the pursuit of knowledge, safety, human rights, and trust and belief in mutual coexistence."
December 16, 2025 at 8:30 PM
"Does OU have resources and plans in place to safeguard the security of its employees or are we just easy targets for vociferous bullying?
Our future depends on...academic freedom, free speech, the pursuit of knowledge, safety, human rights, and trust and belief in mutual coexistence."
Our future depends on...academic freedom, free speech, the pursuit of knowledge, safety, human rights, and trust and belief in mutual coexistence."
Reposted by Liz Neeley
This is exactly it.
You can have optimism in mourning: knowing that people will die and lives will be diminished but also believing that everything we do now matters and will help.
You can have optimism in mourning: knowing that people will die and lives will be diminished but also believing that everything we do now matters and will help.
Well said.
For me, optimism does not mean "everything will turn out okay." Optimism means "a solution exists, and my efforts matter."
Without this kind of optimism nothing gets done, and yeah, that's a guaranteed that things will *not* turn out okay.
For me, optimism does not mean "everything will turn out okay." Optimism means "a solution exists, and my efforts matter."
Without this kind of optimism nothing gets done, and yeah, that's a guaranteed that things will *not* turn out okay.
December 13, 2025 at 5:26 PM
This is exactly it.
You can have optimism in mourning: knowing that people will die and lives will be diminished but also believing that everything we do now matters and will help.
You can have optimism in mourning: knowing that people will die and lives will be diminished but also believing that everything we do now matters and will help.
Each summer, I lead a week-long creative retreat for environmental researchers & academics on Catalina Island. We develop your most ambitious project ideas. It's truly life-changing.
Applications for the 2026 Storymakers fellowship are now open! Deadline is Feb 1. dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/enga...
Applications for the 2026 Storymakers fellowship are now open! Deadline is Feb 1. dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/enga...
Storymakers Program - Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability
Creating a more sustainable and environmentally just future for our planet and all who live on it
dornsife.usc.edu
December 16, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Each summer, I lead a week-long creative retreat for environmental researchers & academics on Catalina Island. We develop your most ambitious project ideas. It's truly life-changing.
Applications for the 2026 Storymakers fellowship are now open! Deadline is Feb 1. dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/enga...
Applications for the 2026 Storymakers fellowship are now open! Deadline is Feb 1. dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/enga...
This is extraordinarily effective (buying bundled medical debt), and life-changing for the people it helps. It’s just ludicrous that we are in these situations to begin with - www.ctinsider.com/politics/art...
CT governor erases medical debt for 40,000 more state residents with $63M in funds
“Medical debt can delay healing due to stress and anxiety about how to pay these bills,” Gov. Ned Lamont said.
www.ctinsider.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:35 PM
This is extraordinarily effective (buying bundled medical debt), and life-changing for the people it helps. It’s just ludicrous that we are in these situations to begin with - www.ctinsider.com/politics/art...
Reposted by Liz Neeley
NEW: Friday memo from the NIH shows the agency is still thinking about terminations & aligning awards with its priorities
The upside, experts told me, is that this new guidance offers more of an opportunity for researchers to push back on terminations
www.statnews.com/2025/12/15/n...
The upside, experts told me, is that this new guidance offers more of an opportunity for researchers to push back on terminations
www.statnews.com/2025/12/15/n...
NIH specifies how grant reviewers should ensure alignment with Trump priorities
In a memo obtained by STAT, the NIH gives specific steps on how grant reviewers can check for alignment with administration priorities.
www.statnews.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:15 PM
NEW: Friday memo from the NIH shows the agency is still thinking about terminations & aligning awards with its priorities
The upside, experts told me, is that this new guidance offers more of an opportunity for researchers to push back on terminations
www.statnews.com/2025/12/15/n...
The upside, experts told me, is that this new guidance offers more of an opportunity for researchers to push back on terminations
www.statnews.com/2025/12/15/n...
Reposted by Liz Neeley
The US National Science Foundation is relaxing some of its requirements for the review of grant proposals in an effort to cope with a backlog of applications and reduced staff numbers
go.nature.com/3MF8aPm
go.nature.com/3MF8aPm
NSF softens grant-review rules to cope with backlog
Agency staff members say that the changes are reasonable, but they are worried about the potential effects on review.
go.nature.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The US National Science Foundation is relaxing some of its requirements for the review of grant proposals in an effort to cope with a backlog of applications and reduced staff numbers
go.nature.com/3MF8aPm
go.nature.com/3MF8aPm
Reposted by Liz Neeley
i want to be clear about this: worker’s rights also includes the right to be free from racist or sexist or gendered abuse at your job.
December 12, 2025 at 3:54 PM
i want to be clear about this: worker’s rights also includes the right to be free from racist or sexist or gendered abuse at your job.