Lou Woodley (she/her)
@louwoodley.bsky.social
Founder and Director of CSCCE. I train, support & research scientific community managers - those building networks and collaborations in STEM. Happiest at the intersection of people, science and tech - with a book & a view of the mountains. #community
Pinned
Hello, I’m Lou! I’m a scientist by training and I’ve spent the past two decades focused on community building in STEM - whether thru new tech tools, community-led events, or training community managers. These days I’m thinking a lot about the relationship between self care and community care.
It was so good to celebrate our first two CSCCE- certified community managers yesterday! Congrats to Erin and Miriam!
Congratulations to Erin Conn and Miriam Krause, who are our first two graduates from the CSCCE Community Manager Certification Program!! www.cscce.org/2025/05/28/a...
Announcing the first graduates of the CSCCE Community Manager Certification Program! - CSCCE
We’re delighted to celebrate our first CSCCE-certified STEM community managers - Erin Conn and Miriam Krause!
www.cscce.org
June 5, 2025 at 3:24 PM
It was so good to celebrate our first two CSCCE- certified community managers yesterday! Congrats to Erin and Miriam!
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
Later this month, CSCCE’s founder and director @louwoodley.bsky.social will be delivering the keynote address at the annual NORDP Research Development Conference: nordp.org/page/2025_co...
nordp.org
April 10, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Later this month, CSCCE’s founder and director @louwoodley.bsky.social will be delivering the keynote address at the annual NORDP Research Development Conference: nordp.org/page/2025_co...
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
Francis Collins led the mapping of the human genome, and chose to do big scientific to benefit the public. He is a a former NIH Director.
He just resigned his position in government. His resignation letter:
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...
He just resigned his position in government. His resignation letter:
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...
March 1, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Francis Collins led the mapping of the human genome, and chose to do big scientific to benefit the public. He is a a former NIH Director.
He just resigned his position in government. His resignation letter:
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...
He just resigned his position in government. His resignation letter:
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
I also fear there will be a Lost Generation of scientists & researchers w/ these massive cuts, esp current trainees & #ECR
Stripping away funding is quick, but short-sighted. It will set us back many years
We must support #science, it is one of the very best things #America does!
#Medsky
#Scisky
Stripping away funding is quick, but short-sighted. It will set us back many years
We must support #science, it is one of the very best things #America does!
#Medsky
#Scisky
A whole generation of early career scientists and physician-scientists, including colleagues and myself, are particularly vulnerable to these funding freezes and cuts, with jobs and careers depending on federal grants.
#IDsky
#Medsky
#Episky
www.science.org/content/arti...
#IDsky
#Medsky
#Episky
www.science.org/content/arti...
U.S. early-career researchers struggling amid chaos
Uncertain funding, government firings, and distressed universities hit vulnerable groups especially hard
www.science.org
February 23, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
By @katherinejwu.com
"The NIH... supported 99 percent of the drugs approved in the U.S. from 2010 to 2019. The agency has had a hand in “nearly all of our major medical breakthroughs over the past several decades,”
The NIH is in a struggle for its (and our) lives. This is existential to America:
"The NIH... supported 99 percent of the drugs approved in the U.S. from 2010 to 2019. The agency has had a hand in “nearly all of our major medical breakthroughs over the past several decades,”
The NIH is in a struggle for its (and our) lives. This is existential to America:
Inside the Collapse at NIH
Administration officials pressured NIH to avoid clear advice from the agency’s own lawyers to restart grant funding now.
www.theatlantic.com
February 27, 2025 at 5:29 PM
By @katherinejwu.com
"The NIH... supported 99 percent of the drugs approved in the U.S. from 2010 to 2019. The agency has had a hand in “nearly all of our major medical breakthroughs over the past several decades,”
The NIH is in a struggle for its (and our) lives. This is existential to America:
"The NIH... supported 99 percent of the drugs approved in the U.S. from 2010 to 2019. The agency has had a hand in “nearly all of our major medical breakthroughs over the past several decades,”
The NIH is in a struggle for its (and our) lives. This is existential to America:
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
Free freelance coaching tomorrow 3-4 ET. I'll be talking about how I run my freelance #SciComm business and nothing's off the table, including discussing my real $ numbers.
This is a casual Q&A seeded by someone with questions. Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
This is a casual Q&A seeded by someone with questions. Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: SciComm Office Hours: Freelancing in scicomm. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: SciComm Office Hours: Freelancing in scicomm. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
us06web.zoom.us
February 27, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Free freelance coaching tomorrow 3-4 ET. I'll be talking about how I run my freelance #SciComm business and nothing's off the table, including discussing my real $ numbers.
This is a casual Q&A seeded by someone with questions. Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
This is a casual Q&A seeded by someone with questions. Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
I’ve seen children die of
-influenza
-COVID
-pertussis
And wouldn’t wish those experiences on anyone.
Know what these things have in common?!
Effective vaccines that save lives.
-influenza
-COVID
-pertussis
And wouldn’t wish those experiences on anyone.
Know what these things have in common?!
Effective vaccines that save lives.
February 27, 2025 at 2:12 AM
I’ve seen children die of
-influenza
-COVID
-pertussis
And wouldn’t wish those experiences on anyone.
Know what these things have in common?!
Effective vaccines that save lives.
-influenza
-COVID
-pertussis
And wouldn’t wish those experiences on anyone.
Know what these things have in common?!
Effective vaccines that save lives.
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
Sharing these numbers because I wasn't aware of them myself. In the US:
* 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who get measles are hospitalized
* 1 in 20 children with measles get pneumonia
* 1 to 3 in 1000 die
If you're not immune, close contact with an infected person gives you measles 90% of the time
* 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who get measles are hospitalized
* 1 in 20 children with measles get pneumonia
* 1 to 3 in 1000 die
If you're not immune, close contact with an infected person gives you measles 90% of the time
Measles – NFID
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can result in severe, sometimes permanent, complications including pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and even death
www.nfid.org
February 26, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Sharing these numbers because I wasn't aware of them myself. In the US:
* 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who get measles are hospitalized
* 1 in 20 children with measles get pneumonia
* 1 to 3 in 1000 die
If you're not immune, close contact with an infected person gives you measles 90% of the time
* 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who get measles are hospitalized
* 1 in 20 children with measles get pneumonia
* 1 to 3 in 1000 die
If you're not immune, close contact with an infected person gives you measles 90% of the time
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
oh cool I’ve been meaning to learn anxiety
February 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
oh cool I’ve been meaning to learn anxiety
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
let’s see how it plays out, but the media coverage of the past week meant that the policy couldn’t linger in the shadows anymore
keep talking to non-scientists about what you do and why it matters to them
keep talking to non-scientists about what you do and why it matters to them
Some good-ish news from NIH
“Federal Register notices for study sections run by CSR (but not those by ICs) will start being permitted again”
As far as I know, the timing for this is not clear, but I will be checking the Federal Register.
“Federal Register notices for study sections run by CSR (but not those by ICs) will start being permitted again”
As far as I know, the timing for this is not clear, but I will be checking the Federal Register.
a man in a red suit and tie is holding a piece of paper that says breaking news on it
ALT: a man in a red suit and tie is holding a piece of paper that says breaking news on it
media.tenor.com
February 24, 2025 at 4:43 PM
let’s see how it plays out, but the media coverage of the past week meant that the policy couldn’t linger in the shadows anymore
keep talking to non-scientists about what you do and why it matters to them
keep talking to non-scientists about what you do and why it matters to them
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
The Trump administration's efforts to slash research funding have US graduate students, postdocs and other early-career scientists fearing for their careers. Some might leave the country -- or abandon research altogether.
https://go.nature.com/43ao2zq
https://go.nature.com/43ao2zq
Postdocs and PhD students hit hard by Trump’s crackdown on science
As US federal grants remain frozen and budget cuts loom, anxiety and fear grip early-career researchers.
go.nature.com
February 24, 2025 at 9:39 PM
The Trump administration's efforts to slash research funding have US graduate students, postdocs and other early-career scientists fearing for their careers. Some might leave the country -- or abandon research altogether.
https://go.nature.com/43ao2zq
https://go.nature.com/43ao2zq
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
“The weeks ahead may be the greatest test that the US scientific community has ever faced” @holdenthorp.bsky.social
Come together, right now | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Come together, right now | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Come together, right now
The chaos, conflicting information, firings, and hurtful rhetoric of the Trump administration’s approach to science over the past month are causing anxiety, grief, and concern for the scientific commu...
www.science.org
February 24, 2025 at 10:46 PM
“The weeks ahead may be the greatest test that the US scientific community has ever faced” @holdenthorp.bsky.social
Come together, right now | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Come together, right now | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
K, here's my thing about heroes vs. villains. Being good/a hero (and by that I mean, making the best choices one can to help others, do no harm and make shit better) is hard as hell in a world that is often cruel and rewards selfish behavior.
"Good" is a choice you have to make over and over...
"Good" is a choice you have to make over and over...
February 19, 2025 at 5:35 PM
K, here's my thing about heroes vs. villains. Being good/a hero (and by that I mean, making the best choices one can to help others, do no harm and make shit better) is hard as hell in a world that is often cruel and rewards selfish behavior.
"Good" is a choice you have to make over and over...
"Good" is a choice you have to make over and over...
An important reminder to keep talking about what is happening right now in your area of expertise with connections who aren’t.
A teacher emailed me & said "My scientist didn't reply to me. My scientists ALWAYS reply to me! What the heck!".
I was like "Well. Science is kinda crumbling. Friends/colleagues are losing their jobs or at least funding, & some are being told to cease all outside communications".
She hadn't heard.
I was like "Well. Science is kinda crumbling. Friends/colleagues are losing their jobs or at least funding, & some are being told to cease all outside communications".
She hadn't heard.
February 19, 2025 at 4:32 AM
An important reminder to keep talking about what is happening right now in your area of expertise with connections who aren’t.
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
Some folks have asked, given recent news, “how do I show my friends/family the impact of NSF?” We have some easy Fact Sheets for you! Here’s a brief thread about this website: new.nsf.gov/about/fact-s... which hosts a ton of useful one-pagers.
February 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Some folks have asked, given recent news, “how do I show my friends/family the impact of NSF?” We have some easy Fact Sheets for you! Here’s a brief thread about this website: new.nsf.gov/about/fact-s... which hosts a ton of useful one-pagers.
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
NEW: NSF confirmed that they fired 168 employees today, out of their staff of ~1,500 feds.
This includes some people who'd finished their 1-year probationary periods, which were extended to 2-years last month without explanation. More to come.
This includes some people who'd finished their 1-year probationary periods, which were extended to 2-years last month without explanation. More to come.
February 18, 2025 at 4:16 PM
NEW: NSF confirmed that they fired 168 employees today, out of their staff of ~1,500 feds.
This includes some people who'd finished their 1-year probationary periods, which were extended to 2-years last month without explanation. More to come.
This includes some people who'd finished their 1-year probationary periods, which were extended to 2-years last month without explanation. More to come.
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
I am one of these NSF postdocs. NSF has frozen everyone’s access to their salaries and research stipends (that were already awarded) with no information about when they might be expected to be unfrozen. It still appears like we are expected to continue doing our work though.
Apparently all the PhD researchers holding prestigious NSF-funded research fellowships are having their salaries withheld until some unspecified time when the leadership figures out how to eliminate any grant funding that doesn’t align with the president’s political ideology.
It’s official: all funding requests made on Tuesday by postdocs for their salaries have been unilaterally rejected by NSF.
January 31, 2025 at 12:43 AM
I am one of these NSF postdocs. NSF has frozen everyone’s access to their salaries and research stipends (that were already awarded) with no information about when they might be expected to be unfrozen. It still appears like we are expected to continue doing our work though.
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
Others have said it better before, but:
Doing the best science *requires* considering "DEIA principles and frameworks."
Science is done by communities. Science affects communities. Communities are diverse. If you ignore that diversity, you are doing worse science than someone who includes it well.
Doing the best science *requires* considering "DEIA principles and frameworks."
Science is done by communities. Science affects communities. Communities are diverse. If you ignore that diversity, you are doing worse science than someone who includes it well.
Memo directs all NSF grantees to comply with EOs, in particular "this may include, but is not limited to "conferences, trainings, workshops, considerations for staffing and participant selection, and any other grant activity that uses or promotes the use of DEIA principles and frameworks
Full note:
Full note:
January 28, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Others have said it better before, but:
Doing the best science *requires* considering "DEIA principles and frameworks."
Science is done by communities. Science affects communities. Communities are diverse. If you ignore that diversity, you are doing worse science than someone who includes it well.
Doing the best science *requires* considering "DEIA principles and frameworks."
Science is done by communities. Science affects communities. Communities are diverse. If you ignore that diversity, you are doing worse science than someone who includes it well.
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
M4.1 #earthquake detected 13 km SE of York Harbor, Maine at 1/27/2025 7:22:56 AM PST
This reflects data from the U.S. Geological Survey that is subject to change. Visit the USGS page linked below for the latest #quake information
This reflects data from the U.S. Geological Survey that is subject to change. Visit the USGS page linked below for the latest #quake information
M4.1 - 13 km SE of York Harbor, Maine
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake located 13 km SE of York Harbor, Maine was detected at 1/27/2025 7:22:56 AM PST. This information is subject to change. Please visit the USGS event page for up-to-date details.
earthquake.usgs.gov
January 27, 2025 at 3:27 PM
M4.1 #earthquake detected 13 km SE of York Harbor, Maine at 1/27/2025 7:22:56 AM PST
This reflects data from the U.S. Geological Survey that is subject to change. Visit the USGS page linked below for the latest #quake information
This reflects data from the U.S. Geological Survey that is subject to change. Visit the USGS page linked below for the latest #quake information
Earthquake in Maine?
January 27, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Earthquake in Maine?
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
Social media platforms have become essential tools for communication, civic engagement, and information sharing, akin to roads, utilities, and other public services. They are becoming public infrastructure. We should treat them as such.
"‘Open Source And Ethical’ TikTok, WhatsApp And Instagram Alternatives Could Transform Social Media" ... Or not www.forbes.com/sites/esatde...
‘Open Source And Ethical’ TikTok, WhatsApp And Instagram Alternatives Could Transform Social Media
As major platforms face mounting scrutiny over content moderation and user privacy, a developer's vision for ethical social media draws support
www.forbes.com
January 26, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Social media platforms have become essential tools for communication, civic engagement, and information sharing, akin to roads, utilities, and other public services. They are becoming public infrastructure. We should treat them as such.
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
"‘Open Source And Ethical’ TikTok, WhatsApp And Instagram Alternatives Could Transform Social Media" ... Or not www.forbes.com/sites/esatde...
‘Open Source And Ethical’ TikTok, WhatsApp And Instagram Alternatives Could Transform Social Media
As major platforms face mounting scrutiny over content moderation and user privacy, a developer's vision for ethical social media draws support
www.forbes.com
January 26, 2025 at 5:44 AM
"‘Open Source And Ethical’ TikTok, WhatsApp And Instagram Alternatives Could Transform Social Media" ... Or not www.forbes.com/sites/esatde...
Reposted by Lou Woodley (she/her)
You can use this website to look up how much money goes into your state from NIH, how many jobs are supported, and more.
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
NIH In Your State - United For Medical Research
Select a state on the map to see the impact of NIH funding across America.
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org
January 22, 2025 at 10:48 PM
You can use this website to look up how much money goes into your state from NIH, how many jobs are supported, and more.
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...