Melissa Berke
@melissaberke.bsky.social
Associate Professor, Paleoclimatology and organic biogeochemistry, University of Notre Dame, she/her
Reposted by Melissa Berke
CPL is an absolute palace to the people and these proposed cuts are abominable. Artificial austerity. Chicago folks, read this, check the links to bug the mayor and your alders—this can be fought and won.
The People Want to Read: on the massive budget cuts proposed for Chicago Public Library. What's at stake and what you can do, whether or not you live in Chicago.
buttondown.com/wellsourced/...
buttondown.com/wellsourced/...
The People Want To Read: On Massive Budget Cuts Proposed in Chicago
If passed, Chicago Public Library will lose half their budget for acquiring new books and materials.
buttondown.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:17 PM
CPL is an absolute palace to the people and these proposed cuts are abominable. Artificial austerity. Chicago folks, read this, check the links to bug the mayor and your alders—this can be fought and won.
Reposted by Melissa Berke
I've been avoiding reading articles on the death of James Watson, co-discoverer of #DNA's structure.
That is, until I saw that @statnews.com published one by Sharon Begley, a renowned science writer who passed in 2021.
Yes, you read that right.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
🧪 (1/5)
That is, until I saw that @statnews.com published one by Sharon Begley, a renowned science writer who passed in 2021.
Yes, you read that right.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
🧪 (1/5)
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I've been avoiding reading articles on the death of James Watson, co-discoverer of #DNA's structure.
That is, until I saw that @statnews.com published one by Sharon Begley, a renowned science writer who passed in 2021.
Yes, you read that right.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
🧪 (1/5)
That is, until I saw that @statnews.com published one by Sharon Begley, a renowned science writer who passed in 2021.
Yes, you read that right.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
🧪 (1/5)
Went to look for a coat rack on Notre Dame Surplus website. Found this instead. The deals just keep coming!
November 5, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Went to look for a coat rack on Notre Dame Surplus website. Found this instead. The deals just keep coming!
Reposted by Melissa Berke
Warning. ⚠️ If you are writing an NSF GRFP, new this year, you need official transcripts to apply. Beware. They will not review applications without official transcripts. ‼️
November 4, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Warning. ⚠️ If you are writing an NSF GRFP, new this year, you need official transcripts to apply. Beware. They will not review applications without official transcripts. ‼️
Reposted by Melissa Berke
When people learn with ChatGPT instead of following their own searches, they end up knowing less, caring less, and producing worse advice, even when the facts are the same.
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Experimental evidence of the effects of large language models versus web search on depth of learning
Abstract. The effects of using large language models (LLMs) versus traditional web search on depth of learning are explored. A theory is proposed that when
academic.oup.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
When people learn with ChatGPT instead of following their own searches, they end up knowing less, caring less, and producing worse advice, even when the facts are the same.
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Reposted by Melissa Berke
It’s Friday! This time, Dr. Joshua Shrout of Notre Dame joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss sociomicrobiology on #MattersMicrobial. Don’t miss this one! Please spread the #GoodMicrobialWord @univpugetsound @ASMicrobiology @microbe.tv
youtu.be/b2UjnoM2VgU?...
youtu.be/b2UjnoM2VgU?...
October 24, 2025 at 4:56 PM
It’s Friday! This time, Dr. Joshua Shrout of Notre Dame joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss sociomicrobiology on #MattersMicrobial. Don’t miss this one! Please spread the #GoodMicrobialWord @univpugetsound @ASMicrobiology @microbe.tv
youtu.be/b2UjnoM2VgU?...
youtu.be/b2UjnoM2VgU?...
Reposted by Melissa Berke
“‘Over the next three years or so, unless Congress steps in, the Park Service will be pretty seriously damaged, you might almost say dismantled,’ says former NPS director Jonathan Jarvis, who served as the agency’s head from 2009 to 2017…
What’s the Trump Administration’s End Game for the National Parks?
We saw it in Yosemite. But you have to look beyond the bathrooms.
www.republic.land
October 23, 2025 at 3:54 PM
“‘Over the next three years or so, unless Congress steps in, the Park Service will be pretty seriously damaged, you might almost say dismantled,’ says former NPS director Jonathan Jarvis, who served as the agency’s head from 2009 to 2017…
Reposted by Melissa Berke
Update on the Paleontological Research Institution and their remaining need for donations to pay off their mortgage and avoid foreclosure
#savePRI please share; tag anyone you think might help🧪⚒️🦑
@lastweektonight.com @colbertlateshow.bsky.social @pbseons.bsky.social
www.ithaca.com/news/regiona...
#savePRI please share; tag anyone you think might help🧪⚒️🦑
@lastweektonight.com @colbertlateshow.bsky.social @pbseons.bsky.social
www.ithaca.com/news/regiona...
Saving the Museum
After years of financial troubles and millions of funds raised in support, the Museum of the Earth is still struggling to bridge its multi-million dollar budgetary gap. It needs to
www.ithaca.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Update on the Paleontological Research Institution and their remaining need for donations to pay off their mortgage and avoid foreclosure
#savePRI please share; tag anyone you think might help🧪⚒️🦑
@lastweektonight.com @colbertlateshow.bsky.social @pbseons.bsky.social
www.ithaca.com/news/regiona...
#savePRI please share; tag anyone you think might help🧪⚒️🦑
@lastweektonight.com @colbertlateshow.bsky.social @pbseons.bsky.social
www.ithaca.com/news/regiona...
Reposted by Melissa Berke
a live look at the demolition of the White House's East Wing for Trump's ballroom
October 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
a live look at the demolition of the White House's East Wing for Trump's ballroom
Reposted by Melissa Berke
The White House is asking people not to share pictures of the East Wing because it’s even worse today.
October 21, 2025 at 10:54 PM
The White House is asking people not to share pictures of the East Wing because it’s even worse today.
Reposted by Melissa Berke
“The Monday filing outlines where 2,050 positions would be eliminated; the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Land Management, and the main Interior office would be especially hard hit. Regional offices with the National Park Service are also targeted for significant cuts.”
Inside Trump's plan to eviscerate USGS and beyond - Center for Western Priorities
Forced by a federal judge to partially reveal plans for firing federal employees, the Trump administration on Monday said it plans to “imminently” terminate more than 2,000 employees at the Interior d...
westernpriorities.org
October 21, 2025 at 7:32 PM
“The Monday filing outlines where 2,050 positions would be eliminated; the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Land Management, and the main Interior office would be especially hard hit. Regional offices with the National Park Service are also targeted for significant cuts.”
Reposted by Melissa Berke
Department of Biology, Lakehead University is seeking a CERC in Freshwater Sustainability and Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems. On the shores of Lake Superior, Experimental Lakes Area and Large Lakes Observatory both just down the road... Deadline Dec 1. DM for questions! www.lakeheadu.ca/faculty-and-...
Associate Professor / Full Professor, CERC
Lakehead University is your place to live and learn. Dynamic, modern, and highly learner-centred, we acknowledge all of our students as valued leaders of tomorrow, whose education and success are most...
www.lakeheadu.ca
October 17, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Department of Biology, Lakehead University is seeking a CERC in Freshwater Sustainability and Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems. On the shores of Lake Superior, Experimental Lakes Area and Large Lakes Observatory both just down the road... Deadline Dec 1. DM for questions! www.lakeheadu.ca/faculty-and-...
Reposted by Melissa Berke
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
Reposted by Melissa Berke
Hey, folks, please check out the new Drawdown Explorer.
It’s the world’s leading resource for science-backed climate solutions. And now it provides the most up-to-date, localized, actionable intelligence to help scale these solutions out in the world.
Drawdown.org/explorer
It’s the world’s leading resource for science-backed climate solutions. And now it provides the most up-to-date, localized, actionable intelligence to help scale these solutions out in the world.
Drawdown.org/explorer
October 2, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Hey, folks, please check out the new Drawdown Explorer.
It’s the world’s leading resource for science-backed climate solutions. And now it provides the most up-to-date, localized, actionable intelligence to help scale these solutions out in the world.
Drawdown.org/explorer
It’s the world’s leading resource for science-backed climate solutions. And now it provides the most up-to-date, localized, actionable intelligence to help scale these solutions out in the world.
Drawdown.org/explorer
Reposted by Melissa Berke
🚨Job alert🚨
The Gulf Coast Repository is looking for a tech to operate/maintain lab instrumentation, process samples, train scientists, contribute to the development and improvement of analytical tools, techniques, and software.
This is a sailing position!
tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/TAMU_E...
The Gulf Coast Repository is looking for a tech to operate/maintain lab instrumentation, process samples, train scientists, contribute to the development and improvement of analytical tools, techniques, and software.
This is a sailing position!
tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/TAMU_E...
October 1, 2025 at 8:38 PM
🚨Job alert🚨
The Gulf Coast Repository is looking for a tech to operate/maintain lab instrumentation, process samples, train scientists, contribute to the development and improvement of analytical tools, techniques, and software.
This is a sailing position!
tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/TAMU_E...
The Gulf Coast Repository is looking for a tech to operate/maintain lab instrumentation, process samples, train scientists, contribute to the development and improvement of analytical tools, techniques, and software.
This is a sailing position!
tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/TAMU_E...
Reposted by Melissa Berke
As we* hoped, my co-authored marine GDGT « cookbook » review paper was accepted for publication in the @egu.eu journal Biogeosciences after peer-review and (minor) revision! 🥳 🍾
*Peter Bijl, @kasiasliwinska.bsky.social, and all co-authors, including myself.
#PaperAccepted #GDGTs
@egubg.bsky.social
*Peter Bijl, @kasiasliwinska.bsky.social, and all co-authors, including myself.
#PaperAccepted #GDGTs
@egubg.bsky.social
September 26, 2025 at 9:36 PM
As we* hoped, my co-authored marine GDGT « cookbook » review paper was accepted for publication in the @egu.eu journal Biogeosciences after peer-review and (minor) revision! 🥳 🍾
*Peter Bijl, @kasiasliwinska.bsky.social, and all co-authors, including myself.
#PaperAccepted #GDGTs
@egubg.bsky.social
*Peter Bijl, @kasiasliwinska.bsky.social, and all co-authors, including myself.
#PaperAccepted #GDGTs
@egubg.bsky.social
Enjoy a picture of Apawllo being lovably derpy
September 26, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Enjoy a picture of Apawllo being lovably derpy
Reposted by Melissa Berke
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
September 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
Reposted by Melissa Berke
AMNH is hiring a tenure track Assistant Curator/Professor in Climate Physics. You can find the posting here: careers.amnh.org/postings/4579
Assistant Curator in Climate Physics: Atmosphere or Ocean
The Division of Physical Sciences at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) seeks an outstanding colleague to join the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS). This is an Assistant lev...
careers.amnh.org
September 6, 2025 at 6:39 PM
AMNH is hiring a tenure track Assistant Curator/Professor in Climate Physics. You can find the posting here: careers.amnh.org/postings/4579
Reposted by Melissa Berke
When PA gave Shell a whopping $1.65 billion subsidy to build a plastics plant, officials promised an economic boom.
Thirteen years later, the plant is up and running, but the area is still in decline, and Shell wants out. Important story:
Thirteen years later, the plant is up and running, but the area is still in decline, and Shell wants out. Important story:
Pennsylvania Lured Shell to the State With a $1.65 Billion Tax Break. Now the Company Wants to Sell Its Plant - Inside Climate News
Looking back, “this was a terrible investment of taxpayer money,” one analyst said.
insideclimatenews.org
August 29, 2025 at 8:22 PM
When PA gave Shell a whopping $1.65 billion subsidy to build a plastics plant, officials promised an economic boom.
Thirteen years later, the plant is up and running, but the area is still in decline, and Shell wants out. Important story:
Thirteen years later, the plant is up and running, but the area is still in decline, and Shell wants out. Important story:
I will never understand how people are believing this….
I shit you not, COVIDTests.gov, I site where we used to get a free Covid tests, now redirects to this complete bullshit from the white house.
August 27, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I will never understand how people are believing this….
Reposted by Melissa Berke
🚨Job alert
Want to know what’s behind these doors? TAMU’s Gulf Coast Repository is looking for a Curatorial Specialist to support the GCR on shore & who will be sailing on expeditions operated by the Scientific Ocean Drilling Coordinating Office (SODCO).
tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/System-wide_...
Want to know what’s behind these doors? TAMU’s Gulf Coast Repository is looking for a Curatorial Specialist to support the GCR on shore & who will be sailing on expeditions operated by the Scientific Ocean Drilling Coordinating Office (SODCO).
tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/System-wide_...
August 26, 2025 at 8:46 PM
🚨Job alert
Want to know what’s behind these doors? TAMU’s Gulf Coast Repository is looking for a Curatorial Specialist to support the GCR on shore & who will be sailing on expeditions operated by the Scientific Ocean Drilling Coordinating Office (SODCO).
tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/System-wide_...
Want to know what’s behind these doors? TAMU’s Gulf Coast Repository is looking for a Curatorial Specialist to support the GCR on shore & who will be sailing on expeditions operated by the Scientific Ocean Drilling Coordinating Office (SODCO).
tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/System-wide_...
Reposted by Melissa Berke
Reposted by Melissa Berke
Sorry, no coffee, I’m running CESM
August 15, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Sorry, no coffee, I’m running CESM
Reposted by Melissa Berke
🚨 Another new paper! 🚨
My coauthors and I gathered data on four planktic foraminiferal species from 115 core tops in the Indian Ocean to test the question: does adding non thermal parameters to Mg/Ca calibrations make them "better" than temperature-only models?
Check out our work below! 🌊🧪
My coauthors and I gathered data on four planktic foraminiferal species from 115 core tops in the Indian Ocean to test the question: does adding non thermal parameters to Mg/Ca calibrations make them "better" than temperature-only models?
Check out our work below! 🌊🧪
Core-top constraints on the ecology and paleothermometry of planktic foraminifera in the Indian Ocean
The magnesium-to‑calcium ratio (Mg/Ca) of fossil foraminifera is a widely used geochemical proxy for reconstructing past ocean temperatures. Culturing…
www.sciencedirect.com
August 13, 2025 at 9:16 PM
🚨 Another new paper! 🚨
My coauthors and I gathered data on four planktic foraminiferal species from 115 core tops in the Indian Ocean to test the question: does adding non thermal parameters to Mg/Ca calibrations make them "better" than temperature-only models?
Check out our work below! 🌊🧪
My coauthors and I gathered data on four planktic foraminiferal species from 115 core tops in the Indian Ocean to test the question: does adding non thermal parameters to Mg/Ca calibrations make them "better" than temperature-only models?
Check out our work below! 🌊🧪