Meenakshi Wadhwa
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minwadhwa.bsky.social
Meenakshi Wadhwa
@minwadhwa.bsky.social
1.9K followers 520 following 130 posts
Director, Scripps Inst. Oceanography & Vice Chancellor, UC San Diego. Opinions are my own.
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minwadhwa.bsky.social
Congratulations to @helen-amanda.bsky.social and her team for the selection of the EDGE mission as @ucsandiego.bsky.social’s first PI-led NASA mission! today.ucsd.edu/story/uc-san...
February 6, 2026 at 4:35 PM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
Congratulations to Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Prof. Veerabhadran Ramanathan! I got to know Ram after arriving at Scripps (unfortunately do not overlap with him at U Chicago), and just love how he is still so energized and motivated by his science.
scrippsocean.bsky.social Scripps Institution of Oceanography @scrippsocean.bsky.social · 17d
🏅Congratulations to @ucsandiego.bsky.social & Scripps Oceanography climate scientist Veerabhadran Ramanathan for earning the prestigious Crafoord Prize — one of the world’s most prestigious science awards given by @scienceacademyswe.bsky.social!

➡️ Learn more: bit.ly/3NKC8lC
January 30, 2026 at 3:38 AM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
Is that lumpfish the cutest thing you ever saw?! Got to shake hands with an octopus (I know I’ll be visiting him frequently!) and see some incredible things at our experimental aquarium facilities — just another day here @scrippsocean.bsky.social
January 29, 2026 at 5:35 AM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
Heading home after a few days in Davos. Grateful for the opportunity to talk about the ocean, climate and sustainability, space and exploration with leaders from so many different sectors.
scrippsocean.bsky.social Scripps Institution of Oceanography @scrippsocean.bsky.social · 25d
🌍 Scripps Oceanography Director @minwadhwa.bsky.social is at the @weforum.org Annual Meeting, joining global leaders to spotlight the role of ocean action in addressing climate change. At #AM26, she is sharing insights on the latest state of climate science & why investing in our ocean is essential.
January 23, 2026 at 11:00 AM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
Today marks exactly 100 days since I joined @scrippsocean.bsky.social @ucsandiego.bsky.social. It felt like a bit of a celebration to walk on Scripps’ campus today and feel moved by all the incredible science-inspired art works that are like little gems tucked in unexpected places!
January 9, 2026 at 7:49 AM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
First sunset from my office @scrippsocean.bsky.social @ucsandiego.bsky.social at the start of Winter Quarter. Here’s to a year of chasing new and amazing discoveries just beyond the horizon and finding magic in everyday moments. Happy New Year!
Sunset view of a beach in La Jolla, California, with orange hues reflected in the water and a row of clouds near the horizon.
January 6, 2026 at 7:08 AM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
This week’s absolute highlight was a tour of @scrippsocean.bsky.social’s RV Sally Ride - with @astrodocscott.bsky.social who operated Sally Ride’s KidSat payload on STS-86. This research vessel is a scientific & technological marvel, enabling tremendous ocean & seafloor measurements and sampling!
December 14, 2025 at 5:24 PM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
Spotted Santa delivering presents underwater @birchaquarium.bsky.social yesterday. Happy holidays from @scrippsocean.bsky.social!
View of the Scripps Pier at dusk, with festive lights along the length of the pier. Me and my husband standing on either side of seated Santa in front of an image of Scripps Pier at the Birch Aquarium. Santa diving in a tank with kelp at the Birch Aquarium.
December 7, 2025 at 1:51 AM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
Halloween celebrations @scrippsocean.bsky.social — ghosts, cool canines and a new variety of dogfish!
November 2, 2025 at 9:08 PM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
My first 3 weeks on the job at @scrippsocean.bsky.social @ucsandiego.bsky.social have flown by - learning about the amazing people who work here (including those pictured here from our world-class scientific diving program and ship operations) and the amazing things that we do here.
October 20, 2025 at 1:56 AM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
I think I met my first native San Diegan today @birchaquarium.bsky.social … a gorgeous rosy boa! Also met Rusty, a handsome bearded dragon. Birch is a truly magical place.
October 9, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Reposted by Meenakshi Wadhwa
scrippsocean.bsky.social
#ICYMI, we shared some big news this week! 🎉 Scripps Institution of Oceanography at @ucsandiego.bsky.social is proud to welcome esteemed Earth and planetary scientist Meenakshi Wadhwa as the 12th director of our institution. 🪐 Hear directly from Dr. Wadhwa in this video: youtu.be/lbFLXM6BBbI?...
Introducing Meenakshi Wadhwa, Director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego
YouTube video by Scripps Oceanography
youtu.be
October 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
So excited to be here to serve the @scrippsocean.bsky.social community, and advance our mission to understand and protect our planet!
October 2, 2025 at 6:24 AM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
Amazed by Gaudi’s city…
The neo-Gothic facade of the church of Sagrada Família in Barcelona Ceiling of church of Sagrada Família Inside the main entrance of Gaudi’s La Pedrera (Casa Milà) On the rooftop of Gaudi’s La Pedrera (Casa Mila)
September 13, 2025 at 9:45 AM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
Tantalizing— but needs confirmation through careful analyses in laboratories in Earth. This is why we must bring back the samples that Perseverance has so carefully documented and collected!
September 11, 2025 at 8:18 AM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
Dubai at night… including amazing views of and from the top of Burj Khalifa!
View looking up from the base of Burj Khalifa View from the top of Burj Khalifa of Dubai at night, tall buildings and city lights View of the very futuristic oval-shaped Museum of the Future at night. View of the “human waterfall” in the Dubai Mall.
September 9, 2025 at 6:22 AM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
Snapshots from a memorable penultimate week in AZ… (picture of the Haboob courtesy of @astrodocscott.bsky.social & that of the gorgeous cake thanks to Kim Baptista)!
A monstrously huge dust storm behind a building, with a pool in the foreground. Picture of me (on left) and my husband (on right), with Pinnacle Peak (North Scottsdale) in the background on left side. Beautiful flower arrangement (orange roses, pink tulips, eucalyptus leaves…) on desk in my office. Windows in the background look towards the Superstition Mountains. A large rectangular sheet cake depicting a sunset view (yellow-orange skies) on a beach — ocean and waves on the right, sand & a plan tree & orange flowers on left.
August 30, 2025 at 9:34 PM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
Yesterday I had the opportunity to thank my long-time AZ friends and colleagues @seseasu.bsky.social for the many wonderful years of camaraderie, collaborations, and friendship I’ve enjoyed here. Definitely one of my best career and life decisions to come here 19+ years ago!
Me cutting a beautiful cake decorated with an ocean and sunset, with a party in the backdrop.
August 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Reposted by Meenakshi Wadhwa
pomarede.bsky.social
SPHEREx Discovers Extended Carbon Dioxide Coma in Interstellar Object 3I-ATLAS

spherex.caltech.edu/news/3i-atla... #SPHEREx #3IATLAS 🧪🔭
SPHEREx discovered a bright CO2 coma (the extended gaseous atmosphere of a comet) surrounding 3I/ATLAS. It extends out to at least 348,000 km. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.
August 23, 2025 at 8:49 PM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
Surprised and delighted to come across this earlier this week… art transforms the mundane into magic and proves that delight can often hide in plain sight.​​​​​​ #FallenStar
Three views of a work of art called “Fallen Star” on the campus of UCSD by artist Do Ho Suh: a cottage perched on top of a building, with over half its base hanging off the building.
August 23, 2025 at 9:08 PM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/08/04/s...
Scripps Oceanography’s new director aims to build collaborative studies toward ‘understanding and protecting our planet’
Planetary scientist Meenakshi Wadhwa is due to return to her postdoctoral roots at UCSD in October after six years as director of the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
August 17, 2025 at 1:17 AM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
Soaking in another AZ sunset.
Two views of the Sun setting over Tempe Town Lake - brilliant orange colors and some clouds.
August 15, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Reposted by Meenakshi Wadhwa
astrokatie.com
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
ericmgarcia.bsky.social Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · Aug 5
Release from HHS: HHS will wind down its development of the mRNA vaccine development activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
HHS Winds Down mRNA Vaccine Development Under BARDA WASHINGTON, DC—AUGUST 5, 2025—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the beginning of a coordinated wind-down of its mRNA vaccine development activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), including the cancellation and de-scoping of various contracts and solicitations. The decision follows a comprehensive review of mRNA-related investments initiated during the COVID-19 public health emergency. “We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “BARDA is terminating 22 mRNA vaccine development investments because the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu. We’re shifting that funding toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate.”
August 5, 2025 at 10:54 PM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
Yesterday was my last day as Director @seseasu.bsky.social. I’m proud of what our school community has achieved over the last 6 yrs, building on a trajectory set in motion 19 yrs ago when SESE was founded. I know SESE will achieve greater heights in the coming years — I will be cheering them on!
Group photo with staff in SESE at ASU. Group photo with faculty in SESE at ASU. Group photo with my research group that I’ve worked with over my 19 years at SESE. Image of the SESE booth at the AGU conference, showing the school banner.
August 1, 2025 at 6:37 PM
minwadhwa.bsky.social
OK, so La Jolla sunsets are not so bad… and I can almost trick myself into seeing a green flash in the last image!
A series of 4 photos showing the progression of a sunset over the Pacific Ocean, with silhouettes of palm trees in foreground.
July 24, 2025 at 3:08 AM