Becky Smith
@rlsdvm.bsky.social
Epidemiologist at UIUC, working in One Health
Pinned
Becky Smith
@rlsdvm.bsky.social
· Sep 10
K-12 Schools and Public Health Partnerships: Strategies for Navigating a Crisis with Trust, Equity, and Communication
Amazon.com: K-12 Schools and Public Health Partnerships: Strategies for Navigating a Crisis with Trust, Equity, and Communication: 9781041002406: Perkinson, Leah, Barrios, Lisa C., Smith, Rebecca Lee, Roegman, Rachel: Books
www.amazon.com
Our book is up and available for preorder!
We spoke with K-12 and public health administrators from around the US about how they navigated the COVID-19 pandemic together. The biggest lesson was to build the partnerships before you need them, so start now! Ships in time for Christmas!
We spoke with K-12 and public health administrators from around the US about how they navigated the COVID-19 pandemic together. The biggest lesson was to build the partnerships before you need them, so start now! Ships in time for Christmas!
Hey reviewers, you know what would make the job easier? Stop trying to be style police. If the sentence or paragraph is unclear, say so. If it's not your preferred style, let it go.
January 6, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Hey reviewers, you know what would make the job easier? Stop trying to be style police. If the sentence or paragraph is unclear, say so. If it's not your preferred style, let it go.
All of this! Currently in the same situation, poor authors waiting months.
I review 3 papers per submission from my lab, and suggest trainees if I can't
I review 3 papers per submission from my lab, and suggest trainees if I can't
I'm handling a manuscript and have invited seventeen reviewers. So far, the responses are: no response, declined, declined, no response, declined, declined, declined, declined, declined, no response, no response. One person has turned in a review and I'm still trying to find a second reviewer.
January 6, 2026 at 1:59 PM
All of this! Currently in the same situation, poor authors waiting months.
I review 3 papers per submission from my lab, and suggest trainees if I can't
I review 3 papers per submission from my lab, and suggest trainees if I can't
I got this invite, didn't read it closely, deleted because it gave me the ick and I ASSUMED it was opt-in
somebody at UChicago is feeding preprints to LLMs without authors' consent, in a research study
they have the gall to suggest to authors they've opted-in that they volunteer to evaluate the LLMs' suggestions regarding their own work.
lol, lmao even. here is the invite and my reply
they have the gall to suggest to authors they've opted-in that they volunteer to evaluate the LLMs' suggestions regarding their own work.
lol, lmao even. here is the invite and my reply
January 5, 2026 at 11:55 PM
I got this invite, didn't read it closely, deleted because it gave me the ick and I ASSUMED it was opt-in
It's time to start another annual thread of my reading goals (work-related): 250 papers, 10 books.
This is my 5th (?) year posting through my annual reading, and I keep falling farther behind on my TBR folder. Must be more discriminating in downloads this year!
This is my 5th (?) year posting through my annual reading, and I keep falling farther behind on my TBR folder. Must be more discriminating in downloads this year!
January 5, 2026 at 4:55 PM
It's time to start another annual thread of my reading goals (work-related): 250 papers, 10 books.
This is my 5th (?) year posting through my annual reading, and I keep falling farther behind on my TBR folder. Must be more discriminating in downloads this year!
This is my 5th (?) year posting through my annual reading, and I keep falling farther behind on my TBR folder. Must be more discriminating in downloads this year!
Happy holidays from Honeymoon Island, Florida!
December 28, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Happy holidays from Honeymoon Island, Florida!
I got through it (just barely) for the 5th(?) year in a row!
Some thoughts:
-it's always a struggle, so I definitely can't do more, BUT
-I'm currently reading papers downloaded in August. There are 77 more papers in my TBR pile, SO
-I need to be more judicious, EXCEPT (1/3)
Some thoughts:
-it's always a struggle, so I definitely can't do more, BUT
-I'm currently reading papers downloaded in August. There are 77 more papers in my TBR pile, SO
-I need to be more judicious, EXCEPT (1/3)
Another year, another reading thread! The goal, as last year, is 250 journal articles and 10 books. I'll keep track here, both as a way to take notes and to share some thoughts with y'all!
December 24, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I got through it (just barely) for the 5th(?) year in a row!
Some thoughts:
-it's always a struggle, so I definitely can't do more, BUT
-I'm currently reading papers downloaded in August. There are 77 more papers in my TBR pile, SO
-I need to be more judicious, EXCEPT (1/3)
Some thoughts:
-it's always a struggle, so I definitely can't do more, BUT
-I'm currently reading papers downloaded in August. There are 77 more papers in my TBR pile, SO
-I need to be more judicious, EXCEPT (1/3)
The only other sunbeam in the house is a bed currently being made
December 21, 2025 at 6:47 PM
The only other sunbeam in the house is a bed currently being made
In additional to the "fill out this form to supplement your letter" news, I just had to answer 16 extra questions while submitting a peer review report. Just read my review!
December 19, 2025 at 4:09 PM
In additional to the "fill out this form to supplement your letter" news, I just had to answer 16 extra questions while submitting a peer review report. Just read my review!
Cool thing about LED Christmas lights is that if you string your lights at ground level and it snows, you get this magical effect
December 16, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Cool thing about LED Christmas lights is that if you string your lights at ground level and it snows, you get this magical effect
Book prepares K-12 leaders for the next public health crisis – News Bureau
news.illinois.edu
December 16, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I was trained entirely in vet epi, where the only (mild) beef is Europe vs US, so the first time I was given a list of reviewers to exclude, I thought it wasn't needed. I was wrong. Some fields are just vicious.
I hate navigating the world of palaeontology. "If you author with this researcher, you'll be barred from working with that other research team" or "if you access this collection you can't access that collection". Petty cliques getting in the way of accessing public resources and good science.
December 16, 2025 at 2:47 AM
I was trained entirely in vet epi, where the only (mild) beef is Europe vs US, so the first time I was given a list of reviewers to exclude, I thought it wasn't needed. I was wrong. Some fields are just vicious.
Hey @npr.org - he didn't actually answer your questions
FDA commissioner on public's growing mistrust in the government's health advice www.npr.org/2025/12/15/n...
FDA commissioner on public's growing mistrust in the government's health advice www.npr.org/2025/12/15/n...
FDA commissioner on public's growing mistrust in the government's health advice
NPR's Steve Inskeep asks FDA Commissioner Marty Makary about recent controversies around the COVID and Hepatitis B vaccines, and the lack of trust in the government's medical advice.
www.npr.org
December 15, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Hey @npr.org - he didn't actually answer your questions
FDA commissioner on public's growing mistrust in the government's health advice www.npr.org/2025/12/15/n...
FDA commissioner on public's growing mistrust in the government's health advice www.npr.org/2025/12/15/n...
It's here! I didn't expect my copy to arrive 10 days before the official release date!
December 12, 2025 at 9:58 PM
It's here! I didn't expect my copy to arrive 10 days before the official release date!
Always love to get a protocol paper out there
This is a great mixed methods study I've gotten to participate in, looking at lived pandemic experiences of, parents, parent-child dyads, and childcare providers
This is a great mixed methods study I've gotten to participate in, looking at lived pandemic experiences of, parents, parent-child dyads, and childcare providers
COVID-19 Pandemic Experiences Among Adults, Youth, and Childcare Providers: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic challenged families, youth, and frontline workers, including childcare providers. Studying lived experiences before, during, and near the pandemic’s end from multiple...
www.researchprotocols.org
December 12, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Always love to get a protocol paper out there
This is a great mixed methods study I've gotten to participate in, looking at lived pandemic experiences of, parents, parent-child dyads, and childcare providers
This is a great mixed methods study I've gotten to participate in, looking at lived pandemic experiences of, parents, parent-child dyads, and childcare providers
Nothing like the NSF office hours Zoom kicking off with LOUD elevator music to give me a heart attack
a woman is sitting in a chair with her eyes closed and holding her head .
Alt: a woman is sitting in a chair with her eyes closed and jumps and covers her ears
media.tenor.com
December 11, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Nothing like the NSF office hours Zoom kicking off with LOUD elevator music to give me a heart attack
Reposted by Becky Smith
Big new blogpost!
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
December 9, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Big new blogpost!
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
Note for my neighbors: it's sunny and warm, so today is a great day to chip away at the ice on your unshoveled sidewalks. Y'know, in case you were interested in NOT spraining ankles
Also, everything is much easier if you shovel BEFORE people start walking on it
Also, everything is much easier if you shovel BEFORE people start walking on it
December 9, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Note for my neighbors: it's sunny and warm, so today is a great day to chip away at the ice on your unshoveled sidewalks. Y'know, in case you were interested in NOT spraining ankles
Also, everything is much easier if you shovel BEFORE people start walking on it
Also, everything is much easier if you shovel BEFORE people start walking on it
ALSO: presents from Santa are not big ticket items. Stocking stuffers are small and should include necessities (gloves and socks are favorite)
Don't make your kid's friends feel like Santa loves them less
Don't make your kid's friends feel like Santa loves them less
Which reminds me: Father Christmas does not use wrapping paper. That is what the stocking is for. You may thank me/my mother on Christmas eve at 10:30pm when you are having you beverage of choice and not wrapping three hundred small nonsenses.
WE DID NOT HAVE CHRISTMAS EVE BOXES IN THE 80S WE HAD GRUEL AND COAL AND WE LIKED IT
I'm having enough bloody trouble finding stocking fillers that aren't irredeemable tat nvm adding in anything else to squander my money and the earth's resources on.
And they've only got tiny stockings.
I'm having enough bloody trouble finding stocking fillers that aren't irredeemable tat nvm adding in anything else to squander my money and the earth's resources on.
And they've only got tiny stockings.
December 9, 2025 at 7:13 PM
ALSO: presents from Santa are not big ticket items. Stocking stuffers are small and should include necessities (gloves and socks are favorite)
Don't make your kid's friends feel like Santa loves them less
Don't make your kid's friends feel like Santa loves them less
My husband (who doesn't do social media) asked me to share this editorial he co-wrote. I think his stuff is pretty awesome, so I agreed
academic.oup.com/g3journal/ad...
academic.oup.com/g3journal/ad...
Genomic selection and reproducibility: are complex models distracting us from true scientific validity in the presence of genotype-by-environment interaction?
Genomic selection has revolutionized plant breeding by dramatically accelerating the pace of genetic improvement. By utilizing genome-wide markers, it allo
academic.oup.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:22 AM
My husband (who doesn't do social media) asked me to share this editorial he co-wrote. I think his stuff is pretty awesome, so I agreed
academic.oup.com/g3journal/ad...
academic.oup.com/g3journal/ad...
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar
December 8, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar
My annual reminder: if you are applying to vet school, fill out all of the categories in the VMCAS application. I HAVE to score you on things other than animal and vet experience - we want well-rounded people - and I can't do that if you don't tell me anything.
December 2, 2025 at 4:17 PM
My annual reminder: if you are applying to vet school, fill out all of the categories in the VMCAS application. I HAVE to score you on things other than animal and vet experience - we want well-rounded people - and I can't do that if you don't tell me anything.
And we return to the time of year that I have to fight for control of my scarves
December 1, 2025 at 1:43 PM
And we return to the time of year that I have to fight for control of my scarves
If anyone needs to get off the grid for a while, I highly recommend the cabins at Allegany State Park. Cozy, and with all this!
November 29, 2025 at 4:34 PM
If anyone needs to get off the grid for a while, I highly recommend the cabins at Allegany State Park. Cozy, and with all this!