Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
@taorminalepore.bsky.social
Paleontologist, science education researcher, and big nerd | Building communities of care and humanizing STEM | Ph.D. UC Berkeley | Postdoc at Western Michigan University | #DisabledInSTEM | Be kind - take action. Collective liberation. ✡️🏳️🌈
My amazing wife, author @jeshonard.bsky.social, got two of her new anthology pieces in the mail today!
You want poetry with killer whales on the cover? You want queer-affirming nerdiness about lesbians in space?
Check ‘em out and order!
You want poetry with killer whales on the cover? You want queer-affirming nerdiness about lesbians in space?
Check ‘em out and order!
IT'S BOOK DELIVERY DAY!!!!
Not one, but TWO anthologies arrived in the mail today, both filled with excellent stories. I'm in both, and so are other amazing authors!
If you want a good sense of my current vibe, here you go.
More deets downthread.
Not one, but TWO anthologies arrived in the mail today, both filled with excellent stories. I'm in both, and so are other amazing authors!
If you want a good sense of my current vibe, here you go.
More deets downthread.
June 10, 2025 at 12:03 AM
My amazing wife, author @jeshonard.bsky.social, got two of her new anthology pieces in the mail today!
You want poetry with killer whales on the cover? You want queer-affirming nerdiness about lesbians in space?
Check ‘em out and order!
You want poetry with killer whales on the cover? You want queer-affirming nerdiness about lesbians in space?
Check ‘em out and order!
Very happy to share that one of my PhD dissertation papers is out in the International Journal of Inclusive Education!
We use reflexive thematic analysis to understand biology student perceptions of disability and accessibility.
#qualitative #disabledinSTEM
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/NRDTR...
We use reflexive thematic analysis to understand biology student perceptions of disability and accessibility.
#qualitative #disabledinSTEM
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/NRDTR...
Student perception of accessibility and disability in college evolutionary biology courses: a qualitative study using reflexive thematic analysis
Inclusive educational environments are crucial to building equitable and inclusive academic communities. In four different undergraduate evolutionary biology courses, we implemented a science commu...
www.tandfonline.com
June 4, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Very happy to share that one of my PhD dissertation papers is out in the International Journal of Inclusive Education!
We use reflexive thematic analysis to understand biology student perceptions of disability and accessibility.
#qualitative #disabledinSTEM
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/NRDTR...
We use reflexive thematic analysis to understand biology student perceptions of disability and accessibility.
#qualitative #disabledinSTEM
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/NRDTR...
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
🚨URGENT RESPONSE CALL🚨
You’ve seen the bad news. Now it’s time for us to flood the zone.
Over 400 NSF grants — gone. Trump’s cronies are cutting science funding and betting we won’t notice. But we’re not powerless. We’ve got 24 hours to make noise.
Here’s how 🧵(1/3) ➡️
You’ve seen the bad news. Now it’s time for us to flood the zone.
Over 400 NSF grants — gone. Trump’s cronies are cutting science funding and betting we won’t notice. But we’re not powerless. We’ve got 24 hours to make noise.
Here’s how 🧵(1/3) ➡️
@katrinamillerphd.bsky.social & I took a look at over 400 active National Science Foundation grants that got killed in the past few days. Here's our story (gift link) nyti.ms/4jp4aOx
National Science Foundation Terminates Hundreds of Active Research Awards (Gift Article)
The agency targeted grants focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as research on misinformation.
nyti.ms
April 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM
🚨URGENT RESPONSE CALL🚨
You’ve seen the bad news. Now it’s time for us to flood the zone.
Over 400 NSF grants — gone. Trump’s cronies are cutting science funding and betting we won’t notice. But we’re not powerless. We’ve got 24 hours to make noise.
Here’s how 🧵(1/3) ➡️
You’ve seen the bad news. Now it’s time for us to flood the zone.
Over 400 NSF grants — gone. Trump’s cronies are cutting science funding and betting we won’t notice. But we’re not powerless. We’ve got 24 hours to make noise.
Here’s how 🧵(1/3) ➡️
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
Support our Education & Outreach initiatives that bring students into the field. High school students participated in SF-ROCKS (Reaching Out to Communities and Kids with Science in the San Francisco Bay Area) at Pt. Reyes National Seashore
Pledge today! #CalBigGive
give.berkeley.edu/fund/FW4101000
Pledge today! #CalBigGive
give.berkeley.edu/fund/FW4101000
March 12, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Support our Education & Outreach initiatives that bring students into the field. High school students participated in SF-ROCKS (Reaching Out to Communities and Kids with Science in the San Francisco Bay Area) at Pt. Reyes National Seashore
Pledge today! #CalBigGive
give.berkeley.edu/fund/FW4101000
Pledge today! #CalBigGive
give.berkeley.edu/fund/FW4101000
I’m a disabled scientist & education researcher.
NSF EDU matters because I’d like to fairly compensate other disabled researchers and students to work with me.
While we build more supportive, human-centered STEM spaces & classrooms for & with disabled people.
This matters.
#DisabledInSTEM #DEI
NSF EDU matters because I’d like to fairly compensate other disabled researchers and students to work with me.
While we build more supportive, human-centered STEM spaces & classrooms for & with disabled people.
This matters.
#DisabledInSTEM #DEI
I’ll later post today about other directorates (e.g., engineering/ENG also shows a marked halt).
Starting with EDU b/c its halt was the most dramatic. There's clear urgency in us pushing for increased funding, given how it is "DEI-targeted" now.
Have your own story on why EDU matters? Share it!
Starting with EDU b/c its halt was the most dramatic. There's clear urgency in us pushing for increased funding, given how it is "DEI-targeted" now.
Have your own story on why EDU matters? Share it!
March 12, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I’m a disabled scientist & education researcher.
NSF EDU matters because I’d like to fairly compensate other disabled researchers and students to work with me.
While we build more supportive, human-centered STEM spaces & classrooms for & with disabled people.
This matters.
#DisabledInSTEM #DEI
NSF EDU matters because I’d like to fairly compensate other disabled researchers and students to work with me.
While we build more supportive, human-centered STEM spaces & classrooms for & with disabled people.
This matters.
#DisabledInSTEM #DEI
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
@dentalanth.bsky.social workshop next week at the @bioanth.org conference! Sign up here: www.eventbrite.com/e/daa-worksh...
March 6, 2025 at 12:48 AM
@dentalanth.bsky.social workshop next week at the @bioanth.org conference! Sign up here: www.eventbrite.com/e/daa-worksh...
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
If you have experienced direct harm to your work/lab/job due to recent changes at US NSF, & are willing to share this on behalf of the Am. Society of Naturalists and NSF, please DM/ email me ASAP (this is time-sensitive) or submit story here sites.google.com/view/scienti...
Please share widely
Please share widely
Scientists' Stories - How to Contribute
How to contribute a Story
sites.google.com
March 2, 2025 at 6:24 PM
If you have experienced direct harm to your work/lab/job due to recent changes at US NSF, & are willing to share this on behalf of the Am. Society of Naturalists and NSF, please DM/ email me ASAP (this is time-sensitive) or submit story here sites.google.com/view/scienti...
Please share widely
Please share widely
An excellent resource for very tough times.
Work or study in a university? Worried about cuts, closures or redundancy threats? Feeling anxious, angry, or uncertain what to do? From calming to resisting here are over 50 suggestions you can try - alone or with friends. Please share widely.
#AcademicSky
theresearchcompanion.com/supporting-i...
#AcademicSky
theresearchcompanion.com/supporting-i...
Supporting each other through difficult and challenging times - The Research Companion
Science, healthcare and education are threatened worldwide. Here are some starter ideas for ways to work together to share and save vital information. And to care for one another.
theresearchcompanion.com
February 22, 2025 at 2:49 PM
An excellent resource for very tough times.
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
Hey: If you made it through the week, and you tried to do some things to help other people — large or small — where you could, and you need to hear it, I’m here to tell you thank you. Get some rest. Figure out today, then figure out tomorrow.
February 22, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Hey: If you made it through the week, and you tried to do some things to help other people — large or small — where you could, and you need to hear it, I’m here to tell you thank you. Get some rest. Figure out today, then figure out tomorrow.
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
Proud to be one of the 350 rabbis signing this statement — an ad in the NYT today and a declaration of our values.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
For more—and to sign— go to
saynotoethniccleansing.org
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
For more—and to sign— go to
saynotoethniccleansing.org
February 13, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Proud to be one of the 350 rabbis signing this statement — an ad in the NYT today and a declaration of our values.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
For more—and to sign— go to
saynotoethniccleansing.org
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
For more—and to sign— go to
saynotoethniccleansing.org
Super excited to see this #SciComm project out through @nagtgeo.bsky.social’s Teach the Earth!
Developed by @hlusko.bsky.social with input from me and a great team, this project became a big part of my dissertation.
Hope others will enjoy this project in their #STEM and #STEMEd classes!
Developed by @hlusko.bsky.social with input from me and a great team, this project became a big part of my dissertation.
Hope others will enjoy this project in their #STEM and #STEMEd classes!
Undergrad teachers! Looking for a new #SciComm project? I developed this for my human variation class at UC Berkeley in a bio dept. With @taorminalepore.bsky.social, it incorporates concepts from universal design & accessibility. I hope you find it useful!
serc.carleton.edu/teachearth/a...
serc.carleton.edu/teachearth/a...
Creative Discovery Project: Developing Accurate & Accessible Science Communication
The aim of this project is for students to gain experience in communicating scientific evidence to a public audience. For example, how is it that science journalists, museum experts, podcasters, and d...
serc.carleton.edu
February 6, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Super excited to see this #SciComm project out through @nagtgeo.bsky.social’s Teach the Earth!
Developed by @hlusko.bsky.social with input from me and a great team, this project became a big part of my dissertation.
Hope others will enjoy this project in their #STEM and #STEMEd classes!
Developed by @hlusko.bsky.social with input from me and a great team, this project became a big part of my dissertation.
Hope others will enjoy this project in their #STEM and #STEMEd classes!
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
"SICB condemns any measure that curbs the ability of SICB to broaden access and support inclusion within its meetings and activities, or the ability of SICB members to recruit strong, diverse teams within their laboratories and their institutions."
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 🧪
mailchi.mp/sicb.org/sic...
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 🧪
mailchi.mp/sicb.org/sic...
SICB Stands in Defense of Scientific Research Funding, Scientific Integrity, and Broadening Participation in Science
mailchi.mp
February 5, 2025 at 1:24 AM
"SICB condemns any measure that curbs the ability of SICB to broaden access and support inclusion within its meetings and activities, or the ability of SICB members to recruit strong, diverse teams within their laboratories and their institutions."
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 🧪
mailchi.mp/sicb.org/sic...
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 🧪
mailchi.mp/sicb.org/sic...
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
NEW: We obtained the directions NSF program officers are following to review all grants for compliance with the Trump EOs and the turmoil it has created in an agency mandated to broaden STEM participation. Our story: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Exclusive: how NSF is scouring research grants for violations of Trump’s orders
The US National Science Foundation has unfrozen grant funding, but it continues to scrutinize research projects, sowing turmoil.
www.nature.com
February 3, 2025 at 11:05 PM
NEW: We obtained the directions NSF program officers are following to review all grants for compliance with the Trump EOs and the turmoil it has created in an agency mandated to broaden STEM participation. Our story: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
Supporting each other through difficult and challenging times
theresearchcompanion.com/supporting-i...
Free, gentle, practical and bonding suggestions for anyone impacted by university changes, cuts, closures, threats and dangers
#AcademicSky #AcademicChatter #PhDSky #gradschool #PhDChat #PhDHelp
theresearchcompanion.com/supporting-i...
Free, gentle, practical and bonding suggestions for anyone impacted by university changes, cuts, closures, threats and dangers
#AcademicSky #AcademicChatter #PhDSky #gradschool #PhDChat #PhDHelp
Supporting each other through difficult and challenging times - The Research Companion
Science, healthcare and education are threatened worldwide. Here are some starter ideas for ways to work together to share and save vital information. And to care for one another.
theresearchcompanion.com
February 1, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Supporting each other through difficult and challenging times
theresearchcompanion.com/supporting-i...
Free, gentle, practical and bonding suggestions for anyone impacted by university changes, cuts, closures, threats and dangers
#AcademicSky #AcademicChatter #PhDSky #gradschool #PhDChat #PhDHelp
theresearchcompanion.com/supporting-i...
Free, gentle, practical and bonding suggestions for anyone impacted by university changes, cuts, closures, threats and dangers
#AcademicSky #AcademicChatter #PhDSky #gradschool #PhDChat #PhDHelp
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
They are trying to overwhelm us with all these EOs.
Do what you need to do to stay out of freeze mode the best that you can.
Connect with people. Connect with yourself.
We're gonna fight.
Do what you need to do to stay out of freeze mode the best that you can.
Connect with people. Connect with yourself.
We're gonna fight.
January 30, 2025 at 5:20 AM
They are trying to overwhelm us with all these EOs.
Do what you need to do to stay out of freeze mode the best that you can.
Connect with people. Connect with yourself.
We're gonna fight.
Do what you need to do to stay out of freeze mode the best that you can.
Connect with people. Connect with yourself.
We're gonna fight.
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
Are you a researcher with a federal grant who would normally be expecting funds from that grant over the next several weeks that now may not be coming? I'd love to talk to you about what that means for your lab/research/colleagues.
Reach out via DM or signal.
Reach out via DM or signal.
January 29, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Are you a researcher with a federal grant who would normally be expecting funds from that grant over the next several weeks that now may not be coming? I'd love to talk to you about what that means for your lab/research/colleagues.
Reach out via DM or signal.
Reach out via DM or signal.
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
My sense is that most of us in science now have at least some institutional guidance on how to cope with latest round of proclamations. I hope you're able to refocus today despite the uncertainty, good luck.
AND we need to brace against future rounds of disruption. Here's what my group is using:
AND we need to brace against future rounds of disruption. Here's what my group is using:
January 29, 2025 at 3:59 PM
My sense is that most of us in science now have at least some institutional guidance on how to cope with latest round of proclamations. I hope you're able to refocus today despite the uncertainty, good luck.
AND we need to brace against future rounds of disruption. Here's what my group is using:
AND we need to brace against future rounds of disruption. Here's what my group is using:
It took a while to find me here in Kalamazoo, but my PhD lollipop finally arrived from the Grad Division at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social!
Especially in these strange days, I will celebrate these small moments of joy, accomplishment, and gratitude!
Especially in these strange days, I will celebrate these small moments of joy, accomplishment, and gratitude!
January 28, 2025 at 9:04 PM
It took a while to find me here in Kalamazoo, but my PhD lollipop finally arrived from the Grad Division at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social!
Especially in these strange days, I will celebrate these small moments of joy, accomplishment, and gratitude!
Especially in these strange days, I will celebrate these small moments of joy, accomplishment, and gratitude!
A very important podcast and episode on non-violent resistance and of course, women leading the way towards justice and peace in Palestine and Israel.
NEW EPISODE of WOMEN ENDING WAR podcast
Fakhira and I went to Beit Jalla, one of the few places where Israelis and Palestinians can gather, and spoke with Rana Salman of Combatants for Peace and Ameera of Tomorrow's Women, about war, peace, occupation, non-violence, and Women. youtu.be/mzspjEfDskE
Fakhira and I went to Beit Jalla, one of the few places where Israelis and Palestinians can gather, and spoke with Rana Salman of Combatants for Peace and Ameera of Tomorrow's Women, about war, peace, occupation, non-violence, and Women. youtu.be/mzspjEfDskE
January 26, 2025 at 8:27 PM
A very important podcast and episode on non-violent resistance and of course, women leading the way towards justice and peace in Palestine and Israel.
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
Faculty and staff at Sonoma State University were just notified of the closing of the Geology Department - they are organizing an email letter writing campaign for Monday 1/27 to rally support - see below🧪⚒️
It’s awful to see the closing of another Geology department and big loss for the community.
It’s awful to see the closing of another Geology department and big loss for the community.
January 25, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Faculty and staff at Sonoma State University were just notified of the closing of the Geology Department - they are organizing an email letter writing campaign for Monday 1/27 to rally support - see below🧪⚒️
It’s awful to see the closing of another Geology department and big loss for the community.
It’s awful to see the closing of another Geology department and big loss for the community.
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
🧠 writing a wee chapter on neuroqueering digital youth work & have just come across Ryan Boren and Helen Edgar @autisticrealms.bsky.social's Open Framework For #Neuroqueer Learning Spaces: medium.com/@helenrealms...
An open framework for neuroqueer learning spaces
Neuroqueering is open to everyone but requires a lot of unlearning, relearning, creating and recreating. Deep learning is rhizomatic.
medium.com
January 25, 2025 at 9:44 PM
🧠 writing a wee chapter on neuroqueering digital youth work & have just come across Ryan Boren and Helen Edgar @autisticrealms.bsky.social's Open Framework For #Neuroqueer Learning Spaces: medium.com/@helenrealms...
Reposted by Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
Incorporating Sex-Diverse and Gender-Inclusive Perspectives in Higher Education Biology Courses. Really glad to finally see this in print. And proud to have played a small role in writing it.
#sex #gender #STEMeducation
@sicbjournals.bsky.social #SICB2025
academic.oup.com/icb/article-...
#sex #gender #STEMeducation
@sicbjournals.bsky.social #SICB2025
academic.oup.com/icb/article-...
January 23, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Incorporating Sex-Diverse and Gender-Inclusive Perspectives in Higher Education Biology Courses. Really glad to finally see this in print. And proud to have played a small role in writing it.
#sex #gender #STEMeducation
@sicbjournals.bsky.social #SICB2025
academic.oup.com/icb/article-...
#sex #gender #STEMeducation
@sicbjournals.bsky.social #SICB2025
academic.oup.com/icb/article-...
It's #FossilFriday and we want you to join us in celebrating disabled and neurodivergent community and equity at GSA 2025!
Join disabled geoscientists & allies in this important discussion, sign up:
forms.gle/eWqqR6zZQtob...
@geosociety.bsky.social @nagtgeo.bsky.social @accessiblegeo.bsky.social
Join disabled geoscientists & allies in this important discussion, sign up:
forms.gle/eWqqR6zZQtob...
@geosociety.bsky.social @nagtgeo.bsky.social @accessiblegeo.bsky.social
Geological Society of America 2025 - Disabled and Neurodivergent Perception, Community, and Identity in Geoscience
Hello everyone! Thank you for considering being a part of our GSA 2025 session on Disabled and Neurodivergent Perception, Community, and Identity in Geoscience. This is a follow-up to our successful 2...
forms.gle
January 24, 2025 at 6:37 PM
It's #FossilFriday and we want you to join us in celebrating disabled and neurodivergent community and equity at GSA 2025!
Join disabled geoscientists & allies in this important discussion, sign up:
forms.gle/eWqqR6zZQtob...
@geosociety.bsky.social @nagtgeo.bsky.social @accessiblegeo.bsky.social
Join disabled geoscientists & allies in this important discussion, sign up:
forms.gle/eWqqR6zZQtob...
@geosociety.bsky.social @nagtgeo.bsky.social @accessiblegeo.bsky.social