Trevor Caughlin
@trevorcaughlin.bsky.social
Plant ecologist 🌈 caughlinlab.com
Reposted by Trevor Caughlin
Confused writing is usually a symptom of confused thinking. As we struggle to clarify writing, we clarify our thoughts. AI writing aids rob us of that struggle, leaving clean-looking text and thoughts still confused for lack of inspection. Writing is not just a product; it is a diagnostic tool.
September 5, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Confused writing is usually a symptom of confused thinking. As we struggle to clarify writing, we clarify our thoughts. AI writing aids rob us of that struggle, leaving clean-looking text and thoughts still confused for lack of inspection. Writing is not just a product; it is a diagnostic tool.
new paper, led by @nkolarik.bsky.social: monitoring outcomes of ecological restoration is challenging. Satellite imagery could help, but interpretation requires statistics that can identify breakpoints in messy time-series data. We provide a practical guide: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
August 27, 2025 at 8:27 PM
new paper, led by @nkolarik.bsky.social: monitoring outcomes of ecological restoration is challenging. Satellite imagery could help, but interpretation requires statistics that can identify breakpoints in messy time-series data. We provide a practical guide: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
after more than 15 years as a scientist, I just submitted my first preprint
a man stands in front of a sign that says ' usted leadership for a stronger america '
ALT: a man stands in front of a sign that says ' usted leadership for a stronger america '
media.tenor.com
June 27, 2025 at 6:30 PM
after more than 15 years as a scientist, I just submitted my first preprint
Life is all about making choices, and stats is no exception. You can either select the best predictive model out of a big set OR you can look at p-values from a model. Not both! Good news is choosing between prediction vs inference often streamlines workflows and makes writing more logical.
Another day another example of AIC model selection then interrogating p-values to look at significant effects 😞
(No slight on the authors, a common problem and often journals request—force?— reporting of p-values)
(No slight on the authors, a common problem and often journals request—force?— reporting of p-values)
Spatiotemporal trends in abundance and richness of elasmobranchs in Frégate Island, Seychelles link.springer.com/article/10.1... A total of 18 elasmobranch species were observed
June 22, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Life is all about making choices, and stats is no exception. You can either select the best predictive model out of a big set OR you can look at p-values from a model. Not both! Good news is choosing between prediction vs inference often streamlines workflows and makes writing more logical.
🚨 New paper, led by Cristina Barber. We used high-resolution aerial imagery to study tree mortality in a tropical landscape. Large, isolated trees were most likely to die--alarming finding! @ecologicalsociety.bsky.social esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
June 11, 2025 at 9:49 PM
🚨 New paper, led by Cristina Barber. We used high-resolution aerial imagery to study tree mortality in a tropical landscape. Large, isolated trees were most likely to die--alarming finding! @ecologicalsociety.bsky.social esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Given that a substantial number of people will likely read AI-based summaries of our scientific papers, how should we be adapting our writing style? Are there stylistic or structural choices that will make writing more palatable to our AI overlords?
May 21, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Given that a substantial number of people will likely read AI-based summaries of our scientific papers, how should we be adapting our writing style? Are there stylistic or structural choices that will make writing more palatable to our AI overlords?
Reposted by Trevor Caughlin
IMPORTANT: The Dutch invested €595 million annually on urban biking, resulting in €19 BILLION saved in public health care costs alone. That’s how smart governments do the math on investing in better mobility.
Let’s be clear— it wastes public money to NOT do it.
#CityMakingMath HT @modacitylife.com
Let’s be clear— it wastes public money to NOT do it.
#CityMakingMath HT @modacitylife.com
May 13, 2025 at 11:58 PM
IMPORTANT: The Dutch invested €595 million annually on urban biking, resulting in €19 BILLION saved in public health care costs alone. That’s how smart governments do the math on investing in better mobility.
Let’s be clear— it wastes public money to NOT do it.
#CityMakingMath HT @modacitylife.com
Let’s be clear— it wastes public money to NOT do it.
#CityMakingMath HT @modacitylife.com
Reposted by Trevor Caughlin
I am so heartened to this seriously AWESOME #SaveNSF website go up today!!!!
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
May 2, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I am so heartened to this seriously AWESOME #SaveNSF website go up today!!!!
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
Was going to post something pithy about how the takeover of New College relates to state of higher ed...but I can't. This place was my alma mater. Its quirks nourished me and I am heartbroken to see it destroyed www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
The College That Conservatives Took Over
The overhaul of New College of Florida stoked fear on the left and excitement on the right. Two years in, what’s really changed?
www.chronicle.com
May 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Was going to post something pithy about how the takeover of New College relates to state of higher ed...but I can't. This place was my alma mater. Its quirks nourished me and I am heartbroken to see it destroyed www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
government investments in research aids the economy!!!
“... a lot of our increase in living standards seems to be coming from public investment in scientific research,” said Fieldhouse, economist and author of study. “The rates of return are just really high.” www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/b...
“... a lot of our increase in living standards seems to be coming from public investment in scientific research,” said Fieldhouse, economist and author of study. “The rates of return are just really high.” www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/b...
Trump’s Cuts to Science Funding Could Hurt U.S. Economy, Study Shows (Gift Article)
Reducing federal support for research and development could cause long-run economic damage and reduce government revenue.
www.nytimes.com
April 30, 2025 at 1:09 PM
government investments in research aids the economy!!!
“... a lot of our increase in living standards seems to be coming from public investment in scientific research,” said Fieldhouse, economist and author of study. “The rates of return are just really high.” www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/b...
“... a lot of our increase in living standards seems to be coming from public investment in scientific research,” said Fieldhouse, economist and author of study. “The rates of return are just really high.” www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/b...
A bumper year for bitterbrush flowers in Boise foothills
April 27, 2025 at 2:45 PM
A bumper year for bitterbrush flowers in Boise foothills
enjoyed this book on accessory dwelling units in American cities. Zoning for single family homes is not working for many of us; ADUs are emerging as a solution. Author convincingly makes the case that policy solutions, including formalizing "illegal" ADU setups, can help alleviate housing scarcity
April 23, 2025 at 9:28 PM
enjoyed this book on accessory dwelling units in American cities. Zoning for single family homes is not working for many of us; ADUs are emerging as a solution. Author convincingly makes the case that policy solutions, including formalizing "illegal" ADU setups, can help alleviate housing scarcity
Proud of my hometown, Boise Idaho, for serving as a global leader in geothermal energy www.nytimes.com/2025/03/25/c...
They’re in Hot Water in Idaho. Here’s Why That’s a Good Thing. (Gift Article)
Nearly 500 buildings in the state capital get their heat from a clean, renewable source located deep in the ground.
www.nytimes.com
March 26, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Proud of my hometown, Boise Idaho, for serving as a global leader in geothermal energy www.nytimes.com/2025/03/25/c...
Tenure clock extensions are a scam! Don't fall for it!
I'm already hearing rumblings from academic leaders that tenure clock extensions may be part of how early career researchers weather this new storm.
A reminder that clock extensions are not the easy solution some think them to be: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
We must do better by junior faculty.
A reminder that clock extensions are not the easy solution some think them to be: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
We must do better by junior faculty.
Extended time, elevated expectations: The unappreciated downsides of pausing the tenure clock | PNAS
Extended time, elevated expectations: The unappreciated downsides of pausing the tenure
clock
www.pnas.org
March 12, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Tenure clock extensions are a scam! Don't fall for it!
Reposted by Trevor Caughlin
We’re making it happen… but the need and timing seems to be accelerating, EO data is an incredible value, and the barriers to entry have been lowering for a while now. The time is now!
March 7, 2025 at 5:01 PM
We’re making it happen… but the need and timing seems to be accelerating, EO data is an incredible value, and the barriers to entry have been lowering for a while now. The time is now!
Love the idea of a humanitarian satellite constellation
One of the reasons we started Common Space was to make high-resolution optical data open & accessible for humanitarian aid. Right now, the commercial imagery market is dominated by defense & intelligence—which means access is limited, even when lives are at stake.
kyivindependent.com/maxar-techno...
kyivindependent.com/maxar-techno...
Maxar Technologies reportedly restricts Ukraine's access to satellite imagery
Kyiv has relied on high-resolution satellite images for defense and strategic planning, tracking Russian troop movements, assessing battlefield conditions, and monitoring Russian infrastructure damage...
kyivindependent.com
March 7, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Love the idea of a humanitarian satellite constellation
please share: I am recruiting for a PhD student to join my lab for fall 2025. I am interested in finding someone who is passionate about applying models to study plant ecology. Potential study systems include urban environments, sagebrush steppe, and tropical forest. caughlinlab.com/join-the-lab/
February 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM
please share: I am recruiting for a PhD student to join my lab for fall 2025. I am interested in finding someone who is passionate about applying models to study plant ecology. Potential study systems include urban environments, sagebrush steppe, and tropical forest. caughlinlab.com/join-the-lab/
Reposted by Trevor Caughlin
Having worked in Latin American cities like Buenos Aires, Santiago, Bogotá and especially Medellín, I’ll keep on saying this — global cities have a lot to learn from Latin American cities. Especially around applying the equity lens to infrastructure, and doing smart, creative things REALLY FAST.
February 27, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Having worked in Latin American cities like Buenos Aires, Santiago, Bogotá and especially Medellín, I’ll keep on saying this — global cities have a lot to learn from Latin American cities. Especially around applying the equity lens to infrastructure, and doing smart, creative things REALLY FAST.
Desert stream temps mean life or death for aquatic organisms. Drones can measure stream temps across large areas--but how do drones compare to in situ measurements? In new paper, led by Mel Campbell, we flew for 24 hours to evaluate thermal accuracy #UAS #drones www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/13...
February 25, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Desert stream temps mean life or death for aquatic organisms. Drones can measure stream temps across large areas--but how do drones compare to in situ measurements? In new paper, led by Mel Campbell, we flew for 24 hours to evaluate thermal accuracy #UAS #drones www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/13...
Reposted by Trevor Caughlin
Public lands are one of the few remaining great equalizers of America’s increasingly ultra-wealthy-centric economy. This would be the death knell for hunting and fishing access, for hiking, cycling, and other forms of rec. It would be a great betrayal of our obligation as stewards of that land
The end of public lands? Anyone surprised? www.americanprogress.org/article/trum...
Trump Quietly Plans To Liquidate Public Lands To Finance His Sovereign Wealth Fund
President Donald Trump’s executive order to create a sovereign wealth fund requires that the United States come up with heaps of cash quickly, which may make selling out and selling off public lands i...
www.americanprogress.org
February 21, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Public lands are one of the few remaining great equalizers of America’s increasingly ultra-wealthy-centric economy. This would be the death knell for hunting and fishing access, for hiking, cycling, and other forms of rec. It would be a great betrayal of our obligation as stewards of that land
Reposted by Trevor Caughlin
A reminder that government is fundamentally different from business: the Landsat program created more than $30 Billion in value by giving away free data. www.usgs.gov/landsat-miss...
February 19, 2025 at 6:01 PM
A reminder that government is fundamentally different from business: the Landsat program created more than $30 Billion in value by giving away free data. www.usgs.gov/landsat-miss...
Heartbreaking to see so many brilliant young scientists, who chose a career with the federal government to make a positive difference for our country, suddenly cut loose. I am sad and angry.
February 19, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Heartbreaking to see so many brilliant young scientists, who chose a career with the federal government to make a positive difference for our country, suddenly cut loose. I am sad and angry.