Julia Smith Wellner
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wellner.bsky.social
Julia Smith Wellner
@wellner.bsky.social
Sedimentologist mainly interested in ice sheets and sea-level changes. Professor trying to make more people care about what those sediments are telling us.
Reposted by Julia Smith Wellner
This Friday, we are happy to host Dr. Kerri Crawford from the Department of Biology and Biochemistry on a talk entitled “Applications of Ecological Theory to Coastal Dune Restorations”
February 16, 2026 at 7:20 PM
SCAR abstract deadline is coming soon!
Considering @scar-antarctic.bsky.social this summer in Oslo? We are soliciting submissions for Session S13: Past, present, and future of Antarctic marine grounded basins. See scar2026.org for meeting details. @polarrobs.bsky.social @deformedearth.bsky.social and more are co-chairs. 🧪❄️
Home | SCAR open science conference
scar2026.org
February 14, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by Julia Smith Wellner
“President Trump’s talk of ‘buying’ Greenland is not only an affront to Greenland’s autonomy but also a dangerous distraction from the urgent work of addressing environmental change impacts to US citizens,” the letter reads. eos.org/research-and...
Hundreds of Scientists “Vehemently Oppose” U.S. Effort to Purchase Greenland - Eos
About 350 scientists scientists have signed a letter condemning U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to acquire Greenland.
eos.org
January 12, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Considering @scar-antarctic.bsky.social this summer in Oslo? We are soliciting submissions for Session S13: Past, present, and future of Antarctic marine grounded basins. See scar2026.org for meeting details. @polarrobs.bsky.social @deformedearth.bsky.social and more are co-chairs. 🧪❄️
Home | SCAR open science conference
scar2026.org
January 9, 2026 at 4:44 AM
Reposted by Julia Smith Wellner
Repeated major inland retreat of Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers (West Antarctica) during the Pliocene | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
December 22, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Reposted by Julia Smith Wellner
Introduction to Climate Change class field trip to Surfside Beach today, launching an ozone weather balloon. All students helped with launch😊
November 15, 2025 at 8:34 PM
We've come a long way in our understanding of the Antarctic Ice Sheet history, even while we have a ways to go to know how fast future changes are coming. I'm lucky to be a part of John Anderson's group. See story on his career: naturalsciences.rice.edu/milestones-s...

📷 Linda Welzenbach
November 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM
A clear summary of much of what we have learned about Thwaites Glacier, and what we still need to learn.
🧪🧵 Future change to #ThwaitesGlacier, Antarctica constitutes the largest uncertainty in #sea-level rise forecasts. The Science Coordination Office of the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration recently issued a briefing document summarising some key findings - thwaitesglacier.org/findings
October 30, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The NBP has finished her last USAP cruise. Not the outcome we’ve been hoping to see. I’m of course glad that researchers are being supported by substitute vessels. But, it’s not clear how this will work in the long run.
October 27, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Reposted by Julia Smith Wellner
Nice synopsis of #IODP379 #AmundsenSea research that examines the early #Pliocene record of warming of West Antarctica, using sediment cores from deep sea @passchier.bsky.social @wellner.bsky.social
#JOIDESResolution
Early Pliocene West Antarctic Ice Retreat Explored
In a groundbreaking new study published in Nature Communications, an international team of geoscientists has unveiled compelling evidence of significant West Antarctic ice retreat during the early
scienmag.com
October 12, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Reposted by Julia Smith Wellner
University of Houston students had the chance to participate in a marine mapping short course that included field work and hands on exercises.

www.uh.edu/nsm/earth-at...
September 10, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Reposted by Julia Smith Wellner
CDC scientists receive a heroes welcome after walking out today.
August 28, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Julia Smith Wellner
Just after publication, an NSF spokesperson responded to @science.org confirming the plan: "NSF is terminating the lease of the research vessel Nathaniel B. Palmer in FY 2026. NSF has also begun the process to identify vessels and partnerships to support marine science. "

We're updating the story.
July 28, 2025 at 9:16 PM
🥼❄️
My latest: Polar scientists warn that the White House and NSF are planning to terminate the Nathaniel Palmer, the only US research icebreaker capable of handling Antarctic extremes, this October.

So far the plan has seen minimal pushback from Congress.
NSF plans abrupt end to lone U.S. Antarctic research icebreaker
Imminent termination of the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer shocks polar scientists
www.science.org
July 28, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Thanks to @voosen.me for helping spread the word about this potential major blow to U.S. polar science. @carlosmoffat.com and I are grateful to all the people who have shared their concerns by signing our letter. Keep reaching out to protect the USAP icebreaker---and science in general.
My latest: Polar scientists warn that the White House and NSF are planning to terminate the Nathaniel Palmer, the only US research icebreaker capable of handling Antarctic extremes, this October.

So far the plan has seen minimal pushback from Congress.
NSF plans abrupt end to lone U.S. Antarctic research icebreaker
Imminent termination of the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer shocks polar scientists
www.science.org
July 28, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Are you a scientist that wants to support the Antarctic marine research community? And coastal access? And access to USAP stations? See below to join 120+ of our peers in fighting to keep the NBP.
July 25, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Did you know there is a plan to terminate the lease of the NB Palmer, the US icebreaker supporting Antarctic science?

@carlosmoffat.com

docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Antarctic Research Vessel Letter of Support
If you are a scientist interested in adding your name to our letter in support of the US Antarctic Program Research Vessel Capabilities, please email one of the following organizers by July 28th, 3:00...
docs.google.com
July 25, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Reposted by Julia Smith Wellner
Nominate an Expert for the SCAR Physical Sciences Group

Submit nominations by Mon, July 28, to Lindsay Moller (LMoller@nas.edu). Include candidate’s name, affiliation, area of expertise, and brief description why the nominee is appropriate. Self nominations are welcome.

usscar.org/news/nominat...
July 8, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Reposted by Julia Smith Wellner
NOAA Climate and Global Change fellows were furloughed this week. One of many losses.
Big up to @rdzombak.bsky.social for bringing eyes to this story. 🧪

So many people beyond my little cohort of fellows are impacted by slowdowns at NOAA. America is rapidly losing footing as a leader in climate science and we all are paying the cost.
Recipients of a U.S. Climate Science Fellowship Are Put on Unpaid Leave
www.nytimes.com
July 9, 2025 at 6:20 PM
This is more than making lemonade after being given a bad sea-ice field season. Nice work, Sandra!
July 1, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Maybe good news for those of us hoping to see a new research icebreaker built someday?
June 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by Julia Smith Wellner
"[Research universities] are behind the breakthroughs that shape daily lives. Undermining them doesn’t just jeopardize higher education, it threatens national and global strength," writes University of Rhode Island president Marc B. Parlange in a new #ScienceEditorial. scim.ag/4ky2K4I
June 12, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Reposted by Julia Smith Wellner
How bad will it be? Catastrophic.

Proposed cuts to #NSF, #NIH, and #NASA will set the US R&D landscape back 25 yrs+, cause economic and job loss now, and undermine innovations to come.

But, this is the WH's *proposed* budget.

Speak up now before it is too late.

(inflation adjusted $-s below)
May 31, 2025 at 2:50 AM
With a deadline Monday, I’m wondering how much of my weekend to spend on my proposal? Should I keep working nights and days off scrambling for a piece of the remaining pie? This is not auspicious timing for keeping my motivation going.
Trump administration cuts to NSF will result in more than 200,000 FEWER people per year involved in basic science, training, and education - what should have been the next generation of US scientists. This isn't even eating your seed corn, it is setting your seed corn on fire and salting the earth.
May 31, 2025 at 3:47 AM