Becca Mellema
@beccmel2.bsky.social
“Not all who wander are lost”- JRR Tolkien. Immunology and Microbiology PhD candidate. Loves writing, riding bikes, DnD, and taking photos. BLM 🍉 🧬She/her
Website: gettingthesciencewrite.com
Website: gettingthesciencewrite.com
A belated Halloween post! We’re covering hallucinations (caused by hallucinogens and injuries)!
gettingthesciencewrite.com/Science-of-S...
gettingthesciencewrite.com/Science-of-S...
November 3, 2025 at 5:24 AM
A belated Halloween post! We’re covering hallucinations (caused by hallucinogens and injuries)!
gettingthesciencewrite.com/Science-of-S...
gettingthesciencewrite.com/Science-of-S...
Thank you bluesky for the amazing block function!
October 22, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Thank you bluesky for the amazing block function!
Reposted by Becca Mellema
If Anthropic trained its AI on books you wrote, a lawsuit settlement may entitle you to around $3000 per book.
If Anthropic Used Your Work, You Could be Entitled to Compensation - Daily Nous
The settlement in the copyright lawsuit against Anthropic provides authors of books they trained their AI on with compensation. The amount of compensation ultimately depends on the number of people wh...
dailynous.com
October 6, 2025 at 1:49 PM
If Anthropic trained its AI on books you wrote, a lawsuit settlement may entitle you to around $3000 per book.
Reposted by Becca Mellema
I haven’t seen a lot of cis people I usually see pushing for calls, etc. doing so about these rules provisions, which would devastate trans people nationally.
Calls need to be made to all electeds and a firm stance taken ASAP, with ten times the fervor of the Kimmel/D+ event
Calls need to be made to all electeds and a firm stance taken ASAP, with ten times the fervor of the Kimmel/D+ event
1. Trump has dug in on anti-trans provisions in the shutdown fight this morning, cancelling a meeting with Dems unless they cave on trans people.
His post to Truth Social is a clear indication that Republicans are making targeting trans people a priority.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
His post to Truth Social is a clear indication that Republicans are making targeting trans people a priority.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
Trump Digs In On Anti-Trans Provisions In Shutdown Fight Message
The provisions are becoming a key sticking point in the ongoing fight to keep the government open.
www.erininthemorning.com
September 23, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I haven’t seen a lot of cis people I usually see pushing for calls, etc. doing so about these rules provisions, which would devastate trans people nationally.
Calls need to be made to all electeds and a firm stance taken ASAP, with ten times the fervor of the Kimmel/D+ event
Calls need to be made to all electeds and a firm stance taken ASAP, with ten times the fervor of the Kimmel/D+ event
Reposted by Becca Mellema
🐙 Octopus anatomy 🐙
My dream job is to collab with a marine biologist on a comic book 🐡🦑💥
My dream job is to collab with a marine biologist on a comic book 🐡🦑💥
November 27, 2024 at 1:14 PM
🐙 Octopus anatomy 🐙
My dream job is to collab with a marine biologist on a comic book 🐡🦑💥
My dream job is to collab with a marine biologist on a comic book 🐡🦑💥
Newsletter (that I made days ago and forgot to post) about life updates!
gettingthesciencewrite.beehiiv.com/p/august-202...
gettingthesciencewrite.beehiiv.com/p/august-202...
August 2025 Wrap Up- I've Moved!
gettingthesciencewrite.beehiiv.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Newsletter (that I made days ago and forgot to post) about life updates!
gettingthesciencewrite.beehiiv.com/p/august-202...
gettingthesciencewrite.beehiiv.com/p/august-202...
Reposting for visibility! #scicomm
New blog post! How likely is it that your favorite fictional character can become completely immune to snake venom? And has it been done in real life? (Spoilers: yes).
gettingthesciencewrite.com/Built-Up-Imm...
gettingthesciencewrite.com/Built-Up-Imm...
September 13, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Reposting for visibility! #scicomm
New blog post! How likely is it that your favorite fictional character can become completely immune to snake venom? And has it been done in real life? (Spoilers: yes).
gettingthesciencewrite.com/Built-Up-Imm...
gettingthesciencewrite.com/Built-Up-Imm...
September 9, 2025 at 5:42 AM
New blog post! How likely is it that your favorite fictional character can become completely immune to snake venom? And has it been done in real life? (Spoilers: yes).
gettingthesciencewrite.com/Built-Up-Imm...
gettingthesciencewrite.com/Built-Up-Imm...
Reposted by Becca Mellema
Three senior CDC leaders who resigned told The Post they were asked to participate in an unscientific vaccine recommendation process that they believe could harm the health of Americans.
CDC leaders who resigned said RFK Jr. undermined vaccine science, risking lives
As the CDC reels from the firing of its director, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Fox News the agency is “in trouble and we need to fix it.”
www.washingtonpost.com
August 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Three senior CDC leaders who resigned told The Post they were asked to participate in an unscientific vaccine recommendation process that they believe could harm the health of Americans.
For my fellow scientists looking to dip their toes into science communication!
My paper "Social media for fisheries science and management professionals: How to use Bluesky and Instagram, and why you should" is formally published in an issue.
It's a how-to guide to using Bluesky, the first ever published in the scientific literature! 🧪🦑🌎🐟
academic.oup.com/fisheries/ar...
It's a how-to guide to using Bluesky, the first ever published in the scientific literature! 🧪🦑🌎🐟
academic.oup.com/fisheries/ar...
Social media for fisheries science and management professionals: How to use Bluesky and Instagram, and why you should
ABSTRACT. Social media tools have revolutionized how people communicate with one another. A 2018 paper in Fisheries summarized the use of Twitter, Facebook
academic.oup.com
August 1, 2025 at 4:23 PM
For my fellow scientists looking to dip their toes into science communication!
Reposted by Becca Mellema
My paper "Social media for fisheries science and management professionals: How to use Bluesky and Instagram, and why you should" is formally published in an issue.
It's a how-to guide to using Bluesky, the first ever published in the scientific literature! 🧪🦑🌎🐟
academic.oup.com/fisheries/ar...
It's a how-to guide to using Bluesky, the first ever published in the scientific literature! 🧪🦑🌎🐟
academic.oup.com/fisheries/ar...
Social media for fisheries science and management professionals: How to use Bluesky and Instagram, and why you should
ABSTRACT. Social media tools have revolutionized how people communicate with one another. A 2018 paper in Fisheries summarized the use of Twitter, Facebook
academic.oup.com
August 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
My paper "Social media for fisheries science and management professionals: How to use Bluesky and Instagram, and why you should" is formally published in an issue.
It's a how-to guide to using Bluesky, the first ever published in the scientific literature! 🧪🦑🌎🐟
academic.oup.com/fisheries/ar...
It's a how-to guide to using Bluesky, the first ever published in the scientific literature! 🧪🦑🌎🐟
academic.oup.com/fisheries/ar...
Reposted by Becca Mellema
The National Science Foundation plans to abruptly end operation of the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer, the sole U.S. research ship capable of braving the farthest reaches of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. scim.ag/4mB8LOX
NSF plans abrupt end to lone U.S. Antarctic research icebreaker
Imminent termination of the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer shocks polar scientists
scim.ag
July 28, 2025 at 9:02 PM
The National Science Foundation plans to abruptly end operation of the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer, the sole U.S. research ship capable of braving the farthest reaches of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. scim.ag/4mB8LOX
Reposted by Becca Mellema
‘The Things We’ll Never Know: A Science Fair of Canceled Grants’ democrats organised a fair to mark the fact that Trump cancelled so many research projects and showcase the research that has been lost 🧪
Symbolic ‘science fair’ showcases research cut by Trump team
Democrats hosted a protest event featuring ‘things we’ll never know’ because of the US government’s cuts to science.
www.nature.com
July 11, 2025 at 5:34 PM
‘The Things We’ll Never Know: A Science Fair of Canceled Grants’ democrats organised a fair to mark the fact that Trump cancelled so many research projects and showcase the research that has been lost 🧪
Some of us coming out of a PhD, like myself, can’t even get a basic lab bench job. The STEM job market is horrible right now.
"Students are being forced to delay their graduate studies, continue them abroad, or forgo them entirely. The collective impact of those individual decisions is nearly impossible to measure, says Joanne Padrón Carney…
“You don’t know who is the Nobel laureate we’re losing today”
“You don’t know who is the Nobel laureate we’re losing today”
How Trump’s Cuts to Science Funding Are Derailing Young Scholars’ Careers
Budding academics are delaying their graduate studies, continuing them abroad, or forgoing them entirely.
www.chronicle.com
July 7, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Some of us coming out of a PhD, like myself, can’t even get a basic lab bench job. The STEM job market is horrible right now.
Reposted by Becca Mellema
The Middle is complete!!
Which means:
First Place: West Coast
Second Place: The Middle
What region will be third and which will be LAST?
YOU decide.
givebutter.com/USS2025
Which means:
First Place: West Coast
Second Place: The Middle
What region will be third and which will be LAST?
YOU decide.
givebutter.com/USS2025
July 2, 2025 at 12:38 AM
The Middle is complete!!
Which means:
First Place: West Coast
Second Place: The Middle
What region will be third and which will be LAST?
YOU decide.
givebutter.com/USS2025
Which means:
First Place: West Coast
Second Place: The Middle
What region will be third and which will be LAST?
YOU decide.
givebutter.com/USS2025
Reposted by Becca Mellema
Looking to address misinformation and disinformation?
🧪 Understand why false information is tough to combat
🧪 Avoid contributing to misinformation and disinformation in the first place
🧪 Consider these debunking strategies
🧪 Understand why false information is tough to combat
🧪 Avoid contributing to misinformation and disinformation in the first place
🧪 Consider these debunking strategies
Addressing Science-Related Misinformation and Disinformation - The Open Notebook
Journalists have the power to slow the spread of misinformation (false or misleading information that is spread unintentionally) and disinformation (such information spread intentionally, to further a...
www.theopennotebook.com
June 30, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Looking to address misinformation and disinformation?
🧪 Understand why false information is tough to combat
🧪 Avoid contributing to misinformation and disinformation in the first place
🧪 Consider these debunking strategies
🧪 Understand why false information is tough to combat
🧪 Avoid contributing to misinformation and disinformation in the first place
🧪 Consider these debunking strategies
Reposted by Becca Mellema
Everyone who follows me should call their Senator this morning to urge them to vote in favor of Wyden’s point of order and remove the Medicaid funding ban for transgender care from Trump’s horror bill.
Today, senator Ron Wyden will raise a point of order to remove the Medicaid and CHIP ban on gender affirming care. The Republicans need 60 votes to keep it in but they only have 53. Call your Dem senator today and urge them to vote to strip the ban from the bill. Senate switchboard 202-224-3121.
June 30, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Everyone who follows me should call their Senator this morning to urge them to vote in favor of Wyden’s point of order and remove the Medicaid funding ban for transgender care from Trump’s horror bill.
Reposted by Becca Mellema
If there was ever a time to call your Senator, this is it.
Voting has begun on the GOP plan to cut off health care for working-class Americans and slash taxes for the wealthiest.
Voting has begun on the GOP plan to cut off health care for working-class Americans and slash taxes for the wealthiest.
June 30, 2025 at 3:07 PM
If there was ever a time to call your Senator, this is it.
Voting has begun on the GOP plan to cut off health care for working-class Americans and slash taxes for the wealthiest.
Voting has begun on the GOP plan to cut off health care for working-class Americans and slash taxes for the wealthiest.
Reposted by Becca Mellema
NYC, if you want Mamdani instead of Cuomo or Adams as your mayor, RIGHT NOW is the time to call all of your Democratic reps - local and national - and demand they back Mamdani. They need to hear from us RIGHT NOW.
Find your reps here: reps.nyc
www.cnn.com/2025/06/26/p...
Find your reps here: reps.nyc
www.cnn.com/2025/06/26/p...
Cuomo will stay on NYC mayor’s ballot after conceding Democratic primary to Mamdani, sources tell CNN | CNN Politics
Andrew Cuomo will not drop out of the New York City mayoral race by the Friday deadline to remove himself from the general election ballot, sources tell CNN. That leaves in place contingency plans he ...
www.cnn.com
June 26, 2025 at 11:06 PM
NYC, if you want Mamdani instead of Cuomo or Adams as your mayor, RIGHT NOW is the time to call all of your Democratic reps - local and national - and demand they back Mamdani. They need to hear from us RIGHT NOW.
Find your reps here: reps.nyc
www.cnn.com/2025/06/26/p...
Find your reps here: reps.nyc
www.cnn.com/2025/06/26/p...
Reposted by Becca Mellema
Vaccination schedules on the CDC website have already started changing under RFK Jr. So we published a guide to the evidence-based vaccine recommendations in place *before* all 17 members of the advisory panel were abruptly dismissed by the new admin. www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-... 🧪
Here’s Your Cheat Sheet for Vaccine Recommendations Backed by Science
These graphics will guide you through science-based vaccine guidelines for children and adults
www.scientificamerican.com
June 25, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Vaccination schedules on the CDC website have already started changing under RFK Jr. So we published a guide to the evidence-based vaccine recommendations in place *before* all 17 members of the advisory panel were abruptly dismissed by the new admin. www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-... 🧪
Absolutely not. Do not play into the fascism playbook.
June 24, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Absolutely not. Do not play into the fascism playbook.
Reposted by Becca Mellema
If you value what we do at TON – mentoring early-career science writers; creating free resources for anyone covering science, health and the environment; creating community – consider supporting us with a gift today. 🧪
Support The Open Notebook - Support Science Journalism
Please help support The Open Notebook, a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to foster a supportive, diverse, and inclusive global community that enables journalists who cover science to learn and...
www.theopennotebook.com
June 24, 2025 at 4:27 PM
If you value what we do at TON – mentoring early-career science writers; creating free resources for anyone covering science, health and the environment; creating community – consider supporting us with a gift today. 🧪
Reposted by Becca Mellema
💚 we're baaaaaack with a new date 💜
join us NEXT FRIDAY as we answer questions that don't matter to raise money for a cause that does!
remember: YOUR donations control the chaos 💸
this time we'll be supporting @dcmigrantmutualaid.org
see you thereeee!!
join us NEXT FRIDAY as we answer questions that don't matter to raise money for a cause that does!
remember: YOUR donations control the chaos 💸
this time we'll be supporting @dcmigrantmutualaid.org
see you thereeee!!
June 21, 2025 at 1:59 AM
💚 we're baaaaaack with a new date 💜
join us NEXT FRIDAY as we answer questions that don't matter to raise money for a cause that does!
remember: YOUR donations control the chaos 💸
this time we'll be supporting @dcmigrantmutualaid.org
see you thereeee!!
join us NEXT FRIDAY as we answer questions that don't matter to raise money for a cause that does!
remember: YOUR donations control the chaos 💸
this time we'll be supporting @dcmigrantmutualaid.org
see you thereeee!!
Reposted by Becca Mellema
I know everything is on fire but PLEASE contact your representatives about the selloff of public lands. It's a heartbreaking proposal that will destroy the soul of America.
Your favorite campgrounds, hiking trails, and forests could soon be up for auction
Republicans want to make 250 million acres of public lands eligible for sale to housing developers.
grist.org
June 20, 2025 at 10:20 PM
I know everything is on fire but PLEASE contact your representatives about the selloff of public lands. It's a heartbreaking proposal that will destroy the soul of America.
Coming out of a PhD thesis defense haitus, it’s my newest blog post!!
gettingthesciencewrite.com/Firearms-in-...
gettingthesciencewrite.com/Firearms-in-...
June 20, 2025 at 4:12 PM