Marie van Staveren
LightNews LightNews
banner
chemdrv.bsky.social
Marie van Staveren
@chemdrv.bsky.social
1K followers 210 following 1.9K posts
They/them. Chemistry teaching faculty at UMBC. LongCOVID. Programming, equity, and non-traditional paths in chemistry education. Centering humans and hope. Opinions very much my own.
Posts Replies Media Videos
chemdrv.bsky.social
Bonus for when I want it to look cute: cut the leg off of whatever leggings my kid has just worn through and put it around the pot
A hanging pot covered in orange fabric with many tiny vines tumbling out
October 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
My favorite pot for endless houseplant propagations: a 16oz store brand butter or cottage cheese container. Poke some holes in the bottom, then hot glue the top underneath to catch drips
A plastic container labeled "soft spread", filled with dirt and with several green leafy pothos vines growing out
October 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
Got a COVID shot for the 7yo so now the whole family is double vaxxed!
So glad we managed a pediatric COVID shot.
A blond child with a red bandaid on their arm, facing away from the camera
October 11, 2025 at 7:39 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
The inside of my teaching bag at the moment
The inside of a bag filled with a jumble of whiteboard markers, rags, and a cord of some sort
October 10, 2025 at 2:28 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
Interested in chemistry grad school? Come check out the UMBC Chemistry Grad Open House!
Department website: chemistry.umbc.edu

Registration: forms.gle/1ttSe3XrnaPq...
This is an advertisement for UMBC Chemistry & Biochemistry's virtual graduate school open house. It takes place Friday September 26th, 2025 from 3 to 6 pm via WebEx. The schedule includes faculty meetings, a departmental overview, and a panel with current graduate students.
September 9, 2025 at 5:03 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
Blue skies, harbor breeze, perfect day for a protest
In the foreground, a pair of protest signs. Behind them are a tree, buildings, the mast of a tall ship, and bright blue sky
September 1, 2025 at 4:21 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
"The work before us is the work of our ancestors and the work of those who will come after: to relentlessly build new worlds, even on the edge of oblivion, and live in then anyway--together."

Finally finished this book, can't recommend it enough.
The vivid orange and blue cover of "Let this radicalize you" by Kelky Hayes and Mariame Kaba
August 30, 2025 at 8:47 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
If you've never grown potatoes in containers, you should try it. This is the result of two five-gallon tubs and a lot of neglect.
A green colander full of a collection of small and medium potatos, close to a gallon's worth
August 23, 2025 at 6:39 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
Reason to play music you love for your kids, other than the obvious of making car rides more enjoyable: Joan Jett just played live at a nearby venue and I got to watch my kid rock out through the whole set
In the foreground, a kid at the edge of a crowd watching a show. In the background, a screen showing Joan Jett playing an electric guitar, looking epically cool
August 23, 2025 at 12:41 AM
chemdrv.bsky.social
This morning's reading over a hotel breakfast.
"My dad likes to remind me to always be prepared, and I am always prepared to be alone."
The cover of "The Dad Rock That Made Me a Woman" by Niko Stratis, rainbow gradient type on a plain navy blue background
June 23, 2025 at 12:06 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
Baltimore No Kings really showed out! I couldn't see the whole group, but it felt like we surrounded all of Patterson Park while we were marcbing.
A crowd of people marcbing in the street with many signs. The street sign says "Pratt"
June 15, 2025 at 12:18 AM
chemdrv.bsky.social
I did a grade tracker again, this time with five headings:
- formal writing
- writing for an audience
- experimental skills
- analysis skills
- using the literature
A table. Headings across the top list five skills, including "Formal writing" and "Analysis skills". Headings along the side rank from Advanced to Basic. Each cell in the table lists assignments like "90% on two full reports" and "Literature presentation"
May 23, 2025 at 7:13 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
My serviceberries are coming ripe!
A green leafy tree branch studded with red and pink and pale green berries
May 22, 2025 at 1:36 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
Having a real Baltimore evening
Half a lemon with a peppermint stick stuck in it, held against a blue city sky
May 2, 2025 at 11:03 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
May Day Rally in Baltimore
A large crowd of people gather3d in a plaza carrying signs and flags. In the background is a tall ship and the Baltimore world trade center
May 1, 2025 at 11:37 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
Please enjoy this pic of my cat smelling a vase of lilacs
A brown stripey cat on a shelf next to a sunny window. He's sniffing a vase of lilac flowers.
May 1, 2025 at 3:41 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
Honestly questioning if ACS reads the news
Screenshot from an email. Text reads: "By the end of this workshop you'll be able to: Spot hiring trends across federal agencies to target your applications more strategically. Unlock the benefits of a federal career, from work-life balance to long-term security. Jumpstart your journey with insider info on student fellowships and internships that open doors."
April 28, 2025 at 8:06 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
My spouse went to the grocery store and came back with this 🤨
@andrechemist.bsky.social
A four pack of square tissue boxes
April 28, 2025 at 1:22 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
ACS has figured out the direction of the funding "changes"! So proud of them!
Screenshot showing the ACS Publications logo with title text saying "Help us understand the impact of funding reductions"
April 16, 2025 at 2:12 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
Dogwoods for your morning
View from my front porch of two pink dogwood trees in full bloom, with pink cherry trees in the background. It's a riot of soft pinks and greens. A row of pots and a green vine frame the foreground.
April 15, 2025 at 12:06 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
It's too cold to sit on my porch but the dogwoods are doing this so I'm out anyway
Two dogwood trees in full bloom, simply a mass of lovely soft pink flowers with occasionally scribbles of pale green leaves. In the forground is a row of potted plants including tomato seedlings, all sitting on a wall.
April 12, 2025 at 11:41 AM
chemdrv.bsky.social
Bmore showing out today
View from a parking structure showing a public square full of people A crowd of people taken from behind. Many of them are carrying signs. They're standing in front of City Hall
April 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
@acs.org

I teach professional writing to chemistry majors. My two rules are
1. Always consider your audience
2. All writing is contextual

We don't talk about what's good or bad, we talk about what's appropriate and effective for the message we're trying to convey.
The covere of the C&EN magazine with large letters proclaiming "Support science: ACS remains resolute in our support of science" The back cover featuring a stock photo of a chemists and a lot of text. A portion of the text reads: "To help chemists directly impacted by new directives and funding changes, ACS offers career resources scholarships, and grant opportunities" and later it says they have "Support for thise experiencing job loss"
April 3, 2025 at 12:57 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
For your timeline, this perfect rose from my aunt's garden
A single rose against an old wooden fence. The rose is shades of pink, orange, and yellow, and almost glows against the gray wood.
March 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
chemdrv.bsky.social
From Liz Neeley's weekly newsletter this weekend
Screenshot with text: We are not alone. We don't have to do everything ourselves or keep going forever. We are not starting from scratch. Im our science and all the rest of our lives, we are the legacies of those who came before us. We might be refashioning their well-honed tools or building entirely new onrs, but we know it works best when we work together.
March 16, 2025 at 4:44 PM