Rebecca Finger Higgens
@fingdinger.bsky.social
Ecologist with USGS Southwest Biological Science Center. Lover of tundra, drylands, and long term weather data.
She/her/hers
She/her/hers
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
Breaking news: The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered scientists in at least one of its research offices to immediately pause almost all research and stop publishing their studies.
EPA tells scientists to stop publishing studies, employees say
Staff from the EPA’s Office of Water were summoned to a town hall meeting this week and told to pause the publication of most research, pending a review.
wapo.st
September 20, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Breaking news: The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered scientists in at least one of its research offices to immediately pause almost all research and stop publishing their studies.
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
ABOUT DAMN TIME is now streaming on YouTube! The new short chronicles the journey of the Colorado River's trailblazing boatwomen.
Learn more about the @americanrivers.bsky.social supported film and start watching here:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Learn more about the @americanrivers.bsky.social supported film and start watching here:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
August 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
ABOUT DAMN TIME is now streaming on YouTube! The new short chronicles the journey of the Colorado River's trailblazing boatwomen.
Learn more about the @americanrivers.bsky.social supported film and start watching here:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Learn more about the @americanrivers.bsky.social supported film and start watching here:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
“Average North American Monsoon onset is delayed in years with anomalously high spring soil moisture in the Colorado Plateau”
'North American Monsoon Response to Antecedent Soil Moisture and Snow in the Colorado Plateau' - a fresh look at land surface feedbacks on the NAM, harkening back to the work by e.g Barlow and Gutzler agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
North American Monsoon Response to Antecedent Soil Moisture and Snow in the Colorado Plateau
Average North American Monsoon (NAM) onset is delayed in years with anomalously high spring soil moisture in the Colorado Plateau (CP) Increased latent and decreased sensible heat flux in the CP ...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 17, 2025 at 7:02 PM
“Average North American Monsoon onset is delayed in years with anomalously high spring soil moisture in the Colorado Plateau”
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
New for all microclimate enthusiasts!
A step-by-step workflow to build your own sensor network - with awesome R code for site selection + tips on engagement, fieldwork & outreach.
Led with @thenaturedave.bsky.social and @rebeccasenior.bsky.social
🔗 the3dlab.org/2025/08/16/h...
A step-by-step workflow to build your own sensor network - with awesome R code for site selection + tips on engagement, fieldwork & outreach.
Led with @thenaturedave.bsky.social and @rebeccasenior.bsky.social
🔗 the3dlab.org/2025/08/16/h...
How to set up your own microclimate network
Back in 2021, we had an important thought: maybe we should start treating microclimate the same way we treat macroclimate. Weather and climate are monitored by national governments through organize…
the3dlab.org
August 16, 2025 at 11:23 AM
New for all microclimate enthusiasts!
A step-by-step workflow to build your own sensor network - with awesome R code for site selection + tips on engagement, fieldwork & outreach.
Led with @thenaturedave.bsky.social and @rebeccasenior.bsky.social
🔗 the3dlab.org/2025/08/16/h...
A step-by-step workflow to build your own sensor network - with awesome R code for site selection + tips on engagement, fieldwork & outreach.
Led with @thenaturedave.bsky.social and @rebeccasenior.bsky.social
🔗 the3dlab.org/2025/08/16/h...
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
With the EPA targeting the Endangerment Finding, @ccallahan45.bsky.social, Alex Gottlieb, & I conducted an end-to-end attribution of climate damages from U.S. power sector emissions.
The result: $78 billion in climate losses to the U.S. economy over 1973–2023.
See here: zenodo.org/records/1687...
The result: $78 billion in climate losses to the U.S. economy over 1973–2023.
See here: zenodo.org/records/1687...
August 14, 2025 at 2:13 PM
With the EPA targeting the Endangerment Finding, @ccallahan45.bsky.social, Alex Gottlieb, & I conducted an end-to-end attribution of climate damages from U.S. power sector emissions.
The result: $78 billion in climate losses to the U.S. economy over 1973–2023.
See here: zenodo.org/records/1687...
The result: $78 billion in climate losses to the U.S. economy over 1973–2023.
See here: zenodo.org/records/1687...
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
I had a few people at #ESA2025 say that it was hard to find where to apply for jobs in Sweden. If you want to check jobs at university, here's the website: www.slu.se/en/about-slu...
#forests #restorationecology #forestry #silviculture
#forests #restorationecology #forestry #silviculture
Jobs and vacancies | slu.se
Would you like to join us in creating the conditions for a sustainable, thriving and better world? Welcome with your application!
www.slu.se
August 14, 2025 at 3:14 PM
I had a few people at #ESA2025 say that it was hard to find where to apply for jobs in Sweden. If you want to check jobs at university, here's the website: www.slu.se/en/about-slu...
#forests #restorationecology #forestry #silviculture
#forests #restorationecology #forestry #silviculture
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
Loud voice: This is a win for a classroom!
(Whisper: it’s a win for you too. It doesn’t take long and it’s hard to imagine feeling low after participating in @skypeascientist.bsky.social).
I participated last spring it and will again. Strong recommend!!
(Whisper: it’s a win for you too. It doesn’t take long and it’s hard to imagine feeling low after participating in @skypeascientist.bsky.social).
I participated last spring it and will again. Strong recommend!!
Scientists!
@skypeascientist.bsky.social matches scientists with classrooms, libraries, & more for virtual Q&As! It's easy and fun!
We are looking for 750 more volunteers by 8/15
If you're down to chat with 1-5 classrooms this semester, sign up here
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
@skypeascientist.bsky.social matches scientists with classrooms, libraries, & more for virtual Q&As! It's easy and fun!
We are looking for 750 more volunteers by 8/15
If you're down to chat with 1-5 classrooms this semester, sign up here
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
August 7, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Loud voice: This is a win for a classroom!
(Whisper: it’s a win for you too. It doesn’t take long and it’s hard to imagine feeling low after participating in @skypeascientist.bsky.social).
I participated last spring it and will again. Strong recommend!!
(Whisper: it’s a win for you too. It doesn’t take long and it’s hard to imagine feeling low after participating in @skypeascientist.bsky.social).
I participated last spring it and will again. Strong recommend!!
"Nature’s secrets will continue to be uncovered, even if Americans aren’t the ones who see them first."
This is an excellent explainer about the US scientific ecosystem. It covers a lot of points I often hear non-scientists asking about: about talent, the dynamics of the academic research environment, Germany, the USSR, history of NSF, NIH. Worth a read.
1/
1/
Every Scientific Empire Comes to an End
America’s run as the premier techno-superpower may be over.
www.theatlantic.com
August 5, 2025 at 2:55 PM
"Nature’s secrets will continue to be uncovered, even if Americans aren’t the ones who see them first."
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
August 3, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
ABOUT DAMN TIME, the new short supported by @americanrivers.bsky.social, follows the trailblazing boatwomen of the Colorado River. Read more about it and stream it for free (this weekend only) via our Shorts: Wild Lives virtual collection. open.substack.com/pub/dceff/p/watch-now-about-damn-time
Watch Now: About Damn Time
A love letter to the Colorado River and its trailblazing boatwomen
open.substack.com
July 25, 2025 at 6:06 PM
ABOUT DAMN TIME, the new short supported by @americanrivers.bsky.social, follows the trailblazing boatwomen of the Colorado River. Read more about it and stream it for free (this weekend only) via our Shorts: Wild Lives virtual collection. open.substack.com/pub/dceff/p/watch-now-about-damn-time
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
Way excited for Savannah's defense next week!
If you love biogeochemistry and thinking about potential for soil carbon management, mark your calendar for Monday, July 28th @ 11:00 AM MDT (or stop by campus if you're in Moab 😉)
Public Zoom Link: usu.zoom.us/j/8144285688...
If you love biogeochemistry and thinking about potential for soil carbon management, mark your calendar for Monday, July 28th @ 11:00 AM MDT (or stop by campus if you're in Moab 😉)
Public Zoom Link: usu.zoom.us/j/8144285688...
July 22, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Way excited for Savannah's defense next week!
If you love biogeochemistry and thinking about potential for soil carbon management, mark your calendar for Monday, July 28th @ 11:00 AM MDT (or stop by campus if you're in Moab 😉)
Public Zoom Link: usu.zoom.us/j/8144285688...
If you love biogeochemistry and thinking about potential for soil carbon management, mark your calendar for Monday, July 28th @ 11:00 AM MDT (or stop by campus if you're in Moab 😉)
Public Zoom Link: usu.zoom.us/j/8144285688...
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
Happy to share an excellent study on the self-organized spatial patterns of biocrusts. Biocrusts make a difference. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
July 23, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Happy to share an excellent study on the self-organized spatial patterns of biocrusts. Biocrusts make a difference. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
Rising Cost Of Living Forcing More Buddhists To Continue Working Years Into Reincarnation theonion.com/rising-...
July 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Rising Cost Of Living Forcing More Buddhists To Continue Working Years Into Reincarnation theonion.com/rising-...
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
Senate Appropriations has a markup hearing for science this morning. In their bill: $9B for NSF (current is $9.06B). Also includes protections for NOAA and NWS staffing. 🧪
eos.org/research-and...
eos.org/research-and...
New U.S. Budget Proposal Slashes Billions in Funds for Science - Eos
President Trump’s proposed 2026 budget, released today, slashes non-defense discretionary spending by $163 billion, a 22.6% reduction from 2025.
eos.org
July 10, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Senate Appropriations has a markup hearing for science this morning. In their bill: $9B for NSF (current is $9.06B). Also includes protections for NOAA and NWS staffing. 🧪
eos.org/research-and...
eos.org/research-and...
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
Climate.gov will likely soon shut down, as most of the staff charged with maintaining it were fired. 🧪
eos.org/research-and...
eos.org/research-and...
NOAA’s Climate Website May Soon Shut Down - Eos
Climate.gov, NOAA’s portal to the work of their Climate Program Office, will likely soon shut down as most of the staff charged with maintaining it were fired on 31 May.
eos.org
June 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Climate.gov will likely soon shut down, as most of the staff charged with maintaining it were fired. 🧪
eos.org/research-and...
eos.org/research-and...
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
The President's Budget request as released yesterday will gut scientific research. Why should you care?
1) Science is fundamentally a jobs program. Many 100,000s are employed to do science and work for you, the US taxpayer.
1) Science is fundamentally a jobs program. Many 100,000s are employed to do science and work for you, the US taxpayer.
May 31, 2025 at 3:30 PM
The President's Budget request as released yesterday will gut scientific research. Why should you care?
1) Science is fundamentally a jobs program. Many 100,000s are employed to do science and work for you, the US taxpayer.
1) Science is fundamentally a jobs program. Many 100,000s are employed to do science and work for you, the US taxpayer.
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
'The [Ecosystems Mission Area] is also a core part of federal climate research. The Trump administration has sharply reduced or eliminated funds for climate science across federal agencies, calling the study of climate change part of “social agenda” research' www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/c...
Trump’s Proposed Budget Would Cut a Major Ecology Program
www.nytimes.com
May 31, 2025 at 11:47 PM
'The [Ecosystems Mission Area] is also a core part of federal climate research. The Trump administration has sharply reduced or eliminated funds for climate science across federal agencies, calling the study of climate change part of “social agenda” research' www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/c...
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
Are you keeping up with the firehose of changes to science policy? You can, with our handy (and sortable) tracker. eos.org/research-and...
Lately, we're thinking about how the #SAA2025Denver program was called a “two-page blood bath of federal disengagement” by one attendee. Yikes. (@nytimes.com)
Lately, we're thinking about how the #SAA2025Denver program was called a “two-page blood bath of federal disengagement” by one attendee. Yikes. (@nytimes.com)
May 28, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Are you keeping up with the firehose of changes to science policy? You can, with our handy (and sortable) tracker. eos.org/research-and...
Lately, we're thinking about how the #SAA2025Denver program was called a “two-page blood bath of federal disengagement” by one attendee. Yikes. (@nytimes.com)
Lately, we're thinking about how the #SAA2025Denver program was called a “two-page blood bath of federal disengagement” by one attendee. Yikes. (@nytimes.com)
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
Mojave Desert Land Trust is hiring a Field Coordinator with the Mojave Desert Seed Bank! 🫘 #seedjobs
2 positions posted, hiring 1 candidate depending on quals & experience.
Coordinator/Lead – min 1 yr experience, $23-25/hr
Supervisor – 2-5 yrs exp., $25-28/hr
saveplants.org/forums/topic...
2 positions posted, hiring 1 candidate depending on quals & experience.
Coordinator/Lead – min 1 yr experience, $23-25/hr
Supervisor – 2-5 yrs exp., $25-28/hr
saveplants.org/forums/topic...
Job Opportunity, Mojave Desert Seed Bank Field Coordinator - Center for Plant Conservation
Mojave Desert Land Trust is recruiting to fill a Field Coordinator position with the Mojave Desert Seed Bank! We are recruiting to fill the position of Seed Bank Field Coordinator/Lead – Field Supervi...
saveplants.org
May 27, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Mojave Desert Land Trust is hiring a Field Coordinator with the Mojave Desert Seed Bank! 🫘 #seedjobs
2 positions posted, hiring 1 candidate depending on quals & experience.
Coordinator/Lead – min 1 yr experience, $23-25/hr
Supervisor – 2-5 yrs exp., $25-28/hr
saveplants.org/forums/topic...
2 positions posted, hiring 1 candidate depending on quals & experience.
Coordinator/Lead – min 1 yr experience, $23-25/hr
Supervisor – 2-5 yrs exp., $25-28/hr
saveplants.org/forums/topic...
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
A climate change curriculum cocreated by a team of Western and Indigenous researchers could amplify adaptation on the Colorado Plateau.
Teaming Up to Tailor Climate Education for Indigenous Communities - Eos
A new college-level curriculum, cocreated by Indigenous and Western researchers, could help Indigenous communities adapt to climate change on the Colorado Plateau.
eos.org
May 1, 2025 at 6:11 PM
A climate change curriculum cocreated by a team of Western and Indigenous researchers could amplify adaptation on the Colorado Plateau.
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
🌸Plant diversity dynamics over space and time in a warming Arctic 🌸
Our new study @nature.com analysed plant diversity change in >2000 tundra plots over 4 decades. We found that plants changed unevenly, mostly driven by warming and biotic interactions.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧵 (1/7) 🌐🧪🌱🌍
Our new study @nature.com analysed plant diversity change in >2000 tundra plots over 4 decades. We found that plants changed unevenly, mostly driven by warming and biotic interactions.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧵 (1/7) 🌐🧪🌱🌍
April 30, 2025 at 3:15 PM
🌸Plant diversity dynamics over space and time in a warming Arctic 🌸
Our new study @nature.com analysed plant diversity change in >2000 tundra plots over 4 decades. We found that plants changed unevenly, mostly driven by warming and biotic interactions.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧵 (1/7) 🌐🧪🌱🌍
Our new study @nature.com analysed plant diversity change in >2000 tundra plots over 4 decades. We found that plants changed unevenly, mostly driven by warming and biotic interactions.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧵 (1/7) 🌐🧪🌱🌍
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
Happy #WorldPenguinDay!
Did you know that the Humboldt penguin (with whom Humboldt dances here) can blush? This penguin type lives in relatively warm habitats – in contrast to the icy environments of other species. The blushing helps it to cool down! 💚
Did you know that the Humboldt penguin (with whom Humboldt dances here) can blush? This penguin type lives in relatively warm habitats – in contrast to the icy environments of other species. The blushing helps it to cool down! 💚
April 25, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Happy #WorldPenguinDay!
Did you know that the Humboldt penguin (with whom Humboldt dances here) can blush? This penguin type lives in relatively warm habitats – in contrast to the icy environments of other species. The blushing helps it to cool down! 💚
Did you know that the Humboldt penguin (with whom Humboldt dances here) can blush? This penguin type lives in relatively warm habitats – in contrast to the icy environments of other species. The blushing helps it to cool down! 💚
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
Here's the start of a python script / notebook that starts tapping into some NCEI API's to get the data you need.
The goal here is for this to become a supplement to the RCC's ACIS API, should that go away for...reasons
github.com/jjrennie/nce...
The goal here is for this to become a supplement to the RCC's ACIS API, should that go away for...reasons
github.com/jjrennie/nce...
GitHub - jjrennie/ncei-climate-data-online: Jupyter Notebook to Access Data From NOAA/NCEI's Climate Data Online
Jupyter Notebook to Access Data From NOAA/NCEI's Climate Data Online - jjrennie/ncei-climate-data-online
github.com
April 25, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Here's the start of a python script / notebook that starts tapping into some NCEI API's to get the data you need.
The goal here is for this to become a supplement to the RCC's ACIS API, should that go away for...reasons
github.com/jjrennie/nce...
The goal here is for this to become a supplement to the RCC's ACIS API, should that go away for...reasons
github.com/jjrennie/nce...
Reposted by Rebecca Finger Higgens
🧪 Our Terminated NSF Grant Tracker is live 🧪
🔴 114 NSF grants listed so far
🔴 Cancelled grants focused on
→ Training scientists
→ Misinformation
→ AI
→ Climate change
Credit to @noamross.net for all the work to build this & to all PIs who submitted their info.
Link: airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...
🔴 114 NSF grants listed so far
🔴 Cancelled grants focused on
→ Training scientists
→ Misinformation
→ AI
→ Climate change
Credit to @noamross.net for all the work to build this & to all PIs who submitted their info.
Link: airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...
April 21, 2025 at 7:59 PM
🧪 Our Terminated NSF Grant Tracker is live 🧪
🔴 114 NSF grants listed so far
🔴 Cancelled grants focused on
→ Training scientists
→ Misinformation
→ AI
→ Climate change
Credit to @noamross.net for all the work to build this & to all PIs who submitted their info.
Link: airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...
🔴 114 NSF grants listed so far
🔴 Cancelled grants focused on
→ Training scientists
→ Misinformation
→ AI
→ Climate change
Credit to @noamross.net for all the work to build this & to all PIs who submitted their info.
Link: airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...