Heather O'Leary
@heatheroleary.bsky.social
She/her | Sustainability Engagement at UIC
English PhD student working on mad studies and climate fiction
English PhD student working on mad studies and climate fiction
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
CHICAGO ⬇️
June 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM
CHICAGO ⬇️
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
Don't @ me about environmental impacts of genAI vs shit like playing video games or whatever. Just go read this news.mit.edu/2025/explain...
Explained: Generative AI’s environmental impact
MIT News explores the environmental and sustainability implications of generative AI technologies and applications.
news.mit.edu
May 8, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Don't @ me about environmental impacts of genAI vs shit like playing video games or whatever. Just go read this news.mit.edu/2025/explain...
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
We see you all! Incredible turnout so far across the country — current estimates put participation at around 750,000 and counting! More accurate numbers are still coming in, with many events yet to begin.
April 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM
We see you all! Incredible turnout so far across the country — current estimates put participation at around 750,000 and counting! More accurate numbers are still coming in, with many events yet to begin.
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
April 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
A rainbow appears at sunset following a late afternoon storm in Chicago on Wednesday.
March 20, 2025 at 12:03 AM
A rainbow appears at sunset following a late afternoon storm in Chicago on Wednesday.
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
Some really interesting stuff in here to consider about listening to people and uniting around shared fears: www.desmog.com/2025/03/05/t...
The US Has Never Been More Divided on Climate. Here’s How to Build Bridges (and It May Surprise You)
In the autumn of 2014, I was sitting in a tiny shed at a writing residency in Point Reyes, Northern California. I was there to write my book about the psychology of facing planetary crises. One partic...
www.desmog.com
March 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Some really interesting stuff in here to consider about listening to people and uniting around shared fears: www.desmog.com/2025/03/05/t...
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
If you want a great nation, you don't eliminate research - medical, agricultural, across the board. Research looks into the future and gives us hope. We need to stand together! ~US Senator Dick Durbin @durbin.senate.gov @standupforscience.bsky.social #StandUpForScience2025
March 7, 2025 at 9:33 PM
If you want a great nation, you don't eliminate research - medical, agricultural, across the board. Research looks into the future and gives us hope. We need to stand together! ~US Senator Dick Durbin @durbin.senate.gov @standupforscience.bsky.social #StandUpForScience2025
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
More than 1500 of us show up to #standupforscience2025, even @durbin.senate.gov
March 7, 2025 at 7:22 PM
More than 1500 of us show up to #standupforscience2025, even @durbin.senate.gov
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
Forty-seven scientific societies have signed a letter organized by the @ucsusa.bsky.social urging Congress to protect federally funded research and federal scientists:
www.ucsusa.org/about/news/s...
www.ucsusa.org/about/news/s...
48 Scientific Societies Representing Almost 100,000 Scientists Ask Congress to Protect the Future of Science
48 scientific societies representing almost 100,000 scientists signed on to a letter asking Congress to protect the future of science
www.ucsusa.org
March 3, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Forty-seven scientific societies have signed a letter organized by the @ucsusa.bsky.social urging Congress to protect federally funded research and federal scientists:
www.ucsusa.org/about/news/s...
www.ucsusa.org/about/news/s...
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
Commentary: If President Trump, Vice President Vance, Elon Musk and congressional Republicans get their way, up to a million Illinoisans will lose health care coverage, writes Gov. JB Pritzker.
Gov. JB Pritzker: Up to a million Illinoisans will lose health care coverage with slashing of Medicaid
Republicans passed a budget that will mean stripping away health care from working families to finance tax cuts for a privileged few.
www.chicagotribune.com
March 3, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Commentary: If President Trump, Vice President Vance, Elon Musk and congressional Republicans get their way, up to a million Illinoisans will lose health care coverage, writes Gov. JB Pritzker.
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
Ending the night with this.
*Get your hankies*
A D-Day veteran called a gracious and humbled Zelenskyy a hero.
*Get your hankies*
A D-Day veteran called a gracious and humbled Zelenskyy a hero.
March 1, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Ending the night with this.
*Get your hankies*
A D-Day veteran called a gracious and humbled Zelenskyy a hero.
*Get your hankies*
A D-Day veteran called a gracious and humbled Zelenskyy a hero.
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
Extremely likely. Beyond avian flu, there are a number of concerning pathogens that could reach pandemic status and our public health system is being dismantled.
Our money is on drug-resistant bugs plus something novel but the list is long.
Our money is on drug-resistant bugs plus something novel but the list is long.
February 28, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Extremely likely. Beyond avian flu, there are a number of concerning pathogens that could reach pandemic status and our public health system is being dismantled.
Our money is on drug-resistant bugs plus something novel but the list is long.
Our money is on drug-resistant bugs plus something novel but the list is long.
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
Twenty-one members of the United State DOGE Service have resigned, they said in an anonymous letter, citing DOGE's ongoing work dramatically reshaping the federal government.
21 DOGE staffers resign, saying they won't help 'dismantle' public services
Twenty-one members of the United State DOGE Service have resigned, they said in an anonymous letter, citing DOGE's ongoing work dramatically reshaping the federal government.
www.npr.org
February 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Twenty-one members of the United State DOGE Service have resigned, they said in an anonymous letter, citing DOGE's ongoing work dramatically reshaping the federal government.
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
El Capitan displays a massive American flag upside down—the traditional signal of distress or extreme emergency.
February 23, 2025 at 6:01 PM
El Capitan displays a massive American flag upside down—the traditional signal of distress or extreme emergency.
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
NEW: Pregnancy became far more dangerous in Texas after the state banned abortion, according to ProPublica’s first-of-its-kind analysis, which found the sepsis rate for women hospitalized as they miscarried in the 2nd trimester shot up by more than 50%.
https://propub.li/43487Tj
https://propub.li/43487Tj
Texas Banned Abortion. Then Sepsis Rates Soared.
ProPublica’s first-of-its-kind analysis is the most detailed look yet into a rise in life-threatening complications for women experiencing pregnancy loss under Texas’ abortion ban.
propub.li
February 20, 2025 at 12:00 PM
NEW: Pregnancy became far more dangerous in Texas after the state banned abortion, according to ProPublica’s first-of-its-kind analysis, which found the sepsis rate for women hospitalized as they miscarried in the 2nd trimester shot up by more than 50%.
https://propub.li/43487Tj
https://propub.li/43487Tj
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
Several hundred people gathered outside Lurie Children’s Hospital Saturday to protest the hospital’s pause of gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19.
Hundreds Protest Lurie Children's Hospital's Pause Of Gender-Affirming Surgeries
Lurie Children's Hospital said it would pause performing gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19 in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump.
buff.ly
February 17, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Several hundred people gathered outside Lurie Children’s Hospital Saturday to protest the hospital’s pause of gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19.
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
higher ed is the largest employer in 10 states and in over 60% of the 100 largest cities. destruction of federal research funds is economic sabotage.
Research universities are often the largest employers in their region. They are often the primary health care providers to communities. This funding shift will not only reduce US research leadership, it will put working people out of work and reduce healthcare access.
Excellent 🧵 on this evening's NIH announcement of a dramatic reduction in indirect rates for research institutions, which amounts to a generational restructuring of the US research and development ecosystem. These cuts are effective immediately, not just for new grants but for existing ones.
February 8, 2025 at 1:57 AM
higher ed is the largest employer in 10 states and in over 60% of the 100 largest cities. destruction of federal research funds is economic sabotage.
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
UPDATE: Trump said he and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu talked Tuesday about relocating Palestinians and leveling Gaza, which he suggested could be the “Riviera of the Middle East” under U.S. ownership.
Trump says he wants the U.S. to take ownership of the Gaza Strip
Trump said he and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu talked Tuesday about relocating Palestinians and leveling Gaza, which he suggested could be the "Riviera of the Middle East" under U.S. ownership.
www.npr.org
February 5, 2025 at 1:35 AM
UPDATE: Trump said he and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu talked Tuesday about relocating Palestinians and leveling Gaza, which he suggested could be the “Riviera of the Middle East” under U.S. ownership.
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
I’m a part time librarian and I just want to echo what I’ve seen other librarians say recently: there is a HUGE uptick in requests for social justice, climate justice, abolition, history, etc books and I just want to say nobody is giving up the fight. If anything people are fighting harder #library
February 4, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I’m a part time librarian and I just want to echo what I’ve seen other librarians say recently: there is a HUGE uptick in requests for social justice, climate justice, abolition, history, etc books and I just want to say nobody is giving up the fight. If anything people are fighting harder #library
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
Senator Andy Kim just went to the USAID building, talked to the security guard there to confirm employees are being barred entry, and then did a press gaggle right there in front to call it out.
This is doing something. This is making an effort on messaging. Other Democratic lawmakers: take notes.
This is doing something. This is making an effort on messaging. Other Democratic lawmakers: take notes.
February 3, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Senator Andy Kim just went to the USAID building, talked to the security guard there to confirm employees are being barred entry, and then did a press gaggle right there in front to call it out.
This is doing something. This is making an effort on messaging. Other Democratic lawmakers: take notes.
This is doing something. This is making an effort on messaging. Other Democratic lawmakers: take notes.
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
No other state in the nation imports more goods to Canada than the Land of Lincoln, and Illinois is one of the Top 5 states in exports to both Canada and Mexico.
All together, Illinois exports support 800,000 jobs – jobs now at risk thanks to Trump’s Tax on Working Families.
All together, Illinois exports support 800,000 jobs – jobs now at risk thanks to Trump’s Tax on Working Families.
February 2, 2025 at 8:27 PM
No other state in the nation imports more goods to Canada than the Land of Lincoln, and Illinois is one of the Top 5 states in exports to both Canada and Mexico.
All together, Illinois exports support 800,000 jobs – jobs now at risk thanks to Trump’s Tax on Working Families.
All together, Illinois exports support 800,000 jobs – jobs now at risk thanks to Trump’s Tax on Working Families.
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
Did not realize this address from Trudeau was going to be aimed at us
February 2, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Did not realize this address from Trudeau was going to be aimed at us
Reposted by Heather O'Leary
In a move that could make them some of the first undergraduate student workers to unionize in Illinois, resident advisers at the University of Illinois at Chicago filed for union representation Thursday.
UIC undergraduate resident advisers move to unionize: ‘These are workers’
In a move that could make them some of the first undergraduate student workers to unionize in Illinois, resident advisers at the University of Illinois at Chicago filed for union representation Thu…
www.chicagotribune.com
January 31, 2025 at 12:35 AM
In a move that could make them some of the first undergraduate student workers to unionize in Illinois, resident advisers at the University of Illinois at Chicago filed for union representation Thursday.