Jon Petters
@jonpetters.bsky.social
I advocate for and improve research data management where I am (which is Virginia Tech). And I run in big circles a lot.
In a sophomore meteo class the prof made clear our weather forecasts would be much more accurate with more upper-air observations, but we aren't willing to spend the $$$ to launch more weather balloons to do so. Many competing priorities in a government budget...
I appreciate that the main takeaway from this lesson is that science can't ever really be "apolitical."
11-year-old: Our new science project is so frustrating!
Me: How so?
11: We're designing an earthquake warning system, and we could only get it to 59 minutes and 2 false alarms, and it still cost $123M, which means cutting road and school budgets. It's impossible!
Me: Sounds like that's the point.
Me: How so?
11: We're designing an earthquake warning system, and we could only get it to 59 minutes and 2 false alarms, and it still cost $123M, which means cutting road and school budgets. It's impossible!
Me: Sounds like that's the point.
November 14, 2025 at 2:25 PM
In a sophomore meteo class the prof made clear our weather forecasts would be much more accurate with more upper-air observations, but we aren't willing to spend the $$$ to launch more weather balloons to do so. Many competing priorities in a government budget...
Nice to be noticed, though it was just a small part to play!
New post on our efforts to back up the NCES Datalabs tables. Big thanks to all of the volunteers involved in backing these up! #DataRescue
www.datarescueproject.org/nces-datalab...
www.datarescueproject.org/nces-datalab...
NCES Datalabs Tables: Rescue Complete!
If you have been following along with the Data Rescue Project newsletter, you have been receiving occasional updates on our struggle to find and download all of the summary tables that were created by...
www.datarescueproject.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Nice to be noticed, though it was just a small part to play!
Reposted by Jon Petters
Play a little game and choose the right icon for each role in science.
Play our CRediT Roles icon game/survey, and help make scientific authorship clearer and more accessible!
creditsurvey.sciux.org
#OpenScience #ScienceUX
Play our CRediT Roles icon game/survey, and help make scientific authorship clearer and more accessible!
creditsurvey.sciux.org
#OpenScience #ScienceUX
November 12, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Play a little game and choose the right icon for each role in science.
Play our CRediT Roles icon game/survey, and help make scientific authorship clearer and more accessible!
creditsurvey.sciux.org
#OpenScience #ScienceUX
Play our CRediT Roles icon game/survey, and help make scientific authorship clearer and more accessible!
creditsurvey.sciux.org
#OpenScience #ScienceUX
Reposted by Jon Petters
No no no begs every archivist. You are never going to be able to find anything. Please don’t start using emojis in file names. Who asked for this? What fresh hell is next?
November 12, 2025 at 10:38 AM
No no no begs every archivist. You are never going to be able to find anything. Please don’t start using emojis in file names. Who asked for this? What fresh hell is next?
Reposted by Jon Petters
A recent redesign of OSF by @cos.io led to widespread access failures. What began as a few broken download links became for me a total disappearance of eight years of DOI-registered work. What happened, how was it resolved, and what it reveals about trust and infrastructure in open science
Open Science needs reliable infrastructure – Ven Popov
After OSF’s October 2025 redesign, I discovered that eight years of DOI-linked preprints and materials were silently hidden by an automated spam flag. What happened, how it was resolved, and what it r...
venpopov.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A recent redesign of OSF by @cos.io led to widespread access failures. What began as a few broken download links became for me a total disappearance of eight years of DOI-registered work. What happened, how was it resolved, and what it reveals about trust and infrastructure in open science
I mean, this seems bad
NEW: Billions of pounds of food are imported to the U.S. each year.
The FDA inspects foreign producers to ensure what we're eating is safe from pathogens and dangerous manufacturing practices.
But now, after Trump's drastic staff cuts, these inspections have plummeted to a historic low.
🧵/
The FDA inspects foreign producers to ensure what we're eating is safe from pathogens and dangerous manufacturing practices.
But now, after Trump's drastic staff cuts, these inspections have plummeted to a historic low.
🧵/
Foreign Food Safety Inspections Hit Historic Low After Trump Cuts
The dramatic shift in oversight comes at a time when the U.S. has never been more reliant on foreign food, which accounts for the vast majority of the nation’s seafood and more than half its fresh fru...
www.propublica.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I mean, this seems bad
Reposted by Jon Petters
They literally ruin everything they touch
October 31, 2025 at 3:44 AM
They literally ruin everything they touch
Just answered a survey about the use of agentic AIs in research, and can boil down my responses to three bullet points:
1.) I'm interested where it relieves me of the burden of meeting formats/guidelines, but not at all when it would supplant me thinking (e.g. writing)
(1/2)
1.) I'm interested where it relieves me of the burden of meeting formats/guidelines, but not at all when it would supplant me thinking (e.g. writing)
(1/2)
October 29, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Just answered a survey about the use of agentic AIs in research, and can boil down my responses to three bullet points:
1.) I'm interested where it relieves me of the burden of meeting formats/guidelines, but not at all when it would supplant me thinking (e.g. writing)
(1/2)
1.) I'm interested where it relieves me of the burden of meeting formats/guidelines, but not at all when it would supplant me thinking (e.g. writing)
(1/2)
Reposted by Jon Petters
Make America Great Again was always a lie. This is what our government is doing to children.
apnews.com/article/chic...
apnews.com/article/chic...
October 29, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Make America Great Again was always a lie. This is what our government is doing to children.
apnews.com/article/chic...
apnews.com/article/chic...
Reposted by Jon Petters
6 AM Tuesday morning #HurricaneMelissa approaches Jamaica. Horrifying next 24 hours
says Dr. Shepherd. Pray. Been at this a long-time one of the most horrific, well-formed hurricanes I have ever seen. 175 mph winds and a direct landfall looming
says Dr. Shepherd. Pray. Been at this a long-time one of the most horrific, well-formed hurricanes I have ever seen. 175 mph winds and a direct landfall looming
October 28, 2025 at 10:09 AM
6 AM Tuesday morning #HurricaneMelissa approaches Jamaica. Horrifying next 24 hours
says Dr. Shepherd. Pray. Been at this a long-time one of the most horrific, well-formed hurricanes I have ever seen. 175 mph winds and a direct landfall looming
says Dr. Shepherd. Pray. Been at this a long-time one of the most horrific, well-formed hurricanes I have ever seen. 175 mph winds and a direct landfall looming
Reposted by Jon Petters
worth updating immediately to speed up Google Drive performance. "use as default" was checked for me too
October 27, 2025 at 5:50 PM
worth updating immediately to speed up Google Drive performance. "use as default" was checked for me too
Reposted by Jon Petters
the democratic party’s basic problem is it has almost no control over how its message reaches the ears of voters, especially outside of presidential election years. but rather than devote serious time, attention and cash to that problem its consultants and pundits want to fight factional battles
October 27, 2025 at 6:29 PM
the democratic party’s basic problem is it has almost no control over how its message reaches the ears of voters, especially outside of presidential election years. but rather than devote serious time, attention and cash to that problem its consultants and pundits want to fight factional battles
Reposted by Jon Petters
"Data available upon request"
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.
"The bathroom. It's... bad."
"The bathroom. It's... bad."
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.
Mandatory mid-semester LMS migration.
Mandatory mid-semester LMS migration.
October 13, 2025 at 1:48 PM
"Data available upon request"
Reposted by Jon Petters
When you could code silly quizzes on Facebook, it was FULL of "what would you be in medieval times?!" etc.
I made one that nearly always answered "died as a child", "died in childbirth", "lived and died as a servant"
People got SUPER mad with it.
Everyone assumes they'll be at the top of the tree
I made one that nearly always answered "died as a child", "died in childbirth", "lived and died as a servant"
People got SUPER mad with it.
Everyone assumes they'll be at the top of the tree
The subtext of ‘we should be more like Dubai’, beyond the obvious racism, is ‘I should have a servant’.
October 8, 2025 at 12:08 PM
When you could code silly quizzes on Facebook, it was FULL of "what would you be in medieval times?!" etc.
I made one that nearly always answered "died as a child", "died in childbirth", "lived and died as a servant"
People got SUPER mad with it.
Everyone assumes they'll be at the top of the tree
I made one that nearly always answered "died as a child", "died in childbirth", "lived and died as a servant"
People got SUPER mad with it.
Everyone assumes they'll be at the top of the tree
Reposted by Jon Petters
I just saw someone use the abbreviation “AI;DR” and I’ll be laughing for a while.
October 6, 2025 at 10:00 PM
I just saw someone use the abbreviation “AI;DR” and I’ll be laughing for a while.
Reposted by Jon Petters
Today on my blog: some thoughts on the best data management strategies for collaboration: dataabinitio.com?p=1204
What's your best data tip for collaborative research?
What's your best data tip for collaborative research?
Data Management for Collaborations » Data Ab Initio
dataabinitio.com
October 6, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Today on my blog: some thoughts on the best data management strategies for collaboration: dataabinitio.com?p=1204
What's your best data tip for collaborative research?
What's your best data tip for collaborative research?
Reposted by Jon Petters
happy sunday, remember that you are completely expendable to your employer and that when you die they will forget you ever existed within weeks and easily replace you
October 5, 2025 at 2:25 PM
happy sunday, remember that you are completely expendable to your employer and that when you die they will forget you ever existed within weeks and easily replace you
Reposted by Jon Petters
A leading Democrat in the Senate just released an important report documenting how NASA has been working to implement the president's proposed budget, not Congressionally approved funds, in slashing missions. Read more ⬇️
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), top Democrat on Senate Commerce Cmte, is out with a Democratic staff report: "The Destruction of NASA's Mission: Whistleblowers Reveal OMB's Unconstitutional Plot to Gut the Agency."
www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
September 29, 2025 at 2:13 PM
A leading Democrat in the Senate just released an important report documenting how NASA has been working to implement the president's proposed budget, not Congressionally approved funds, in slashing missions. Read more ⬇️
Reposted by Jon Petters
Coming soon! The Data Management Workbook by @kbriney.bsky.social 📖
Learn more and preorder your copy ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/3bkdjce6
#datamanagement #dataanalysis #statistics #researchdata
Learn more and preorder your copy ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/3bkdjce6
#datamanagement #dataanalysis #statistics #researchdata
September 19, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Coming soon! The Data Management Workbook by @kbriney.bsky.social 📖
Learn more and preorder your copy ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/3bkdjce6
#datamanagement #dataanalysis #statistics #researchdata
Learn more and preorder your copy ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/3bkdjce6
#datamanagement #dataanalysis #statistics #researchdata
Reposted by Jon Petters
The key problem with what Ezra Klein says here is that he fails – or is unwilling – to grapple with the fundamental reality of the political conflict: The movement that dominates today’s Right fully rejects the very idea of “living here with each other” as equals. That’s their defining position.
"All I can say for me in the work I do is that I want to create a space that takes our disagreements seriously, that takes the stakes of them seriously, the consequences for people seriously, but does so without deepening our divisions irreparably. We are going to have to live here with each other"
September 18, 2025 at 12:10 PM
The key problem with what Ezra Klein says here is that he fails – or is unwilling – to grapple with the fundamental reality of the political conflict: The movement that dominates today’s Right fully rejects the very idea of “living here with each other” as equals. That’s their defining position.
Reposted by Jon Petters
The big story here is of an agency of dedicated statisticians and public servants working tirelessly to improve economic data in a climate of budgetary cuts to data collection. They have been very innovative in meeting that mandate. But we should also just fund our economic infrastructure.
Important to remember that thanks to the dedicated public servants at BLS, employment estimates have become MORE accurate over time
And the final version of the preliminary revision reported today will probably be smaller when it is incorporated early next year
And the final version of the preliminary revision reported today will probably be smaller when it is incorporated early next year
The preliminary benchmark revision of -911K amounts to -0.6% to March 2025 payroll employment. Combined with 2-month revisions, recent total revisions are big but hardly unprecedented, & smoothed over the business cycle the payroll survey has gotten more accurate over time.
September 9, 2025 at 4:27 PM
The big story here is of an agency of dedicated statisticians and public servants working tirelessly to improve economic data in a climate of budgetary cuts to data collection. They have been very innovative in meeting that mandate. But we should also just fund our economic infrastructure.
Reposted by Jon Petters
Finally! 🤩 Our position piece: Against the Uncritical Adoption of 'AI' Technologies in Academia:
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
September 6, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Finally! 🤩 Our position piece: Against the Uncritical Adoption of 'AI' Technologies in Academia:
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
Reposted by Jon Petters
If Biden had said even one-tenth of this, he’d have been impeached and removed as a dictator. What is wrong with our elites? They’re paralyzed by their fear of looking unsavvy or biased against MAGA. They’re going to keep pretending everything is normal until the bullet passes through their face
How is this not a screaming massive headline across every news site? This is insane, a virtual declaration of civil war. We fought a revolution to not be subjected to this kind of tyranny
September 6, 2025 at 5:14 PM
If Biden had said even one-tenth of this, he’d have been impeached and removed as a dictator. What is wrong with our elites? They’re paralyzed by their fear of looking unsavvy or biased against MAGA. They’re going to keep pretending everything is normal until the bullet passes through their face