Lauren Tompkins
@ltbikes.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Physics @ Stanford
Reposted by Lauren Tompkins
Agree 100% @stanfordaaup.bsky.social!
“When it inevitably comes time for Stanford to choose, we must remember that we owe our loyalty not to any executive branch official but to our own foundational principles. We must be ready, when it’s our turn, to walk away.”
stanforddaily.com/2025/10/12/f...
“When it inevitably comes time for Stanford to choose, we must remember that we owe our loyalty not to any executive branch official but to our own foundational principles. We must be ready, when it’s our turn, to walk away.”
stanforddaily.com/2025/10/12/f...
From the Community | We must refuse the 'Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education'
Associate professor Greg Martin writes on behalf of the Stanford's AAUP chapter to condemn the White House's compact on higher education.
stanforddaily.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Agree 100% @stanfordaaup.bsky.social!
“When it inevitably comes time for Stanford to choose, we must remember that we owe our loyalty not to any executive branch official but to our own foundational principles. We must be ready, when it’s our turn, to walk away.”
stanforddaily.com/2025/10/12/f...
“When it inevitably comes time for Stanford to choose, we must remember that we owe our loyalty not to any executive branch official but to our own foundational principles. We must be ready, when it’s our turn, to walk away.”
stanforddaily.com/2025/10/12/f...
Reposted by Lauren Tompkins
So grateful to write for @dissentmag.bsky.social's Fall 2025 issue "Authoritarianism and Resistance." I drafted the piece in June with the new school year in mind, as an immigrant scholar severed from her homeland: What can we teach the young about how to exist and persist at this historic juncture?
To Outlive Tyranny - Dissent Magazine
Flesh and blood alone cannot halt the advance of iron and steel. To stop the tanks, we need people to place blocks on the road and throw sand into the gears.
www.dissentmagazine.org
September 8, 2025 at 8:04 PM
So grateful to write for @dissentmag.bsky.social's Fall 2025 issue "Authoritarianism and Resistance." I drafted the piece in June with the new school year in mind, as an immigrant scholar severed from her homeland: What can we teach the young about how to exist and persist at this historic juncture?
The singular @yangyangcheng.bsky.social
"A campus cannot insulate the young from the horrors of this world; what it can do is equip them with courage, camaraderie, and critical thinking. Let fear keep us honest. Let uncertainty manifest possibility."
www.dissentmagazine.org/article/to-o...
"A campus cannot insulate the young from the horrors of this world; what it can do is equip them with courage, camaraderie, and critical thinking. Let fear keep us honest. Let uncertainty manifest possibility."
www.dissentmagazine.org/article/to-o...
To Outlive Tyranny - Dissent Magazine
Flesh and blood alone cannot halt the advance of iron and steel. To stop the tanks, we need people to place blocks on the road and throw sand into the gears.
www.dissentmagazine.org
September 8, 2025 at 11:09 PM
The singular @yangyangcheng.bsky.social
"A campus cannot insulate the young from the horrors of this world; what it can do is equip them with courage, camaraderie, and critical thinking. Let fear keep us honest. Let uncertainty manifest possibility."
www.dissentmagazine.org/article/to-o...
"A campus cannot insulate the young from the horrors of this world; what it can do is equip them with courage, camaraderie, and critical thinking. Let fear keep us honest. Let uncertainty manifest possibility."
www.dissentmagazine.org/article/to-o...
Oakland showed up!
This time-lapse video of protesters marching down Broadway in Oakland for No Kings Day gives an idea of how many people turned out today @sfchronicle.com
June 15, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Oakland showed up!
I love a good plot, and these are good plots. But it’s also devastating.
June 1, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I love a good plot, and these are good plots. But it’s also devastating.
100% agree that the only response is collective action -- across universities and beyond!
No no no! These university leaders don’t get it. If you negotiate one on one you don’t buy peace; you just expose the whole sector and yourselves to more shakedowns. See law firms.
The only response is to unite in collective action and fight the Admin’s illegality. www.cnn.com/2025/05/31/p...
The only response is to unite in collective action and fight the Admin’s illegality. www.cnn.com/2025/05/31/p...
Universities quietly negotiating with White House aide to try to avoid Harvard’s fate, source says | CNN Politics
College and university leaders have been privately negotiating with a deputy to top Trump aide Stephen Miller in hopes of avoiding the same aggressive targeting of Harvard University, a person familia...
www.cnn.com
May 31, 2025 at 3:53 PM
100% agree that the only response is collective action -- across universities and beyond!
Reposted by Lauren Tompkins
And from Nature. @ucs.org president Gretchen Goldman suggests the EO steamrolls longstanding efforts to create a buffer between science and politics, putting US scientists and science under the thumb of political appointees like HHS secretary RFK Jr.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Trump’s call for ‘gold standard science’ has prompted an outcry: here’s why
Thousands have signed an open letter against the US president’s latest order, anxious about political interference in science and more.
www.nature.com
May 28, 2025 at 11:08 PM
And from Nature. @ucs.org president Gretchen Goldman suggests the EO steamrolls longstanding efforts to create a buffer between science and politics, putting US scientists and science under the thumb of political appointees like HHS secretary RFK Jr.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Making it clear, once again, that the administration is trying to bribe or strong-arm universities into ideological fealty with research funding and international students.
Linda McMahon: "Universities should continue to be able to do research as long as they're abiding by the laws and in sync, I think, with the administration and what the administration is trying to accomplish."
May 29, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Making it clear, once again, that the administration is trying to bribe or strong-arm universities into ideological fealty with research funding and international students.
Our White Plaza rally is also about protecting international students! Education should be open to all. See the flyer made by our awesome student organizers. Faculty 🤝 Students 🤝 Staff 🤝 Public @stanfordaaup.bsky.social @aaup.bsky.social
May 29, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Our White Plaza rally is also about protecting international students! Education should be open to all. See the flyer made by our awesome student organizers. Faculty 🤝 Students 🤝 Staff 🤝 Public @stanfordaaup.bsky.social @aaup.bsky.social
So excited to have Hakeem as one of our speakers! Let's get fired up!
Stanford folks: I’ll be one of the speakers at the Rally to Defend Education and Research this Friday (May 30), 12–2 PM in White Plaza.
If you care about academic freedom and the role of universities in a democracy, now’s the time to show up.
Hope to see many of y’all there!
If you care about academic freedom and the role of universities in a democracy, now’s the time to show up.
Hope to see many of y’all there!
May 28, 2025 at 10:09 PM
So excited to have Hakeem as one of our speakers! Let's get fired up!
"And so just when we most need to act — while there is indeed room for action and some momentum to the resistance — we tend to be lulled into complacency by the sense of relief on the one hand and boredom on the other."
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/o...
Opinion | Beware: We Are Entering a New Phase of the Trump Era
www.nytimes.com
May 28, 2025 at 10:05 PM
"And so just when we most need to act — while there is indeed room for action and some momentum to the resistance — we tend to be lulled into complacency by the sense of relief on the one hand and boredom on the other."
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/o...
Lowest science funding in decades. 85% less physics funding so far this year.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
May 24, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Lowest science funding in decades. 85% less physics funding so far this year.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Let's Rally Stanford!!!!! Next Friday I'll be speaking about TAKING ACTION this summer.
👀⚛️🔭🧪🔬
RALLY TO DEFEND EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
MAY 30, 12:00-2:00 PM
WHITE PLAZA, STANFORD
RALLY TO DEFEND EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
MAY 30, 12:00-2:00 PM
WHITE PLAZA, STANFORD
May 23, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Let's Rally Stanford!!!!! Next Friday I'll be speaking about TAKING ACTION this summer.
Scientists and science-lovers, it's so important to tell these stories of the impact of federally funded science!
May 23, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Scientists and science-lovers, it's so important to tell these stories of the impact of federally funded science!
Reposted by Lauren Tompkins
🚨🚨 Alarming NSF policy update
By accepting an NSF award, an institution now must say it's:
1. Not engaging in boycotts of Israel (yes really)
2. Not advancing or promoting DEI in violation of anti-discrimination laws
Announced via a footnote today: nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/gc1-ma...
By accepting an NSF award, an institution now must say it's:
1. Not engaging in boycotts of Israel (yes really)
2. Not advancing or promoting DEI in violation of anti-discrimination laws
Announced via a footnote today: nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/gc1-ma...
May 19, 2025 at 11:40 PM
🚨🚨 Alarming NSF policy update
By accepting an NSF award, an institution now must say it's:
1. Not engaging in boycotts of Israel (yes really)
2. Not advancing or promoting DEI in violation of anti-discrimination laws
Announced via a footnote today: nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/gc1-ma...
By accepting an NSF award, an institution now must say it's:
1. Not engaging in boycotts of Israel (yes really)
2. Not advancing or promoting DEI in violation of anti-discrimination laws
Announced via a footnote today: nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/gc1-ma...
Reposted by Lauren Tompkins
Women are PIs on 34% of all NSF grants, while 4% of PIs are Black. Nonetheless, these two groups account for 58% and 17%, respectively, of grant terminations.
This is not a challenging chi-square to calculate.
www.science.org/content/arti...
This is not a challenging chi-square to calculate.
www.science.org/content/arti...
Trump officials take steps toward a radically different NSF
Efforts to shrink staff, budget, and focus have alarmed members of Congress
www.science.org
May 14, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Women are PIs on 34% of all NSF grants, while 4% of PIs are Black. Nonetheless, these two groups account for 58% and 17%, respectively, of grant terminations.
This is not a challenging chi-square to calculate.
www.science.org/content/arti...
This is not a challenging chi-square to calculate.
www.science.org/content/arti...
"Many scientists to whom we have spoken advocate for silence because they fear further funding cuts. We are aware that many scientists seem to be putting funding and immediate job security ahead of civil liberties and academic autonomy."
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
US researchers must stand up to protect freedoms, not just funding
Curtailment of freedoms and disregard for the rule of law in the United States is destroying the ability of science to serve the nation’s, and the world’s, interests. Researchers can take action.
www.nature.com
May 13, 2025 at 8:47 PM
"Many scientists to whom we have spoken advocate for silence because they fear further funding cuts. We are aware that many scientists seem to be putting funding and immediate job security ahead of civil liberties and academic autonomy."
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Lauren Tompkins
Note that this groundbreaking discovery made at @stanfordmedicine.bsky.social was made possible by no fewer than six NIH grants. There is enormous public value that comes from government-supported research.
med.stanford.edu/news/all-new...
med.stanford.edu/news/all-new...
Stanford Medicine researchers develop RNA blood test to detect cancers, other clues
Stanford Medicine researchers have created a liquid biopsy test capable of detecting cancers, molecular mechanisms of resistance to treatment and tissue injury.
med.stanford.edu
April 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Note that this groundbreaking discovery made at @stanfordmedicine.bsky.social was made possible by no fewer than six NIH grants. There is enormous public value that comes from government-supported research.
med.stanford.edu/news/all-new...
med.stanford.edu/news/all-new...
There are huge cuts proposed for Nasa's science budget. So much knowledge about the universe would be lost if they go through! See the open letter below for details and contact your congress people!
We, along with a powerful coalition of science, industry, and advocacy groups, released a joint letter today urging congressional leaders to push back against potential cuts to space science. Read the letter and join us in standing up for space science: www.planetary.org/press-releas...
Science, industry, and advocacy groups unite in opposition to deep…
A coalition of leading space industry organizations, scientific societies, and public advocacy groups are submitting a joint letter to Congress opposing…
www.planetary.org
April 30, 2025 at 7:01 PM
There are huge cuts proposed for Nasa's science budget. So much knowledge about the universe would be lost if they go through! See the open letter below for details and contact your congress people!
@aipstats.bsky.social just released new data on the impacts of funding cuts on physics & astronomy programs. 600 fewer grad students, more reductions expected for 2026. ww2.aip.org/statistics/i...
Impacts of Restrictions on Federal Grant Funding in Physics and Astronomy Graduate Programs
ww2.aip.org
April 23, 2025 at 7:08 PM
@aipstats.bsky.social just released new data on the impacts of funding cuts on physics & astronomy programs. 600 fewer grad students, more reductions expected for 2026. ww2.aip.org/statistics/i...
Scientists, don't want the stewards of our national science programs to be replaced with people passing political fealty tests? Submit your public comment opposing the schedule F change here: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
www.govexec.com/workforce/20...
www.govexec.com/workforce/20...
OPM proposes rule to formally revive Schedule F
The federal government’s dedicated HR agency estimates that 50,000 federal workers will be stripped of their civil service protections and become at-will employees.
www.govexec.com
April 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Scientists, don't want the stewards of our national science programs to be replaced with people passing political fealty tests? Submit your public comment opposing the schedule F change here: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
www.govexec.com/workforce/20...
www.govexec.com/workforce/20...
Reposted by Lauren Tompkins
SCIENTISTS: The proposed Schedule F is out. It has potential to undermine or destroy merit-based science.
Rules/regulations have the force of law. This rule may put peer review in the hands of political appointees.
Make your public comment here: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Rules/regulations have the force of law. This rule may put peer review in the hands of political appointees.
Make your public comment here: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Improving Performance, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Civil Service
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is proposing a rule to increase career employee accountability. Agency supervisors report great difficulty removing employees for poor performance or misconduc...
www.federalregister.gov
April 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
SCIENTISTS: The proposed Schedule F is out. It has potential to undermine or destroy merit-based science.
Rules/regulations have the force of law. This rule may put peer review in the hands of political appointees.
Make your public comment here: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Rules/regulations have the force of law. This rule may put peer review in the hands of political appointees.
Make your public comment here: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Making an argument with evidence rather than vibes. Imagine that! 🔥 from my colleague @hakeemjefferson.bsky.social
A colleague at Stanford’s business school used The Stanford Daily to argue—poorly—against DEI. The piece was riddled with historical errors and left one searching for fact, so I broke my public writing hiatus to respond.
I hope you’ll read and share the piece.
stanforddaily.com/2025/04/22/w...
I hope you’ll read and share the piece.
stanforddaily.com/2025/04/22/w...
What DEI threatens isn’t merit. It’s monopoly.
Political science professor Hakeem Jefferson argues for DEI's importance to de-monopolizing universities.
stanforddaily.com
April 23, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Making an argument with evidence rather than vibes. Imagine that! 🔥 from my colleague @hakeemjefferson.bsky.social
"These data are a call to action for greater storytelling around the indispensability of public health and science. ... these stories should also be told at the individual level, within personal networks, as well as the organizational and institutional level by professional organizations/societies"
📣To what extent is the U.S. public aware of firing of federal workers, canceling of research grants, or removal of public data that’s disrupting public health and science? Members of our team fielded a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults in late March. www.milbank.org/quarterly/op... 1/
Public Awareness of Threats to Public Health and Science in March 2025 | Milbank Memorial Fund
Our survey found that a high proportion of the American public (almost 80%) had heard about the firing of federal scientists and health workers, and a substantial number had heard of federal cuts to h...
www.milbank.org
April 22, 2025 at 10:30 PM
"These data are a call to action for greater storytelling around the indispensability of public health and science. ... these stories should also be told at the individual level, within personal networks, as well as the organizational and institutional level by professional organizations/societies"