Mary D. Willis
@marydwillis.bsky.social
Assistant Prof of Epidemiology @ Boston University School of Public Health | Interested in envi epi + energy policy + infrastructure hazards | she/her
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
@marydwillis.bsky.social and I published a paper published today in Environmental Research Letters! iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1... We found that about 46.6 million people in the US, or about 14.1% of the US population, live within a mile of a piece of energy infrastructure. Why do we care? 🛟 |💡🔌
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iopscience.iop.org
November 18, 2025 at 3:24 AM
@marydwillis.bsky.social and I published a paper published today in Environmental Research Letters! iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1... We found that about 46.6 million people in the US, or about 14.1% of the US population, live within a mile of a piece of energy infrastructure. Why do we care? 🛟 |💡🔌
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
"Our results represent a substantial population in the U.S. that is potentially exposed to hazards that are not well-characterized, with unknown cumulative impacts, and which constitute a major environmental justice issue."
Wow, it's like ... racism ... but almost ... *systemic* ...
Wow, it's like ... racism ... but almost ... *systemic* ...
November 17, 2025 at 6:39 PM
"Our results represent a substantial population in the U.S. that is potentially exposed to hazards that are not well-characterized, with unknown cumulative impacts, and which constitute a major environmental justice issue."
Wow, it's like ... racism ... but almost ... *systemic* ...
Wow, it's like ... racism ... but almost ... *systemic* ...
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
NEW STUDY: More than 14% of people in the contiguous United States reside within a mile of at least one piece of #FossilFuel infrastructure. Authors: @jjbuonocore.bsky.social & @marydwillis.bsky.social. @bostonu.bsky.social
Story: www.bu.edu/igs/2025/11/...
Story: www.bu.edu/igs/2025/11/...
November 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM
NEW STUDY: More than 14% of people in the contiguous United States reside within a mile of at least one piece of #FossilFuel infrastructure. Authors: @jjbuonocore.bsky.social & @marydwillis.bsky.social. @bostonu.bsky.social
Story: www.bu.edu/igs/2025/11/...
Story: www.bu.edu/igs/2025/11/...
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
On a day when all research grants at Harvard were terminated, and in a context where Congress seems to broadly accept the notion that destroying science and health research in the US is fine, it’s worth noting that this is not what the public wants.
The American public is broadly supportive of maintaining federal science and medical research funding, and against punishing universities by taking their funding away, according to a new poll:
Few support punitive funding cuts to colleges and universities - AP-NORC
Most of the public believes that colleges and universities make significant contributions to scientific and technological advancement and think their federal research funding should be maintained.
apnorc.org
May 15, 2025 at 9:54 PM
On a day when all research grants at Harvard were terminated, and in a context where Congress seems to broadly accept the notion that destroying science and health research in the US is fine, it’s worth noting that this is not what the public wants.
Excited to be quoted in @theguardian.com on the complex impacts of #crypto mines for local communities! If you're curious about this topic, check out this thoughtful article by Niamh Rowe - bonus discussion about our team's emerging research in this space.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
How Trump’s love for crypto threatens US residents’ peace: ‘I just want quiet’
Cryptocurrency mining facilities can blanket towns with ‘constant’ noise. They’re likely to get louder under Trump
www.theguardian.com
May 4, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Excited to be quoted in @theguardian.com on the complex impacts of #crypto mines for local communities! If you're curious about this topic, check out this thoughtful article by Niamh Rowe - bonus discussion about our team's emerging research in this space.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
📣 Call for Travel Award Reviewers 📣
If you did not submit an app, you are eligible to review and help make #ISESISEE2025 a success! 😄
Email us at travelawards@iseepi.org with the subject "ISEE Travel Award Reviewer". Thank you in advance for your help! 🥰
If you did not submit an app, you are eligible to review and help make #ISESISEE2025 a success! 😄
Email us at travelawards@iseepi.org with the subject "ISEE Travel Award Reviewer". Thank you in advance for your help! 🥰
April 25, 2025 at 12:00 AM
📣 Call for Travel Award Reviewers 📣
If you did not submit an app, you are eligible to review and help make #ISESISEE2025 a success! 😄
Email us at travelawards@iseepi.org with the subject "ISEE Travel Award Reviewer". Thank you in advance for your help! 🥰
If you did not submit an app, you are eligible to review and help make #ISESISEE2025 a success! 😄
Email us at travelawards@iseepi.org with the subject "ISEE Travel Award Reviewer". Thank you in advance for your help! 🥰
There's no energy policy left in the U.S. - literally none, everything was repealed in the EO on April 9.
Our new #openaccess pub synthesizes the science on why the proliferation of fossil fuels is bad news for society, including health & justice.
academic.oup.com/oocc/article...
Our new #openaccess pub synthesizes the science on why the proliferation of fossil fuels is bad news for society, including health & justice.
academic.oup.com/oocc/article...
April 15, 2025 at 1:52 AM
There's no energy policy left in the U.S. - literally none, everything was repealed in the EO on April 9.
Our new #openaccess pub synthesizes the science on why the proliferation of fossil fuels is bad news for society, including health & justice.
academic.oup.com/oocc/article...
Our new #openaccess pub synthesizes the science on why the proliferation of fossil fuels is bad news for society, including health & justice.
academic.oup.com/oocc/article...
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
www.bu.edu/sph/news/art...
If you don't want to read the whole paper by @marydwillis.bsky.social, @naomioreskes.bsky.social , myself, and many others...
If you don't want to read the whole paper by @marydwillis.bsky.social, @naomioreskes.bsky.social , myself, and many others...
Top Scientists Issue Urgent Warning on Fossil Fuels
In a new review, Mary Willis, Jonathan Buonocore, and other environmental health experts detail how fossil fuels are harmful to humans, wildlife, and the environment, and identify ways to transition t...
www.bu.edu
April 14, 2025 at 3:49 PM
www.bu.edu/sph/news/art...
If you don't want to read the whole paper by @marydwillis.bsky.social, @naomioreskes.bsky.social , myself, and many others...
If you don't want to read the whole paper by @marydwillis.bsky.social, @naomioreskes.bsky.social , myself, and many others...
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
Hands Off Protest in the Boston Common
April 5, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Hands Off Protest in the Boston Common
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
The indirect cost issue has moved to the background for the moment, but it will be back.
Here is a short thread about indirect costs. I have posted a Powerpoint deck with these slides in the Miscellaneous Materials folder on jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...
1/n
Here is a short thread about indirect costs. I have posted a Powerpoint deck with these slides in the Miscellaneous Materials folder on jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...
1/n
NIH_since_1_20_25
jeremymberg.github.io
April 3, 2025 at 12:27 PM
The indirect cost issue has moved to the background for the moment, but it will be back.
Here is a short thread about indirect costs. I have posted a Powerpoint deck with these slides in the Miscellaneous Materials folder on jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...
1/n
Here is a short thread about indirect costs. I have posted a Powerpoint deck with these slides in the Miscellaneous Materials folder on jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...
1/n
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
I'm really happy to have been a part of this, with @marydwillis.bsky.social @naomioreskes.bsky.social and a whole bunch of other people that aren't on here yet (sorry if you are and I can't find you!) academic.oup.com/oocc/article...
Scientists’ warning on fossil fuels
Abstract. The evidence is clear that fossil fuels—and the fossil fuel industry and its enablers—are driving a multitude of interlinked crises that jeopardi
academic.oup.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I'm really happy to have been a part of this, with @marydwillis.bsky.social @naomioreskes.bsky.social and a whole bunch of other people that aren't on here yet (sorry if you are and I can't find you!) academic.oup.com/oocc/article...
Check out our latest paper on the societal harms of fossil fuels - this narrative review covers the science from a wide range of domains including public health, environmental justice, wildlife diversity, and petrochemical pollution ⬇️
Scientists are warning: Fossil fuels and the fossil fuel industry drive the climate crisis, harm public health, worsen environmental injustice, and accelerate wildlife extinction.
Read the paper: scientistswarningonfossilfuels.org
Read the paper: scientistswarningonfossilfuels.org
March 31, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Check out our latest paper on the societal harms of fossil fuels - this narrative review covers the science from a wide range of domains including public health, environmental justice, wildlife diversity, and petrochemical pollution ⬇️
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
🚨 Scientists: If your NIH grant was terminated like all of mine, help us uncover why 👇👇👇
We've been monitoring terminations from the start & are now diving into the data 🔍
Your research is crucial for health & a thriving democracy! ✊
#HealthEquity #MedSky #PublicHealth #NIH #Autocracy #Democracy
We've been monitoring terminations from the start & are now diving into the data 🔍
Your research is crucial for health & a thriving democracy! ✊
#HealthEquity #MedSky #PublicHealth #NIH #Autocracy #Democracy
🚀 Big reveal! Introducing our interactive table on NIH grant terminations, supercharged from the original Google tracker! 📊👇
Help us uncover which NIH grants are tagged for termination and why! 🕵️🔍
1 / 🧵
#HealthEquity #MedSky #PublicHealth
Help us uncover which NIH grants are tagged for termination and why! 🕵️🔍
1 / 🧵
#HealthEquity #MedSky #PublicHealth
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airtable.com
March 30, 2025 at 3:41 PM
🚨 Scientists: If your NIH grant was terminated like all of mine, help us uncover why 👇👇👇
We've been monitoring terminations from the start & are now diving into the data 🔍
Your research is crucial for health & a thriving democracy! ✊
#HealthEquity #MedSky #PublicHealth #NIH #Autocracy #Democracy
We've been monitoring terminations from the start & are now diving into the data 🔍
Your research is crucial for health & a thriving democracy! ✊
#HealthEquity #MedSky #PublicHealth #NIH #Autocracy #Democracy
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
Federal immigration authorities late Tuesday detained a Tufts PhD student who is a Turkish national, her attorney and community activists said.
Federal immigration authorities detain Tufts graduate student - The Boston Globe
In an email Tuesday night, Tufts University President Sunil Kumar said the school received reports that the student was taken into custody outside an off-campus apartment building in Somerville.
www.bostonglobe.com
March 26, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Federal immigration authorities late Tuesday detained a Tufts PhD student who is a Turkish national, her attorney and community activists said.
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
Jay Bhattacharya’s confirmation is done. 53-47 on party lines. Senate Democrats did not use maximal obstruction to slow it.
No matter. It’s now in the past. We fight the next fight.
No matter. It’s now in the past. We fight the next fight.
March 26, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Jay Bhattacharya’s confirmation is done. 53-47 on party lines. Senate Democrats did not use maximal obstruction to slow it.
No matter. It’s now in the past. We fight the next fight.
No matter. It’s now in the past. We fight the next fight.
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
There are days in life that shake you.
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
March 18, 2025 at 11:27 PM
There are days in life that shake you.
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
The #NIH termination notice stated that "this award no longer effectuates agency priorities" & that research programs based on "amorphous equity objectives" are considered "antithetical to scientific inquiry."🪡
March 22, 2025 at 7:11 PM
The #NIH termination notice stated that "this award no longer effectuates agency priorities" & that research programs based on "amorphous equity objectives" are considered "antithetical to scientific inquiry."🪡
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
🧵Yesterday, I received notice that my #NIH grant, on the social environment, lifecourse, epigenetics & #birthoutcomes in Black families, was terminated. This grant represented a critical effort to address the ⬆️ rates of maternal & infant mortality in the US, particularly among Black mothers & babies
March 22, 2025 at 7:11 PM
🧵Yesterday, I received notice that my #NIH grant, on the social environment, lifecourse, epigenetics & #birthoutcomes in Black families, was terminated. This grant represented a critical effort to address the ⬆️ rates of maternal & infant mortality in the US, particularly among Black mothers & babies
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
When you unintentionally highlight how efficient the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid office is
March 20, 2025 at 9:34 PM
When you unintentionally highlight how efficient the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid office is
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
Trump and Musk are going after Columbia for "antisemitism" and Hopkins for "DEI" and Penn for "trans spts".
Why those issues?
Because this is the start of an authoritarian soft takeover of ALL universities.
Those issues are just politically convenient because they draw some support from Dems. 1/
Why those issues?
Because this is the start of an authoritarian soft takeover of ALL universities.
Those issues are just politically convenient because they draw some support from Dems. 1/
They are coming for every university, if you think you’re safe because it hasn’t been yours yet I don’t know what to tell you. Join AAUP, refuse to comply, organize your colleagues
Trump administration freezes $175 million in federal funding to Penn
According to a White House tweet, Wednesday's decision is a result of Penn's
www.thedp.com
March 19, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Trump and Musk are going after Columbia for "antisemitism" and Hopkins for "DEI" and Penn for "trans spts".
Why those issues?
Because this is the start of an authoritarian soft takeover of ALL universities.
Those issues are just politically convenient because they draw some support from Dems. 1/
Why those issues?
Because this is the start of an authoritarian soft takeover of ALL universities.
Those issues are just politically convenient because they draw some support from Dems. 1/
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
Grateful to @katherinejwu.com of @theatlantic.com for being responsive, thorough, and reflective when I asked if she'd tackle this story!
In the hours since publication, however, our work has entirely changed...
1/🧵
In the hours since publication, however, our work has entirely changed...
1/🧵
The NIH’s Grant Terminations Are ‘Utter and Complete Chaos’
The Trump administration is rapidly canceling hundreds of grants, in the most aggressive attack yet on American science.
www.theatlantic.com
March 15, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Grateful to @katherinejwu.com of @theatlantic.com for being responsive, thorough, and reflective when I asked if she'd tackle this story!
In the hours since publication, however, our work has entirely changed...
1/🧵
In the hours since publication, however, our work has entirely changed...
1/🧵
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
RFK Jr. promised under oath not to undermine vaccine access.
I talked with @theatlantic.com about the many ways he has broken that promise -- including his efforts to undermine vaccine promotion research -- during his first month as HHS Secretary.
I talked with @theatlantic.com about the many ways he has broken that promise -- including his efforts to undermine vaccine promotion research -- during his first month as HHS Secretary.
In just over a month on the job, RFK Jr. has taken more steps against vaccines than perhaps any other top health official in modern American history, writes Nicholas Florko.
The Quiet Assault on Vaccines
The Trump administration’s anti-vaccine playbook is becoming clear.
www.theatlantic.com
March 15, 2025 at 12:06 PM
RFK Jr. promised under oath not to undermine vaccine access.
I talked with @theatlantic.com about the many ways he has broken that promise -- including his efforts to undermine vaccine promotion research -- during his first month as HHS Secretary.
I talked with @theatlantic.com about the many ways he has broken that promise -- including his efforts to undermine vaccine promotion research -- during his first month as HHS Secretary.
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
I'm just a small-town professor. I'll never be a provost or chancellor. But here's some free advice: we're about to hold the most watched college sports event in 🇺🇸. Every college president should be all over TV, at every game, explaining why the March Madness of federal budget cuts is a huge crisis.
👇🎯 The public isn't going to understand this, unless the presidents of R1 universities around the country <loudly> & <collectively> get out into the public square & start explaining this & calling out the existential threat to the entire 🇺🇸 university system. The silence is deafening right now.
The public really needs to understand this. Every university system in the world rests on public funding, there has never been an alternative model at any time in history.
We have universities for literally the same reason that we have roads and armies.
We have universities for literally the same reason that we have roads and armies.
March 8, 2025 at 9:20 PM
I'm just a small-town professor. I'll never be a provost or chancellor. But here's some free advice: we're about to hold the most watched college sports event in 🇺🇸. Every college president should be all over TV, at every game, explaining why the March Madness of federal budget cuts is a huge crisis.
Reposted by Mary D. Willis
Our new paper out in STOTEN (with @marydwillis.bsky.social, @jonlevybu.bsky.social + many others) shows ~342 deaths per year due to air pollution from vehicle air pollution around Boston. The biggest driver of impacts? SUVs and other light duty trucks. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A high resolution multipollutant assessment of health damages due to the onroad sector in Boston, Massachusetts
Onroad vehicular emissions can adversely affect the health of people both near-road and regionally through exposure to O3, NO2, and PM2.5. While multi…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 25, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Our new paper out in STOTEN (with @marydwillis.bsky.social, @jonlevybu.bsky.social + many others) shows ~342 deaths per year due to air pollution from vehicle air pollution around Boston. The biggest driver of impacts? SUVs and other light duty trucks. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...