Meredith Schmehl, PhD
@meredithschmehl.com
Neuroscientist supporting #OpenScience @HHMI.org
Connecting science & society through #SciPol, #SciComm, & community building for a more equitable & informed future
Past:
📢 Comms @ National SciPol Network
🧠 Ph.D. @DukeBrain.bsky.social
🧬 B.S. x2 @CMU.edu
Connecting science & society through #SciPol, #SciComm, & community building for a more equitable & informed future
Past:
📢 Comms @ National SciPol Network
🧠 Ph.D. @DukeBrain.bsky.social
🧬 B.S. x2 @CMU.edu
Pinned
I am pretty tired of this argument. Journal articles and books are sometimes not widely accessible (although some are), but academics speak much more often to the public now, through the media, op eds, trade books, and public lectures, than in the past and anti-intellectualism has grown.
The failure of academia to explain things in layperson terms (up until some efforts recently) is one of the reasons for anti-intellectualism.
When you make science inaccessible, people will opt for those who sell easier solutions.
When you make science inaccessible, people will opt for those who sell easier solutions.
One of my biggest frustrations as someone who is frequently labeled by others as a “scicommer” is that people tend to see communication as the end goal, rather than a means to a broader end.
If #SciComm isn’t rooted in policy, advocacy, and meaningful community engagement…what is the point?
If #SciComm isn’t rooted in policy, advocacy, and meaningful community engagement…what is the point?
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
Join us for the second half of #CMUOSS25 beginning now! We'll be talking new and evolving forms of evaluation for all kinds of open scholarly outputs with Rachel Kurchin, @cplong.org, and @meredithschmehl.com! #openscience
November 13, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Join us for the second half of #CMUOSS25 beginning now! We'll be talking new and evolving forms of evaluation for all kinds of open scholarly outputs with Rachel Kurchin, @cplong.org, and @meredithschmehl.com! #openscience
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
The Science for Public Good Fund is back! Apply today for up to $1500 to support your science advocacy efforts.
📌 Apply here: act.ucsusa.org/4nCzPhl
📌 Apply here: act.ucsusa.org/4nCzPhl
November 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM
The Science for Public Good Fund is back! Apply today for up to $1500 to support your science advocacy efforts.
📌 Apply here: act.ucsusa.org/4nCzPhl
📌 Apply here: act.ucsusa.org/4nCzPhl
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
4 HHMI Investigators have been elected to the @nam.edu!
Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. Learn how these investigators are advancing our understanding of biology and human health: hhmi.news/4oxodfS #NAMmtg
Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. Learn how these investigators are advancing our understanding of biology and human health: hhmi.news/4oxodfS #NAMmtg
October 20, 2025 at 6:12 PM
4 HHMI Investigators have been elected to the @nam.edu!
Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. Learn how these investigators are advancing our understanding of biology and human health: hhmi.news/4oxodfS #NAMmtg
Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. Learn how these investigators are advancing our understanding of biology and human health: hhmi.news/4oxodfS #NAMmtg
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
📢We're #hiring Group Leaders!
Apply to lead a lab at Janelia & advance biology using theory, computational modeling & machine learning.
🔹5-year renewable appointment
🔹Pioneer new tools & approaches
🔹Collaborate across disciplines
Apply by Nov. 4👉 https://janelia.link/groupleader
Apply to lead a lab at Janelia & advance biology using theory, computational modeling & machine learning.
🔹5-year renewable appointment
🔹Pioneer new tools & approaches
🔹Collaborate across disciplines
Apply by Nov. 4👉 https://janelia.link/groupleader
August 26, 2025 at 7:00 PM
📢We're #hiring Group Leaders!
Apply to lead a lab at Janelia & advance biology using theory, computational modeling & machine learning.
🔹5-year renewable appointment
🔹Pioneer new tools & approaches
🔹Collaborate across disciplines
Apply by Nov. 4👉 https://janelia.link/groupleader
Apply to lead a lab at Janelia & advance biology using theory, computational modeling & machine learning.
🔹5-year renewable appointment
🔹Pioneer new tools & approaches
🔹Collaborate across disciplines
Apply by Nov. 4👉 https://janelia.link/groupleader
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
Want to try your hand at science communication but don’t know where to start?
We’ve put together seven tried and tested tips for communicating preprinted research with suggestions and resources that can help you on social media and beyond! #SciComm buff.ly/DLuopWU
We’ve put together seven tried and tested tips for communicating preprinted research with suggestions and resources that can help you on social media and beyond! #SciComm buff.ly/DLuopWU
August 11, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Want to try your hand at science communication but don’t know where to start?
We’ve put together seven tried and tested tips for communicating preprinted research with suggestions and resources that can help you on social media and beyond! #SciComm buff.ly/DLuopWU
We’ve put together seven tried and tested tips for communicating preprinted research with suggestions and resources that can help you on social media and beyond! #SciComm buff.ly/DLuopWU
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
🚨 Attention early-career scientists! 🚨
Become a Theory Fellow at Janelia and use computation & theory to tackle biological problems.
✅ Three-year appointment
✅ Collaboration across scientific disciplines
✅ Dynamic research environment
Become a Theory Fellow at Janelia and use computation & theory to tackle biological problems.
✅ Three-year appointment
✅ Collaboration across scientific disciplines
✅ Dynamic research environment
August 5, 2025 at 2:49 PM
🚨 Attention early-career scientists! 🚨
Become a Theory Fellow at Janelia and use computation & theory to tackle biological problems.
✅ Three-year appointment
✅ Collaboration across scientific disciplines
✅ Dynamic research environment
Become a Theory Fellow at Janelia and use computation & theory to tackle biological problems.
✅ Three-year appointment
✅ Collaboration across scientific disciplines
✅ Dynamic research environment
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
HHMI Chief of Strategic Initiatives Bodo Stern writes in the LSE Impact of Social Sciences Blog about Nature's recent decision to publish peer review reports. "True transparency in peer review must begin at the outset," he writes, "not as an afterthought to editorial gatekeeping."
August 6, 2025 at 2:54 PM
HHMI Chief of Strategic Initiatives Bodo Stern writes in the LSE Impact of Social Sciences Blog about Nature's recent decision to publish peer review reports. "True transparency in peer review must begin at the outset," he writes, "not as an afterthought to editorial gatekeeping."
"Open peer review of preprints is not just a tool for transparency – it is a way to accelerate scientific progress."
Proud to be a part of the HHMI Open Science Strategy team, where creating a more transparent & equitable science ecosystem is our mission every day!
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
Proud to be a part of the HHMI Open Science Strategy team, where creating a more transparent & equitable science ecosystem is our mission every day!
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
August 11, 2025 at 1:51 PM
"Open peer review of preprints is not just a tool for transparency – it is a way to accelerate scientific progress."
Proud to be a part of the HHMI Open Science Strategy team, where creating a more transparent & equitable science ecosystem is our mission every day!
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
Proud to be a part of the HHMI Open Science Strategy team, where creating a more transparent & equitable science ecosystem is our mission every day!
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
Congratulations 2025 Gilliam Fellows and Advisors! 🎉
The Gilliam Fellows Program launches promising PhD students into impactful scientific research careers while fostering inclusive training environments.
Through this program, HHMI supports both graduate students and their faculty thesis advisors.
The Gilliam Fellows Program launches promising PhD students into impactful scientific research careers while fostering inclusive training environments.
Through this program, HHMI supports both graduate students and their faculty thesis advisors.
August 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Congratulations 2025 Gilliam Fellows and Advisors! 🎉
The Gilliam Fellows Program launches promising PhD students into impactful scientific research careers while fostering inclusive training environments.
Through this program, HHMI supports both graduate students and their faculty thesis advisors.
The Gilliam Fellows Program launches promising PhD students into impactful scientific research careers while fostering inclusive training environments.
Through this program, HHMI supports both graduate students and their faculty thesis advisors.
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
Ons thing that's really bugging me about the "PhD level intelligence" is that a PhD isn't a measure of intelligence, it's a measure of commitment to study and specialisation in a narrow field (and opportunity to do so).
"PhD level intelligence" isn't really a meaningful phrase
"PhD level intelligence" isn't really a meaningful phrase
August 9, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Ons thing that's really bugging me about the "PhD level intelligence" is that a PhD isn't a measure of intelligence, it's a measure of commitment to study and specialisation in a narrow field (and opportunity to do so).
"PhD level intelligence" isn't really a meaningful phrase
"PhD level intelligence" isn't really a meaningful phrase
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
Something that I have been thinking about with attribution of "PhD level intelligence" or "PhD level expertise" to a machine is that it reflects an increasing trend among these AI bros and their sycophants to want the products of highly skilled training without actually doing any of the work.
August 9, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Something that I have been thinking about with attribution of "PhD level intelligence" or "PhD level expertise" to a machine is that it reflects an increasing trend among these AI bros and their sycophants to want the products of highly skilled training without actually doing any of the work.
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
Describing intelligence as a capacity, or a skill, means that it can be developed and taught: it's not something that one just has. PhD level intelligence represents the highly refined skills of PhDs to see what is in light of what can be, which is ultimately necessary to do the dissertation.
August 9, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Describing intelligence as a capacity, or a skill, means that it can be developed and taught: it's not something that one just has. PhD level intelligence represents the highly refined skills of PhDs to see what is in light of what can be, which is ultimately necessary to do the dissertation.
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
We're gathering insights on how basic scientists think about public engagement, what barriers they face, & what kind of support would make it easier.
👉 Take a few minutes to share your thoughts before 3 Aug: airtable.com/appIOiMGYFhF...
#BasicScience #OpenScience #LabLife #AcademicChatter
👉 Take a few minutes to share your thoughts before 3 Aug: airtable.com/appIOiMGYFhF...
#BasicScience #OpenScience #LabLife #AcademicChatter
July 17, 2025 at 7:09 AM
We're gathering insights on how basic scientists think about public engagement, what barriers they face, & what kind of support would make it easier.
👉 Take a few minutes to share your thoughts before 3 Aug: airtable.com/appIOiMGYFhF...
#BasicScience #OpenScience #LabLife #AcademicChatter
👉 Take a few minutes to share your thoughts before 3 Aug: airtable.com/appIOiMGYFhF...
#BasicScience #OpenScience #LabLife #AcademicChatter
Thanks to @civicscimedia.bsky.social for featuring me in this story about how neuroscientists from students to professionals have centered public engagement in their work! Always glad to share my journey & inspire the next generation of #CivicScience advocates:
civicsciencemedia.org/3-early-care...
civicsciencemedia.org/3-early-care...
3 early career neuroscientists share their journeys in public engagement
“Hi, I’m a neuroscientist and I study poop.” Monica Tschang, a third-year PhD candidate at the University of Washington, often begins by saying this when speaking at public engagement events. […]
civicsciencemedia.org
July 4, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Thanks to @civicscimedia.bsky.social for featuring me in this story about how neuroscientists from students to professionals have centered public engagement in their work! Always glad to share my journey & inspire the next generation of #CivicScience advocates:
civicsciencemedia.org/3-early-care...
civicsciencemedia.org/3-early-care...
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
We cannot scicomm our way out of this, part …I-don’t-know-I’m-tired-of-counting
NASA just won an Emmy for our live broadcast of the total solar eclipse last year. We produced a documentary film about the James Webb Space Telescope that's out in theaters and on Netflix. We have podcasts, we write feature stories. People wear the agency logo on t-shirts. We're still getting cut.
You hear this a lot on the left but it isn't true. USAID did not "fail to tell its story to Americans," the right targeted the agency with lies and misinformation.
Ultimately this narrative turns conservative attacks into even more calls for the left to reform.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/29/o...
Ultimately this narrative turns conservative attacks into even more calls for the left to reform.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/29/o...
July 1, 2025 at 1:18 AM
We cannot scicomm our way out of this, part …I-don’t-know-I’m-tired-of-counting
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
What does a career in #sciencepolicy look like? Our podcast series “Science Policy IRL” explores just that, from all kinds of angles: on Capitol Hill, at the White House, in academia, in industry, at federal agencies, and much more. Explore: issues.org/category/the... #scipol #sciencejobs #science
Science Policy IRL Archives
This new podcast series explores what science policy is and how it gets done by speaking to people who have built careers in it.
issues.org
June 18, 2025 at 12:43 AM
What does a career in #sciencepolicy look like? Our podcast series “Science Policy IRL” explores just that, from all kinds of angles: on Capitol Hill, at the White House, in academia, in industry, at federal agencies, and much more. Explore: issues.org/category/the... #scipol #sciencejobs #science
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
BREAKING: A federal judge reversed National Institutes of Health's terminations of hundreds of critical research grants that were canceled because of their alleged connection to disfavored topics, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender identity.
This is a major win for public health.
This is a major win for public health.
June 16, 2025 at 9:46 PM
BREAKING: A federal judge reversed National Institutes of Health's terminations of hundreds of critical research grants that were canceled because of their alleged connection to disfavored topics, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender identity.
This is a major win for public health.
This is a major win for public health.
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
What’s the return on government support for R&D?
To try to get a credible answer, Open Philanthropy and the Sloan Foundation are committing up to $1 million to trying something new: we call it a Pop-Up Journal.
To try to get a credible answer, Open Philanthropy and the Sloan Foundation are committing up to $1 million to trying something new: we call it a Pop-Up Journal.
June 17, 2025 at 3:40 PM
What’s the return on government support for R&D?
To try to get a credible answer, Open Philanthropy and the Sloan Foundation are committing up to $1 million to trying something new: we call it a Pop-Up Journal.
To try to get a credible answer, Open Philanthropy and the Sloan Foundation are committing up to $1 million to trying something new: we call it a Pop-Up Journal.
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
From today, all new submissions to Nature that are published will be accompanied by referees’ reports and author responses — to illuminate the process of producing rigorous science
https://go.nature.com/4kIRR01
https://go.nature.com/4kIRR01
Transparent peer review to be extended to all of Nature’s research papers
From today, all new submissions to Nature that are published will be accompanied by referees’ reports and author responses — to illuminate the process of producing rigorous science.
go.nature.com
June 16, 2025 at 4:44 PM
From today, all new submissions to Nature that are published will be accompanied by referees’ reports and author responses — to illuminate the process of producing rigorous science
https://go.nature.com/4kIRR01
https://go.nature.com/4kIRR01
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
📢 Big move toward transparency: All @nature.com research articles will now include published peer review reports and author responses.
#openscience #researchintegrity #peerreview #transparency
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
#openscience #researchintegrity #peerreview #transparency
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Transparent peer review to be extended to all of Nature’s research papers
From today, all new submissions to Nature that are published will be accompanied by referees’ reports and author responses — to illuminate the process of producing rigorous science.
www.nature.com
June 16, 2025 at 9:16 PM
📢 Big move toward transparency: All @nature.com research articles will now include published peer review reports and author responses.
#openscience #researchintegrity #peerreview #transparency
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
#openscience #researchintegrity #peerreview #transparency
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
In May we hosted a convergence in Banff, Canada. The group gathered to ask better questions of science communication. Not just what’s broken?—but what could be?
We surfaced stories, tools, and a hunger for something more open, more connected.
articles.continuousfoundation.org/articles/ban...
We surfaced stories, tools, and a hunger for something more open, more connected.
articles.continuousfoundation.org/articles/ban...
Continuous Science Foundation Workshop — Banff 2025
In May 2025, a diverse group of researchers, funders, technologists, and advocates gathered in Banff to reimagine the future of scientific communication. Through case studies, system mapping, storytel...
articles.continuousfoundation.org
June 16, 2025 at 9:37 PM
In May we hosted a convergence in Banff, Canada. The group gathered to ask better questions of science communication. Not just what’s broken?—but what could be?
We surfaced stories, tools, and a hunger for something more open, more connected.
articles.continuousfoundation.org/articles/ban...
We surfaced stories, tools, and a hunger for something more open, more connected.
articles.continuousfoundation.org/articles/ban...
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
Disability advocates in Illinois are working to enshrine the right to wear masks. Here's how they got this far — and a blueprint for how others can work to ban mask bans in their state. bit.ly/43MYLvb
May 29, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Disability advocates in Illinois are working to enshrine the right to wear masks. Here's how they got this far — and a blueprint for how others can work to ban mask bans in their state. bit.ly/43MYLvb
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
The US now has no vaccine advisory committee, no CDC director, and an anti-vaxxer as Health Secretary.
June 10, 2025 at 12:39 AM
The US now has no vaccine advisory committee, no CDC director, and an anti-vaxxer as Health Secretary.
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
"We are speaking on behalf of hundreds of NIH staff who are standing up together to say: WE DISSENT.
I am so scared about doing this but I am trying to be brave for my kids because it's only gonna get harder to speak up."
Thank you to Dr. Jenna Norton and NIH scientists for your courage!
I am so scared about doing this but I am trying to be brave for my kids because it's only gonna get harder to speak up."
Thank you to Dr. Jenna Norton and NIH scientists for your courage!
June 9, 2025 at 5:25 PM
"We are speaking on behalf of hundreds of NIH staff who are standing up together to say: WE DISSENT.
I am so scared about doing this but I am trying to be brave for my kids because it's only gonna get harder to speak up."
Thank you to Dr. Jenna Norton and NIH scientists for your courage!
I am so scared about doing this but I am trying to be brave for my kids because it's only gonna get harder to speak up."
Thank you to Dr. Jenna Norton and NIH scientists for your courage!
Reposted by Meredith Schmehl, PhD
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
June 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.