Dr. Cat Lambert
@risky-on-rocks.bsky.social
Asst. Prof in risk/science/environmental communication at Northeastern University | Studying climate, hazards, renewable energy, and how humans make sense of it all
I had my students do a quick exercise in class with @xkcd.com's Simple Writer, where you're limited to the 1000 most common words in English. To make things fair, I wrote alongside them and did a quick research bio:
September 17, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I had my students do a quick exercise in class with @xkcd.com's Simple Writer, where you're limited to the 1000 most common words in English. To make things fair, I wrote alongside them and did a quick research bio:
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
Posting a reminder that no disasters are natural, & a certain one twenty years ago was especially not natural. So, you should not use the phrase. You can just say "disaster". (Although in this particular instance it was a catastrophe, not a disaster but... baby steps)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT9-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT9-...
There’s no such thing as a natural disaster
YouTube video by zentouro
www.youtube.com
August 29, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Posting a reminder that no disasters are natural, & a certain one twenty years ago was especially not natural. So, you should not use the phrase. You can just say "disaster". (Although in this particular instance it was a catastrophe, not a disaster but... baby steps)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT9-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT9-...
Gross, creepy, and with a heaping side order of misogyny
August 27, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Gross, creepy, and with a heaping side order of misogyny
Alluvial fans....
Bodega ramps are all over New York City. The humble, concrete blobs ease entry into delis and other stores — and affirm the civic compact. nyti.ms/3UnFivI
August 14, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Alluvial fans....
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
Have any of you smart folks studied/written about the effects of family/friends/social pressures on people's disaster prep and decision to evacuate, particularly in this era of social media (and mis/disinformation)? This keeps coming up over and over in interviews with evacuees from the LA fires.
August 7, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Have any of you smart folks studied/written about the effects of family/friends/social pressures on people's disaster prep and decision to evacuate, particularly in this era of social media (and mis/disinformation)? This keeps coming up over and over in interviews with evacuees from the LA fires.
Poster #13 at the @comsher.bsky.social section in Salon 9, come say hi and learn about nature zines and how people construct identity through their experiences with nature and the environment!
August 7, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Poster #13 at the @comsher.bsky.social section in Salon 9, come say hi and learn about nature zines and how people construct identity through their experiences with nature and the environment!
These AI murals are a grimly amusing backdrop to the heavy AI focus at AEJMC:
August 7, 2025 at 7:03 PM
These AI murals are a grimly amusing backdrop to the heavy AI focus at AEJMC:
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
A cursory USGS look-up reveals that this M8.8 tied for 6th largest quake ever recorded by instruments. Also, taxpayer-funded science and tech agencies save lives.
www.usgs.gov/media/images...
www.usgs.gov/media/images...
July 30, 2025 at 3:36 AM
A cursory USGS look-up reveals that this M8.8 tied for 6th largest quake ever recorded by instruments. Also, taxpayer-funded science and tech agencies save lives.
www.usgs.gov/media/images...
www.usgs.gov/media/images...
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
And now the west coast of the US and BC has been put under a Tsunami Advisory. www.weather.gov/safety/tsuna...
July 30, 2025 at 1:50 AM
And now the west coast of the US and BC has been put under a Tsunami Advisory. www.weather.gov/safety/tsuna...
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
I understand for lots of reasons people aren't paying attention to the earthquake in Myanmar but the estimated death toll is as high as Cyclone Nargis in 2008 which killed 140,000 people which. That's roughly the population of Coral Springs, FL; Elizabeth,NJ; New Haven, CT or Pasadena,CA
April 4, 2025 at 1:58 AM
I understand for lots of reasons people aren't paying attention to the earthquake in Myanmar but the estimated death toll is as high as Cyclone Nargis in 2008 which killed 140,000 people which. That's roughly the population of Coral Springs, FL; Elizabeth,NJ; New Haven, CT or Pasadena,CA
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
One of the more galling aspects of the Liberation Day nonsense is that they couldn’t even find it within themselves to delay the 45% tariffs on Myanmar, which is currently dealing with an earthquake that killed more than 3,000 people and displaced countless more on Friday.
April 3, 2025 at 8:58 PM
One of the more galling aspects of the Liberation Day nonsense is that they couldn’t even find it within themselves to delay the 45% tariffs on Myanmar, which is currently dealing with an earthquake that killed more than 3,000 people and displaced countless more on Friday.
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
The new satellite imagery to the right of the surface rupture is perfectly aligned with the historical Google imagery. On the left, you can see the rupture and offset.
April 2, 2025 at 1:28 PM
The new satellite imagery to the right of the surface rupture is perfectly aligned with the historical Google imagery. On the left, you can see the rupture and offset.
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
Update: The USGS has made a notable update to its ShakeMap. Now showing a substantially larger rupture that suggests major impacts for an even bigger portion of Myanmar.
3.71 million people now estimated to have felt Violent (MMI: IX) shaking. That is hugely concerning.
Strong aftershocks persist.
3.71 million people now estimated to have felt Violent (MMI: IX) shaking. That is hugely concerning.
Strong aftershocks persist.
March 28, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Update: The USGS has made a notable update to its ShakeMap. Now showing a substantially larger rupture that suggests major impacts for an even bigger portion of Myanmar.
3.71 million people now estimated to have felt Violent (MMI: IX) shaking. That is hugely concerning.
Strong aftershocks persist.
3.71 million people now estimated to have felt Violent (MMI: IX) shaking. That is hugely concerning.
Strong aftershocks persist.
I just used @5calls.org to urge my representatives to protect the EPA, you should too: 5calls.org
5 Calls
Spend 5 minutes. Make 5 calls. Make your voice heard.
5calls.org
March 19, 2025 at 2:28 AM
I just used @5calls.org to urge my representatives to protect the EPA, you should too: 5calls.org
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
Information produced by the state is a public good. This administration seems dead set on destroying basically all public goods, from public health to education to weather forecasting. It’s breathtaking in its simplicity and its harm.
I’ve heard from an extremely reliable source that the entire National Center for Education Statistics is **gone**
New — Absolute bloodbath at US Dept. of Education in light of today’s Reduction in Force (RIF) announcement.
Hearing from department sources that offices in Dallas, Boston, New York, SF, Philly and Cleveland have all been shut down. Some staff in remaining offices fired, too.
Hearing from department sources that offices in Dallas, Boston, New York, SF, Philly and Cleveland have all been shut down. Some staff in remaining offices fired, too.
March 12, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Information produced by the state is a public good. This administration seems dead set on destroying basically all public goods, from public health to education to weather forecasting. It’s breathtaking in its simplicity and its harm.
Kicking off Sustainability Innovation Week - drop by our table at the Expo in the Curry Student Center Ballroom from 1:30 to 3pm to learn about sustainability, #scicomm, and public engagement opportunities!
March 11, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Kicking off Sustainability Innovation Week - drop by our table at the Expo in the Curry Student Center Ballroom from 1:30 to 3pm to learn about sustainability, #scicomm, and public engagement opportunities!
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
As my friend @drshepherd2013.bsky.social says, asking why we need a National Weather Service when we have apps and the Weather Channel is like asking why we need potato farmers when we can buy fries at McDonalds.
March 4, 2025 at 1:15 PM
As my friend @drshepherd2013.bsky.social says, asking why we need a National Weather Service when we have apps and the Weather Channel is like asking why we need potato farmers when we can buy fries at McDonalds.
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
The U.S. has two tsunami warning centers, both operated by NOAA. Employees were terminated from these centers today. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center covers Hawaiʻi, and now it is less safe to be near the beach.
www.tsunami.gov
www.tsunami.gov
February 28, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The U.S. has two tsunami warning centers, both operated by NOAA. Employees were terminated from these centers today. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center covers Hawaiʻi, and now it is less safe to be near the beach.
www.tsunami.gov
www.tsunami.gov
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
BREAKING: A federal judge in California has ordered OPM to rescind memos calling for the mass termination of probationary employees, saying the agency overstepped its legal authority and must inform other agencies it lacked the authority to issue such a directive.
February 27, 2025 at 11:10 PM
BREAKING: A federal judge in California has ordered OPM to rescind memos calling for the mass termination of probationary employees, saying the agency overstepped its legal authority and must inform other agencies it lacked the authority to issue such a directive.
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
It’s not for us to feel hopeless. You’ve already impacted this family’s ability to survive; the ask is to continue to believe in them!
With the occupation still blocking aid, surviving is still difficult in غaza. Every € has a real impact. Match my 10?
With the occupation still blocking aid, surviving is still difficult in غaza. Every € has a real impact. Match my 10?
Donate to Help the Abdelwahed family evacuate Gaza, organized by Akram Abdelwahed
Hello, my name is Akram. I am 29 years old and from Gaza. After my father's … Akram Abdelwahed needs your support for Help the Abdelwahed family evacuate Gaza
www.gofundme.com
February 27, 2025 at 10:45 PM
It’s not for us to feel hopeless. You’ve already impacted this family’s ability to survive; the ask is to continue to believe in them!
With the occupation still blocking aid, surviving is still difficult in غaza. Every € has a real impact. Match my 10?
With the occupation still blocking aid, surviving is still difficult in غaza. Every € has a real impact. Match my 10?
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
A challenge for Ramadan ‼️ today’s drive is to keep the lights on at this community workspace offering free internet & electricity for students.
They’ve asked us to raise £550 by Saturday to keep operating.
A modest ask in 3 days - I believe in us!💡 https://chuffed.org/project/spark-space-gaza
They’ve asked us to raise £550 by Saturday to keep operating.
A modest ask in 3 days - I believe in us!💡 https://chuffed.org/project/spark-space-gaza
February 26, 2025 at 12:30 PM
A challenge for Ramadan ‼️ today’s drive is to keep the lights on at this community workspace offering free internet & electricity for students.
They’ve asked us to raise £550 by Saturday to keep operating.
A modest ask in 3 days - I believe in us!💡 https://chuffed.org/project/spark-space-gaza
They’ve asked us to raise £550 by Saturday to keep operating.
A modest ask in 3 days - I believe in us!💡 https://chuffed.org/project/spark-space-gaza
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
Happy International Day of Women in Science. The National Science Foundation’s list of flagged words includes both “Women” and “Female.”
February 11, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Happy International Day of Women in Science. The National Science Foundation’s list of flagged words includes both “Women” and “Female.”
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
For US EPA EnviroScreen data accessibility: screening-tools.com/epa-ejscreen
EPA EJScreen — Data + Screening Tools
screening-tools.com
February 7, 2025 at 11:48 PM
For US EPA EnviroScreen data accessibility: screening-tools.com/epa-ejscreen
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
Don’t just say DEI as if it’s a bad word. Spell it out.
Say diversity, which is the lifeblood of American society & culture & innovation.
Say equity, which a just society should pursue.
Say inclusion, because decent people believe in increasing belonging, not isolating people who are different.
Say diversity, which is the lifeblood of American society & culture & innovation.
Say equity, which a just society should pursue.
Say inclusion, because decent people believe in increasing belonging, not isolating people who are different.
February 9, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Don’t just say DEI as if it’s a bad word. Spell it out.
Say diversity, which is the lifeblood of American society & culture & innovation.
Say equity, which a just society should pursue.
Say inclusion, because decent people believe in increasing belonging, not isolating people who are different.
Say diversity, which is the lifeblood of American society & culture & innovation.
Say equity, which a just society should pursue.
Say inclusion, because decent people believe in increasing belonging, not isolating people who are different.
Reposted by Dr. Cat Lambert
I suppose, my job being what it is, I'm obligated to learn about these stupid executive orders, but man do I just not feel like it.
January 21, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I suppose, my job being what it is, I'm obligated to learn about these stupid executive orders, but man do I just not feel like it.