Rachel Poretsky
@rporetsky.bsky.social
Professor in Microbial Ecology, mostly aquatic and wastewater. Public health. Bike/transit enthusiast. LCI. Mom. Vegan. Compact-sized. Brooklyn —> Chicago with lots of stops on the way.
In honor of the transit bill that was passed in the middle of the night last night, saving public transit in Illinois from certain disaster, here’s a picture of my cargo bike dressed up as a @chicagocta.bsky.social train for Halloween.
October 31, 2025 at 5:12 PM
In honor of the transit bill that was passed in the middle of the night last night, saving public transit in Illinois from certain disaster, here’s a picture of my cargo bike dressed up as a @chicagocta.bsky.social train for Halloween.
So gross. Starting on the front page, too, along with an article about durian. As if there’s a shortage of news to report on.
August 31, 2025 at 3:29 PM
So gross. Starting on the front page, too, along with an article about durian. As if there’s a shortage of news to report on.
I’ll be speaking at a Chicago @standupforscience.bsky.social teach-in!
📅 Date & Time: Saturday, August 30, 12:00 PM CST
📍 Location: Lincoln Park Branch, Chicago Public Library (and online)
1150 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
🔗 Register here: act.standupforscience.net/events/teach...
📅 Date & Time: Saturday, August 30, 12:00 PM CST
📍 Location: Lincoln Park Branch, Chicago Public Library (and online)
1150 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
🔗 Register here: act.standupforscience.net/events/teach...
August 20, 2025 at 2:35 AM
I’ll be speaking at a Chicago @standupforscience.bsky.social teach-in!
📅 Date & Time: Saturday, August 30, 12:00 PM CST
📍 Location: Lincoln Park Branch, Chicago Public Library (and online)
1150 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
🔗 Register here: act.standupforscience.net/events/teach...
📅 Date & Time: Saturday, August 30, 12:00 PM CST
📍 Location: Lincoln Park Branch, Chicago Public Library (and online)
1150 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
🔗 Register here: act.standupforscience.net/events/teach...
Apparently it’s #WorldBreastfeedingWeek2025 so here’s a picture from my recent visit to the @yiddishbookcenter.bsky.social of a 1926 poster promoting breastfeeding.
August 5, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Apparently it’s #WorldBreastfeedingWeek2025 so here’s a picture from my recent visit to the @yiddishbookcenter.bsky.social of a 1926 poster promoting breastfeeding.
Perfect shirt to wear to give comment at the Board meeting, @tomflood.bsky.social- the Bike Plan passed, btw, in spite of MANY neighbors up in arms about losing their parking to bike lanes (so predictable.)
August 1, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Perfect shirt to wear to give comment at the Board meeting, @tomflood.bsky.social- the Bike Plan passed, btw, in spite of MANY neighbors up in arms about losing their parking to bike lanes (so predictable.)
Good first day at the WEF wastewater surveillance workshop. Complied with the selfie request for #PipesToPublicHealth
July 9, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Good first day at the WEF wastewater surveillance workshop. Complied with the selfie request for #PipesToPublicHealth
Newest addition to my fleet. Most things are terrible but new bikes are not.
July 6, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Newest addition to my fleet. Most things are terrible but new bikes are not.
June 21, 2025 at 4:59 PM
What a tornado watch sky tonight!
May 16, 2025 at 1:56 AM
What a tornado watch sky tonight!
My science conferences should take a tip from my bike conferences and end sessions with a sing-along! So fun(ner) than cars!
May 13, 2025 at 12:57 AM
My science conferences should take a tip from my bike conferences and end sessions with a sing-along! So fun(ner) than cars!
“Everyone will be using Segways in the future!” -some misguided Amtrak designer a few years ago.
May 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
“Everyone will be using Segways in the future!” -some misguided Amtrak designer a few years ago.
What a day! Led my first @bikebusworld.bsky.social bike bus this morning, which was a smashing success. Brief Amtrak delay, but made it to #ILBWS25 just in time for @tomflood.bsky.social’s presentation.
May 7, 2025 at 6:57 PM
What a day! Led my first @bikebusworld.bsky.social bike bus this morning, which was a smashing success. Brief Amtrak delay, but made it to #ILBWS25 just in time for @tomflood.bsky.social’s presentation.
Almost as good as the sticker is the info for the squid hotline (!!) that came with it!
March 20, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Almost as good as the sticker is the info for the squid hotline (!!) that came with it!
Most things are awful except that I got to bike with my kids to school this morning (on their own bikes, instead of the bakfiets for a change!) before continuing my commute to work with a friend. #bikechi
March 11, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Most things are awful except that I got to bike with my kids to school this morning (on their own bikes, instead of the bakfiets for a change!) before continuing my commute to work with a friend. #bikechi
It was cold and snowy/drizzly in Chicago, but not too cold to #StandUpForScience
March 7, 2025 at 9:48 PM
It was cold and snowy/drizzly in Chicago, but not too cold to #StandUpForScience
Is there a more appropriate shirt to wear to meet a supercomputer? Colleagues say “cool,” kids say “cringe.” @svahausa.bsky.social
🖥️ 🧬
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February 28, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Is there a more appropriate shirt to wear to meet a supercomputer? Colleagues say “cool,” kids say “cringe.” @svahausa.bsky.social
🖥️ 🧬
🖥️ 🧬
Me and my little in matching jackets @bikelaneuprising.bsky.social
February 27, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Me and my little in matching jackets @bikelaneuprising.bsky.social
With full bellies and plenty of caffeine, we’re deep into command line interface afternoon at the BV-BRC @bvbrc.bsky.social workshop!
🖥️ 🧬 🧪
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February 26, 2025 at 9:58 PM
With full bellies and plenty of caffeine, we’re deep into command line interface afternoon at the BV-BRC @bvbrc.bsky.social workshop!
🖥️ 🧬 🧪
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Day 1 of the weeklong 2025 BV-BRC @bvbrc.bsky.social workshop at Argonne is in the books. Thanks to curious, enthusiastic participants from near and far, as well as amazing workshop leaders! ~65 attendees, 3 screens, and countless cups of coffee.
🖥️ 🧬 🧪
🖥️ 🧬 🧪
February 25, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Day 1 of the weeklong 2025 BV-BRC @bvbrc.bsky.social workshop at Argonne is in the books. Thanks to curious, enthusiastic participants from near and far, as well as amazing workshop leaders! ~65 attendees, 3 screens, and countless cups of coffee.
🖥️ 🧬 🧪
🖥️ 🧬 🧪
February 22, 2025 at 8:19 PM
My husband volunteers at our local repair cafe and fixed up this gem for someone and now I’m listening to “Rachel’s mix 1996”
February 9, 2025 at 8:15 PM
My husband volunteers at our local repair cafe and fixed up this gem for someone and now I’m listening to “Rachel’s mix 1996”