Nathan Alexander
@smammalbio.bsky.social
He/him. Wildlife Postdoc. Spatial ecology, genetics. LGBTQ+ 🏳️🌈
Wildlife Sustainability Research Postdoc-SIUC
Illinois Natural History Survey Affiliate-UIUC
Wildlife Sustainability Research Postdoc-SIUC
Illinois Natural History Survey Affiliate-UIUC
Pinned
Nathan Alexander
@smammalbio.bsky.social
· Nov 19
Best practices for LGBTQ+ inclusion during ecological fieldwork: Considering safety, cis/heteronormativity and structural barriers
We recommend that mentors and institutions take action on the safety, financial, medical and administrative support needed by field researchers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or other m....
doi.org
To close my #LGBTQSTEMday, I thought it’d be good to transfer over some LGBTQ publications and outreach here.
LGBTQ+ fieldwork recommendations focusing on structural, supervisor, and resiliency strategies: doi.org/10.1111/1365...
LGBTQ+ fieldwork recommendations focusing on structural, supervisor, and resiliency strategies: doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Come listen to me discuss gophers in Illinois through the Everday Environment podcast
extension.illinois.edu/blogs/everyd...
extension.illinois.edu/blogs/everyd...
Digging into the plains pocket gopher, Illinois’ hidden soil builder
In the underground world of any prairie, root systems crisscross and extend downward to create an underground maze.
extension.illinois.edu
October 16, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Come listen to me discuss gophers in Illinois through the Everday Environment podcast
extension.illinois.edu/blogs/everyd...
extension.illinois.edu/blogs/everyd...
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
2025. #DEI - Language, economic and gender disparities widen the scientific productivity gap journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Language, economic and gender disparities widen the scientific productivity gap
What is the combined impact of individuals’ linguistic, economic, and gender backgrounds on their scientific productivity? This study uses a survey of 908 scientists to reveal that being a woman, a no...
journals.plos.org
September 21, 2025 at 2:33 AM
2025. #DEI - Language, economic and gender disparities widen the scientific productivity gap journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
As one can imagine, I have some thoughts. Here’s a thread no one asked for:
1. SCIENCE IN THE US IS POLITICAL. No matter how much you want to ignore that fact, it is supported by taxpayer dollars and is therefore, political by nature.
2. BUT it has had bipartisan support for decades, which…
1. SCIENCE IN THE US IS POLITICAL. No matter how much you want to ignore that fact, it is supported by taxpayer dollars and is therefore, political by nature.
2. BUT it has had bipartisan support for decades, which…
For some scientists fighting partisan attacks, the goal is to defend their work from political interference. But in retaliating, @katherinejwu.com reports, they also run the risk of advancing the narrative that they want to fight.
Scientists Are Caught in a Political Trap
Fighting back against the Trump administration means they start to look more like activists.
bit.ly
August 23, 2025 at 4:15 PM
As one can imagine, I have some thoughts. Here’s a thread no one asked for:
1. SCIENCE IN THE US IS POLITICAL. No matter how much you want to ignore that fact, it is supported by taxpayer dollars and is therefore, political by nature.
2. BUT it has had bipartisan support for decades, which…
1. SCIENCE IN THE US IS POLITICAL. No matter how much you want to ignore that fact, it is supported by taxpayer dollars and is therefore, political by nature.
2. BUT it has had bipartisan support for decades, which…
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
Stop using MAXENT for invasive niche modeling. Instead embrace mechanisms. Check out this great review on mechanistic niche models for invasives from @erolafenollosa.bsky.social in @ecography.bsky.social 🌐 #ecology #invasivespecies nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
August 4, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Stop using MAXENT for invasive niche modeling. Instead embrace mechanisms. Check out this great review on mechanistic niche models for invasives from @erolafenollosa.bsky.social in @ecography.bsky.social 🌐 #ecology #invasivespecies nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
The “evo” perspective that sex is solely gametic makes me really question how they are determining sex of their study species. Cause…. Well, I don’t do that to mine… 👀
August 6, 2025 at 4:08 PM
The “evo” perspective that sex is solely gametic makes me really question how they are determining sex of their study species. Cause…. Well, I don’t do that to mine… 👀
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
Lighting and composition study in @unrealengine.bsky.social using marketplace assets, inspired by western painters like Mark Maggiori.
Some breakdowns here: lnkd.in/gvE_DEX5
Some breakdowns here: lnkd.in/gvE_DEX5
July 24, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Lighting and composition study in @unrealengine.bsky.social using marketplace assets, inspired by western painters like Mark Maggiori.
Some breakdowns here: lnkd.in/gvE_DEX5
Some breakdowns here: lnkd.in/gvE_DEX5
If you’re at the @mammalmeetings.bsky.social, I’ll be giving a talk on oryx distribution expansion on Tuesday morning! I’m in and out prior, but hope to see folk there
June 29, 2025 at 1:38 AM
If you’re at the @mammalmeetings.bsky.social, I’ll be giving a talk on oryx distribution expansion on Tuesday morning! I’m in and out prior, but hope to see folk there
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
Check out our latest blog post in celebration of #Pride 🏳️🌈
In this post, @zoomingbio.bsky.social shares fieldwork advice for researchers with marginalized identities.
Read the post here 👉 buff.ly/rJhjheF
#RainbowResearch
In this post, @zoomingbio.bsky.social shares fieldwork advice for researchers with marginalized identities.
Read the post here 👉 buff.ly/rJhjheF
#RainbowResearch
June 17, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Check out our latest blog post in celebration of #Pride 🏳️🌈
In this post, @zoomingbio.bsky.social shares fieldwork advice for researchers with marginalized identities.
Read the post here 👉 buff.ly/rJhjheF
#RainbowResearch
In this post, @zoomingbio.bsky.social shares fieldwork advice for researchers with marginalized identities.
Read the post here 👉 buff.ly/rJhjheF
#RainbowResearch
Our blog for @egu.eu is out now as a follow up to our webinar last fall. It was great to collaborate on this piece with the co-presenters and the folk at EGU.
blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/...
blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/...
Queer Quarterly: LGBTQIA+ Inclusion during fieldwork
It’s pride month and we are delighted to feature a post on queer inclusion in fieldwork written by members of EGU’s pride group. Queer Quarterly is the blog series of the EGU pride group, an LGBTQIA+ ...
blogs.egu.eu
June 13, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Our blog for @egu.eu is out now as a follow up to our webinar last fall. It was great to collaborate on this piece with the co-presenters and the folk at EGU.
blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/...
blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/...
Getting ready to present at the International Association of Landscape Ecology-North America Conference in Raleigh, NC. Looking forward to some good landscape ecology talks
April 12, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Getting ready to present at the International Association of Landscape Ecology-North America Conference in Raleigh, NC. Looking forward to some good landscape ecology talks
A resubmission of a grant to NSF that had previously received reviews of 2 excellents, 1 very good, and 1 good/fair got returned without review because “No basic science questions are being posed.” I have some non-science questions to pose NSF.
April 8, 2025 at 12:55 PM
A resubmission of a grant to NSF that had previously received reviews of 2 excellents, 1 very good, and 1 good/fair got returned without review because “No basic science questions are being posed.” I have some non-science questions to pose NSF.
Nice write up incorporating some of our recent literature review on avian disease in the Great Lakes
greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/26/c...
greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/26/c...
Climate change is making Great Lakes water birds sick, research shows | Great Lakes Echo
By Clara Lincolnhol Climate change is making it easier for Great Lakes water birds to get sick, according to a recent University of Illinois study. Data from the last 50 years shows an increase in avi...
urldefense.com
April 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Nice write up incorporating some of our recent literature review on avian disease in the Great Lakes
greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/26/c...
greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/26/c...
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
Our next author shortlisted for the 2024 Robert May Prize is @maeliskervellec.bsky.social 🏆 Head to the Methods Blog to find out more about her research and journey in ecology 🌎 🧪
buff.ly
March 28, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Our next author shortlisted for the 2024 Robert May Prize is @maeliskervellec.bsky.social 🏆 Head to the Methods Blog to find out more about her research and journey in ecology 🌎 🧪
This is a nice angle and perspective on textbooks- particularly in the context of courses that rely heavily on them such as intro courses
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Rethinking the undergraduate textbook as a tool to build a diverse community of ecologists
Recruitment and retention of a diverse scientific workforce depends on a more inclusive culture of science. Textbooks introduce prospective scientists to their chosen field and convey its cultural no....
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
March 8, 2025 at 12:23 PM
This is a nice angle and perspective on textbooks- particularly in the context of courses that rely heavily on them such as intro courses
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
Last year, Republicans silenced her.
This year, many stood beside her and defeated four anti-trans bills.
This is the power of standing up for your beliefs and for what's right, and good trouble.
National Democrats, take notice.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
This year, many stood beside her and defeated four anti-trans bills.
This is the power of standing up for your beliefs and for what's right, and good trouble.
National Democrats, take notice.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘Stop these crazy bills’: Republicans join Democrats to defeat anti-trans legislation in Montana
One bill would remove trans children from their parents, and the other would ban drag shows and Pride marches
www.theguardian.com
March 7, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Last year, Republicans silenced her.
This year, many stood beside her and defeated four anti-trans bills.
This is the power of standing up for your beliefs and for what's right, and good trouble.
National Democrats, take notice.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
This year, many stood beside her and defeated four anti-trans bills.
This is the power of standing up for your beliefs and for what's right, and good trouble.
National Democrats, take notice.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
The Guardian is reporting that Trump is openly violating a court order, and has transferred multiple transgender women to men's facilities.
We know in Florida, transgender women are having their hair shorn, feminine items confiscated, and pulled off medication.
This is inhumane and illegal.
We know in Florida, transgender women are having their hair shorn, feminine items confiscated, and pulled off medication.
This is inhumane and illegal.
Trans women transferred to men’s prisons despite rulings against Trump’s order
Incarcerated trans women report being groped by male guards and suicidal thoughts: ‘I’m punished for existing’
www.theguardian.com
March 7, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The Guardian is reporting that Trump is openly violating a court order, and has transferred multiple transgender women to men's facilities.
We know in Florida, transgender women are having their hair shorn, feminine items confiscated, and pulled off medication.
This is inhumane and illegal.
We know in Florida, transgender women are having their hair shorn, feminine items confiscated, and pulled off medication.
This is inhumane and illegal.
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
1. Today, powerful speeches from trans representatives in Montana SJ Howell and Zooey Zephyr flipped 29 Republicans, killing anti-trans bills.
While some Dems like Newsom abandon trans people, these reps show the power of representation.
Watch their speech.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
While some Dems like Newsom abandon trans people, these reps show the power of representation.
Watch their speech.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
Powerful Speeches From Trans Dems Flip 29 Republicans, Anti-Trans Bills Die In Montana
Transgender Reps Zooey Zephyr and SJ Howell delivered powerful speeches on the Montana House floor on Thursday. Republicans defected en masse to join them in voting against anti-trans bills.
www.erininthemorning.com
March 7, 2025 at 12:09 AM
1. Today, powerful speeches from trans representatives in Montana SJ Howell and Zooey Zephyr flipped 29 Republicans, killing anti-trans bills.
While some Dems like Newsom abandon trans people, these reps show the power of representation.
Watch their speech.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
While some Dems like Newsom abandon trans people, these reps show the power of representation.
Watch their speech.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
Oh my god.
They removed "transgender" from the page about Trans woman Sylvia Rivera's page at the National Park service.
"Sylvia Rivera began fighting for gay and _____ rights"
WOW.
They removed "transgender" from the page about Trans woman Sylvia Rivera's page at the National Park service.
"Sylvia Rivera began fighting for gay and _____ rights"
WOW.
February 13, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Oh my god.
They removed "transgender" from the page about Trans woman Sylvia Rivera's page at the National Park service.
"Sylvia Rivera began fighting for gay and _____ rights"
WOW.
They removed "transgender" from the page about Trans woman Sylvia Rivera's page at the National Park service.
"Sylvia Rivera began fighting for gay and _____ rights"
WOW.
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
Hey @npr.org, research getting caught in the "DEI search term" dragnet is an important thing to mention, but it is so totally besides the main point that we have congresspeople making authoritarian and fascist lists. www.npr.org/2025/02/13/n...
Sen. Ted Cruz's list of 'woke' science includes self-driving cars and solar eclipses
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, says the National Science Foundation has given money to thousands of "woke DEI" studies. Researchers say that's misrepresenting science and disparaging important research.
www.npr.org
February 13, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Hey @npr.org, research getting caught in the "DEI search term" dragnet is an important thing to mention, but it is so totally besides the main point that we have congresspeople making authoritarian and fascist lists. www.npr.org/2025/02/13/n...
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
Ken Klipperstein leaked full passport guidance for trans people:
- X markers will be a focal point
- Existing unexpired passports will remain good
- No guidance on confiscation, but it doesn’t seem like they will
- Renewals less clear but it looks like they will use “a preponderance of evidence”
- X markers will be a focal point
- Existing unexpired passports will remain good
- No guidance on confiscation, but it doesn’t seem like they will
- Renewals less clear but it looks like they will use “a preponderance of evidence”
February 10, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Ken Klipperstein leaked full passport guidance for trans people:
- X markers will be a focal point
- Existing unexpired passports will remain good
- No guidance on confiscation, but it doesn’t seem like they will
- Renewals less clear but it looks like they will use “a preponderance of evidence”
- X markers will be a focal point
- Existing unexpired passports will remain good
- No guidance on confiscation, but it doesn’t seem like they will
- Renewals less clear but it looks like they will use “a preponderance of evidence”
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
At least 30 people at my university are being laid off due to the closure of the USAID Innovation Laboratories. The bulk of their mission was to make it easier for folks in food-insecure regions like Sub Saharan Africa to grow protein-rich, locally adapted soybeans. 🫛🫛🫛
youtu.be/PqUESHfuO_8?...
youtu.be/PqUESHfuO_8?...
youtu.be
February 9, 2025 at 10:48 PM
At least 30 people at my university are being laid off due to the closure of the USAID Innovation Laboratories. The bulk of their mission was to make it easier for folks in food-insecure regions like Sub Saharan Africa to grow protein-rich, locally adapted soybeans. 🫛🫛🫛
youtu.be/PqUESHfuO_8?...
youtu.be/PqUESHfuO_8?...
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
Letter from the SSE/SSB/ASN councils on the scientific understanding of sex and gender, pls RT
Letter to the US President and Congress on the Scientific Understanding of Sex and Gender
President Donald J Trump Washington, DC Members of the US Congress Washington, DC February 5, 2025 RE: Scientific Understanding of Sex and Gender Dear President Trump and Members of the US Congr...
www.evolutionsociety.org
February 7, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Letter from the SSE/SSB/ASN councils on the scientific understanding of sex and gender, pls RT
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
Super excited to announce that I was one of the winners of the 2025 Women of Fisheries Gives Back! award through the Women Of Fisheries! 👩🏻🔬🐟
Check out the announcement to learn more about me and my history in fisheries!
womenoffisheries.org/announcing-t...
Check out the announcement to learn more about me and my history in fisheries!
womenoffisheries.org/announcing-t...
Announcing the 2025 Women of Fisheries Gives Back! Award Winners - Women of Fisheries
Thank you to everyone who has made our fourth annual Early Career Award possible! It was an amazing pool of applicants, and thanks to proceeds from the fisHER Adventure Classic, we were able to suppor...
womenoffisheries.org
February 7, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Super excited to announce that I was one of the winners of the 2025 Women of Fisheries Gives Back! award through the Women Of Fisheries! 👩🏻🔬🐟
Check out the announcement to learn more about me and my history in fisheries!
womenoffisheries.org/announcing-t...
Check out the announcement to learn more about me and my history in fisheries!
womenoffisheries.org/announcing-t...
Reposted by Nathan Alexander
Cool! Translate your software documentation into your language of choice using the #rstats 📦 {lang}!
Introducing the {lang} package by @theotheredgar.bsky.social for translating R help using your local LLM! Lea la ayuda en #RStats en su propio idioma!
lang helps you translate your documentation and include it as part of your package.
Check it out here! github.com/mlverse/lang
lang helps you translate your documentation and include it as part of your package.
Check it out here! github.com/mlverse/lang
February 6, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Cool! Translate your software documentation into your language of choice using the #rstats 📦 {lang}!