Welp, I guess I can claim that I had my profile banner photo up years before demolition was cool.

Even little cities (Palo Alto) know it's important to #standupforscience in

End the year by enjoying the blockbuster story led by Xin Cheng and @heikelindner.bsky.social presented by @michaelraissig.bsky.social at the @newphyt.bsky.social stomata conference.

How CAM plants make their very special stomata + SCs (hint, it's MUTE again)

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Dec 15th …shining brightly

Public lands and the wonders they hold!

Also, colleagues that very patiently identify the mushrooms in the photos Ted and send them.

Dec 14th …shining brightly

Listening to a memorial symposium for Maxine Singer broadcast by @carnegiescience.bsky.social

What an amazing woman scientist, advocate, mother. Her generation of scientists was so involved in major political and social changes. We have the agency to return to that.

Dec 13th…shining brightly

Shout out to Scandi-science during another tribute to lights in the darkness (St. Lucia day, today). A few great folks here:
@laurabacete.bsky.social @srobertgroup.bsky.social
@stephanevrg.bsky.social

In celebration, this mornings pastry: Kardemummabullar

Dec 11th …shining brightly

Tireless advocate for Plant Biology in Spanish and European science and community builder: Crisanto Gutierrez (CBM, Madrid).

Also originator of PlaCCI for cell cycle visualization and source of the most beautiful #EMBO conference bag I’ve ever received!

Dec 10th …shining brightly

The best questions followed my talk at @UFCALS Horticulture yesterday!

It also inspired to check in with Graham Dow: now extending his PhD work to apples and grapes @niab-uk.bsky.social
Just dropped new work on diverse apple trees over seasons
doi.org/10.1111/pce....

Dec 9th …shining brightly

I made a Babka!

Channeling New York neighborhoods, my refugee grandparents and physicists who cross international and interdisciplinary boundaries (looking at you Boris Shraiman and your well-used Zabar’s mug)

Dec 8th...shining brightly

And of course, the OG of weaving together art, science, food and advocacy.

My friend from the worm days.
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

What unexpected direction will she explore next?

Dec 7th ...shining brightly

Scientists who produce art. Artists who do science.

e.g. PhD student Jodie Armand (Uni Sheffield) and her amazing knitted sculptures of plant cells, including stomata.

www.instagram.com/jodiearmand/

Dec 6th ...shining brightly

There is a lot of talk these days about optimization and efficiency--of governments, of biology. But in a complex and fluctuating world, what is actually desirable?

I’m always impressed by Oliver Hamant (RDP, Lyon) grappling with and writing about this.

Dec 5. People, events and discoveries that shine brightly...

The thrill of going to a random talk, and having your mind completely blown...

Most fun talk this year was from @dudinlab.bsky.social on “single celled” ichthyosporeans that look suspiciously like little embryos. tinyurl.com/5fykvf77

Dec 3. People, events and discoveries that shine brightly...

My new lab neighbor, Prof. Aidee Guzman asks
In a changing climate, how do we design agricultural landscapes that work for both the environment and people? www.guzman-lab.com

Growing up in Bethlehem, PA, we counteracted December's darkening days by increasing numbers of candles.

In that spirit, people, events and discoveries that shine brightly...

Dec 1. Fruit for holiday baking inspired by Dirk Spencer, PhD '24 now making cities more just as NYC policy analyst.