Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
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taorminalepore.bsky.social
Taormina (Tara) Lepore, Ph.D.
@taorminalepore.bsky.social
820 followers 630 following 81 posts
Paleontologist, science education researcher, and big nerd | Building communities of care and humanizing STEM | Ph.D. UC Berkeley | Postdoc at Western Michigan University | #DisabledInSTEM | Be kind - take action. Collective liberation. ✡️🏳️‍🌈
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taorminalepore.bsky.social
This my buddy Sid (Obsidian), she is so very silly 😍
A black cat lies on its back with its arms ridiculously in the air, looking silly and very relaxed
May 23, 2025 at 8:27 PM
taorminalepore.bsky.social
Yup! One of my cats, Roving, is a button user! Here she is, not pressing any buttons 😄
A gray tabby cat lounges partly upside down on a yellow armchair. Her eyes are closed and her expression is one of total cat sleepy joy.
January 29, 2025 at 2:31 AM
taorminalepore.bsky.social
It took a while to find me here in Kalamazoo, but my PhD lollipop finally arrived from the Grad Division at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social!

Especially in these strange days, I will celebrate these small moments of joy, accomplishment, and gratitude!
A queer femme person sits on a chair and smiles happily, holding their dissertation bound in black hardcover, along with a See’s candies lollipop that says “finally done”, spelled with a Ph and D. The card they also hold says You’re Finally Done! With the same spelling. The person is wearing a black shirt and khaki pants, they are white with short curly brown hair and dark glasses. Behind them sits a collection of books in a bookshelf and an old fashioned radio record player in deep mahogany.
January 28, 2025 at 9:04 PM
taorminalepore.bsky.social
Submit a talk at GeoConnects 2025 in a session on Disabled/Neurodivergent Perception, Community, and Identity in Geoscience!

Help us make this session happen - sign up by Jan. 31st:
forms.gle/tRYSyTNMb2Yf...

#DisabledinSTEM
#ActuallyAutistic
@nagtgeo.bsky.social
@accessiblegeo.bsky.social
Text reads Disabled and Neurodivergent Identity in Geoscience, Join us for an important topical session, GSA Connects 2025, San Antonio, Texas, October 19 to 22
January 21, 2025 at 5:02 PM
taorminalepore.bsky.social
My buddy Obsidian (Sid) is in love with the fireplace this winter.

She’s *almost* forgiven us for moving from California. 💜

#Cats
A black cat with wide green eyes stares off to the side of the camera
December 1, 2024 at 5:57 PM
taorminalepore.bsky.social
It’s a turkey kind of a day.

Courtesy of @arctomet.bsky.social 😍
A turkey skeleton with numerous features of the dinosaur skeleton labeled
November 28, 2024 at 7:14 PM
taorminalepore.bsky.social
Hi! I’m Taormina (Tara) (she/they) and I’m an ADHDer/OCD/agoraphobic, low vision, I’m a paleontologist and STEM education equity researcher. Current postdoc researching disabled/neurodivergent equity in STEM (and the occasional dinosaur) at Western Michigan Univ.!

Happy to connect with others 💜
A brachiosaurus dinosaur statue walking on a cement pavement A white queer person with short curly hair, glasses, and an I Voted sticker on their nose smiles at the camera. The sticker has a werewolf and an American flag.
November 27, 2024 at 9:47 PM
taorminalepore.bsky.social
Still acclimating to the Midwest, but I find myself already very comfortable with “ope…!”
A vanity license plate which reads “Ope, sorry! Just gonna sneak right past ya” with a small picture of Michigan in the center
November 24, 2024 at 12:26 AM
taorminalepore.bsky.social
Hi! I feel so much safer over here! 🤣

Recent UC Berkeley paleo grad and current postdoc at Western Michigan. Lover of STEM equity research and interested in why paleontology matters. Former high school teacher, friend to cats, super queer, spicy #disabledinSTEM

New fun things are afoot. *waves!*
Tara, a white queer person with short curly hair and glasses, smiles at the camera A black cat with bat wings, looking displeased Decorations on a work desk including a family photo and fossil art
November 16, 2024 at 5:31 AM
taorminalepore.bsky.social
Tomorrow’s the last day to submit an abstract for #GSA2023!

We’d love to have you join us at T69: Disabled and Neurodivergent Perception, Community, and Identity in Geoscience.

Questions? DM me!
A blue and teal background which reads in white text, Disabled and Neurodivergent identity in Geoscience - Join us for an important topical session - GSA Connects 2023 Pittsburgh PA
July 25, 2023 at 12:16 AM
taorminalepore.bsky.social
Hello world!

Me and my love @jessihonard.bsky.social at Castro Theatre for the SF Pride kickoff!
Two white queer people smiling at the camera, wearing a fedora hat and a baseball cap, sitting in a performance theatre
June 3, 2023 at 6:56 PM