Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
Director, Innovation Policy @rti.bsky.social (the Research Triangle Institute). Unapologetic wonk at the intersection of #sciencepolicy, #innovation, and strategy. Ask me about R&D evaluation, innovation metrics, horizon scanning, & cocktails. .. more
Director, Innovation Policy @rti.bsky.social (the Research Triangle Institute). Unapologetic wonk at the intersection of #sciencepolicy, #innovation, and strategy. Ask me about R&D evaluation, innovation metrics, horizon scanning, & cocktails.
Business
31%
Economics
23%
Ugh. Saw Manitou at a D&D convention as a middle schooler in Oakland. Messed up my sleep for weeks
To paraphrase William Gibson, fascism is already here—it’s just not evenly distributed.
Glad I was paying attention in my undergrad Intro to Int’l Relations class. Really coming in handy in ways I never imagined when I was 18.
Considering the fate of the Raiders, the Golden State Warriors, and the A’s, Oakland’s primary export appears to be professional sports teams
Reposted by Joshua S. Weitz, Jeffrey Alexander
FY 2026 R&D Appropriations Dashboard | American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
www.aaas.org
I come back from my winter PTO and day one Congress drops the text of a minibus. The dashboard has been updated with the Senate Homeland numbers, and all the info in the CJS-Int-E&W minibus. A House vote is scheduled tomorrow night, and Senate likely later this week.
www.aaas.org/news/fy-2026...
www.aaas.org/news/fy-2026...
This is one of the big costs of malfeasance. Things that would not be done by politicians acting in (relative) good faith now have to be legislated and regulated, which will consume time and resources that could be devoted to constructive policymaking.
Note that the “World’s Top 2% of Scientists” list has no connection to Stanford University or any other institution.
Keep in mind that CRS is a research branch in the Library of Congress and has no investigative or oversight powers (unlike GAO). This report at most indicates that some member of Congress asked for information about NIH awards.
I’m torn about this kind of thing. The Science of Science working group has been in planning for a while—pre-dating the current administration. While I don’t at all assume the current leaders act in good faith, we need people in the group who can bear witness to what is discussed.
It states that those are current US assets, but does not advocate for investing in them—or even for retaining them. The strategy focuses on military dominance and realpolitik as the operational assets (in Trumpworld).
In many cases when I’ve asked a “stupid” question, people later tell me that they were wondering the same thing.
Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
· Nov 14
And they subpoenaed the Epstein estate because a lawyer for the victims went on Lawrence O’Donnell’s show and said that doing so would enable them to get around DOJ’s intransigence. Masterful move.
Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
· Oct 26
Truth.
Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
· Oct 21
Umm…the timescale of these investments are NOT similar. GenAI infrastructure investment (based on announcements) is supposedly happening over a much shorter period
Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
· Oct 18
Happened when DHS was created after 9/11
G Elliott Morris
@gelliottmorris.com
· Oct 18
20251018_No Kings Day 2 Protests Unofficial Attendance Crowdsourcing
docs.google.com
Based on early numbers, there are easily more people participating in the second No Kings Day than in the first. Trump's strategy of constantly talking about this on TV and GOP govs sending in the national guard obviously energized the left. docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
· Oct 12
I would totally bet that they had grok rewrite the code.
Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
· Oct 12
“The software, called AutoRIF, which stands for Automated Reduction in Force, was first developed by the Department of Defense more than two decades ago. Since then, it’s been updated several times and used by a variety of agencies to expedite reductions in workforce.”
Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
· Oct 12
DOGE Is Working on Software That Automates the Firing of Government Workers
Operatives working for Elon Musk’s DOGE appear to be editing the code of AutoRIF—software designed by the Defense Department that could assist in mass firings of federal workers, sources tell WIRED.
www.wired.com
Um, that is actually pretty close to what happened: www.wired.com/story/doge-a...
The alternative is that millions of contractors (including call center agents, data entry workers) would be furloughed or fired upon shutdown. Unlike feds, furloughed contractors do NOT receive back pay when the gov’t re-opens. And the contract workforce is much bigger than federal workforce.
While this project is a travesty, this is normal practice. As a federal contractor, I can keep working for my federal client until we need direct guidance. This rule enables me to keep my work going (in support of the agency) through a shutdown.
Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
· Sep 30
True, it apparently ended when the US surrendered.
Reposted by Jeffrey Alexander
Jeremy Yoder says no war
@jbyoder.org
· Sep 29
New today: We're petitioning NSF to revert GRFP eligibility criteria to last year's terms, to avoid pulling the rug out from under the earliest of early-career scientists who had every reason to think they'd be able to apply this year. Sign and spread the word!
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
· Sep 29
New contest idea—“Americanize” the titles of movies referencing or set in other countries! “All Quiet on the Atlantic Front.” “30 Seconds Over Little Tokyo.” (Someone please do better…)
Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
· Sep 26
What does “follow the facts” mean here—aren’t you supposed to have all the facts needed to prove guilt BEFORE you indict someone?
Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
· Sep 25
The Madness of King George
George Gilder listened to the technology, and became guru of the telecosm. The markets listened to his newsletter, and followed him into the Global Crossing abyss.
www.wired.com
And for those who are curious, “Gilders” followed George Gilder, a futurist who promised all kinds of bounties from new communications technologies but is mainly known for pumping telecom tech firms where he owned stock to his followers and cashing out: www.wired.com/2002/07/gild...
Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
· Sep 23
This course, organized by the DC Chapter of the Technology Transfer Society, explains how technologies invented in labs or at start-ups can be brought to market through partnerships and patent licensing. Great for scientists considering an alternate career! $700 (or $475 for county residents)
Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
· Sep 23
Small Business and Entrepreneurship | Montgomery College, Maryland
www.montgomerycollege.edu
STARTS THURSDAY: Our course on “An Introduction to Technology Transfer and Commercialization” at Montgomery College, Rockville, MD with the option to attend remotely via Zoom. Thursdays from 6:30pm to 9pm Eastern through December 18. See www.montgomerycollege.edu/workforce-de...
Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
· Sep 23
The Real Returns on NIH’s Intramural Research
The NIH intramural research program generates benefits far beyond the property lines of its facilities and laboratories.
issues.org
Based on an article for @issuesinst.bsky.social on new ways to calculate biomedical research impact issues.org/nih-intramur.... Cc: @jeremymberg.bsky.social @stuartbuck.bsky.social @shalinjyotishi.bsky.social @standupforscience.bsky.social @davidimiller.bsky.social @maxkozlov.bsky.social