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Laura Lopez

@ohdearz.bsky.social

4.3K followers 960 following 500 posts

Professor of astronomy 🔭 at Ohio State. Co-chair of @aascsma.bsky.social. Alum of UCSC and MIT. She/her 🇲🇽

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Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 2h

OSU limiting participation in SACNAS is heartbreaking. I have attended SACNAS since 2003 as an undergrad, & it was the first scientific space where I felt welcome. I always bring students (pic is OSU participants at 2022 SACNAS), & now it is in our city & OSU doesn't want us to go? So disappointing.

24 Ohio State University attendees (undergrads, grads, staff, and faculty) of the 2022 SACNAS annual meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We stand in three rows in front of a green backdrop that says SACNAS. I am at the bottom right in the image.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 5h

Thanks, now I see it! At this point, I am curious whether they honor their word. Will they reimburse me because I am presenting research? Will they reimburse my students who are not presenting but are attending research talks + networking?

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 5h

It was a big deal because registrations are $500, and many people, especially students, cannot afford to pay out of pocket.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 5h

The article says we can pay out of pocket and attend. The provost said we can use grants or university funds to attend if we present research.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 5h

I am giving two research presentations at SACNAS, and I submitted paperwork for reimbursement as soon as the provost made this announcement. I am still awaiting the approval, so we'll see what happens in practice. I agree it is a major issue of academic freedom.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 5h

OSU spent many thousands of $$ on booth registrations for SACNAS earlier this year. Now they said they would rather take the financial loss than let us recruit at this meeting of >6000 scientists.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 5h

Here is the email from the provost reversing the decision & saying we can attend if presenting research. However, we still cannot recruit or attend without research benefit. Also many students did have registration cancelled (or missed registration deadlines) when OSU was prohibiting attendance.

SACNAS NDiSTEM conference update
Hi All,

Please see the email below from the provost with new guidance related to the SACNAS conference.

Best regards,
Todd

From: Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda <ADMIN-Provost@osu.edu>
Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
To: Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda <ADMIN-Provost@osu.edu>
Cc: Garcia, Anne <garcia.680@osu.edu>
Subject: SACNAS NDiSTEM conference update

Hi everyone,

Our office has been working with the Office of Legal Affairs regarding participation in the upcoming SACNAS NDiSTEM conference in light of the outreach the university received last week from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Based on our conversations, the Office of Academic Affairs is recommending the following as it relates to participation in this year’s SACNAS conference:

If an Ohio State faculty member or student is scheduled to present research or participate in sessions that advance their research at the SACNAS conference, then the faculty member or student can attend and use university funds to do so.

If an Ohio State faculty member or student is NOT scheduled to present research or participate in sessions that advance their research (e.g., the purpose of attending is solely for recruitment) at the SACNAS conference but wishes to participate in the conference, they may still attend but must use personal resources to do so.

For participation as a research presenter or in sessions that advance their research, we are requesting that a designee within each college or unit (e.g., the Associate Dean of Research) affirms that the participation is in fact to present or advance research as part of the approval process for university funding.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 5h

Here is the email from the provost reversing the decision & saying we can attend if presenting research. However, we still cannot recruit or attend without research benefit. Also many students did have registration cancelled (or missed registration deadlines) when OSU was prohibiting attendance.

SACNAS NDiSTEM conference update
Hi All,

Please see the email below from the provost with new guidance related to the SACNAS conference.

Best regards,
Todd

From: Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda <ADMIN-Provost@osu.edu>
Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
To: Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda <ADMIN-Provost@osu.edu>
Cc: Garcia, Anne <garcia.680@osu.edu>
Subject: SACNAS NDiSTEM conference update

Hi everyone,

Our office has been working with the Office of Legal Affairs regarding participation in the upcoming SACNAS NDiSTEM conference in light of the outreach the university received last week from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Based on our conversations, the Office of Academic Affairs is recommending the following as it relates to participation in this year’s SACNAS conference:

If an Ohio State faculty member or student is scheduled to present research or participate in sessions that advance their research at the SACNAS conference, then the faculty member or student can attend and use university funds to do so.

If an Ohio State faculty member or student is NOT scheduled to present research or participate in sessions that advance their research (e.g., the purpose of attending is solely for recruitment) at the SACNAS conference but wishes to participate in the conference, they may still attend but must use personal resources to do so.

For participation as a research presenter or in sessions that advance their research, we are requesting that a designee within each college or unit (e.g., the Associate Dean of Research) affirms that the participation is in fact to present or advance research as part of the approval process for university funding.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 5h

Here is a screenshot of the email from the provost.

SACNAS NDiSTEM conference update
Hi All,

Please see the email below from the provost with new guidance related to the SACNAS conference.

Best regards,
Todd

From: Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda <ADMIN-Provost@osu.edu>
Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
To: Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda <ADMIN-Provost@osu.edu>
Cc: Garcia, Anne <garcia.680@osu.edu>
Subject: SACNAS NDiSTEM conference update

Hi everyone,

Our office has been working with the Office of Legal Affairs regarding participation in the upcoming SACNAS NDiSTEM conference in light of the outreach the university received last week from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Based on our conversations, the Office of Academic Affairs is recommending the following as it relates to participation in this year’s SACNAS conference:

If an Ohio State faculty member or student is scheduled to present research or participate in sessions that advance their research at the SACNAS conference, then the faculty member or student can attend and use university funds to do so.

If an Ohio State faculty member or student is NOT scheduled to present research or participate in sessions that advance their research (e.g., the purpose of attending is solely for recruitment) at the SACNAS conference but wishes to participate in the conference, they may still attend but must use personal resources to do so.

For participation as a research presenter or in sessions that advance their research, we are requesting that a designee within each college or unit (e.g., the Associate Dean of Research) affirms that the participation is in fact to present or advance research as part of the approval process for university funding.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 5h

Yes, the OSU stance changed from what is in the article due to strong feedback. On Oct 2, OSU reversed course & the provost Ravi Bellamkonda said we can attend the meetings if presenting research or it benefits research. It still prohibits recruitment or attendance for non-research reasons.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 23h

It helped that everybody had landlines, so it was really only the last four digits that were different across my hometown.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 3d

Super interesting work!! I've begun thinking more about these kinds of questions as my 4yo becomes more aware of the world and am noticing who she chooses as her close friends.

Hyesung Grace Hwang @hghwang.bsky.social · 3d

Excited to announce DID lab's first paper!

psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-...

We find that children as young as 6 show political ingroup preference!

First paper of very talented @annie-schw.bsky.social!

In JEP: General's special issue on political development (1/3)

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 5d

My source of info is the new AAS Working Group on Grad Admissions, and they compiled info for astro and physics+astro departments. There are no physics depts on the list who cancelled so far, but many haven't shared their info yet.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 5d

Ohio State astronomy is still waiting to see what happens with the federal funding landscape before deciding whether to proceed. With programs that are still TBD, I recommend waiting right now because *application fees do not get refunded if they decide to cancel after you have already paid*!!

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 5d

So far the astronomy PhD programs that have cancelled admissions are Washington, Michigan State, and Case Western.

Meg Schwamb @megschwamb.bsky.social · 6d

Sad to see the University of Washington Astronomy Department has suspended graduate admissions for the 2026-2027 Academic Year. astro.washington.edu/graduate-adm...

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 5d

So far the astronomy PhD programs that have cancelled admissions are Washington, Michigan State, and Case Western.

Meg Schwamb @megschwamb.bsky.social · 6d

Sad to see the University of Washington Astronomy Department has suspended graduate admissions for the 2026-2027 Academic Year. astro.washington.edu/graduate-adm...

Graduate Admissions | Department of Astronomy | University of Washington

The Department of Astronomy has suspended graduate admissions for the 2026-2027 Academic Year. General Information for applying to UW Astronomy Graduate Program. Applications must be submitted using ...

astro.washington.edu

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 7d

Valuable info about the Physics Nobel Prize today from Prof. Joseph Barranco at SFSU on Martinis and Devoret being a grad student and postdoc in Clarke's lab at UC Berkeley & Clark and Devoret being immigrants. "California *public* education made this happen. Immigration made this happen." ⚛️

Joseph Barranco posted on social media: Go Bears! Nobel Prize in Physics goes to 3 physicists studying mesoscopic quantum phenomena... Work was done in the 1980s in UC Berkeley Professor John Clarke's lab with his graduate student John Martinis and postdoctoral fellow Michel Devoret... all 3 share the Nobel Prize. Must also point out that both Clarke and Devoret are immigrants from the UK and France, respectively. All 3 are pioneers in the race to build the most powerful quantum supercomputers. California *public* education made this happen. Immigration made this happen.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 8d

AJ Link is an active member and leader in Black in Astro, and his permanent ban for a description in alt text has me seriously questioning whether Bluesky deserves my presence.

Aveta👾🇭🇹 @aliafonzy.blacksky.app · 8d

Unfortunate update: Link reached out to BlueSky and got email back now on reason.

His appeal is denied. He will remain permanently banned on BlueSky’s side.

Here are the screenshots he just sent me as of 8:22 AM EST(my time)

A screenshot of an email from the Bluesky Moderation Team with the subject line “Bluesky Account Behavior” sent at 22:15. The email states that a Bluesky account controlled by the recipient, with the handle @spacelawshitpost.me, posted a reply with an image where the alt text reads: Charlie Kirk sitting in a white T-shirt that says “Freedom.” A negative consequence follows. The email indicates this post violates Community Guidelines regarding violent or threatening speech, specifically listing threats of violence or physical harm against individuals, groups, institutions, or the general public, and incitement of self-harm or suicide.

A screenshot of an email continuation from the Bluesky Moderation Team displaying a bulleted list of Community Guidelines violations. The first bullet point describes threats of violence or physical harm as including threats or encouragement of violence against individuals, groups, institutions, or the general public. The second bullet point defines incitement of self-harm or suicide as content that encourages self-harm or suicide. The third bullet point explains wishes of harm as expressions of a desire for harm directed at a specific person or group. Below the bullets, a paragraph states that users may not use Bluesky to break the law or cause harm to others and that all users must be treated with respect. The next paragraph informs the recipient that as a result of these violations, your account has been taken down. A closing paragraph thanks the user for doing their part to keep Bluesky a welcoming and empowering place for all users and instructs them to email moderation@blueskyweb.xyz if they have questions or wish to appeal the decision. The email ends with the signature Bluesky Moderation Team.

A screenshot of an email from the Bluesky Moderation Team sent at 08:11 with the subject line Re: Bluesky Account Behavior addressed To: Hide My Email. The email reads:

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to appeal the takedown of your account on Bluesky. We have carefully reviewed your case, including the information you provided and the activity that led to the suspension of your account.

After investigating, we have determined that your account activity was in violation of our community guidelines, specifically promoting hateful content or being disruptive to other users. We take these guidelines seriously to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all our users.

As a result, we regret to inform you that your appeal has been denied, and your account will remain suspended. This decision is final and cannot be reversed. We understand that this may be disappointing news, but we must prioritize the well-being of our community and maintain a consistent enforcement of our policies. We encourage you to review our community guidelines to better understand the expectations we have for user behavior on our platform. Please do not create new accounts, since those will be taken down for ban evasion.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 9d

I get so tired from fighting the good fight, and this week has been a lot. This message from Jane Goodall reminds me/us to keep going. 🥹

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 9d

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

Reposted by Laura Lopez

Gabrielle Hecht has no more spoons @gabriellehecht.bsky.social · 10d

With proper Alt text

Friendly reminder that’s it’s easy peasy to do this when pix have words. Literally select the text from within the image and copy/paste into the ALT field

RESOLUTION AGREEMENT
University of Kentucky
OCR Case 03-25-2099
University of Kentucky (the University) enters into this Resolution Agreement (the Agreement) to resolve the violation that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) identified in OCR Case Number 03-25-2099.
1. The University will conduct a review of all memberships or partnerships with external organizations to identify any memberships or partnerships with organizations that may restrict participation based on race, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
REPORTING REQUIREMENT 1: Within 60 days of the date of this Agreement, the University will submit a report to OCR that lists each organization identified, a description of the organization, and the nature and purpose of the membership or partnership. The report will also indicate whether the University plans to discontinue each membership or partnership, and if it does not intend to discontinue, an explanation of the reason.
2. The University will respond to OCR's feedback regarding its plans for each membership or partnership identified. After receiving OCR's approval, the University will take steps to formally cancel any identified membership or partnership.
REPORTING REQUIREMENT 2: Within 30 days of receiving OCR's approval of the report described in Item 1, the University will provide OCR with documentation that it has formally cancelled any identified membership or partnership.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 10d

Asking around among colleagues, it seems different universities are signing the agreement while others are refusing. It also seems some universities are trying to keep the agreement confidential, so it is hard to know which schools were included.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 10d

Text of resolution agreement found in a link at the bottom of this news story about Kentucky: fox56news.com/news/local/l...

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 10d

It seems several universities, potentially all 45 who participated in the PhD Project (www.ed.gov/about/news/p...) , were pressured to sign a "resolution agreement" that they will not participate in anything that MAY be exclusionary by race. Here's the text of the agreement from U Kentucky.

Resolution agreement with the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights screenshot from University of Kentucky.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 10d

OSU PhD student Sebastian Lopez led 2 papers on arXiv today, including one on the hot & warm gas in the NGC 1266 AGN-driven outflow! It uses Chandra data that Katey Alatalo and I proposed for as grad students; grad students can do great science together without advisors! 😀 arxiv.org/abs/2510.01321

Three-color image of the massive outflow of NGC 1266, with Chandra X-rays in blue, Halpha MUSE data in green, and VLA 5 GHz radio data in red. The + marks the location of the AGN.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 11d

ALSO IMPORTANT FYI : Letters of rec for NSF GRFP are due A WEEK BEFORE the applications on Nov 7!!!! 🔭⚛️

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 18d

Astronomy 🔭 and physics ⚛️ GRFP applications are due Nov 14! Only seniors and 1st-year grad students can apply now (no second years).

Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 18d

New: After a long wait, the GRFP solicitation is live! Deadlines have been extended to early November, so applicants have a bit over a month to submit. www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 14d

For those asking why OSU advised all students and staff not to attend SACNAS: it was after pressure from the US Dept of Ed.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 14d

It was federal pressure from the US Dept of Ed saying we cannot participate in anything that MAY be limited by race. The "may" is ridiculous because the conference and membership is open to everyone, but someone somewhere says that it MAY be limited so it is not allowed.

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 14d

It was federal pressure from the US Dept of Ed saying we cannot participate in anything that MAY be limited by race. The "may" is ridiculous because the conference and membership is open to everyone, but someone somewhere says that it MAY be limited so it is not allowed.