Author | Lightnews

Dr. Peter Doran

@icedoctord.bsky.social

730 followers 440 following 120 posts

Professor and Endowed Chair. Polar environments, Earth System Science, water/lakes/ice, hydology, ecosystems, astrobiology and protecting planets. Made in Canada. Opinions are mine and mine alone https://www.lsu.edu/science/geology/people/faculty/doran.php

www.lsu.edu

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Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · 17h

Just now in front of McMurdo Station. Very rare to see Emperor's come right up to the front of McMurdo Station, especially so early in the summer. #scicomm 🧪

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Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · 8d

Landed yesterday at Phoenix Air Field (NZFX) near McMurdo Station Antarctica. I will be headed to the McMurdo Dry Valleys for research from here for the next month or so. Follow along #scicomm

Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · 12d

Starting my 29th expedition to the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica. First leg is home to Christchurch N.Z. There for 3 days (plus or minus) then head down from there. Will be posting here as much as I can. #scicomm 🧪

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Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Aug 31

Found this old photo. Late 80s, Canadian High Arctic near Eureka (Ellesmere Island). I was on an ATV, and this guy just trotted behind me at the same pace no matter how I sped up or slowed down. No aggression at all. To this day I wonder - if I’d stopped, would he have just licked my face?

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Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Aug 9

Great story starring my colleagues at @lsugeology.bsky.social
about threats facing the Mississippi Delta. Interesting and troubling. www.pbs.org/video/disapp... #scicomm 🧪

PBS News Hour | Scientists face ecological, economic hurdles to save delta | Season 2025

Scientists face ecological and economic hurdles to save Mississippi River Delta

www.pbs.org

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Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Aug 1

But the triple bypass and 8 stents saved your life before you changed diet (and I am plant based as well). Also all the access you’ve had throughout your life to modern medicine.

Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Aug 1

The statistics are not necessarily incompatible. Degrass-Tyson said half the population died by their thirties. That is not the same as average life expectancy

Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Aug 1

I eat organic, avoid processed foods, and load up on veggies, - but modern medicine, treatments, drugs, and vaccines are what truly extend our lives. That other stuff gives a little booster. Science matters. Watch this short video—it nails the point. www.youtube.com/shorts/mEOeC... #scicomm 🧪

“Science!!! Matters!!!” Neil deGrasse Tyson

YouTube video by Hasan Minhaj

www.youtube.com

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Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Jul 29

So short sighted. At a time when Russia and China are growing their ice-breaking capabilities because they get it, the U.S. is in denial of what is happening on the planet. #scicomm 🧪 www.science.org/content/arti...

NSF plans abrupt end to lone U.S. Antarctic research icebreaker

Imminent termination of the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer shocks polar scientists

www.science.org

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Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Jul 29

Very cool. #scicomm 🧪https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/science/citizen-science-ecology-inaturalist.html?unlocked_article_code=1.aE8.3vfc.5j3FnJJNj3U8&smid=url-share

Citizen Scientists Are Accelerating Ecology Research, Study Suggests

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Dr. Peter Doran

Pete Buttigieg @petebuttigieg.bsky.social · Jul 4

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Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Jul 4

Not sure the "some good some bad" in the beginning is representative www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/u... #scicomm 🧪

Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Jun 26

OK? #scicomm 🧪 www.alxnow.com/2025/06/24/r...

Report: National Science Foundation headquarters to be taken over by HUD, displacing 1,800+ employees | ALXnow

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will reportedly take over the National Science Foundation (NSF) headquarters building (2415 Eisenhower Ave.), displacing more than 1,833 NSF emplo...

www.alxnow.com

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Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Jun 5

Ima going to have to up my popcorn supply for this Trump v Elon breakup flame-a-thon.

Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Jun 4

"The sprawling legislation carrying President Trump’s domestic agenda squeaked through the House with one vote to spare, but some Republicans now say they didn’t realize what they voted for." OMG! This is your job! www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/u...

After Muscling Their Bill Through the House, Some Republicans Have Regrets

www.nytimes.com

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Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Jun 3

#scicomm www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/u...

The U.S. Lit a Beacon for Science. Under Trump, Scientists Fear It’s Dimming

www.nytimes.com

Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · May 16

#scicomm www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/s...

9 Federally Funded Scientific Breakthroughs That Changed Everything

www.nytimes.com

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Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · May 2

Brutal. NSF to restrict NCR to 15% This will devastate many research universities. #scicomm www.nsf.gov/policies/doc...

Policy Notice: Implementation of Standard 15% Indirect Cost Rate

www.nsf.gov

Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · May 2

"Funding for the NSF, as for all other federal agencies, is set by the US Congress. To date, the agency has received only about one-quarter of the funding that Congress appropriated to it for the current fiscal year, which ends on 30 September." #scicomm 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Exclusive: NSF stops awarding new grants and funding existing ones

US science funder also plans to screen grant applications for compliance with ‘agency priorities’.

www.nature.com

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Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Apr 28

A few weeks ago, I voted in the Canadian election for the first time since being in the U.S. (35 years - I never felt educated enough about Canadian politics while away to vote). Paper ballot and you hand write one name (your local MP). Simple and efficient. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/w...

Paper Ballots, Hand Counting, No Machines: This Is How Canada’s Election Works (Gift Article)

Canada’s federal election is on Monday. Here are the details.

www.nytimes.com

Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Apr 26

This is a submarine cable. Looks expensive to have that cross oceans

Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Apr 25

A lot to worry about here. Where is Congress? This is the moment in history for the moderate Right to save science and the future of the U.S. #scicomm 🧪. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/25/b...

Trump vs. Science (Gift Article)

We explain the administration’s cuts to research.

www.nytimes.com

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Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Apr 19

Ooooh, new Last of US. See ya

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Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Apr 17

Spent this week at Institute of Aerospace medicine in Germany. They do a lot of experiments on the effects of space travel. You could get paid 15000 Euro to lie in this bed for 3 months with your head down. No getting out of bed for any reason. No pillow. Would you do it? #scicomm

Dr. Peter Doran @icedoctord.bsky.social · Apr 15

Got a great tour of the European Space Agency’s new Lunar analog training facility today at Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR). Cool things that forward-looking governments fund. More info here www.esa.int/Science_Expl...

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