Laura J. Martin | Lightnews

Dr. Laura J. Martin

@laurajmartin.bsky.social

1.6K followers 130 following 6 posts

Author of WILD BY DESIGN: THE RISE OF ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION (http://bit.ly/wildbydes) | Environmental Studies professor at Williams College | Working on global history of herbicides | https://www.ljanemartin.com/

Videos

Environmental science 72%

Geography 18%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Sara Pritchard @sarabpritchard.bsky.social · Sep 22

Please consider donating to Environmental History Now:
A Platform on Representation, Engagement, and Community
#envhist #envhum

ko-fi.com/envhistnow

Support Environmental History Now

ko-fi.com

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Erle Ellis @erleellis.bsky.social · Aug 29

More destruction of US Science:
USDA plan to shutter Beltsville Agricultural Research Center marylandmatters.org/2025/08/29/m...

Maryland Democrats buck USDA plan to shutter Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - Maryland Matters

Maryland lawmakers are pushing back against a Trump administration decision to shutter a Prince George’s agricultural research facility, arguing that the closure would not only hurt American farmers a...

marylandmatters.org

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Wild Ones @wildonesnatives.bsky.social · Aug 27

We’ve pulled together a Rewilding Booklist for adults and kids:
🌿Adults can explore the history, science, and big ideas behind ecological restoration. Feral, Reclaiming Nature, Wild by Design are just three of the reads to help inspire action.

👉 Read the list here: wildones.org/rewilding-bo...

Dr. Laura J. Martin @laurajmartin.bsky.social · Aug 5

This headline needs correcting @nytimes.com: www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/n...

Reposted by Shannon Vallor, Lesley A. Hall, Adrian Vickers , and 2 more Shannon Vallor, Lesley A. Hall, Adrian Vickers, Dolly Jørgensen, Laura J. Martin

Patrick McCray @patrickmccray.bsky.social · Aug 4

If you think A.I. will solve your problems, you don't understand technology and you don't understand your problems.

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Plymouth Marine Laboratory @pml.ac.uk · Aug 1

Emily Stevenson, lead author and PhD researcher with @exetermarine.bsky.social and PML, says: “Our reliance on fossil fuel-derived plastics may be inadvertently driving the evolution of AMR within environmental populations of bacteria.” www.packaginginsights.com/news/antimic...

Plastic packaging may drive antimicrobial resistance, study suggests

Plastic packaging — at every stage of its lifecycle — may contribute to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which poses “one of the greatest threats to mode...

www.packaginginsights.com

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Erle Ellis @erleellis.bsky.social · Jul 16

Onset of extensive human fire use 50k years ago
🧎🔥🌏🌐 @pnas.org
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
#Anthropocene #Pyrocene

Onset of extensive human fire use 50,000 y ago | PNAS

Fire is a pivotal aspect of human involvement in the carbon cycle. However, the precise timing of the large-scale human fire use remains uncertain....

www.pnas.org

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Places Journal @placesjournal.bsky.social · Jul 15

In “Animal Architecture,” anthropologist @slaydok.bsky.social speaks with architecture writer @pauldobraszczyk.bsky.social and practitioner/researcher Joyce Hwang about designing for, and with, nonhuman species.

What if the boundaries of architecture are actually much more porous than we think?

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Mariah Blake @mariahblake.bsky.social · Jul 8

Big news: After nearly a decade, DuPont has agreed to settle a class-action suit brought by the people of Hoosick Falls, NY, the community I spent years following for my book. All told, the village's roughly 3,000 residents will receive about $90 million in damages. #PFAS #ForeverChemicals

DuPont agrees to settle lawsuit over Hoosick Falls water pollution

DuPont Co. has agreed to settle a federal class-action lawsuit that was filed nearly a decade ago on behalf of residents in and around the village of Hoosick Falls.

timesunion.com

Reposted by Dolly Jørgensen, Fredrik Albritton Jonsson, Sandra Swart , and 4 more Dolly Jørgensen, Fredrik Albritton Jonsson, Sandra Swart, Massimiliano Simons, Simone M. Müller, Liana Chua, Laura J. Martin

Finn Arne Jørgensen @finnarne.me · Jun 26

We are hiring! Fully tenured associate professorship in environmental history! We are looking for someone who can be a strong contributor to the history group, to a new #envhum related MA program (if all goes well), and to @greenhouseuis.net. #envhist

Associate Professor in Environmental History (281801) | University of Stavanger

Job title: Associate Professor in Environmental History (281801), Employer: University of Stavanger, Deadline: Thursday, August 7, 2025

www.jobbnorge.no

Dr. Laura J. Martin @laurajmartin.bsky.social · Jun 17

Is Fake Grass Safe? A Manufacturer Sues to Stop a Discussion. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/c...

Is Fake Grass Safe? A Manufacturer Sues to Stop a Discussion.

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Public Seminar @publicseminar.bsky.social · Jun 5

"Martin examines how restoration efforts are often driven by human desires rather than ecological necessity."
—Mairéad O’Donnell reviews Laura J. Martin’s Wild by Design, recently reissued in paperback by @harvard.edu
@maireadod.bsky.social @nssrnews.bsky.social
publicseminar.org/2025/05/wild...

Reimagining Ecological Repair - Public Seminar

Wild by Design calls for restoration efforts prioritize ecological justice, community involvement, and nature as a dynamic system.

publicseminar.org

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Gales of November ReMar-mbered @histoftech.bsky.social · Jun 5

As many of us people who study or work in tech tried to tell y’all, move fast & break things was always about POWER, not progress.

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Dolly Jørgensen @dollyjorgensen.bsky.social · Jun 3

PhD course/retreat "What does it mean to be educated in the Anthropocene - how to make sense of teaching, learning and the role of knowledge?" Sigtuna (near Stockholm), Sweden, 4-7 Nov 2025. Organized by EBAN network. I'll be one of the instructors. Room & board included.
Applications due 30 June.

www.kau.se

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Mairéad O'Donnell @maireadod.bsky.social · May 26

During my time with @uslnyc.bsky.social, I had the opportunity to review @laurajmartin.bsky.social’s remarkable book Wild by Design for @publicseminar.bsky.social You can read the full review below 👇

publicseminar.org/2025/05/wild...

publicseminar.org

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Joyce Chaplin @joycechaplin.bsky.social · May 23

“This splendid account offers a rich new perspective on the origins of climate science”—wow, and thank you @publisherswkly.bsky.social for the starred review of my new book on the FRANKLIN STOVE

Reposted by James Q. Wilson, Franz C. Mayer, Laura J. Martin

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · May 22

Here's the letter Noem sent Harvard, as posted on X. Nothing alleges ANY specific violation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Nothing. She cites no law violated, no regulation broken, no policy ignored.

I don't care what you think of Harvard; this is clear weaponization of government.

Secretary Kristi Noem
@Sec_Noem
This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.

It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments.

Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused.

They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law.

Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.

Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program Decertification
I am writing to inform you that effective immediately, Harvard University's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked.
As I explained to you in my April letter, it is a privilege to enroll foreign students, and it is also a privilege to employ aliens on campus. All universities must comply with Department of Homeland Security requirements, including reporting requirements under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program regulations, to maintain this privilege. As a result of your refusal to comply with multiple requests to provide the Department of Homeland Security pertinent information while perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist "diversity, equity, and inclusion" policies, you have lost this privilege.
The revocation of your Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification means that Harvard is prohibited from having any aliens on F- or J- nonimmigrant status for the 2025-2026 academic school year. This decertification also means that existing aliens on F- or J- nonimmigrant status must transfer to another university in order to maintain their nonimmigrant status.
This action should not surprise you and is the unfortunate result of Harvard's failure to comply with simple reporting requirements.
On April 16, 2025, I requested records pertaining to nonimmigrant students enrolled at Harvard University, including information regarding misconduct and other offenses that would render foreign students inadmissible or removable. On April 30, 2025, Harvard's counsel provided information that he represented as responsive to my request. It was not.
As a courtesy that Harvard was not legally entitled to, the Acting DHS General Counsel responded on my behalf and afforded Harvard another opportunity to comply. Harvard again provided an insufficient response.
Consequences must follow to send a clear signal to…

If Harvard would like the opportunity of regaining Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification before the upcoming academic school year, you must provide all of the information requested below within 72 hours.
Please be advised that providing materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent information may subject you to criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 1001. Other criminal and civil sanctions may also apply.
I expect full and complete responses to the following requests:
1. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding illegal activity whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years.
2. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding dangerous or violent activity whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years.
3. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding threats to other students or university personnel whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years.
4. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding deprivation of rights of other classmates or university personnel whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years.
5. Any and all disciplinary records of all nonimmigrant students enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years.
6. Any and all audio or video footage, in the possession of Harvard University, of any protest activity involving a nonimmigrant student on a Harvard Univer…

Reposted by Ted Temzelides, Haley A. Branch, Laura J. Martin

Lynn Jolicoeur @lynnjolicoeur.bsky.social · May 16

"I'm still in shock. I know that there have been political issues around Harvard in recent weeks, but antibiotic resistance isn't one of them." My conversation with Harvard microbiologist @baym.lol, one of many researchers there who just lost millions in fed. grants. www.wbur.org/news/2025/05...

Antibiotic research at Harvard lab threatened by federal funding cuts

Microbiologist Michael Baym studies antibiotic resistance at Harvard Medical School. He lost millions in federal funding this week.

www.wbur.org

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Richard Fadok @slaydok.bsky.social · May 16

What an amazing event! Thank you, @laurajmartin.bsky.social, for organizing!

Dr. Laura J. Martin @laurajmartin.bsky.social · May 16

An incredible two days convening Beyond Biophilia -- advancing the intersection of #architecture and #ecology to design buildings for conservation

Dr. Laura J. Martin @laurajmartin.bsky.social · May 16

Hello, bluesky! I finally left the other place. Looking forward to connecting here on #biodiversity / #environmentaljustice / #nature / #history / #authors

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

🌾 Dr. Liz Anna Kozik 🌾 @chaseprairie.bsky.social · May 4

I hadn't looked in Leopold's papers for his Opinions on the Vassar lab until reading @laurajmartin.bsky.social

Leopold describes The First Prairie Restoration as "The idea which Dr. Roberts has already carried out at Vassar is the one we are hoping to apply to The University of Wisconsin Arboretum"

Mrs. Robert C. Wright, Chairman
Conservation Commi t tee
The Garden Club of America
598 Madison Avenue
New York, N. Y.

Dear Mrs. Wright:

I have delayed reply to your letter of June 26 until I
could carefully read the enclosures. This I have now done.

Your letter gives me much gratification, first, because
of the thorough manner in which you have answered my question and
second, because our group has evidently been anticipated in the
conception and execution of the wildflower management idea.

This sort of thing must, of course, be done for each
state, and I will send you shortly a university bulletin giving
the plans of the conservation group here at the university.

The idea which Dr. Roberts has already carried out at
Vassar is the one we are hoping to apply to the University Arboretum.
Our area is larger and we hope to restore a prairie as well as the
various woodland associations. We have a COC camp for the labor
an

The idea which Dr. Roberts has already carried out at
Vassar is the one we are hoping to apply to the University Arboretum.
Our area is larger and we hope to restore a prairie as well as the
various woodland associations. We have a COC camp for the labor
and the botanical conservation work is in charge of Dr. T. M. Sperry,
until recently with the University of Illinois. I am sending
Dr. Sperry your letter and enclosures, since I know he will be
gratified to learn that work similar to his is already under way.
I have also already showed the material to Prof. N. C. Passett of
our Botany Department.

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

FIBER Festival | Audiovisual Culture & Digital Art @fiberfestival.bsky.social · May 1

And there it is… Our third and final release of fresh festival names. With 19 new additions we are excited to share: the festival lineup is complete! Let the wildness begin. 🌀

Get lost in the programme and visit our website to learn about the new names.
2025.fiberfestival.nl

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Conservation Optimism @conservoptimism.bsky.social · Feb 13

From plant taxonomy to invasion ecology & finally, to bridging science and the humanities, her journey proves that conservation isn’t just about being in the field—it’s also about the power of storytelling

Dive into her inspiring journey & discover how conservation takes many forms

buff.ly/40VvhZl

Meet the Optimists - Laura J. Martin - Conservation Optimism

In the February 2025 blog of Conservation Optimism’s “Meet The Optimists” series, Laura J. Martin talks about her work as a conservationist, professor and writer!

buff.ly

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Noema Magazine @noemamag.com · Dec 9

And if you're new to us, great! To get a better feel for our content, check out our favorite pieces from 2024.

This list explores ideas from why we should rewild the internet to the many possibilities of lucid dreaming to why AI might help rebuild the middle class: www.noemamag.com/noemas-top-1...

Noema’s Top 10 Reads Of 2024 | NOEMA

Our best longform journalism and essays from 2024.

www.noemamag.com

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Emily Pawley @emilypawley.bsky.social · Jun 20

Hey, I got to choose a book for this and write about it, and listen, you should all read Laura J Martin’s truly awesome Wild by Design!

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Ten must-read science histories

www.science.org

Reposted by Laura J. Martin

Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · Dec 12

Our latest on the Mongabay Newscast features @racheldonald.bsky.social speaking with Laura Martin from Williams College who argues that focusing on collaborate ecological restoration is key for saving biodiversity: news.mongabay.com/2023/12/wild...

Wild by nature: Ecological restoration brings humanity and biodiversity together

On this episode of the Mongabay Newscast, co-host Rachel Donald speaks with Laura Martin, an associate professor of environmental studies at Williams College in Massachusetts. Donald and Martin dive i...

news.mongabay.com

Dr. Laura J. Martin @laurajmartin.bsky.social · Oct 6

Next Friday at University of Virginia — biodiversity + design

Dr. Laura J. Martin @laurajmartin.bsky.social · Oct 6

falling-walls.com/discover/art...

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