Jenn Dowd
@drjenndowd.bsky.social
Prof of Demography & Population Health @oxforddemsci.bsky.social | Mortality, Epidemiology, Infections/Immunity, Biosocial science, COVID-19. | Science Communicator 🇺🇸 in 🇬🇧.
Substack: https://jenndowd.substack.com
Substack: https://jenndowd.substack.com
Pinned
Jenn Dowd
@drjenndowd.bsky.social
· Mar 19
Data for Health | Jenn Dowd, PhD | Substack
Demystifying data for a longer, healthier life. Click to read Data for Health, by Jenn Dowd, PhD, a Substack publication.
jenndowd.substack.com
Please subscribe to my Substack for data driven takes on health & science: jenndowd.substack.com
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
I really did not enjoy Jay Bhattacharya & Matthew Memoli’s screed against pandemic & virology research for the flagship blog of a “free-market think tank." Instead of getting mad, I accepted @jeremyfaust.bsky.social's kind invitation to take a factual & scientific blowtorch to it.
We've got a MASSIVE DEEP-DIVE rebuttal to the NIH leadership’s recent essay. They're arguing for a head-in-the-sand approach to pandemic preparedness.
The great @angierasmussen.bsky.social joins me in an extraordinarily detailed, line-by-line fact check.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/a-rebuttal...
The great @angierasmussen.bsky.social joins me in an extraordinarily detailed, line-by-line fact check.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/a-rebuttal...
A rebuttal to NIH leadership's screed against pandemic preparedness.
Dr. Angela Rasmussen joins Inside Medicine for a tag-team response to a poorly reasoned essay by NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and his deputy, Dr. Matthew Memoli.
insidemedicine.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I really did not enjoy Jay Bhattacharya & Matthew Memoli’s screed against pandemic & virology research for the flagship blog of a “free-market think tank." Instead of getting mad, I accepted @jeremyfaust.bsky.social's kind invitation to take a factual & scientific blowtorch to it.
💯💯
Pet peeve: when someone invites you to a meeting but instead of sending a calendar invitation, they just send a zoom link in an email.
If you want profs to actually show up for meetings-- send a calendar invitation!
#AcademicSky #ScienceSky #MedSky #EpiSky
If you want profs to actually show up for meetings-- send a calendar invitation!
#AcademicSky #ScienceSky #MedSky #EpiSky
a netflix ad shows a woman in a blue dress
ALT: a netflix ad shows a woman in a blue dress
media.tenor.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:25 PM
💯💯
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
I have added a link to this post at the end of my post on #scicomm as firefighting makingsciencepublic.com/2025/08/09/f...
From dissemination to firefighting: The new reality of science communication?
Three things happened recently in my Bluesky timeline which made me think about the fate of science communication. In this post I’ll use these brief glimpses into science communication activities, …
makingsciencepublic.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I have added a link to this post at the end of my post on #scicomm as firefighting makingsciencepublic.com/2025/08/09/f...
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
New reflections from me about the challenge of countering disinformation when the state itself is distributing it
christinapagel.substack.com/p/the-erosio...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/the-erosio...
November 15, 2025 at 2:23 PM
New reflections from me about the challenge of countering disinformation when the state itself is distributing it
christinapagel.substack.com/p/the-erosio...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/the-erosio...
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
There's a new documentary today called "Hitler's DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator" - but DNA is not a blueprint! See below.
Your genome is not a blueprint. A thread about misleading metaphors in science communication. 🧬🧪 1/n
November 15, 2025 at 11:40 AM
There's a new documentary today called "Hitler's DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator" - but DNA is not a blueprint! See below.
After @philipncohen.com's talk, I had #demography on the brain today!
jenndowd.substack.com/p/what-is-re... @oxforddemsci.bsky.social @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social
jenndowd.substack.com/p/what-is-re... @oxforddemsci.bsky.social @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social
What Is "Replacement Fertility" Anyway?
The fine line between population bomb and population extinction
jenndowd.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:50 AM
After @philipncohen.com's talk, I had #demography on the brain today!
jenndowd.substack.com/p/what-is-re... @oxforddemsci.bsky.social @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social
jenndowd.substack.com/p/what-is-re... @oxforddemsci.bsky.social @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
These people are about enforcing a specific form of femininity. These tools *can* be used to empower and even free people. But when they're presented in distorted, dishonest ways they are manipulative disinformation. 1/
"Officials in the Trump administration have also been exploring ways for the federal government to direct funding toward teaching more women of reproductive age to accurately identify their fertile windows, according to three people with knowledge of the discussions."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/u...
The MAHA-Fueled Rise of Natural Family Planning
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:11 PM
These people are about enforcing a specific form of femininity. These tools *can* be used to empower and even free people. But when they're presented in distorted, dishonest ways they are manipulative disinformation. 1/
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
At @pewresearch.org, we are strategizing about how we can share our research in important places.
Do you have any recommendations of key podcasts where discussion of our global research on religion (e.g., demographic change, beliefs and practices, religious freedom issues) would be a good fit?
Do you have any recommendations of key podcasts where discussion of our global research on religion (e.g., demographic change, beliefs and practices, religious freedom issues) would be a good fit?
November 14, 2025 at 3:32 PM
At @pewresearch.org, we are strategizing about how we can share our research in important places.
Do you have any recommendations of key podcasts where discussion of our global research on religion (e.g., demographic change, beliefs and practices, religious freedom issues) would be a good fit?
Do you have any recommendations of key podcasts where discussion of our global research on religion (e.g., demographic change, beliefs and practices, religious freedom issues) would be a good fit?
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
Over a dozen ways to decompose life expectancy, all in one (we hope) friendly interface. Please have a look at the LEdecomp R package cran.r-project.org/web/packages... See the function LEdecomp() for access to all of them. If we left something out, please shout! #rstats #demography #mortality
LEdecomp: Decompose Life Expectancy by Age (and Cause)
A set of all-cause and cause-specific life expectancy sensitivity and decomposition methods, including Arriaga (1984) <<a href="https://doi.org/10.2307%2F2061029" target="_top">doi:10.2307/2061029<...
cran.r-project.org
November 12, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Over a dozen ways to decompose life expectancy, all in one (we hope) friendly interface. Please have a look at the LEdecomp R package cran.r-project.org/web/packages... See the function LEdecomp() for access to all of them. If we left something out, please shout! #rstats #demography #mortality
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
A pleasure to host @philipncohen.com this week for a fantastic talk on pronatalism & many more engaging discussions about open science, public engagment, and more!
#demography @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social @drjenndowd.bsky.social @melindacmills.bsky.social @crahal.com @ridhikashyap.bsky.social
#demography @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social @drjenndowd.bsky.social @melindacmills.bsky.social @crahal.com @ridhikashyap.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 1:42 PM
A pleasure to host @philipncohen.com this week for a fantastic talk on pronatalism & many more engaging discussions about open science, public engagment, and more!
#demography @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social @drjenndowd.bsky.social @melindacmills.bsky.social @crahal.com @ridhikashyap.bsky.social
#demography @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social @drjenndowd.bsky.social @melindacmills.bsky.social @crahal.com @ridhikashyap.bsky.social
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
Right. Hitler's DNA. Brace yourselves for a deluge of misinformation and bad science.
I'm in Australia, so do get in touch if you want some expert debunking.
I'm in Australia, so do get in touch if you want some expert debunking.
November 13, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Right. Hitler's DNA. Brace yourselves for a deluge of misinformation and bad science.
I'm in Australia, so do get in touch if you want some expert debunking.
I'm in Australia, so do get in touch if you want some expert debunking.
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
Early findings indicate that Epstein-Barr Virus may also cause the autoimmune disease lupus
The Virus That Causes Mono May Also Cause Lupus
Early findings indicate that Epstein-Barr Virus may also cause the autoimmune disease lupus
www.scientificamerican.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Early findings indicate that Epstein-Barr Virus may also cause the autoimmune disease lupus
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
As well as working in tuberculosis, some of you will know the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) is one of my passions, so it was nice to have The i newspaper reach out yesterday to talk about EBV and lupus. We really need to be getting more impetus behind EBV work. inews.co.uk/news/autoimm...
Autoimmune disease breakthrough as virus is found to cause lupus as well as MS
The virus that causes glandular fever may be an unsuspected cause of several autoimmune conditions, lending hope for new treatments and vaccines
inews.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 4:58 PM
As well as working in tuberculosis, some of you will know the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) is one of my passions, so it was nice to have The i newspaper reach out yesterday to talk about EBV and lupus. We really need to be getting more impetus behind EBV work. inews.co.uk/news/autoimm...
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
1/ Seasonal influenza summary from latest @ukhsa.bsky.social surveillance report. #IDSky #EpiSky 🧪
🗓️ Based on data up to week 45 2025 (03-09 Nov 2025)
📊 Unusually early start to influenza season in England. Circulation remains high in children & young adults.
Report 🔗: www.gov.uk/government/s...
🗓️ Based on data up to week 45 2025 (03-09 Nov 2025)
📊 Unusually early start to influenza season in England. Circulation remains high in children & young adults.
Report 🔗: www.gov.uk/government/s...
National flu and COVID-19 surveillance report: 13 November 2025 (week 46)
www.gov.uk
November 13, 2025 at 2:23 PM
1/ Seasonal influenza summary from latest @ukhsa.bsky.social surveillance report. #IDSky #EpiSky 🧪
🗓️ Based on data up to week 45 2025 (03-09 Nov 2025)
📊 Unusually early start to influenza season in England. Circulation remains high in children & young adults.
Report 🔗: www.gov.uk/government/s...
🗓️ Based on data up to week 45 2025 (03-09 Nov 2025)
📊 Unusually early start to influenza season in England. Circulation remains high in children & young adults.
Report 🔗: www.gov.uk/government/s...
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
🚨 JOB ALERT! 🚨
We're hiring an Associate Professor in Sociology in association with @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social!
We welcome applicants with a wide range of empirical specialisations and regional focuses 🌍
Apply now ➡️ my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
We're hiring an Associate Professor in Sociology in association with @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social!
We welcome applicants with a wide range of empirical specialisations and regional focuses 🌍
Apply now ➡️ my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
November 10, 2025 at 12:10 PM
🚨 JOB ALERT! 🚨
We're hiring an Associate Professor in Sociology in association with @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social!
We welcome applicants with a wide range of empirical specialisations and regional focuses 🌍
Apply now ➡️ my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
We're hiring an Associate Professor in Sociology in association with @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social!
We welcome applicants with a wide range of empirical specialisations and regional focuses 🌍
Apply now ➡️ my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
Berkeley Demography application deadline for Fall 2026 admission is Dec 1, 2025.
Read more here:
www.demog.berkeley.edu/graduate-adm...
Read more here:
www.demog.berkeley.edu/graduate-adm...
Graduate Admission Information - Department of Demography
Overview of the Graduate Admission Process The Department of Demography offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Demography, a Ph.D. degree in Sociology and Demography, training with no degree goal under “cou...
www.demog.berkeley.edu
November 11, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Berkeley Demography application deadline for Fall 2026 admission is Dec 1, 2025.
Read more here:
www.demog.berkeley.edu/graduate-adm...
Read more here:
www.demog.berkeley.edu/graduate-adm...
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
🚨Job🚨Postdoc Position(s) at the Max Planck–University of Helsinki Centre for Social Inequalities in Population Health, a joint initiative of @mpidr.bsky.social & @helsinki.fi with the vision to unearth pivotal social processes that generate health inequalities.
www.demogr.mpg.de/en/career_61...
www.demogr.mpg.de/en/career_61...
November 10, 2025 at 10:27 AM
🚨Job🚨Postdoc Position(s) at the Max Planck–University of Helsinki Centre for Social Inequalities in Population Health, a joint initiative of @mpidr.bsky.social & @helsinki.fi with the vision to unearth pivotal social processes that generate health inequalities.
www.demogr.mpg.de/en/career_61...
www.demogr.mpg.de/en/career_61...
Oh yay..."flu jab SOS" from the NHS... go get yours y'all! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 10, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Oh yay..."flu jab SOS" from the NHS... go get yours y'all! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
1/ Pretty amazing new results showing an unexpected benefit of mRNA vaccines. Patients who received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine within 100 days of starting immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy survived almost twice as long. jenndowd.substack.com/p/can-mrna-v... #episky #medsky #cancer
November 10, 2025 at 12:12 PM
1/ Pretty amazing new results showing an unexpected benefit of mRNA vaccines. Patients who received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine within 100 days of starting immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy survived almost twice as long. jenndowd.substack.com/p/can-mrna-v... #episky #medsky #cancer
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
Thinking only of Rosalind Franklin today, and what was stolen from her (and so many other female scientists alongside her).
Rosalind Franklin and the damage of gender harassment
Spurred by a recent report on sexual harassment in academia, our columnist revisits a historical case and reflects on what has changed—and what hasn’t
www.science.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Thinking only of Rosalind Franklin today, and what was stolen from her (and so many other female scientists alongside her).
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
The early flu season in England continues to build, while the latest Covid wave continues to recede.
Latest UKHSA hospital admission data up to 27 Oct.
Latest UKHSA hospital admission data up to 27 Oct.
November 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
The early flu season in England continues to build, while the latest Covid wave continues to recede.
Latest UKHSA hospital admission data up to 27 Oct.
Latest UKHSA hospital admission data up to 27 Oct.
This is exactly the right response to these headlines
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
🧵
🧵
November 7, 2025 at 9:25 AM
This is exactly the right response to these headlines
Super interesting (and hopeful) trend, though I really wish the confidence intervals around these estimates were available somewhere @gallup.com?
news.gallup.com/poll/696599/...
news.gallup.com/poll/696599/...
November 4, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Super interesting (and hopeful) trend, though I really wish the confidence intervals around these estimates were available somewhere @gallup.com?
news.gallup.com/poll/696599/...
news.gallup.com/poll/696599/...
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
2/ I will be presenting this at @harvardpopcenter.bsky.social on Weds: popcenter.harvard.edu/blog/calenda...
More details on the paper -- which we started 2+ years ago -- later. We've tried to write it as simply and transparently as possible and walk through every step of the logic.
More details on the paper -- which we started 2+ years ago -- later. We've tried to write it as simply and transparently as possible and walk through every step of the logic.
Social Demography Seminar with Atheendar Venkataramani (co-sponsored by SBS) – Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies
A Harvard University cross-school, interfaculty initiative administered by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
popcenter.harvard.edu
November 3, 2025 at 3:23 PM
2/ I will be presenting this at @harvardpopcenter.bsky.social on Weds: popcenter.harvard.edu/blog/calenda...
More details on the paper -- which we started 2+ years ago -- later. We've tried to write it as simply and transparently as possible and walk through every step of the logic.
More details on the paper -- which we started 2+ years ago -- later. We've tried to write it as simply and transparently as possible and walk through every step of the logic.
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
Level up your epidemiological research skills!
University of Aberdeen's new online short course (March 2026) offers MPH-level training in study design, causal inference & more.
Find out more at abdn.ac.uk/epi-short-co...
#Epidemiology #ASCE2026 #PublicHealth
University of Aberdeen's new online short course (March 2026) offers MPH-level training in study design, causal inference & more.
Find out more at abdn.ac.uk/epi-short-co...
#Epidemiology #ASCE2026 #PublicHealth
Aberdeen Short Course in Epidemiology 2026 | The Institute of Applied Health Sciences | The University of Aberdeen
abdn.ac.uk
November 3, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Level up your epidemiological research skills!
University of Aberdeen's new online short course (March 2026) offers MPH-level training in study design, causal inference & more.
Find out more at abdn.ac.uk/epi-short-co...
#Epidemiology #ASCE2026 #PublicHealth
University of Aberdeen's new online short course (March 2026) offers MPH-level training in study design, causal inference & more.
Find out more at abdn.ac.uk/epi-short-co...
#Epidemiology #ASCE2026 #PublicHealth