Dusty Prater
@dusty-prater.bsky.social
(He/Him 🏳️🌈) PhD Student. I study the population genetics, ecophysiology, and biogeography of far flung ferns.
Reposted by Dusty Prater
I rarely post personal things. But I need to talk about my 4-year-old niece, Hope.
She has a rare disease. A drug called elamipretide has helped her survive.
But the FDA recently denied its approval.
Now, her health hangs in the balance.
Please share her story & urge the FDA to reconsider. 🧵
She has a rare disease. A drug called elamipretide has helped her survive.
But the FDA recently denied its approval.
Now, her health hangs in the balance.
Please share her story & urge the FDA to reconsider. 🧵
June 23, 2025 at 9:21 PM
I rarely post personal things. But I need to talk about my 4-year-old niece, Hope.
She has a rare disease. A drug called elamipretide has helped her survive.
But the FDA recently denied its approval.
Now, her health hangs in the balance.
Please share her story & urge the FDA to reconsider. 🧵
She has a rare disease. A drug called elamipretide has helped her survive.
But the FDA recently denied its approval.
Now, her health hangs in the balance.
Please share her story & urge the FDA to reconsider. 🧵
Reposted by Dusty Prater
Interesting for epidemiology as well as macroevolution and biogeography.
Rates of species interactions from co-phylogenies.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧪 ⚒️ #Paleobio #EvoBio
Rates of species interactions from co-phylogenies.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧪 ⚒️ #Paleobio #EvoBio
May 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Interesting for epidemiology as well as macroevolution and biogeography.
Rates of species interactions from co-phylogenies.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧪 ⚒️ #Paleobio #EvoBio
Rates of species interactions from co-phylogenies.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧪 ⚒️ #Paleobio #EvoBio
Reposted by Dusty Prater
“When I'm giving a tour and I'm critiquing something from the past, it comes from a place where I want people to understand where this university came from so that we can be better in the future,” Jack Giese, UGS co-chair 🗃️ www.teenvogue.com/story/uva-hi...
UVA Tried To Shut Down Its Historical Tours Discussing Slavery. These Students Resisted.
A conservative alumni group took issue with the discussion of difficult parts of UVA’s history.
www.teenvogue.com
May 6, 2025 at 3:25 PM
“When I'm giving a tour and I'm critiquing something from the past, it comes from a place where I want people to understand where this university came from so that we can be better in the future,” Jack Giese, UGS co-chair 🗃️ www.teenvogue.com/story/uva-hi...
Reposted by Dusty Prater
Join SSE, @asn-amnat.bsky.social & @systbiol.bsky.social in a Week of Action for NSF!
Call and write congress and engage with colleagues, friends and family about the importance of NSF funding!
Our Media Tool can help you get started:
shorturl.at/i7WfU
#WithoutNSF #SaveNSF #SupportNSF
Call and write congress and engage with colleagues, friends and family about the importance of NSF funding!
Our Media Tool can help you get started:
shorturl.at/i7WfU
#WithoutNSF #SaveNSF #SupportNSF
May 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Join SSE, @asn-amnat.bsky.social & @systbiol.bsky.social in a Week of Action for NSF!
Call and write congress and engage with colleagues, friends and family about the importance of NSF funding!
Our Media Tool can help you get started:
shorturl.at/i7WfU
#WithoutNSF #SaveNSF #SupportNSF
Call and write congress and engage with colleagues, friends and family about the importance of NSF funding!
Our Media Tool can help you get started:
shorturl.at/i7WfU
#WithoutNSF #SaveNSF #SupportNSF
Reposted by Dusty Prater
May 6, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by Dusty Prater
NSF funding is under threat — and students, postdocs, early-career scientists are to lose the most! We should stand together! Get informed and mobilized from today, by joining us in this Week of Action for NSF.
Use this Media Tool to get started: shorturl.at/i7WfU
#WithoutNSF #SaveNSF #SupportNSF
Use this Media Tool to get started: shorturl.at/i7WfU
#WithoutNSF #SaveNSF #SupportNSF
Join SSE, @asn-amnat.bsky.social & @systbiol.bsky.social in a Week of Action for NSF!
Call and write congress and engage with colleagues, friends and family about the importance of NSF funding!
Our Media Tool can help you get started:
shorturl.at/i7WfU
#WithoutNSF #SaveNSF #SupportNSF
Call and write congress and engage with colleagues, friends and family about the importance of NSF funding!
Our Media Tool can help you get started:
shorturl.at/i7WfU
#WithoutNSF #SaveNSF #SupportNSF
May 6, 2025 at 5:58 PM
NSF funding is under threat — and students, postdocs, early-career scientists are to lose the most! We should stand together! Get informed and mobilized from today, by joining us in this Week of Action for NSF.
Use this Media Tool to get started: shorturl.at/i7WfU
#WithoutNSF #SaveNSF #SupportNSF
Use this Media Tool to get started: shorturl.at/i7WfU
#WithoutNSF #SaveNSF #SupportNSF
Reposted by Dusty Prater
Earlier today, ASBMB joined three other scientific societies in leading a substantial, 22-page amicus curiae brief in support of the plaintiffs in American Public Health Association v. NIH. This is a formal public submission to the court.
➡️Read our full message: bit.ly/3RJnWbp.
➡️Read our full message: bit.ly/3RJnWbp.
May 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Earlier today, ASBMB joined three other scientific societies in leading a substantial, 22-page amicus curiae brief in support of the plaintiffs in American Public Health Association v. NIH. This is a formal public submission to the court.
➡️Read our full message: bit.ly/3RJnWbp.
➡️Read our full message: bit.ly/3RJnWbp.
Reposted by Dusty Prater
When this statement from university prez came out ten days ago, it has ~ 180 signatures.
Today it is nearing 600.
www.aacu.org/newsroom/a-c...
A hard choice for many of these institutions. Especially earliest signers, who had no idea how much company they'd have.
But people keep standing up.
Today it is nearing 600.
www.aacu.org/newsroom/a-c...
A hard choice for many of these institutions. Especially earliest signers, who had no idea how much company they'd have.
But people keep standing up.
May 2, 2025 at 4:30 PM
When this statement from university prez came out ten days ago, it has ~ 180 signatures.
Today it is nearing 600.
www.aacu.org/newsroom/a-c...
A hard choice for many of these institutions. Especially earliest signers, who had no idea how much company they'd have.
But people keep standing up.
Today it is nearing 600.
www.aacu.org/newsroom/a-c...
A hard choice for many of these institutions. Especially earliest signers, who had no idea how much company they'd have.
But people keep standing up.
Reposted by Dusty Prater
Unearthed audio: Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney Ed Martin tells a white nationalist podcast that he is a “big admirer” of what they’re “doing”
April 29, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Unearthed audio: Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney Ed Martin tells a white nationalist podcast that he is a “big admirer” of what they’re “doing”
Reposted by Dusty Prater
*** Academic BFD alert ***
We just published a new global bird phylogeny. It synthesizes the work of thousands of researchers before us, and it will grow and improve over time. @snacktavish.bsky.social @birdsoftheworld.bsky.social www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
We just published a new global bird phylogeny. It synthesizes the work of thousands of researchers before us, and it will grow and improve over time. @snacktavish.bsky.social @birdsoftheworld.bsky.social www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
April 29, 2025 at 4:56 PM
*** Academic BFD alert ***
We just published a new global bird phylogeny. It synthesizes the work of thousands of researchers before us, and it will grow and improve over time. @snacktavish.bsky.social @birdsoftheworld.bsky.social www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
We just published a new global bird phylogeny. It synthesizes the work of thousands of researchers before us, and it will grow and improve over time. @snacktavish.bsky.social @birdsoftheworld.bsky.social www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Dusty Prater
Please share - UK folks help the BTO collect information on how our Blackbirds are doing. The emergence of #Usutu- a mosquito-borne virus- may be causing their populations to fall in southern England. Need to understand if this impact is occurring more widely, including in Scotland
1/⚠️ Blackbirds are in trouble & we need your help! Threatened by the Usutu virus, we need you to submit your garden Blackbird sightings so scientists can better understand the virus’ spread & potential impacts on these songbirds. 🌍 Sign up ➡️ www.bto.org/blackbirds #UKBirding #Ornithology
April 27, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Please share - UK folks help the BTO collect information on how our Blackbirds are doing. The emergence of #Usutu- a mosquito-borne virus- may be causing their populations to fall in southern England. Need to understand if this impact is occurring more widely, including in Scotland
Reposted by Dusty Prater
Does anyone really believe a gang of white nationalists will allow *elections* in the future?
freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2...
freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2...
April 27, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Does anyone really believe a gang of white nationalists will allow *elections* in the future?
freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2...
freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2...
Reposted by Dusty Prater
University leaders need to understand: they are holding INCREDIBLY good cards.
It is so rare in today's polarized era to have the support of 70+ percent of the public against the Trump admiministration on anything. Universities have that—AND winning legal arguments.
It is so rare in today's polarized era to have the support of 70+ percent of the public against the Trump admiministration on anything. Universities have that—AND winning legal arguments.
April 27, 2025 at 5:29 AM
University leaders need to understand: they are holding INCREDIBLY good cards.
It is so rare in today's polarized era to have the support of 70+ percent of the public against the Trump admiministration on anything. Universities have that—AND winning legal arguments.
It is so rare in today's polarized era to have the support of 70+ percent of the public against the Trump admiministration on anything. Universities have that—AND winning legal arguments.
Reposted by Dusty Prater
NEW: Federal scientists are now classifying the current measles crisis in the Southwest as the single largest outbreak since the U.S. declared the deadly disease eliminated in 2000.
CDC officials now view the spread of measles in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico as a single…
CDC officials now view the spread of measles in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico as a single…
April 22, 2025 at 11:53 PM
NEW: Federal scientists are now classifying the current measles crisis in the Southwest as the single largest outbreak since the U.S. declared the deadly disease eliminated in 2000.
CDC officials now view the spread of measles in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico as a single…
CDC officials now view the spread of measles in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico as a single…
Reposted by Dusty Prater
My breakdown of what we know so far from the Van Hollen meeting with Abrego Garcia www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0GF...
BREAKING: Senator Confirms Abrego Garcia Alive, While Bukele Makes Sick Jokes
YouTube video by The Bulwark
www.youtube.com
April 18, 2025 at 12:38 PM
My breakdown of what we know so far from the Van Hollen meeting with Abrego Garcia www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0GF...
An interesting clip about mutual defense pacts in the Big 10 universities. I feel like more institutions should form similar pacts. www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8j9wxxS/
Multiple Big Ten universities, including Michigan State, Rutgers and UCLA, have joined together to form a "Mutual Defense Compact" to protect their academic institutions against threats from the Trump...
TikTok video by MSNBC
www.tiktok.com
April 18, 2025 at 12:59 PM
An interesting clip about mutual defense pacts in the Big 10 universities. I feel like more institutions should form similar pacts. www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8j9wxxS/
Reposted by Dusty Prater
My husband has taught human reproduction and development to the Cambridge medics for over three decades. When people start banging on about "only two biological sexes" he starts with "which sex: genetic, hormonal, or gonadal"?
Biological sex is not binary. www.scientificamerican.com/article/sex-...
Biological sex is not binary. www.scientificamerican.com/article/sex-...
Sex Redefined: The Idea of 2 Sexes Is Overly Simplistic
Biologists now think there is a larger spectrum than just binary female and male
www.scientificamerican.com
April 16, 2025 at 12:03 PM
My husband has taught human reproduction and development to the Cambridge medics for over three decades. When people start banging on about "only two biological sexes" he starts with "which sex: genetic, hormonal, or gonadal"?
Biological sex is not binary. www.scientificamerican.com/article/sex-...
Biological sex is not binary. www.scientificamerican.com/article/sex-...
Reposted by Dusty Prater
I received a heartbreaking email today: A paper in a special issue I’m editing is being retracted because one of its authors is afraid of losing their job and their legal status in the U.S. if they publish a scientific study on evolution. Yes, on evolution, nature's engine of diversity.
March 29, 2025 at 11:52 PM
I received a heartbreaking email today: A paper in a special issue I’m editing is being retracted because one of its authors is afraid of losing their job and their legal status in the U.S. if they publish a scientific study on evolution. Yes, on evolution, nature's engine of diversity.
Reposted by Dusty Prater
NEBRASKA CROWD: “TAX THE RICH! TAX THE RICH!”
@USRepMikeFlood: “So your proposal to solve (the debt) is tax the rich?”
NEBRASKA CROWD: *CHEERS WILDLY*
(not sure this went quite as he planned 😬)
@USRepMikeFlood: “So your proposal to solve (the debt) is tax the rich?”
NEBRASKA CROWD: *CHEERS WILDLY*
(not sure this went quite as he planned 😬)
March 18, 2025 at 11:01 PM
NEBRASKA CROWD: “TAX THE RICH! TAX THE RICH!”
@USRepMikeFlood: “So your proposal to solve (the debt) is tax the rich?”
NEBRASKA CROWD: *CHEERS WILDLY*
(not sure this went quite as he planned 😬)
@USRepMikeFlood: “So your proposal to solve (the debt) is tax the rich?”
NEBRASKA CROWD: *CHEERS WILDLY*
(not sure this went quite as he planned 😬)
Reposted by Dusty Prater
Wow, major breakthrough in the development of broadly neutralizing bispecific antibody therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2, led by @stanford-chemh.bsky.social institute scholar @cobarnes27.bsky.social 😃
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Bispecific antibodies targeting the N-terminal and receptor binding domains potently neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern
Bispecific antibodies incorporating a cross-reactive NTD-specific antibody are resilient to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.
www.science.org
March 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Wow, major breakthrough in the development of broadly neutralizing bispecific antibody therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2, led by @stanford-chemh.bsky.social institute scholar @cobarnes27.bsky.social 😃
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Dusty Prater
My view is that the American South never fully took to liberal democracy. And I think we have to reckon with that to face the moment we’re now in. I wrote about it for @thebulwark.bsky.social
www.thebulwark.com/p/liberal-de...
www.thebulwark.com/p/liberal-de...
Waiting for Liberal Democracy in the American South
Our country’s constitutional order is withering before us. In the states of the former Confederacy, democracy never fully flourished.
www.thebulwark.com
March 7, 2025 at 3:33 PM
My view is that the American South never fully took to liberal democracy. And I think we have to reckon with that to face the moment we’re now in. I wrote about it for @thebulwark.bsky.social
www.thebulwark.com/p/liberal-de...
www.thebulwark.com/p/liberal-de...
Reposted by Dusty Prater
🚨Urgent: Help Save Decades of Work by Navajo Botanists🚨
For decades, Arnold Clifford has built up the Carrizo Mountain Herbarium. Now, this collection is at risk—snowstorms are causing the roof to cave in, putting >30,000 specimens in danger.
#IndigenousScience #Conservation #MutualAid #botany
For decades, Arnold Clifford has built up the Carrizo Mountain Herbarium. Now, this collection is at risk—snowstorms are causing the roof to cave in, putting >30,000 specimens in danger.
#IndigenousScience #Conservation #MutualAid #botany
March 4, 2025 at 4:58 AM
🚨Urgent: Help Save Decades of Work by Navajo Botanists🚨
For decades, Arnold Clifford has built up the Carrizo Mountain Herbarium. Now, this collection is at risk—snowstorms are causing the roof to cave in, putting >30,000 specimens in danger.
#IndigenousScience #Conservation #MutualAid #botany
For decades, Arnold Clifford has built up the Carrizo Mountain Herbarium. Now, this collection is at risk—snowstorms are causing the roof to cave in, putting >30,000 specimens in danger.
#IndigenousScience #Conservation #MutualAid #botany
Reposted by Dusty Prater
The 2nd publication from @bellareeves.bsky.social PhD thesis finds a genetic rescue effect from admixture between distinct killer whale lineages. Likely the cause of high genetic diversity in regions with low killer whale density. Open access in Mol Ecol: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
February 28, 2025 at 3:48 PM
The 2nd publication from @bellareeves.bsky.social PhD thesis finds a genetic rescue effect from admixture between distinct killer whale lineages. Likely the cause of high genetic diversity in regions with low killer whale density. Open access in Mol Ecol: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Reposted by Dusty Prater
I had a blast w/ @rladiesrome.bsky.social discussing Interactive #RStats, #Python, and Shiny in the Browser with #Quarto and Shinylive!
Explore new worlds with these tools 🚀
🐙 Repo: github.com/ivelasq/2025...
📹 Recording: www.youtube.com/watch?v=59DS...
✍️ Slides: ivelasq.github.io/2025-02-21_r...
Explore new worlds with these tools 🚀
🐙 Repo: github.com/ivelasq/2025...
📹 Recording: www.youtube.com/watch?v=59DS...
✍️ Slides: ivelasq.github.io/2025-02-21_r...
February 28, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I had a blast w/ @rladiesrome.bsky.social discussing Interactive #RStats, #Python, and Shiny in the Browser with #Quarto and Shinylive!
Explore new worlds with these tools 🚀
🐙 Repo: github.com/ivelasq/2025...
📹 Recording: www.youtube.com/watch?v=59DS...
✍️ Slides: ivelasq.github.io/2025-02-21_r...
Explore new worlds with these tools 🚀
🐙 Repo: github.com/ivelasq/2025...
📹 Recording: www.youtube.com/watch?v=59DS...
✍️ Slides: ivelasq.github.io/2025-02-21_r...
Reposted by Dusty Prater
I want to see every scientific society going into emergency mode. This is a good example of how an organization can flex its specific power in a time of great need. What else is possible?
The AMS is temporarily opening its career services to all who need them, regardless of membership status, and offering dues waivers and meeting registration fee reductions for those impacted by job loss due to changes in the government.
Read more: bit.ly/4gRiHAk
Read more: bit.ly/4gRiHAk
February 23, 2025 at 4:35 AM
I want to see every scientific society going into emergency mode. This is a good example of how an organization can flex its specific power in a time of great need. What else is possible?