Rivka Fidel, PhD
@rivkafidel.bsky.social
Career track professor teaching #soil and #environmental science in Tucson, Arizona. 🌵
#biochar #biogeochemistry #soilchemistry
Unapologetic feminist scientist 👩🔬 and ally 🌈
Opinions my own
#biochar #biogeochemistry #soilchemistry
Unapologetic feminist scientist 👩🔬 and ally 🌈
Opinions my own
Pinned
Rivka Fidel, PhD
@rivkafidel.bsky.social
· Aug 29
I'm happy to share some newly published #OER from the ISU Digital Press! First up is the 2nd edition of one of our most popular books, Introduction to Soil Science! The new edition welcomes a new author, @rivkafidel.bsky.social along with several improvements & updates:
doi.org/10.31274/isu...
doi.org/10.31274/isu...
Co-authored my first textbook 📚, and it's FREE! 😁
Thank you Abbey, Amber and all of the chapter authors!
#soil #SoilScience #OER #onlinetextbook
Thank you Abbey, Amber and all of the chapter authors!
#soil #SoilScience #OER #onlinetextbook
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
And how many witches we’d be burning.
Imagine how scary it’d be if we didn’t know why global temperatures were rising.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
November 27, 2025 at 4:25 PM
And how many witches we’d be burning.
You've just died. The 6th picture in your gallery is what killed you.
...Have I died by Wordle or bad dough??
...Have I died by Wordle or bad dough??
November 27, 2025 at 3:27 AM
You've just died. The 6th picture in your gallery is what killed you.
...Have I died by Wordle or bad dough??
...Have I died by Wordle or bad dough??
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
How Oregon’s Data Center Boom Is Supercharging a Water Crisis
Amazon has come to the state’s eastern farmland, worsening a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.
Rolling Stone reports in collaboration with @thefern.org: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Amazon has come to the state’s eastern farmland, worsening a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.
Rolling Stone reports in collaboration with @thefern.org: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
November 25, 2025 at 1:27 AM
How Oregon’s Data Center Boom Is Supercharging a Water Crisis
Amazon has come to the state’s eastern farmland, worsening a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.
Rolling Stone reports in collaboration with @thefern.org: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Amazon has come to the state’s eastern farmland, worsening a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.
Rolling Stone reports in collaboration with @thefern.org: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
"$1,000 a month as part of a state program experimenting with giving homeless youths cash payments for two years with no strings attached."
"Of the 117 youths [..] who completed Oregon's two-year pilot program, 91% reported being in stable housing."
#Oregon #USA #Housing #Nonprofit
"Of the 117 youths [..] who completed Oregon's two-year pilot program, 91% reported being in stable housing."
#Oregon #USA #Housing #Nonprofit
Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees staggering reduction in homelessness
The state program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years. At the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
www.streetroots.org
November 23, 2025 at 11:10 PM
"$1,000 a month as part of a state program experimenting with giving homeless youths cash payments for two years with no strings attached."
"Of the 117 youths [..] who completed Oregon's two-year pilot program, 91% reported being in stable housing."
#Oregon #USA #Housing #Nonprofit
"Of the 117 youths [..] who completed Oregon's two-year pilot program, 91% reported being in stable housing."
#Oregon #USA #Housing #Nonprofit
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
not just here to talk up my employer, but it's the *public* universities overall. The idea of universities as leaders of state economic, cultural, and scientific development goes back to Virginia and had a huge impact on the country that Republicans currently seem to want to reverse.
the economic success of the U.S. is significantly built on the land grant universities and in particular their excellent agricultural science tradition.
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
November 24, 2025 at 1:38 AM
not just here to talk up my employer, but it's the *public* universities overall. The idea of universities as leaders of state economic, cultural, and scientific development goes back to Virginia and had a huge impact on the country that Republicans currently seem to want to reverse.
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
the economic success of the U.S. is significantly built on the land grant universities and in particular their excellent agricultural science tradition.
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
One of the bragging rights that the US ed system had in the 20th century is that we didn't have education tracks. Essentially, any kid could go to a CC or state school & major in whatever they wanted to (obviously an oversimplification). I fear this aspect of the American dream is dying.
November 23, 2025 at 5:26 PM
the economic success of the U.S. is significantly built on the land grant universities and in particular their excellent agricultural science tradition.
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
We saw it with big tobacco, we saw it with the fossil fuels industry. When their own internal research showed the harm from their product, the defunded the research and attacked independent researchers coming to the very same conclusions.
#ScienceUnderSiege
#ScienceUnderSiege
Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...
Meta halted internal research suggesting social media harm, court filing alleges
Meta is alleged to have halted internal research suggesting social media harm, according to court documents.
www.cnbc.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:59 AM
We saw it with big tobacco, we saw it with the fossil fuels industry. When their own internal research showed the harm from their product, the defunded the research and attacked independent researchers coming to the very same conclusions.
#ScienceUnderSiege
#ScienceUnderSiege
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
Nearly every panel I spoke on this year ended with the same question: "What gives you hope?"
My friends, that question expired years ago. (If you need receipts, my book Saving Us is literally a 300-page answer.)
The real question is: How are you PRACTICING hope?
Because Greta is right ..
My friends, that question expired years ago. (If you need receipts, my book Saving Us is literally a 300-page answer.)
The real question is: How are you PRACTICING hope?
Because Greta is right ..
November 19, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Nearly every panel I spoke on this year ended with the same question: "What gives you hope?"
My friends, that question expired years ago. (If you need receipts, my book Saving Us is literally a 300-page answer.)
The real question is: How are you PRACTICING hope?
Because Greta is right ..
My friends, that question expired years ago. (If you need receipts, my book Saving Us is literally a 300-page answer.)
The real question is: How are you PRACTICING hope?
Because Greta is right ..
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
just learned we won an award for our blog post about Tom Holland and stormwater management.
remember, when you see an article about stormwater management, you repost it. i don’t make the rules.
remember, when you see an article about stormwater management, you repost it. i don’t make the rules.
What Tom Holland’s historic lip-sync showcase taught us about stormwater management
Grab your umbrella and your tights.
neorsd.medium.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:22 AM
just learned we won an award for our blog post about Tom Holland and stormwater management.
remember, when you see an article about stormwater management, you repost it. i don’t make the rules.
remember, when you see an article about stormwater management, you repost it. i don’t make the rules.
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
It is genuinely incredible to me how much evidence there is to support investing in the public good and how much animus there is to do this simple, effective thing.
November 18, 2025 at 3:00 AM
It is genuinely incredible to me how much evidence there is to support investing in the public good and how much animus there is to do this simple, effective thing.
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
“There’re about a thousand of us.”
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 17, 2025 at 1:23 AM
“There’re about a thousand of us.”
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
The current trajectory of "AI" energy and water use also mean tech co.'s won't meet stated carbon-neutral & water-positive goals. And that's w/o considering the resource use in building data centers in the 1st place (the authors say this is outside their scope); with that data, the picture is Worse.
Environmental impact and net-zero pathways for sustainable artificial intelligence servers in the USA - Nature Sustainability
The rapid expansion of AI server installations in the United States poses sustainability challenges in terms of water usage and carbon emissions. A study now quantifies these potential impacts and out...
www.nature.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:34 AM
The current trajectory of "AI" energy and water use also mean tech co.'s won't meet stated carbon-neutral & water-positive goals. And that's w/o considering the resource use in building data centers in the 1st place (the authors say this is outside their scope); with that data, the picture is Worse.
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
NEW:
‘Unlawful coercion’: Trump can’t withhold funds or demand payment from UC, federal judge rules.
The judge has previously sided with UC scholars several times since June in halting Trump’s termination of science and health research funding. The latest ruling is arguably the most sweeping yet.
‘Unlawful coercion’: Trump can’t withhold funds or demand payment from UC, federal judge rules.
The judge has previously sided with UC scholars several times since June in halting Trump’s termination of science and health research funding. The latest ruling is arguably the most sweeping yet.
‘Unlawful coercion’: Trump can’t withhold funds or demand payment from UC, federal judge rules
A federal judge ruled Donald Trump cannot demand that UCLA pay a $1.2 billion settlement that would have restricted academic freedoms.
calmatters.org
November 15, 2025 at 1:18 AM
NEW:
‘Unlawful coercion’: Trump can’t withhold funds or demand payment from UC, federal judge rules.
The judge has previously sided with UC scholars several times since June in halting Trump’s termination of science and health research funding. The latest ruling is arguably the most sweeping yet.
‘Unlawful coercion’: Trump can’t withhold funds or demand payment from UC, federal judge rules.
The judge has previously sided with UC scholars several times since June in halting Trump’s termination of science and health research funding. The latest ruling is arguably the most sweeping yet.
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
A new state-by-state evaluation of the projected energy and water use of "AI" data centers in the US. Looks… real bad. Like, "undoing tech sector climate gains" bad.
Strongly recommends immediately ensuring any & all new "AI" data centers to run on existing & expanded renewables grids. Which… yeah.
Strongly recommends immediately ensuring any & all new "AI" data centers to run on existing & expanded renewables grids. Which… yeah.
Environmental impact and net-zero pathways for sustainable artificial intelligence servers in the USA - Nature Sustainability
The rapid expansion of AI server installations in the United States poses sustainability challenges in terms of water usage and carbon emissions. A study now quantifies these potential impacts and out...
www.nature.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:06 AM
A new state-by-state evaluation of the projected energy and water use of "AI" data centers in the US. Looks… real bad. Like, "undoing tech sector climate gains" bad.
Strongly recommends immediately ensuring any & all new "AI" data centers to run on existing & expanded renewables grids. Which… yeah.
Strongly recommends immediately ensuring any & all new "AI" data centers to run on existing & expanded renewables grids. Which… yeah.
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
NEW: Global fossil fuel use will peak before 2030 – unless 'stated policies' are abandoned
Contra some terrible news coverage, IEA World Energy Outlook shows coal near peak, oil peaking by 2030 & gas by 2035 (see chart)
What's going on? 🧵 + cool charts
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-fossil-f...
Contra some terrible news coverage, IEA World Energy Outlook shows coal near peak, oil peaking by 2030 & gas by 2035 (see chart)
What's going on? 🧵 + cool charts
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-fossil-f...
November 12, 2025 at 9:02 AM
NEW: Global fossil fuel use will peak before 2030 – unless 'stated policies' are abandoned
Contra some terrible news coverage, IEA World Energy Outlook shows coal near peak, oil peaking by 2030 & gas by 2035 (see chart)
What's going on? 🧵 + cool charts
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-fossil-f...
Contra some terrible news coverage, IEA World Energy Outlook shows coal near peak, oil peaking by 2030 & gas by 2035 (see chart)
What's going on? 🧵 + cool charts
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-fossil-f...
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
I wish it were better understood that this is an act of mass murder akin to firing into a large crowd. Impossible to say specifically who will die as a result of this action, but certainty that it will be many.
The Trump admin seems set to force two Colorado coal plants to stay open past their planned closure this year, even as the costs of keeping an aging, unnecessary Michigan coal plant running through the summer top $80M. Are more must-run orders coming?
www.canarymedia.com/articles/fos...
#energysky
www.canarymedia.com/articles/fos...
#energysky
Trump’s DOE may soon force more coal plants to stay open
Colorado coal plants are likely to face DOE orders to keep running past planned closure dates, even as the costs of keeping an old Michigan plant open…
www.canarymedia.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:31 PM
I wish it were better understood that this is an act of mass murder akin to firing into a large crowd. Impossible to say specifically who will die as a result of this action, but certainty that it will be many.
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
Divvying up the dwindling Colorado River in a warming climate. Much of the river's watershed remains in severe drought, and its water is over-allocated. #copolitics
November 12, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Divvying up the dwindling Colorado River in a warming climate. Much of the river's watershed remains in severe drought, and its water is over-allocated. #copolitics
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
Brilliant new ad campaign I just spotted at the Southwark tube station in London.
November 8, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Brilliant new ad campaign I just spotted at the Southwark tube station in London.
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
Is this in U.S. news? #AcademicSky www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Students and faculty at over 100 US universities protest against Trump’s attacks
Student, national and local groups across US organized day of action to condemn Trump’s assault on academic freedom
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Is this in U.S. news? #AcademicSky www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
Scientists point to a long list of findings that emerged out of fundamental research, the type of studies the US government is cutting, and went on to change the world. Nature lists a few of their examples. 🧪
7 basic science discoveries that changed the world
Ozempic, MRI machines and flat screen televisions all emerged out of fundamental research decades earlier — the very types of study being slashed by the US government.
go.nature.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Scientists point to a long list of findings that emerged out of fundamental research, the type of studies the US government is cutting, and went on to change the world. Nature lists a few of their examples. 🧪
Reposted by Rivka Fidel, PhD
Look at this. The hurricane downed and washed away the vegetation. One of my students told me today that the soil of her dad's farm just washed away. He has no farm now.
🔴⚠️🌀🇯🇲In the aftermath of hurricane #Melissa, the tropical vegetation of southwestern Jamaica has been devastated by the landfall at almost 300km/h.The first #Sentinel2 images after the event show the extreme consequences on BlackRiver and the wider area. #ClimateEmergency
November 5, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Look at this. The hurricane downed and washed away the vegetation. One of my students told me today that the soil of her dad's farm just washed away. He has no farm now.