Sheril Kirshenbaum
@sheril.bsky.social
Political scientist. Author. Host of PBS Serving Up Science. www.sherilkirshenbaum.com
Delighted to be at @nationalacademies.org exploring the future of the U.S. research enterprise during this period of transition.
3 takeaways:
• Forge partnerships that blend public purpose & research w private innovation.
• Rebuild trust across sectors.
• Tell the story of science & innovation.
3 takeaways:
• Forge partnerships that blend public purpose & research w private innovation.
• Rebuild trust across sectors.
• Tell the story of science & innovation.
October 30, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Delighted to be at @nationalacademies.org exploring the future of the U.S. research enterprise during this period of transition.
3 takeaways:
• Forge partnerships that blend public purpose & research w private innovation.
• Rebuild trust across sectors.
• Tell the story of science & innovation.
3 takeaways:
• Forge partnerships that blend public purpose & research w private innovation.
• Rebuild trust across sectors.
• Tell the story of science & innovation.
My thoughts are with the people in Hurricane Melissa’s path.
Climate change makes the ocean warmer, fueling stronger, more intense storms.
It’s not about politics. I hope we can come together to help the communities impacted by this extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane.
Climate change makes the ocean warmer, fueling stronger, more intense storms.
It’s not about politics. I hope we can come together to help the communities impacted by this extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane.
October 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
My thoughts are with the people in Hurricane Melissa’s path.
Climate change makes the ocean warmer, fueling stronger, more intense storms.
It’s not about politics. I hope we can come together to help the communities impacted by this extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane.
Climate change makes the ocean warmer, fueling stronger, more intense storms.
It’s not about politics. I hope we can come together to help the communities impacted by this extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane.
Jane Goodall, one of my greatest heroes, has passed away. How lucky we were to read her books and learn from her wisdom about our place on Earth. She was an inspiration to me and countless others. And her memory is a blessing.
October 1, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Jane Goodall, one of my greatest heroes, has passed away. How lucky we were to read her books and learn from her wisdom about our place on Earth. She was an inspiration to me and countless others. And her memory is a blessing.
Another comic by Chelo caught my eye. How we present ourselves to others on social media vs offline. /2
September 25, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Another comic by Chelo caught my eye. How we present ourselves to others on social media vs offline. /2
It is settled. “Moe” is now “Mochi,” with his big brother Kiwi!
September 20, 2025 at 4:58 PM
It is settled. “Moe” is now “Mochi,” with his big brother Kiwi!
Meet our new English budgie! Like his brother Kiwi, he has a few unusual quirks, but we think he’s perfect!
Now this little peanut needs a name… He arrived as “Moe” so that’s a possibility, but what would you name this sweet boy?
Now this little peanut needs a name… He arrived as “Moe” so that’s a possibility, but what would you name this sweet boy?
September 20, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Meet our new English budgie! Like his brother Kiwi, he has a few unusual quirks, but we think he’s perfect!
Now this little peanut needs a name… He arrived as “Moe” so that’s a possibility, but what would you name this sweet boy?
Now this little peanut needs a name… He arrived as “Moe” so that’s a possibility, but what would you name this sweet boy?
Good.
Details at: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Details at: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
August 28, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Good.
Details at: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Details at: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Pretty sure the vast majority of people don’t want to get sick regardless of their party affiliation. 🤔
August 27, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Pretty sure the vast majority of people don’t want to get sick regardless of their party affiliation. 🤔
As I conclude my Senate fellowship, I’m deeply grateful to Senator Gary Peters of Michigan and his brilliant, thoughtful team. I will miss working with them tremendously. 1/3
August 26, 2025 at 1:34 AM
As I conclude my Senate fellowship, I’m deeply grateful to Senator Gary Peters of Michigan and his brilliant, thoughtful team. I will miss working with them tremendously. 1/3
Even amid difficult headlines, I take comfort in the resilience of nature.
Trees keep growing. Fungi keep breaking things down. And the world keeps changing.
Our species is just one character in a far older story.
And I hope we have the wisdom (and data) to remain part of it a little longer.
Trees keep growing. Fungi keep breaking things down. And the world keeps changing.
Our species is just one character in a far older story.
And I hope we have the wisdom (and data) to remain part of it a little longer.
July 30, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Even amid difficult headlines, I take comfort in the resilience of nature.
Trees keep growing. Fungi keep breaking things down. And the world keeps changing.
Our species is just one character in a far older story.
And I hope we have the wisdom (and data) to remain part of it a little longer.
Trees keep growing. Fungi keep breaking things down. And the world keeps changing.
Our species is just one character in a far older story.
And I hope we have the wisdom (and data) to remain part of it a little longer.
Then again, the U.S. sure needs a climate reminder… /2
July 24, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Then again, the U.S. sure needs a climate reminder… /2
On one hand, good.
On another, we shouldn’t need the UN to declare climate change is an existential threat at this point.
It’s here. It’s now.
On another, we shouldn’t need the UN to declare climate change is an existential threat at this point.
It’s here. It’s now.
July 23, 2025 at 7:25 PM
On one hand, good.
On another, we shouldn’t need the UN to declare climate change is an existential threat at this point.
It’s here. It’s now.
On another, we shouldn’t need the UN to declare climate change is an existential threat at this point.
It’s here. It’s now.
"The good Earth - we could have saved it, but we were too damn cheap and lazy."
- Kurt Vonnegut, Man Without a Country, 2005
- Kurt Vonnegut, Man Without a Country, 2005
May 31, 2025 at 5:02 PM
"The good Earth - we could have saved it, but we were too damn cheap and lazy."
- Kurt Vonnegut, Man Without a Country, 2005
- Kurt Vonnegut, Man Without a Country, 2005
Where to go for a PhD? Change of interest from non-US students.
Source: Economist, 2025 www.economist.com/science-and-...
Source: Economist, 2025 www.economist.com/science-and-...
May 23, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Where to go for a PhD? Change of interest from non-US students.
Source: Economist, 2025 www.economist.com/science-and-...
Source: Economist, 2025 www.economist.com/science-and-...
Science thrives at the edge of persistence and possibility.
Breakthroughs rarely follow straight lines—they come from setbacks, questions, and showing up.
In a fractured world, connecting #science to society has always been challenging—but also essential. This moment is no different.
Breakthroughs rarely follow straight lines—they come from setbacks, questions, and showing up.
In a fractured world, connecting #science to society has always been challenging—but also essential. This moment is no different.
May 21, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Science thrives at the edge of persistence and possibility.
Breakthroughs rarely follow straight lines—they come from setbacks, questions, and showing up.
In a fractured world, connecting #science to society has always been challenging—but also essential. This moment is no different.
Breakthroughs rarely follow straight lines—they come from setbacks, questions, and showing up.
In a fractured world, connecting #science to society has always been challenging—but also essential. This moment is no different.
Honored to be nominated for an Emmy for PBS’s Serving Up Science - a series funded by the NSF.
As public media & fed agencies are under attack, the recognition demonstrates the value of investing in #science, education & storytelling. Please support the institutions that make it possible.
As public media & fed agencies are under attack, the recognition demonstrates the value of investing in #science, education & storytelling. Please support the institutions that make it possible.
May 15, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Honored to be nominated for an Emmy for PBS’s Serving Up Science - a series funded by the NSF.
As public media & fed agencies are under attack, the recognition demonstrates the value of investing in #science, education & storytelling. Please support the institutions that make it possible.
As public media & fed agencies are under attack, the recognition demonstrates the value of investing in #science, education & storytelling. Please support the institutions that make it possible.
Happy birthday to Dr. Cecilia Payne! Her 1925 PhD thesis has been described as “the most brilliant ever written in astronomy.”
At a time when few women entered academia, Payne discovered what the universe is made of. Her work began a revolution in astrophysics & more should know her name.
At a time when few women entered academia, Payne discovered what the universe is made of. Her work began a revolution in astrophysics & more should know her name.
May 10, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Happy birthday to Dr. Cecilia Payne! Her 1925 PhD thesis has been described as “the most brilliant ever written in astronomy.”
At a time when few women entered academia, Payne discovered what the universe is made of. Her work began a revolution in astrophysics & more should know her name.
At a time when few women entered academia, Payne discovered what the universe is made of. Her work began a revolution in astrophysics & more should know her name.
Beatrix Potter is remembered for Peter Rabbit, but did you know she studied #science?
Potter collected insects, plants, eggs, shells, fossils & fungi. She ran experiments & wrote a scientific paper w illustrations - presented at the Linnean Society of London! But she couldn’t attend as a woman.
Potter collected insects, plants, eggs, shells, fossils & fungi. She ran experiments & wrote a scientific paper w illustrations - presented at the Linnean Society of London! But she couldn’t attend as a woman.
May 5, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Beatrix Potter is remembered for Peter Rabbit, but did you know she studied #science?
Potter collected insects, plants, eggs, shells, fossils & fungi. She ran experiments & wrote a scientific paper w illustrations - presented at the Linnean Society of London! But she couldn’t attend as a woman.
Potter collected insects, plants, eggs, shells, fossils & fungi. She ran experiments & wrote a scientific paper w illustrations - presented at the Linnean Society of London! But she couldn’t attend as a woman.
This is a good weekend to show your local public media station support! 🌈
May 3, 2025 at 2:39 AM
This is a good weekend to show your local public media station support! 🌈
There are >8B people on Earth & ~1.4B insects for every human. Combined, they weigh ~70x more than all of us.
Insects have been around for >350M years. Longer than the dinosaurs. Modern humans showed up 200-300,000 years ago.
We need insects to survive. They don't need us. This is their world.
Insects have been around for >350M years. Longer than the dinosaurs. Modern humans showed up 200-300,000 years ago.
We need insects to survive. They don't need us. This is their world.
April 28, 2025 at 1:05 AM
There are >8B people on Earth & ~1.4B insects for every human. Combined, they weigh ~70x more than all of us.
Insects have been around for >350M years. Longer than the dinosaurs. Modern humans showed up 200-300,000 years ago.
We need insects to survive. They don't need us. This is their world.
Insects have been around for >350M years. Longer than the dinosaurs. Modern humans showed up 200-300,000 years ago.
We need insects to survive. They don't need us. This is their world.
April 19, 2025 at 1:57 PM