Trump cuts are ‘gutting’ research grants, ‘destabilizing’ science

Science and Health

“The nation’s scientific enterprise is being decimated.” That statement in an open letter “to the American people” signed by 1,800 members of the U.S. National Academies, is made concrete in a list of 709 NIH grants – and counting – that have been axed since President Donald Trump was inaugurated on Jan. 20. A grant tracker, based on information published by the Department of Health and Human Sciences, and self-reported terminations from scientists, includes 88 vaccine-related projects, 45 cancer research grants and 231 awards made for HIV research.BioWorld Science Women’s health Coronavirus CAR T Vaccine U.S. NIH Policy

Noon Rotary learns about collision science

Science and Health

The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Noon recently heard from club member Mark Hunt, who shared his experiences working for Case Study Collision Science, which recreates car accidents to determine who is at fault. Hunt educated members on what to do in an accident and precautions to take to avoid a traffic accident. Hunt also has an extensive background in law enforcement, and he shared many of his prior experiences. 
“The members were very interested in the PowerPoint presentation that showed accidents and the final determination of cause,” club member Karen Graf told Coastal View News. 

Scientists worked with Walpiri to track down bilby poo – and uncover clues to help conserve these iconic animals

Science and Health

The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is one of Australia’s most iconic yet at-risk animals — and the last surviving bilby species. Once found across 70% of Australia, its range has contracted by more than 80% since European colonisation.

Today, these nocturnal marsupials, still culturally significant to many Indigenous peoples, are restricted to remote deserts. They face an ongoing threat of extinction.

Local elders, Indigenous rangers and scientists hold valuable knowledge about bilby populations, the threats they face, and strategies needed to sustain them into the future.

Our new study, published today in Conservation Science and Practice, reveals how collaboration between scientists and Indigenous land managers can help yield new and vital information.

In the field, we used two methods – one based on Warlpiri knowledge and one based on standard scientific protocols – to locate bilbies and collect scat (poo) samples in the North Tanami Indigenous Protected Area in the Northern Territory.

By drawing on Warlpiri tracking expertise and Western scientific methods, we uncovered crucial information on bilby populations that could help conserve these rare creatures.

The greater bilby is one of Australia’s most iconic yet at-risk animals.
Ken Griffiths/Shutterstock

Understanding bilby numbers is important – but hard

Bilbies turn over tonnes of soil each year, helping to improve soil health, help seeds germinate and enhance water infiltration. Their deep, complex burrows also provide shelter for other species.

They’re crucial to the health of desert ecosystems; protecting bilbies means protecting the web of life they support.

To do this, we need to know more about:

how many bilbies there are
how they respond to land management techniques such as planned burning
how they respond to threats such as feral predators.

Yet, bilbies are notoriously difficult to monitor directly via live capture. They’re nocturnal, shy and solitary. And they inhabit vast landscapes, making it very hard to estimate population numbers.

Bilby tracks North Tanami (pen for scale).
Hayley Geyle/Author Provided

Luckily, the tracks, diggings and scats bilbies leave behind provide ample clues. DNA from scat (if it can be found) can be used to estimate how many bilbies are present in a particular area.

Systematic ecological surveys, often used to monitor wildlife, can be rigid and expensive, especially in remote regions.

We need flexible methods that align with local knowledge and the practical realities of monitoring bilbies on Country.

A new approach to monitor and manage bilbies

We tested two methods of locating bilby scat for DNA analysis.

The first was systematic sampling. This is a standard scientific approach where fixed lengths of land were walked multiple times to collect scat.

This ensures sampling effort is even over the search area and comparable across sites. However, like most species, bilby distribution is patchy, and this approach can lead to researchers missing important signs.

The second method was targeted sampling, guided by Warlpiri knowledge, to search in areas most likely to yield results.

This allowed the search team to focus on areas where bilbies were active or predicted to be active based on knowledge of their habits and food sources.

Altogether, we collected more than 1,000 scat samples. In the lab, we extracted DNA from these samples to identify individual bilbies. These data, combined with the location of samples, allowed us to estimate the size of the bilby population.

We then compared estimates that would have been derived if we had only done systematic or targeted sampling, or both, to assess their strengths and limitations for monitoring bilby populations.

The deep, complex burrows of bilbies also provide shelter for other species.
Kelly Dixon/Author provided

What we found

We identified 20 bilbies from the scats collected during systematic surveys and 26 – six more – from targeted surveys. At least 16 individual bilbies were detected by both methods. In total, we confirmed 32 unique bilbies in the study area.

When it came to population estimates – which consider how many repeat captures occur and where – combining data from both types of surveys produced the most accurate estimates with the least effort.

Targeted sampling tended to overestimate population size because it focused on areas of high activity. Systematic sampling was more precise but required greater effort.

Combining both approaches provided the most reliable estimates while saving time.

In the lab, we extracted DNA from bilby scat samples to identify individual bilbies.
Hayley Geyle/Author provided

What this means for conservation

Our research highlights how collaboration that includes different ways of knowing can improve conservation.

By adapting standard on-ground survey techniques to include Warlpiri methods for tracking bilbies, we produced better data and supported local capacity for bilby monitoring.

Elders also had opportunities to share tracking skills with younger people, helping keep cultural knowledge alive.

Conservation programs often rely on standardised ecological monitoring protocols – in other words, doing things much the same way no matter where you’re working.

While these protocols provide consistency, they are rigid and don’t always yield the best results. They also fail to incorporate local knowledge crucial for managing species like the bilby.

Our approach shows how integrating diverse ways of working can deliver more inclusive and effective outcomes, without compromising data reliability.

A path forward

Bilbies face ongoing threats including:

introduced predators (particularly foxes)
habitat degradation and
inappropriate fire regimes.

Their future depends on collaborative efforts that draw on scientific and Indigenous and local knowledges.

This study provides an example of how such partnerships can work – not just for bilbies, but for other species and ecosystems.

As Australia confronts biodiversity loss, this research underscores the importance of listening to those who know Country best.

By valuing and respecting local expertise, we can build a stronger future for bilbies and the landscapes that are their home.

Crazy King, Mad Scientists in the US – What’s in it for Greece and Europe?

Science and Health

In the US the king may be crazy, but the scientists are mad. Mad with fury that is. To foreign born men and women able to envisage and materialize the future – it has been estimated that more than 50 % of Nobel prize winners moved to America for their work – who have made America great, again and again, for decades now, Donald Trump’s unapologetic nativism is a deep affront.Even more importantly, the unfolding as much as truly astounding upheaval in US Federal Agencies and Departments is simply incompatible with the scientific enterprise. It is these Agencies and Departments that act as conduits of federal research funding, generate themselves part of the knowledge base that scientific inquiry is based on and convert scientific knowledge in US public policy of often global impact.   Nor does the promised resurrection of the US defence sector as a hotbed of innovation, a sector which is, by the way, more dependent on foreign-born scientific talent than any other US industry, hold much appeal.   European scientists in the US were mobilised against the two monstrous totalitarianisms of the 20th century, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. And, now, Denmark?That is why it is time for all Europeans who care for the scientific enterprise, and even more so for Greek ones, to dust off their copies of the Draghi Report on ‘The future of European Competitiveness’. Greece has exported for decades its scientific elite, mostly to the US, with catastrophic consequences for its international competitiveness. The Draghi Report by suggesting massive support, at the EU level, of R&D, essentially envisages scientific diasporas like the Greek one as a key resource for Europe.Admittedly, Greece is at the extreme end of the range of EU scientific diasporas because of its historically dysfunctional university system and limited national funding for research. An earlier study established that Greece had provided more full professors to the top 48 US universities, relative to its population, than any other EU member country.  Still, a bit over a quarter of this professorial cohort of 4,649 individuals came from nineteen altogether EU member-countries, out of a total of 45 countries worldwide, including from France and Germany which feature  well-funded and highly meritocratic research ecosystems.Importantly positive selection dynamics are in play, as Europe’s scientific diaspora in the US would not be captured by innovation activities of medium to low R &D intensity but rather would be attracted by high R&D intensity activities.   Consequently their repatriation is even more significant for Europe’s competitiveness. As the Draghi Report highlights, the EU’s industrial structure, with automobiles still dominant, has led to an R&D commitment to less dynamic and promising technologies than it is the case in the US.As the Draghi Report also notes research in the EU is underfunded, at the federal level, leading to fragmented national efforts of uneven quality and limited scale.  Thus the Draghi Report proposals on federalizing further innovation funding in the EU bear the promise, to Europe’s scientific diaspora, of achieving as scientists in Europe breakthroughs comparable to those that they have been accustomed to in the US.Assuming that a meaningful component of the Draghi Report’s recommendations on innovation funding and governance is adopted, as suggested by the recent publication of the EU Commission’s Competitive Compass, we will then have three dynamics in play.First, the stronger, in terms of national funding and quality of governance, EU member countries will utilise the Report’s policy framework  in order to attract from the US the lion’s share of repatriated EU scientists, say the German research ecosystem attracting top Greek scientists.Second, the weaker, in terms of national funding and quality of governance EU member-countries, like Greece, will opt to mitigate the weaknesses of their research ecosystems, due to the rising opportunity costs of not doing so. By doing so they will be able to convert the loyalty and affection, to the homeland, of their own scientific diasporas into repatriation. However if they fail to raise their game, they will see themselves at the losing side of deepening intra-EU disparities.Third, the UK will be sorely tempted  to reintegrate even more with EU research policy, and ultimately industrial policy, being the closest European proxy, language and governance-wise, to the US research ecosystem and thus inherently attractive to European scientists in the US.No matter how these dynamics play out, it is beyond irony that the current occupant of the White House, himself of partly German descend, is about to gift Europe with this most precious of resources, globally-leading scientific talent.

Center for Science and Industry Releases ‘Dr. B in 3’ Season 4

Science and Health

The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) has announced its animated science series Dr. B in 3 has returned for a fourth season. Hosted by COSI president and CEO Dr. Frederic Bertley, the series delivers bite-sized lessons, making science accessible and exciting for learners of all backgrounds.
“Science should be fun, digestible, and accessible to everyone – whether you’re a student, a teacher, a parent, or just a curious mind looking to understand the world,” said Dr. Bertley. “With Dr. B in 3, we’re breaking down complex topics and delivering them in a way that is engaging, memorable, and truly resonates with learners of all ages.”
With topics spanning the human brain, quantum computing, Generative AI, and the solar system, the series earned three Emmy Awards in 2024 for its approach to science education.
Season 4 will look at the technology shaping modern life, tackling topics such as the impact of smartphones on human behavior, the science behind digital communication, data privacy concerns, and the environmental effects of tech manufacturing.

Dr. B in 3 is integrated with COSI’s nationally recognized Learning Lunchbox program, an initiative that has provided nearly 400,000 STEAM kits to underserved youth across 40 states and seven countries. Learning Lunchboxes include direct links to Dr. B in 3 videos, and some feature a Digital STEAM Portal – a mobile video player where students can explore episodes alongside hands-on activities.
Music is by Alphabet Rockers, with additional production from Elevator Music Worldwide.
Check out the new Dr. B in 3 season on COSI’s YouTube channel and digital platforms.
Source: COSI

Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L’Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.

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DNR announces 2025 rare species community-based science projects

Science and Health

MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced volunteer opportunities to help monitor rare and endangered species and manage their habitats in 2025.While many Wisconsinites appreciate the beauty of our plants, animals and natural landscapes, a special few volunteer their time to survey for rare and endangered species. These volunteers, known as community scientists, do things including learning to distinguish the calls of the 12 different frog and toad species found in Wisconsin or finding and identifying rare plants.The DNR seeks volunteers for the following projects:
Plants and Habitats:●  State Natural Areas Volunteers●  Wisconsin Rare Plant Monitoring ProgramInvertebrates:●  Karner Blue Butterfly Volunteer Monitoring Program●  Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade●  Wisconsin Mussel Monitoring ProgramOther Animals:●  Wisconsin Bat Program: Acoustic and Summer Roost Monitoring●  Wisconsin Frog and Toad Survey●  Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program“Volunteers support critical research and monitoring for many of Wisconsin’s rarest plant and animal species and provide an effective approach to managing invasive species,” said Owen Boyle, DNR species management section manager. “We’re immensely grateful for the hours they’ve dedicated to this often complex and detailed work. When we better understand how species populations are being impacted by threats like degraded habitat, disease and climate change, we can take action before they disappear from Wisconsin.”In 2024, volunteers completed surveys and collected data in nearly every county in the state. Volunteer opportunities are available for everyone, regardless of initial skill level, science or nature experience or time availability. No matter who you are or where you are in Wisconsin, you can contribute to the management of our precious natural resources.Learn more about these opportunities.Other Ways To HelpTraining, coordination and data analysis for these projects, along with many other activities to conserve rare species by department staff, are supported in part by the Endangered Resources Fund. Contributions to the Endangered Resources Fund come from income tax form donations, Endangered Resources license plates and individual gifts.Learn more about the Endangered Resources Fund or donate.