Alex Ji

@alexji.bsky.social

Near-field Cosmologist and Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at University of Chicago. he/him

Today, we're kicking off the 2026 Rubin Community Workshop at SLAC National Accelerator Lab! #RCW2026 Over the next five days, hundreds of scientists and engineers will come together for collaboration and conversation about big-data astrophysics with Rubin. Here's to a week of sharing ideas! 🔭🧪

Banner for the Rubin Community Workshop displayed outdoors with trees and a building in the background.Modern building with large windows and an entry sign reading 'SLAC Science and User Support Building' surrounded by landscaping.Volunteers at a registration table in a spacious lobby assisting attendees checking in.Rubin Director Bob Blum giving a status update at the 2026 Rubin Community Workshop in a lecture hall filled with attendees on their laptops.

I'm consumed be "externalities" that private companies quietly distribute across humanity for profit while preaching narratives about "progress". Add in "Shifting Baseline Syndrome" and most people don't notice what's happening until it is too late. Some underlying verifiable facts 👇 ✨🔭🧪

Cartoon illustrating satellites crossing the night sky circa 2030, seen from a wilderness area. A child asks, "What is that point of light that doesn't move?"

The reason why ICE agents continue to shoot people is because nothing ever happens to them when they do. They essentially have been granted full immunity for whatever they choose to do to people by a lawless regime of thugs.

There's an OMB rule change that would require political oversight of scientific grants, and could pull any that don't "reflect presidential priorities" Another country has tried this before! It was the USSR and it was called Lysenkoism. By @thsaey.bsky.social www.sciencenews.org/article/omb-...

Here’s what happens when you put politicians in charge of science

Proposed federal rules would rely on political appointees to decide how a lot of U.S. science gets done. History shows the consequences of such actions.

sciencenews.org

🚨 HEADS UP: If you haven't submitted a comment on the OMB proposal yet, there's still time - but it's running out! There are only 2 days left to push back against Russell Vought's attempt to give political appointees unprecedented control over federal research funding. Take Action: zurl.co/qTjQP

Graphic from Stand Up for Science urging action on a federal funding proposal. Large text reads: "2 Days Left" and "Help Us Stop Vought From Destroying American Science." A portrait of Russell Vought appears beside the U.S. Capitol. A banner along the bottom reads: "Submit a comment on the OMB proposal | Link in bio to take action." The Stand Up for Science logo appears in the top left.

Interested in a 3 year postdoc working on stellar streams and dark matter? Come join our amazing Astro group in Surrey to work with me and Eugene Vasiliev. Details here and the deadline is July 30th. Let me know if you have any questions! jobs.surrey.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx... 🧪🔭☄️

Job Vacancy at the University of Surrey: Research Fellow in Stellar Streams

The University of Surrey is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life-changing education and research. We are ambitious and have a bold vision of what we want to achieve - shaping ours...

jobs.surrey.ac.uk

🚨 HEADS UP: If you haven't submitted a comment on the OMB proposal yet, there's still time - but it's running out! There are only 11 days left to push back against Russell Vought's attempt to give political appointees unprecedented control over federal research funding. Take Action: zurl.co/R83IO

Graphic from Stand Up for Science urging action on a federal funding proposal. Large text reads: "11 Days Left" and "Help Us Stop Vought From Destroying American Science." A portrait of Russell Vought appears beside the U.S. Capitol. A banner along the bottom reads: "Submit a comment on the OMB proposal | Link in bio to take action." The Stand Up for Science logo appears in the top left.

tl,dr; Scientists no longer allowed to use federal funding to publish, attend meetings, or talk to the public. They cannot collaborate internationally. Grants can be cancelled for any reason, at any time, political appointees have a final say over what gets funded, and who gets funded.

Science Magazine@science.org · 2mo ago

The White House today announced it plans to make major changes in how the U.S. government manages research funding. https://scim.ag/43HgW4s