@icesheetmike @VictorVenema @FrankSonntag @steve

Possibly relevant to this point, a couple weeks ago the account creation page on fediscience was updated to ask for links to publications.

Before that, it was a less specific request to explain why you should be allowed to join a community for academics.

Not sure if the underlying policy actually changed, but asking for links likely makes it seem less welcoming to students and others without publications.