Researchers voice concern as Trump reconfigures U.S. scientific terrain
The Trump Effect on American Research
Science's fertile grounds in America have started to wither under the Trump administration, leading to a tumultuous disruption of the nation's status as a global research powerhouse. With jolts to esteemed federal agencies, slashes to research grants, and open confrontations with universities, it's no wonder the scientific community's murmurs of disquiet have escalated to a deafening roar.
In a little over a hundred days, we've witnessed mass layoffs at prestigious federal departments, attacks on grant funding, and open hostility toward universities. Threats against words linked to gender and climate change, as well as those associated with global warming caused by human activities, have added fuel to the fire.
"This is nothing short of colossal," Paul Edwards, head of a department at Stanford University focusing on the interaction between society and science, told AFP, echoing the widespread unease within the scientific and academic communities. At the end of March, over 1,900 esteemed members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine issued an SOS, cautioning that financial coercion to manipulate the selection of funded and published studies is nothing more than censorship, detracting from science's fundamental mission: the pursuit of truth.
The scientific community had earlier forecast an impending assault on science, but the current actions are said to be more sweeping than anything experienced during Trump's first term.
"This is definitely bigger, more coordinated," said Jennifer Jones, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, comparing the administration's actions to the blueprint outlined in the ultra-conservative Project 2025. This playbook, closely followed by the billionaire Republican since regaining power, advocates for the restructuring or dismantling of key scientific and academic institutions, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), accused of promoting "climate alarmism."
Trump's allies have echoed these sentiments, including Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic who leveraged public distrust of science during the COVID-19 pandemic. This, says Sheila Jasanoff, a professor at Harvard, is akin to a religious fervor against science.
Harvard, now a prominent target in Trump's crusade against academia, faces the threat of frozen grants, potential loss of tax-exempt status, and limits on enrolling international students - measures ostensibly framed as combating antisemitism and "woke" ideology, but widely perceived as political overreach.
"The fury against science most closely resembles a fundamentalist religious rage," Jasanoff told AFP.
Generational Dilemma
Dealing with this shift, an increasing number of researchers are contemplating leaving the U.S. - a potential brain drain from which other countries hope to benefit by opening their academic doors. In France, lawmakers have proposed a special status for "scientific refugees." Some will exit, but many may simply give up, warns Daniel Sandweiss, a climate science professor at the University of Maine. He expresses concerns about the loss of an entire generation of promising talent.
"It's the rising students, the superstars on the cusp of stardom, whom we risk losing," he said. "We stand to miss a whole swath of them."
Many U.S. industries - including pharma - rely on this talent to drive innovation. However, according to Jennifer Jones, "there's a real danger they'll fill those gaps with junk science and discredited researchers."
One such figure is David Geier, an anti-vaccine activist with a history of practicing medicine without a license, appointed by Kennedy to study the debunked link between vaccines and autism - a move critics argue ensures a biased outcome.
"The level of disinformation and confusion this administration is churning out will take years, potentially even generations, to undo," said Jones. 🔵 Enrichment Data:
- Impact on Science Funding: The administration has faced criticism for reductions in research grants, affecting various research areas like cancer, climate, and HIV research. Billions of dollars have been slashed, resulting in tens of thousands of job losses.
- Academic Institutions Impact: Academic institutions endured increased uncertainty due to fluctuating funding priorities and the potential for cuts. This uncertainty made long-term research planning difficult. The administration's immigration policies could also impact academic institutions by limiting access to international talent, crucial for maintaining a competitive research environment.
- Global Standing Impact: The Trump administration's actions have been seen as a "wholesale assault on U.S. science," which could undermine the country's scientific preeminence and national security. The reduction in science funding and job losses may have weakened America's position in global scientific competitions, potentially enabling other countries to surpass the U.S. in research innovation.
In essence, the Trump administration's policies pose significant challenges for American research, at risk of damaging not only domestic scientific progress but also the nation's global leadership in science.
- The Trump administration's actions towards American research are causing a national study of severe consequences.
- The scientific community is alarmed at the loss of jobs in prestigious federal departments due to the administration's policies.
- Critics argue that threats against certain words, such as those linked to climate change and gender, amount to censorship in the realm of science.
- The scientific community's concern over the administration's policies is growing, with over 1,900 esteemed members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine issuing an SOS.
- The current actions are more sweeping than anything experienced during Trump's first term, according to numerous sources within the scientific and academic communities.
- Jennifer Jones, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, compares the administration's actions to the blueprint outlined in the ultra-conservative Project 2025.
- Trump's allies, like Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., have emphasized the importance of open discussions about vaccine safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- In France, lawmakers have proposed a special status for "scientific refugees" due to growing concerns about a potential brain drain from the U.S.
- The consequences of these policies extend beyond the loss of an entire generation of promising talent in research-related fields, potentially impacting sectors like medicine, education-and-self-development, and politics, as well as general news media coverage.
