As the Associated Press notes, the United States has invested huge sums of money in scientific research conducted at independent universities and in federal agencies since World War II. These funds have helped the United States become a leading scientific power in the world. Today this system has been shaken.
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Since President Donald Trump took office in January, his administration has noticed what he calls the waste and inefficiency in federal science expenses. As the Associated Press explains, significant cuts were also made at the level of employment and financing of grants at the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, NASA and other agencies. In addition, survey subsidies have been cut off that flow to some private universities.
The budget proposal of the White House for next year assumes a reduction in the NIH budget by about 40 percent, and the National Science Foundation by 55 percent.
Several universities have already announced the freezing of employment, dismissed employees or stopped taking new graduates. Research institutions, outside the US, are observing cooperation with concern, which depends on their colleagues from the United States, but also see the possibilities of potential talents.
Is brain drainage from the USA?
The AIX-Marseille University in France launched in March the “Safe place for science” program, committing to “welcome” American scientistswho “may feel threatened or hindered their research.”
Australian program “Global Talent Attraction Program”, announced in April, He promises competitive salaries and relocation packages. “In response to what is happening in the United States. We see an unparalleled opportunity to attract one of the smartest minds here, “admitted Anna-Maria Arabia, head of the Australian Academy of Sciences, whose words are cited by Associated Press.
The “Canada Leads” program, launched in April, aims to support the next generation of innovators by bringing beginner biomedical researchers.
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Some foreign institutions report significant more interest from the US scientists. Almost half of the entries to the aforementioned program “Safe Place for Science” – 139 out of 300 all – came from scientists from the USA, including artificial intelligence researchers and astrophysics.
The number of candidates from the USA in this year's recruitment round to the French Institute of Genetics, Molecular and Celling Biology doubled compared to last year. In the German Society of Max Plancka, the Lise Meitner Excellence program – addressed to young scientists – attracted three times more applications from the US scientists this year than last year.
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As the Associated Press notes, Even when universities and institutes think about recruiting talents from the USA, cuts in financing raise more fears than joy. Representatives of the world of science say that scientists around the world will suffer if the cooperation is closed and the databases are turned off.
“The United States has always been an example, both in science and education” – said Patrick Schultz, president of the French Institute of Genetics, molecular and cellular biology. So the cuts and politics were” very terrifying for us, because it was an example for the whole world. “
