The US has world-class scientific talent. The rest of the world is hoping to lure that away
Where the Trump administration has reduced billions of dollars in Federal financing for scientific researchThousands of scientists in the United States have lost their jobs or grant them – governments and universities around the world I observed an opportunity.
The “Canada Leads” program, which was launched in April, hopes to strengthen the next generation of creators by bringing vital medical researchers early in the north of the border.
AIX-Marseille University in France began the “Safe Science Place” program in March-pledged “welcoming” the scholars of their headquarters of the United States and who “may feel threat or obstruct their research.”
In April, the global talent program in Australia announced competitive salaries and transport packages.
“In response to what is happening in the United States. We see an unparalleled opportunity to attract some of the smartest minds here,” said Anna Maria Arab, President of the Australian Academy of Science.
Since World War II, the United States I invested huge sums of money In scientific research conducted in independent universities and federal agencies. This funding helped us to become the leading scientific power in the world-and has led to the invention of mobile phones and the Internet as well as new ways to treat cancer, heart disease and strokes, indicated by Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the Science Magazine.
But today this system is shaken.
Since the president Donald Trump He took office in January. Employees levels and Funding At the National Academy of Sciences, National Institutes of HealthNASA and other agencies, as well as reduce research funds that flow to Some private universities.
The White House budget proposal for the next year calls for a decrease in the budget of the National Institutes of Health by approximately 40 % and the National Science Corporation by 55 %.
“The Trump administration is spending the first few months in reviewing the previous administration’s projects, identifying waste, and reorganizing our research to match the priorities of the American people and continuing our innovative hegemony,” said White House spokesman Kush Disi.
Indeed, many universities have announced the recruitment of freezing, employees have taken advantage of or stopped accepting new postgraduate students. Thursday, Trump Administration He abolished Harvard University’s ability To register international students, despite the judge Put this waiting.
Research institutions abroad are observing anxiously on cooperation on colleagues in the United States – but they also see opportunities for talent that are likely to collide.
“There are threats to science … south of the border,” said Brad and Ters. “There is a full set of talents, a full group affected by this moment.”
It promises a safe place to do science
Universities all over the world are always trying to employ each other, just as technology and companies do in other areas. The unusual thing at the present moment is that many international recruits target researchers through the promise of something that seems to be a newly threatened: academic freedom.
European Commission President Ursula von der Lin said this month that the European Union intends to “devote freedom of scientific research in law.” It spoke when “choosing Europe for science” in the bloc – which was in business before the Trump administration discounts but sought to take advantage of the moment.
Eric Berton, President of AIX-Marseille University, has expressed a similar feeling after the launch of the “Place of Sciences for Science” for the Foundation.
“Our American research colleagues are not particularly interested in money,” said about the applicants. “What they want above all is to be able to continue their research and to preserve their academic freedom.”
It is too early to say “brain migration”
It is too early to determine the number of scientists who will choose to leave the United States, it will take months for universities to review applications and clarify financing, and longer for researchers to uproot their lives.
In addition, the American leadership in tremendous financing research and development – and even important discounts may leave decisive programs. The United States was the world’s leading kingdom for research and development – including the government, universities and private investment – for decades. In 2023, the country funded 29 % of the world’s research and development, according to the American Association for Science.
But some institutions abroad reported a great early attention from researchers in the United States approximately half of the applications to a “safe place for science” -139 out of 300 total-came from scientists in the United States, including researchers in artificial and physical intelligence.
The US applicants in this year’s recruitment round of the Institute of France, and the molecular and cellular biology are almost over the past year.
At the MAX Planck Association in Germany, the Lise Meitner Excellence-which aims at young women-to-sake researchers in the United States this year last year.
The recruits who work with non -profit companies and organizations say they see a similar trend.
Natalie Derry, the UK’s administrative partner for the practice of global emerging science in Recruiter WittkieFer, said her team witnessed a 25 % increase to 35 % in the United States’ applicants on open situations. When they communicate with currently stationed scientists in the United States, “we get a much higher beating rate than people who show interest.”
However, there are practical obstacles to overcome the potential continent. This can include linguistic obstacles, child care or elderly care, and major differences in national retirement or retirement programs.
Community relations
Brandon Coventry has never believed that he would look at a scientific profession outside the United States. But the discounts in federal financing and questions about whether the new grants will be achieved may have left it not sure. While he refrains from leaving his family and friends, he applies to the positions of faculty members in Canada and France.
“I have never wanted to leave the United States, but this is a dangerous competitor to me,” said Kovantry, a post -doctoral colleague who is studying at Wisconsin University.
But it is not easy to capture and move a scientific profession – not to mention life.
Mariana Chang was studying how children evolve the stereotypes of sweat and gender as a post -PhD colleague at New York University when the National Science Foundation scholarship was canceled. She said that she felt as if “America as a country was no longer interested in studying questions like me.”
However, she was not sure of her next step. She said, “It is not an easy solution, just fleeing and fleeing to another country.”
Employment programs in ambition ranges from those who are trying to attract dozens of researchers to one university to the “Choose Europe” initiative at the continent level.
But it is unclear whether the total amount of financing and new attitudes offered may match what is delivered in the United States
A global vacuum
Although universities and institutes are considering employing talents from the United States, there is more fear of eliminating financing discounts.
“Science is a global endeavor,” said Patrick Kramer, president of the Max Blanc Association, noting that data and discoveries are often shared among international collaborators.
He said that one of the goals of the recruitment engines is “helping to prevent the loss of talents in the global scientific community.”
Scientists say that researchers around the world will suffer if the cooperation is closed and databases are taken into account.
“The United States has always been an example, in both science and education,” said Patrick Schultz, head of the Genetics Institute in France, Molecular and Cellular Biology. So the discounts and policies were “very frightening for us because it was an example of the whole world.”
___
The Ministry of Health and Science at Associated Press receives support from the Houard Hughes Institute. AP is the only responsible for all content.
