Nearly a fifth of scientists are considering abandoning the U.S.

[onehandle]

At a time when the U.S. arguably needs its scientists more than ever, federal research funding is way down. According to data collected by a coalition of top scientific and medical research groups, the majority are spending more time writing grants for less payoff than just three years ago. Nearly 20 percent report they’re considering more supportive climes overseas. From The Huffington Post:

More than 3,700 scientists from all 50 states participated in the study, offering online responses in June and July 2013. They offered sobering assessments of the state of their profession. Eighty percent said they were spending more of their time writing grants now than in 2010, while 67 percent said they were receiving less grant money now than they were back then. Only two percent of respondents said they had received money from their employers — predominantly academic institutions — to make up for the loss of federal funds.

According to the survey, 68 percent of respondents said they do not have the funds to expand their research operations; 55 percent said they have a colleague who has lost a job or expects to soon; and 18 percent of respondents said they were considering continuing their careers in another country. Sequestration, which cut research and development funding by $9.3 billion, is partly to blame. But according to the report, the United States’ investment in R&D isn’t keeping up with inflation:

Globally, the United States invests more real dollars in research and development than any other country. However, in terms of percentage of gross domestic product, the United States is reducing its investment in scientific research. In fact, of the 10 countries investing the most money in scientific research, the United States is the only country that has reduced its investment in scientific research as a percentage of GDP since 2011.

http://www.salon.com/2013/08/29/nearly_a_fifth_of_scientists_are_considering_abandoning_the_u_s

I forget. What country was it that scientists abandoned in the 1930s?

[liberal N proud]

1. When the GOP de-funded NASA it was a symptom of what is wrong with the US

Everything in this country has become about the profit "this quarter" for the CEO's and owners of companies. And the GOP is trying to privatize everything public so the it can be turned in to a for profit business.

Research requires investment, investment takes time to return a profit and the CEO's don't have the patients to wait until next quarter let alone next year or 10.

It is an illness of economics.

The company that I still work for has abandon all research after more than 130 years of being the leader in our industry and developing groundbreaking technologies, we are just going to produce the product at the current technology and when that technology is eclipsed by something else, I guess the CEO will have the rest of us fired and take his money and sail away.

[KittyWampus]

17. Think it was the NYTimes that had an article about research/development in 20th century.

Idea was to put lots of smart people in a building, bounce ideas off each other and let them work on stuff that may take years to turn into something.

And that was how the internet was born, for instance.

[liberal N proud]

20. Until February this year, our company did just that

In February, they let most of the engineers and scientists go, many with 35+ years of service / experience.

[FarCenter]

2. Also leaving because of political interference in science, e.g. anti stem cell and anti GMO activism

[closeupready]

10. How has "anti GMO activism" interfered politically with science?

Be specific.

[FarCenter]

15. It has reduced funding to find biochemical pathways that can be modified by genetic changes

[closeupready]

21. Oh, nonsense.

[Doremus]

19. If you think anti-GMO efforts are chasing away scientists from the US,

where are they going? Certainly not Europe.

By the way, if the climate here is so unwelcoming to GMO research, how is it that we have so darned much of it? One of life's little puzzles, huh.

[mick063]

3. We hate science because it is dissent from theocracy

The US is a third world nation.


I used to watch National Geographic and see rituals held for the tribal witch doctor so that tribal insight might be gained.

That is what we collectively are now. A potential National Geographic special.

[phantom power]

4. +1

[closeupready]

8. +2.

[Jefferson23]

5. What is going to reverse this trend, politically....this is awful. n/t

[Supersedeas]

9. important tradeoffs...like with any budget

[Jefferson23]

11. Do you see any political players who are willing to engage this issue?

The trend is much worse than I was aware of.

[Gothmog]

6. The GOP war on science is winning

The GOP has declared war on science and we are now seeing the effects

[eppur_se_muova]

7. If you consider *non-military* research funding, things look even worse ...

DHS has become one of the biggest funders of scientific research. It has fundamentally altered the direction of research in this country.

[Blue_Tires]

13. +1

One of the George W. Bush legacies I despise the most is how perfectly normal he made it to be anti-science...That kicked in the door for a LOT of ignorant pols/voters/activists/pundits that are still with us today...

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Brain flight precedes empire collapse.

[mick063]

14. It goes beyond that.

Our brightest minds are being influenced by outside forces, in academic institutions, to understand derivatives.

And not the kind associated with differential equations.


Here is another area where our brightest minds are going:

http://www.pnnl.gov/missions/prevent.asp

[Liberal_in_LA]

22. sad

[FiveGoodMen]

16. Only fair.

The US certainly abandoned them!

[Skidmore]

18. That's what happens when you educate the scholars of other nations and

neglect your own children.

[woo me with science]

23. K&R

[woo me with science]

24. kick