US researchers leaving for foreign universities citing funding and politicisation

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 11:31 · Archive

American scientists are moving to foreign universities citing delayed federal grants and concerns about political influence over research funding.

American scientists are moving to foreign universities in response to what they describe as funding cuts and politicisation of research under the Trump administration. Foreign universities have adopted specific programmes to recruit U.S. researchers, offering more stable streams of funding and academic freedom. Halley Froehlich, a marine scientist, moved to Finland with her family to continue research on how fish, shellfish and seaweed respond to climate change at the University of Helsinki after experiencing delayed federal grants.

The scale of the exodus is significant. More than half of American states have lost scientists to recruitment programmes in other countries, according to an April report from the Business for Federal Research Funding Coalition. In March, early-career biomedical scientists were about 20 percentage points less likely to say they would remain in the United States compared to six months earlier.

Tobin Smith, senior vice president of government relations and public policy for the Association of American Universities, said university leaders have noticed the trend. 'You can almost talk to any vice president for research at a university and they will tell you of one or two top faculty that they've lost,' he said. The White House disputed concerns about the impact of its policies, with spokesperson Liz Huston saying Trump is 'ending waste' and remains 'committed to keeping America the world leader in scientific innovation'.

How it is being reported

• Meet the researchers leaving the US because of Trump's funding cuts and politicization of scienceMany American scientists are being recruited by foreign universities holding out offers of stable funding and academic freedom.Clickorlando · 19 Oct, 11:04
• Meet the researchers leaving the US because of Trump's funding cuts and politicization of scienceMany American scientists are being recruited by foreign universities holding out offers of stable funding and academic freedom.News4Jax · 19 Oct, 11:04

In this story: Halley Froehlich · Trump administration · University of Helsinki · Association of American Universities · Finland · United States

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem