"Nearly A Fifth Of Scientists Are Considering Abandoning the US"

[applegrove]

Nearly A Fifth Of Scientists Are Considering Abandoning the US

by Lindsay Abrams at Salon

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

"SNIP.............................


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:



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[dkf]

1. We are spending money on the wrong things...like unending war.

[FreakinDJ]

2. 3rd World Bananna Republic here we come

[xfundy]

3. Don't forget the "religious" aspects

All sorts of anti-science bleating from that crowd. Creationism in science classes, demonization of scientists, direct attacks on rationality.

[Warpy]

4. Understood and I don't blame them in the slightest

because science is given little credit in this god soaked, ignorant, uneducated, self centered and superstitious country full of lazy people who took the easy way out in school.

I might join them if my cat goes to her reward before I do. I would like to experience a slice of life in a country where knowledge is respected over superstition once before I die.

[prairierose]

5. ...and when breaks in funding occur...

it sets the research back, sometimes by years. The rest of the world is eating our lunch on research because most countries recognize the value of research for their societies and their economies. We used to understand this but neo-liberal economic policies trump all knowledge and the future of the American people does not matter.

[BlueJazz]

6. Fine. Let other countries give scientists citizenship. fund their projects and when..

...these same scientists make wonderful discoveries, they can tell the US of A to stick it where the sun don't shine.

I personally don't have to put up with the USA's bullshit.
I would hate to see America lose it's top minds but on the other hand, Australia is nice this time of year...

[progressoid]

7. A niece of a client of mine is going over seas to do stem cell research she can't do here.

fucking fundies.

[Politicalboi]

8. No scientists, no global warming

If we don't hear about it, it's not happening. Up next on Faux, Is the world really flat? Stay tuned, Jerome Corsi will be up next to tell you to stop having sex for fun. Shame on you.

[awoke_in_2003]

9. This country shot its wad with Apollo. nt

[SunSeeker]

10. We've eaten our seed corn. nt

[Vashta Nerada]

11. It's sad, but I don't blame the scientists for leaving.

[ThirdWayCowplop]

12. Only 20 percent, figured the number would be much higher!

Once the brain drain starts here it will be the final sign that it is time to GTFO of the USA for good.

[B Calm]

13. This should make the bible thumper crowd happy.

[davidn3600]

14. But we got plenty of money for perpetual wars and domestic spy facilities

[Gothmog]

15. The GOP has been conducting a war on science

The republicans have been conducting a war on science for a long time. The cutting of funding is just the attest step in this war

[MH1]

16. Probably a much bigger threat to the US than what is happening in Syria. nt

[Dreamer Tatum]

17. Somehow I doubt any of them will leave for Russia or China. nt

[gulliver]

18. Vote out all Republicans.

They've gone nuts. Let them wander in the wilderness and think about George W. Bush and their Tea Party curse.

[RainDog]

19. the religious right is destroying this nation

the Tea Party is overwhelmingly comprised of the religious right

[CoffeeCat]

20. I heard a college professor on NPR talking about...

...the need for more research and studies on suicide and those who die by suicide with a gun. He said that the suicide rate is three times the murder rate, and that studies are needed to determine how firearms play into the dynamics.

He said that although this research is desperately needed--he dissuades his students from pursuing research in this area--because there is NEVER any funding for such studies.

This is only one example, but it drives the point home that lack of funding for studies/research/science erodes our knowledge base--right down to some very fundamental levels. If the research dollars aren't there--students won't steer their careers toward those areas--even if they are very interested in those areas and the need for study is great.

It's really sad. Money determines what we support, what we discover and the insight we have into our own humanity. Unfortunately, the money is controlled by Congress, and we all know what a giant collection of corrupt narcissists they are.

It's SAD.

[kelliekat44]

21. They have all the grant money so they can afford to leave the US. NIH, NASA, and others will keep

funding them no matter what. And most are from a certain group of ol'e boys who continue to squeeze out younger more diverse group of really good scientists. We ought to change the funding laws so that all money issued by US stays in the USA for conducting research.