US faces science brain drain after Europe backs stem cell funding

[cal04]

· Disillusioned researchers could move to UK
· Debate divides members but ends in compromise
The United States is risking a "brain drain", in which its scientists will flock across the Atlantic, after the EU reached a "historic" deal yesterday on human embryonic stem cells.

A week after George Bush limited federal funds for the highly sensitive area, the EU warned Washington that "disillusioned" US scientists will want to make the most of Europe's more liberal rules.

Lord Sainsbury, Britain's science minister, said: "There are a group of American scientists who are very disillusioned. In this field we have seen US scientists coming to the UK. If the US continues to take this very negative position I think within this field of regenerative medicine we will see scientists come from America and from other parts of the world, who would have gone to America, to the UK instead."

His remarks came after EU science ministers agreed to allow part of the union's expanded £37bn science budget to be spent on research into human embryonic stem cells. Berlin had attempted to block the funding on the grounds that it did not want its taxpayers' money to fund sensitive research which is subject to strict limits in Germany.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/genes/article/0,,1828069,00.html

[DanCa]

1. This news is kinda bitter sweet news for me.

Thank you for posting this though. I appreciate it.

[Cha]

2. There's going to be

all kinds of repercussions because of what bush does to satisfy his little army of beelzebubs.

[DanCa]

3. I keep expecting his base to have a "save the embryos" telethon.

Featuring the snow flake children dressed in white and singing hymns. Hmm maybe they can get Reba Mcintyre to lead the snow flake chior.

[Cha]

5. No doubt!

Delusion is their specialty.

[Cerridwen]

4. The "humanitarian" way to purge the intellectual class?

Oh, joy. We don't kill 'em, we cut their funding and export 'em.

:sarcasm:

[bdamomma]

6. other countries who do believe in science and research

will leave the US in the dust in technology and science, we are in the dark ages.

[ladjf]

7. The US faces the drain of everything that is of value.

We are collapsing.

[man4allcats]

8. This is a predictable outcome

of Bushco's goddamn foolishness. If this country doesn't get its bearings back soon, it won't be just the scientists who are leaving. Anyone with a brain and a belief in democracy will be packing up and heading out. That of course will suit the fundies and neocons just fine until they realize they're too stupid and unrealistic to make it on their own.