(Stockholm) By attacking science, Donald Trump risks losing first nation in the United States in scientific research, with repercussions worldwide, warn Nobel Prize officials from AFP.
Since he took office, the American president has saved millions of dollars in public funding, attacked the academic freedom of universities and overseas of massive dismissals of scientists in the federal bodies.
During the presentation of the Nobel Scientists to Stockholm from Monday, American researchers could still get out of the game: the United States has more from science winners than any other country, thanks to a long-standing investment in basic research and academic freedom.
But that could change.
“After the Second World War, the United States took over from Germany as a world scientific first nation. Today, by reducing research funding, this position is threatened, “said Hans Ellegren, the secretary general of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Sweden, who awards the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry and Economy.
Since January, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), organizations supervising medical research in the United States, have deleted 2100 research subsidies totaling approximately $ 9.5 billion, as well as 2.6 billion contracts, according to the independent Grant Watch database.
Among the projects concerned are studies concerning the effects of global warming on health, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. Vaccination is also in Donald Trump’s sights.
“Today there is a growing feeling of uncertainty about the will of the United States to maintain their leader position in the field of research,” observes Thomas Perlmann, the secretary general of the committee awarding the Nobel Prize for Medicine.
“It is not a coincidence that they have, by far, the greatest number of Nobel Prize winners,” he adds, qualifying this country as a “real engine” in global scientific research.
“If it begins to weaken, it will have very serious consequences worldwide.” “There are not many years of large budget cuts to cause irreversible damage,” warns Mr. Perlmann.
Booming China
Those of Donald Trump could lead to brains leak and cascade effects on research in other countries, note MM. Ellegren and Perlmann.
Researchers and scientists who have lost their jobs or funding may not resume their work even if the budgets were restored and young people could decide not to pursue a career in science, they advance.
“There is a risk that a whole generation of young researchers will be lost,” deplores Hans Ellegren.
While the policies of the current US government mainly affect research in the United States, international cooperation is already suffering from it.
“Any nationalist or chauvine regulation of university activities hinders the global exchange of ideas and data,” said the biologist. “Research is by nature global. Researchers have always exchanged their knowledge and experiences ”.
A fall in the United States would offer other nations the opportunity to make great progress.
“Research is an important basis for innovation and entrepreneurship. Other countries could more easily compete with them, ”explains Hans Ellegren.
“China is booming,” he said. “She invests incredible amounts”.
Thomas Perlmann considers that Donald Trump must protect the American heritage.
“You might think that Trump does not want to leave the way for China and other countries wishing to go to the lead,” he said.
If he could address the American president directly, Hans Ellegren would mean that he is in the interest of the United States to preserve the financing of scientific research.
“I would say: one of the reasons why your country was so successful is that researchers were able to explore new knowledge and benefit from substantial resources.”
“The United States has invested a lot in research during the post-war period, both private and federally. And that’s what contributed to the prosperity of your country. ”
