General Discussion

Demovictory9

(35,329 posts) Thu Apr 10, 2025, 04:47 PM Apr 10

We are witnessing the destruction of science in America

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/09/science-destruction-america

We are witnessing the destruction of science in America

Paul Darren Bieniasz

If we stay on this administration’s course, future life-saving medicines may never be invented

Wed 9 Apr 2025 08.00 EDT

Like many scientists, I came to the US as a young adult, driven by idealism and ambition. I arrived with all my belongings contained in two suitcases, and just enough cash to cover the first month’s rent on a small apartment. But I also had something of greater value: an offer to work and train in one of America’s top biomedical research laboratories, a chance to participate in the revolution that is modern biological science.

In the years that followed, I became an American scientist and raised an American family. Now, I lead a laboratory in one of the US’s great universities. I am a member of America’s National Academy of Sciences. From a scientist’s perspective, I have lived the American dream.

____

The vast majority of fundamental scientific research in the US is funded by American taxpayers, through bodies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation, that make grants to universities and research institutes. These grants support scientific infrastructure, pay scientists’ salaries and fund specific research projects. While charities and individual donors also make contributions, these are dwarfed by federal support.

Public funding for science is essential because most endeavors in science cannot be directly commercialized, and fundamental science is rarely done by the for-profit sector. Moreover, science, by definition, requires trial-and-error experimentation at the edge of knowledge – its outcomes are unpredictable. Therefore, science is, in a sense, inherently inefficient.

-------

The extraordinary success that has been American science makes it especially distressing to now witness its destruction. The public investment that has made American science exceptional also makes it dependent on political support.

17 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

We are witnessing the destruction of science in America (Original Post) Demovictory9 Apr 10 OP

Destruction of science, education, healthcare, economy, legal system, democracy, federal workforce, etc etc. Irish_Dem Apr 10 #1

this G_j Apr 10 #2

"I Am Your Retribution!" sop Apr 10 #4

Yes, Americans cheering Trump's destruction of their country. Irish_Dem Apr 10 #6

I have been calling this the Republican Cultural Revolution since the mid '80's when Tumbulu Apr 10 #3

Fascism Iamscrewed Apr 10 #10

Deja vu markie Apr 10 #14

So true, thanks for sharing this Tumbulu Apr 10 #15

Rush was paid by putin Hornedfrog2000 Apr 10 #11

I remember markodochartaigh Apr 10 #13

Wow, thank you for sharing that. Tumbulu Apr 10 #16

Yes, what a shame. All these great minds put on a shelf for four years bluestarone Apr 10 #5

future life-saving medicines WILL be invented progressoid Apr 10 #7

The GOP trifecta is destroying the Country. bronxiteforever Apr 10 #8

All the things that made America great are being ideologically dismantled by Republicans to "make America great." Beartracks Apr 10 #9

Putin wins. Kid Berwyn Apr 10 #12

Fortunately, science still exists in many parts of the world. Crunchy Frog Apr 10 #17

Irish_Dem

(68,122 posts)

1. Destruction of science, education, healthcare, economy, legal system, democracy, federal workforce, etc etc.

Reply to Demovictory9 (Original post)

Thu Apr 10, 2025, 04:51 PM

Apr 10

Trump is destroying every thing that made the US great.

G_j

(40,489 posts)

2. this

Reply to Irish_Dem (Reply #1)

Thu Apr 10, 2025, 04:53 PM

Apr 10

sop

(13,705 posts)

4. "I Am Your Retribution!"

Reply to Irish_Dem (Reply #1)

Thu Apr 10, 2025, 05:24 PM

Apr 10

And Trump's followers cheer him on when he vows to destroy everything that made this country great.

Irish_Dem

(68,122 posts)

6. Yes, Americans cheering Trump's destruction of their country.

Reply to sop (Reply #4)

Thu Apr 10, 2025, 05:40 PM

Apr 10

Greatest moral collapse in US history.

Tumbulu

(6,528 posts)

3. I have been calling this the Republican Cultural Revolution since the mid '80's when

Reply to Demovictory9 (Original post)

Thu Apr 10, 2025, 05:15 PM

Apr 10

all the crying about scientific research being so wasteful by Rush Limbaugh began.

The vitriol has only increased and now it is considered a badge of honor to put science and scientists down among that crowd.

I keep trying to find out how China recovered from what they went through. And where will all the scientists go- the EU and Japan/Korea/India?

And they will go.

I would if I were young enough, and I might anyway.

Iamscrewed

(69 posts)

10. Fascism

Reply to Tumbulu (Reply #3)

Thu Apr 10, 2025, 07:08 PM

Apr 10

First they came for _______ and I wasn't one so I did nothing, then?

markie

(23,304 posts)

14. Deja vu

Reply to Iamscrewed (Reply #10)

Thu Apr 10, 2025, 07:48 PM

Apr 10

"....Beginning in 1933, hundreds of physicists and other academics fled the country (Nazi Germany), transforming their lives and the global scientific landscape.....
The Nazi regime pushed out leading researchers such as Albert Einstein, Hans Krebs, and even national hero Fritz Haber, who had helped develop chemical weapons during World War I. The extraordinary intellectual exodus would have tremendous implications..."

Tumbulu

(6,528 posts)

15. So true, thanks for sharing this

Reply to markie (Reply #14)

Thu Apr 10, 2025, 11:14 PM

Apr 10

I grew up inspired and mentored by some of those very scientists.

Hornedfrog2000

(108 posts)

11. Rush was paid by putin

Reply to Tumbulu (Reply #3)

Thu Apr 10, 2025, 07:10 PM

Apr 10

Just like so many today are.

markodochartaigh

(2,633 posts)

13. I remember

Reply to Tumbulu (Reply #3)

Thu Apr 10, 2025, 07:33 PM

Apr 10

in the late 80's the superconducting supercollider was going to be built just south of Dallas. It would have provided thousands of really good jobs, as well as the cutting edge scientific knowledge that it would produce. Previously it would have been a no-brainer for Texas politicians, or politicians anywhere, to support such an amazing project in their own backyard. There are many reasons why it failed but the most shocking reason to me was that the Republican politicians, locally and state wide, refused to support it.