[moderator's note: A little far afield, I know, but at least
a little bit on topic. - JAH]
US security bad for science? AAAS meeting panelists say
increased measures since September 11 have had negative
impact By Eugene Russo
WASHINGTON, DC-A growing body of evidence suggests that
policies resulting from post-September 11 security measures
are having a negative impact on scientific research in the
United States, according to speakers at an American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meeting
last Friday (April 23).
"To win the war on terror, we may lose our scientific
preeminence," warned David Heyman, director of the
Homeland Security Program's Center for Strategic and
International Studies.
Widely reported visa delays and restrictions have been among
the concerns. John J. McGowan, director of the Division of
Extramural Activities at the National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Diseases, pointed to the Council of Graduate
Schools Survey, released in March, which reported that
graduate school applications from international students
declined 32% in the last year. Based on responses from 113
graduate schools, the survey reported that all major
countries of origin and all major fields saw declines.
Roughly 50% of the graduate schools reported declines in
applications for programs in agriculture or the biological
sciences, according to the survey. Almost 80% of graduate
schools reported decreases in international applications for
graduate engineering programs, and 65% reported declines in
physical sciences.
Read the rest at The Scientist.com
biomedcentral.com01Open ↗
Posted by Robert Karl Stonjek.