Abdelrahman
At this week’s annual meeting in Boston of one of the nation’s oldest scientific societies, attendees explored pressing global challenges, including the dangers of unchecked artificial intelligence, persistent hazardous chemicals, and even the eventual fate of our universe.
However, for many scientists, the most immediate concerns were those affecting their own community, particularly as the Trump administration imposes cuts to the federal scientific workforce and significantly reduces funding for university research.
“Feelings of anxiety, concern, and, to some degree, sorrow” were how Sudip Parikh, head of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, characterized the atmosphere at the conference on Saturday. Attendees were alerted to news of job cuts within government agencies, prompting a wave of unease among participants.
As Roger Wakimoto, vice chancellor for research at UCLA, expressed, “It feels as if we are under attack from multiple directions.”
Just weeks into President Trump’s second term, higher education institutions are facing significant challenges due to the administration’s crackdown on diversity programs, threats to university endowments, and the possible deportation of undocumented students, leaving many universities in turmoil.
