this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2025
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2024-11-11

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Summary

Trump’s proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) threaten U.S. biomedical research, forcing many scientists to consider leaving the country.

A 7 February policy would slash NIH funding by two-thirds, though a federal judge has temporarily blocked it.

Researchers relying on these grants fear for their jobs, with some already exploring options abroad.

The cuts particularly impact neuroscience, diabetes, and bird flu research, while also dismantling DEI initiatives.

Many scientists warn of long-term consequences for innovation and global health collaboration.

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[–] wirebeads@lemmy.ca 112 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

Great! Leave the US and come prosper in Canada.

[–] Gloria@sh.itjust.works 96 points 4 weeks ago (6 children)

Do not listen to him! Europe! Come to Europe! Great Benefits, long holidays and you can travel between multiple countries and temperature-zones. When staying in canada, you can only travel back to the US or take a plane to cross either one of the two biggest oceans to get anywhere. In Europe you can spend a decade without running out of places to go. Also: We love your brain. Please come to Europe!

[–] rockerface@lemm.ee 44 points 4 weeks ago

Just make Canada part of EU, then you don't have to choose!

[–] UraniumBlazer@lemm.ee 17 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Don't listen to him!!! We'll pay you more 😉

[–] TheBrideWoreCrimson@sopuli.xyz 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

You also take more, rents in particular.

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[–] ChillPenguin@lemmy.world 10 points 4 weeks ago (5 children)

Does Europe need IT workers? Software engineers?

[–] Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

YES! Especially germany! Senior developers are highly sought after. But you are expected to speak C1 german...

Greetings from a german Software dev

[–] ChillPenguin@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

Sounds like I need to brush up on my German then. Appreciate the answer.

Greetings from a shithole country. Haha

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[–] Damage@feddit.it 8 points 4 weeks ago

Plus they've got stupid plugs

[–] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 5 points 3 weeks ago (5 children)

My partner wants to go to Europe but I don't know what country or language.

[–] Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Time to do some research :)

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[–] borokov@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Come to France, we have cheeze, and wine, and bread 🥖🍾🥐🧀

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[–] danc4498@lemmy.world 7 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Problem is with the next generation of scientists. They can’t leave the country before they’ve made it.

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Ive been telling my university phd friends to not make any plans to go to the US. They said i was overreacting but changed plans anyways. Glad they didnt go.

[–] thevoidzero@lemmy.world 45 points 4 weeks ago (6 children)

So anyone has a good suggestion for countries that accept people with PhDs are are nice to different race of people (I have a mixed family). Lots of countries are starting to lean right so I'm a bit scared moving somewhere where I don't understand the native language since I saw how immigrants in US (and even people in their home country) like trump because they don't get the whole picture and only know news through multiple transfers and biases.

Even if the current administration goes back to what it was I feel like the attack on science and overall direction of the people's thoughts aren't going to change overnight and it might be hard living as a scientist.

[–] vatlark@lemmy.world 26 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (1 children)

Academia seems to have largely settled on English. Most graduate programs I have heard of are taught in English even if it's not an official language of the host country.

CERN was designed to stop the brain drain to the US after WWII. Hopefully Europe (the world) realizes the opportunity in front of them.

[–] thevoidzero@lemmy.world 12 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

Yeah, I have been hoping some countries would make lax immigration rules to capitalize on this situation. I know a lot of academics thinking of leaving, it's just a bit hard with a family compared to moving alone.

[–] vatlark@lemmy.world 6 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (1 children)

If your role allows remote work this may be an option: https://consnewyork.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-straniero/visti/visas-to-enter-italy/digital-nomad-remote-worker-visa/

Once living in a place it's a lot easier to find work, but that may be less true for academics who commonly move for work anyways.

[–] thevoidzero@lemmy.world 5 points 4 weeks ago

Thank you. This seems useful. Unfortunately I'm just finishing up my PhD, so I probably won't qualify. Might have to search postdoc positions for now

[–] FinnFooted@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

Countries already have lax immigration laws for scientists. I immigrated to Europe and where I am scientists are fast tracked to the nice residency and aren't made to learn the local language.

[–] auraithx@lemmy.dbzer0.com 17 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (1 children)

Scotland/Ireland doesn’t seem to be shifting right! Not like elsewhere anyway.

We have a weird dynamic in Glasgow where even our football hooligans are pro-Palestine and even showed up anti-blm marches (and chased them away).

Several unis here, lots of Serbians, Italians, Spaniards in the faculty and is more diverse than many of the English towns that rioted.

No riots here, we were doing this instead.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/13/glasgow-residents-surround-and-block-immigration-van-from-leaving-street

Pay will probably be shite comparatively and the weather is miserable but can’t fault it otherwise

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[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 8 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Swiss. Though it needs a while until you can get a pass.

[–] SigmarStern@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

A B permit was easy to get. You need a job and that's pretty much it. After 5 years you can apply for a C permit. You can try to become a citizen after ten years but that's a different beast. I have nine years and three months to go. I played a game of DND with a Swiss, a Russian and an Argentinian(?) here. My kid goes to school with someone whose parents are brazilian and dutch who met in Australia. So, it's definitely possible.

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[–] originaltnavn@lemm.ee 6 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

Norway is good if you get a job before moving. The weather, people, food and welcome is a bit cold, but life is good.

[–] thevoidzero@lemmy.world 5 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah, I've been thinking Norway and Netherlands/Finland as good option if we have to do Europe. I don't think the immigration policy is that open in those countries though. Do you have any knowledge about that?

[–] originaltnavn@lemm.ee 4 points 4 weeks ago

I don't know the details, but if you get hired for a position here while living abroad, you can get a work visa as skilled labour. That can later be converted to permanent residence after living here for some number of years and passing some language and/or culture test (I think). I know several people who have moved here either through work or university, including from the US. Best of luck no matter where you end up.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] originaltnavn@lemm.ee 3 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

At least the lunch, warm cantine food at work is unfortunately not as common here as in many other places.

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[–] adespoton@lemmy.ca 3 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] thevoidzero@lemmy.world 8 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm worried about Canada as well because of the proximity. And there is a bit of brown hate going on there as well. It would have been nice options otherwise for ease of move/visa.

[–] adespoton@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 weeks ago

Well, you could try Ireland and have the ability to move elsewhere in the EU (such as Spain or Portugal) if things don’t work out there…. Start off with a different culture but the same language, and tackle language issues after the fact?

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[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 43 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Scientists usually are the smart people. And they are potentially the more mobile employees. Of course they will notice when the ship is sinking...

[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 9 points 3 weeks ago

they usually ditch long before that happens, remember when the usa was going through red scare, and started targeting chinese people, one of them fled to the CCP and was instrumental in chinas sudden transition to hydrogen bombs from fissionable bombs.

[–] breen@lemmy.ca 39 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm pretty happy to see that Americans themselves are starting to see through the lie of "American Exceptionalism" that everyone else knew was propaganda decades ago.

[–] ChillPenguin@lemmy.world 21 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

Idk man. Have you been to rural America? They huff that shit still.

[–] Jumpingspiderman@lemmy.world 5 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

The smell is similar to pigs shit too.

[–] Bubbaonthebeach@lemmy.ca 3 points 4 weeks ago

Well they aren't likely to be the scientists, doctors, and other highly skilled intellectuals that other countries would gladly welcome as Ex-Americans.

[–] Chee_Koala@lemmy.world 34 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (1 children)

Wow, that very randomly and suddenly reminds me that in Leiden, NL, they have a Bio-Science Park that is building mega lab after mega lab(Covid really shifted this bio park into sixth gear), with some plots still left to fill, right next to 2 highways! Schiphol is just a train stop away! If the price of living and housing won't deter you, nothing will!

Bonus fact: I used to jam riiiiiight there in the top right appartement of the block that's starts lowest in the picture with my band Karateklit. Not anymore, we have a new place :)

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[–] Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone 23 points 3 weeks ago

Let it happen! We in europe welcome them with open arms!

[–] Grandwolf319@sh.itjust.works 22 points 4 weeks ago

Hey remember the brain drain US caused Canada for the past few decades? Would be nice to get some back

[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 10 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

consider how bad the job market it is for some stems before pandemic, its only getting worst anyways. some state university schools near my are cutting back alot, increasing tuition prices, reducing classes, and instructors some schools are considering combining with other nearby schools. theres also additional problems at the MS and PHD levels as well. Universities are holding onto tenured professors like they cant let them go, but not providing a path for graduates, or or adjuncts.

i checked my universities subreddit a few months back it was really bad. covid mainly made everyone take classes online, which caused students inability to learn anything, because you cant really focus on a subject when its just a powerpoint. I had a prof way before covid, and she only did biochemistry on powerpoint, and it was pretty much useless info since theres was very little learned very little. and her test questions are not even remotely close to what we learned on her lectures.

[–] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 8 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

The title doesn't need the "of scientists" part.

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 8 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

Canada needs to recognise this opportunity and invest in science and healthcare. Relatedly, Canada needs to vote out the Conservatives provincially and federally.

[–] VitoRobles@lemmy.today 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I have friends who are in scientific research and 100% of them from multiple institutions are affected by Trump. Every single one.

One is out of a job in early Jan. The others over the next 3 months. It's really bad.

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[–] b161@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 3 weeks ago

Bring on the brain drain. Death to America.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

You cannot just lose just one generation of scientists.

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