EP 888 Brain Gain to US Quickly Becoming a Brain Drain

America is a leader in scientific pursuits.  This fact that is underpinned by much evidence.  While the United States represents only 4 percent of the world’s population it accounts for over half of science Nobel Prizes awarded since 2000, hosts seven of the Times Higher Education Top 10 science universities, and has introduced to the world firms like Alphabet (Google), Meta and Pfizer that have parlayed federally funded discoveries into billion-dollar enterprises.  Yet, many of the scientific achievements and advances have come at the hands of scientists who have flocked to the United States, because of its world class universities and government support of cutting edge scientific and technological research.  All of that is now in jeopardy as the Trump Administration is at war with leading universities, threatening to deny the funding that makes breakthroughs possible, while also sending chilling messages to those students who come from other places that they may be denied entry into the country.  Other countries are taking notice and offering these same students. attractive packages to do their work in Europe, Asia or Australia, for example.  To discuss this serious issue is Marc Zimmer, a professor of chemistry at Connecticut College.

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