Austria creates safe port for scientists from the USA!

Austria creates safe port for scientists from the USA!

In the United States, scientists are increasingly under pressure. The Trump government has carried out targeted budget cuts in the science and university system, which are a significant threat to research. Science Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner from Austria emphasized in an Instagram video that she finds these attacks on freedom of science and democracy very questionable. These developments have meant that Austria is now developing plans to offer threatened scientists and students a safe port, while the university conference (Uniko) would like to present results from working groups that deal with this topic. vienna.at want to offer the affected options in order to find a new professional perspective in this country.

The planned methods to help scientists include shifting of funds within existing performance agreements and the early tender for professorships. The "Euraxess Austria" platform is to be further developed as a central portal for offers, and the possibility of the so -called "Opportunity Hirings", employment without tender, is also checked. A potential step that is considered particularly attractive is the opening of branches of US universities in Austria.

The Exodus of the scientists

The effects of the political changes in the United States should not be underestimated. Donald Trump has drawn a clear line against science, which is reflected in the statement of 2020 that "science knows nothing". This has not only promoted a culture of hostility towards research, but also led to a significant emigration of scientists. According to the information from Tagesschau , thousands were dismissed in the medical and health sector, including 1,300 at the CDC, over 1,000 at the FDA and more than 1,200 at the NIH. This has led to an alarming decline in resources and specialists in important research areas.

Patrick Cramer, President of the Max Planck Society, has also spoken out and warns that the government is trying to control science and to return unpleasant fields of research. The negative impact on vital disciplines such as Alzheimer's, diabetes or cancer research is assessed as catastrophic by many experts. Michael Oppenheimer, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, emphasizes that the failure of recognizing important problems in good time, human life is jeopardized.

hostility and uncertain working conditions

A study by the DZHW shows that almost half of the scientists are exposed to hostility, which also makes the situation more difficult. These attacks not only affect freedom of science, but also create an uncertain working environment for researchers. Many scientists therefore weigh to emigrate to other countries, such as Germany, to find a more stable framework for their research. SPIEGEL ONLINE emphasizes that the global networking of research and the research Openness to criticism are essential for the further development of science.

Overall, it can be seen that the scientific community in the United States is in a critical situation. While Austria and Europe actively take measures to offer these scientists a new home, researchers in the United States see fewer and fewer perspectives for their work. The situation remains tense and may require global answers to maintain and protect the integral importance of science for society.