China now produces more scientific papers, 28% of total, than the U.S., Japan, Germany, and the UK, combined.
As recently as a few years ago, the leading position was held by the U.S., and had been for over 70 years.
How did the U.S., with just 5% of the world’s population, win science leadership, producing as much as 40% of the science papers? Why are we losing leadership? What are the consequences?
Where did the scientists come from? The U.S. does not have a large enough population to provide all the scientists we need, but we did have a strong immigration policy that made the U.S. a desirable place to live.
An attraction was our globally respected culture of scientific integrity, free of political interference. Senators did not threaten to arrest scientists because of their research results.
Why are we losing our leadership? Trump has attacked our leadership on all fronts. NSF has seen 60% cuts, to 1973 levels. Foreign scientists, including Nobel Prize winners, are leaving for other, more welcoming countries. The U.S. is no longer attractive to foreign scientists. The administration is imposing political oversight on science, corrupting the culture of integrity required for science to work.
What are the consequences of losing our leadership? Our advanced weapons, from aircraft, to tanks, to rockets, all depend on science sponsored by the U..S Government, as does our leadership in AI, software, computers, and medicine. Science forms the foundation of our prosperity and economic leadership. Scientific work today leads to benefits in the future. Losing our leadership will result in a poorer future for our children and grandchildren.
Trump is destroying U.S. science leadership. In years to come, we will regret the destruction of U.S. leadership in science. We must tell our politicians to save U.S. science from Trump.
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