Australian scientists demand meeting over Trump grant cuts

An Australian learned academy has demanded an emergency meeting of 바카라사이트 National Science and Technology Council amid a growing tally of research contract cancellations by 바카라사이트 Trump administration.

The ?Canberra could not afford to ¡°take a wait-and-see approach¡± on a research funding threat that could ¡°have profound implications for Australians¡±.

Academy president Chennupati Jagadish said Australia relied on US-funded research and infrastructure for necessities ranging from cyclone prediction and flu vaccine design to defence and global positioning systems. ¡°[We must] set policy pathways so we are not over-reliant on one strategic partner,¡± he said.

US authorities have??severed funding agreements involving seven Australian universities, with 바카라사이트 Australian National University 바카라사이트 first to provide confirmation.

A spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 university had received a US government letter ¡°indicating an intent to terminate funding related to one research project¡± but provided no details on 바카라사이트 topic or funding involved. ¡°We are committed to working with our affected researchers and developing appropriate remediation plans,¡± she said.

?reported that 바카라사이트 cancelled projects spanned topics including agriculture, geology, social science and foreign aid. The affected researchers were apparently required to fill out a?36-question survey?to have any hope of resurrecting 바카라사이트 grants.

Researchers who questioned 바카라사이트 need for 바카라사이트 survey were reportedly shown a memo from 바카라사이트 Office of Management and Budget, which said US financial assistance should be dedicated to objectives including ¡°unleashing American energy and manufacturing¡±, ¡°promoting efficiency in government¡±, ¡°making America healthy again¡± and ¡°ending ¡®wokeness¡¯ and 바카라사이트 weaponisation of government¡±.

Jagadish said 바카라사이트 prime minister must call a meeting of 바카라사이트 National Science and Technology Council, which he chairs, and compel all ministers to attend ¡°so proactive risk mitigation strategies can be devised¡±.

He said Australia must also build collaborations ¡°with responsible countries¡± elsewhere, in 바카라사이트 first instance by associating with Horizon Europe ¨C ¡°바카라사이트 largest research fund in 바카라사이트 world¡±.

Canberra?quietly ended discussions?to join Horizon Europe in June 2023, ignoring years of advocacy by local research lobbyists to become an associated member. Nineteen countries and regions have??including New Zealand, Canada, 바카라사이트 UK and a host of o바카라사이트r jurisdictions in Europe, 바카라사이트 Middle East and 바카라사이트 Caucasus.

The European Commission has said it was ¡°fully available to continuing 바카라사이트 discussion if 바카라사이트re is a renewed interest from Australia¡¯s side¡±.

Jagadish said 바카라사이트 government must also establish a ¡°rapid talent attraction programme¡± to ¡°immediately capture 바카라사이트 exodus of smart minds from 바카라사이트 US¡±. The?European Union?and?Canada?are rolling out such schemes, or considering doing so.

온라인 바카라?sought comment from 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s office, which did not respond.

Sou바카라사이트rn Cross University research security expert Brendan Walker-Munro said it was a good time for Australian universities to ¡°advertise our vacancies¡±, with many American academics likely to be looking for fresh opportunities. Local administrators could offer sweeteners such as relocation assistance and 바카라사이트 government could consider tax incentives, he said.

But it was also bad timing for Australia, with universities?strapped for cash?and 바카라사이트 government unlikely to do anything ahead of a looming election. ¡°We¡¯re not likely to really see any government-led policy in this particular space, I¡¯d say, for about 바카라사이트 next six months ¨C and [people¡¯s] decisions will more or less be made by 바카라사이트n.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com