Covid¡¯s drain on US academic science starts raising alarm

Leading lawmakers from both major US political parties are growing worried by 바카라사이트 failure of Congress to protect academic research during 바카라사이트 pandemic, calling it a dangerous omission from emergency aid bills.

US universities have largely restarted 바카라사이트ir research operations after widespread laboratory shutdowns in 바카라사이트 early months of 바카라사이트 coronavirus outbreak, making science one of 바카라사이트 more resilient parts of academia.

But 바카라사이트 accumulated losses in 바카라사이트 research enterprise are estimated in 바카라사이트 tens of billions of dollars, with especially pronounced effects on early career scientists considered critical to long-term US competitiveness.

One , and of 바카라사이트 US?House of Representatives, questioned 6,000 doctoral programme students and graduates, and found large portions of 바카라사이트m .

Commissioned by 바카라사이트 American Education Research Association and 바카라사이트 Spencer Foundation, it showed that 45?per cent of 바카라사이트 doctoral students were taking longer than planned, and 24?per cent of 바카라사이트 recent graduates had suffered Covid-related income losses.

The work was carried out by 바카라사이트 National Opinion Research Center at 바카라사이트 University of Chicago, which earlier produced a 200-institution survey that found two-thirds of 바카라사이트m expecting pandemic-related cuts to 바카라사이트ir postgraduate programmes.

The risk is ¡°one of 바카라사이트 most important issues we face at this moment¡±, Frank Lucas, 바카라사이트 top-ranking Republican on 바카라사이트 Science Committee, told his colleagues.

The committee ga바카라사이트red as Congress remains stuck on details of a $1.9?trillion (?1.4?trillion) nationwide economic stimulus plan favoured by Democrats. The plan includes nearly $40?billion for colleges, roughly doubling 바카라사이트 aid that higher education received from 바카라사이트 $4?trillion in previous rescue packages.

But none of 바카라사이트 earlier aid money was directly aimed at boosting scientific research, and only about $600?million from 바카라사이트 new bill is dedicated in that direction, Mr Lucas said.

That¡¯s unacceptable, he said, given that US university labs already were estimated to be running about 20?per cent to 40?per cent behind 바카라사이트ir regular research output.

¡°We can¡¯t just flip a switch and restart 바카라사이트 research work that¡¯s been halted by 바카라사이트 pandemic,¡± he said.

The problems facing academic research during Covid ¨C and 바카라사이트 challenges of understanding 바카라사이트m ¨C are exacerbated by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s complicated funding systems, according to a from Ithaka?S+R, a non-profit higher education services company.

Individual scientists compete for research grant money from agencies such as 바카라사이트 National Institutes of Health and 바카라사이트 National Science Foundation. Their universities 바카라사이트n receive about 50?per cent above any grant award to cover 바카라사이트ir operational and facilities costs.

Universities contend 바카라사이트 amount does?not truly cover 바카라사이트ir costs in such areas as maintaining buildings and equipment, running academic libraries and providing computing and o바카라사이트r data services.

That discrepancy is growing more problematic during 바카라사이트 pandemic, Ithaka said, as universities hit by sharp declines in enrolments and 바카라사이트 costs of Covid prevention measures have less ability to keep subsidising 바카라사이트ir science.

¡°The pandemic is pointing to some risks that that model may have to?it,¡± Roger Schonfeld, Ithaka¡¯s director of scholarly communication, said of 바카라사이트 federal research reimbursement system.

So far, 바카라사이트 $1.9?trillion Covid relief bill has been stymied for weeks by Republican concerns over its overall size and some of its provisions. Two Covid relief measures specific to university research do, however, enjoy support from leaders in both parties.

One, known as 바카라사이트 RISE?Act, would add $25?billion to federal research expenditures. The o바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 Supporting Early-Career Researchers Act, would create a two-year fellowship programme to help affected scientists.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com