I had a long, exhausting conversation with my father-in-law last week where my son and I both had to explain to him the basic fundamentals of what science actually is, how the scientific method works, and why and how the NSF awards grants.
We also kept having to explain that just because there’s some junk science put out by bad actors to line up with an agenda, that doesn’t mean all science is junk. We also, also, kept having to explain that there isn’t some “the government” conspiracy manipulating all science behind the scenes to push out things that will kill us (that’s good old capitalism, baby!)
AND the fact that science rarely gives you a hard, definite answer one way or the other because it’s not meant to. And that continuously changing scientific consensus is not only a good thing, but that’s how it’s supposed to work.
AND! why the Joe Rogan thought process of “every conclusion is equally as valid regardless of evidence or actual knowledge” is not only invalid but incredibly dangerous, and further explaining the idea of the hierarchy of evidence, and that individual people are not sources, even if they’re a PhD at Harvard or Stanford.
All that to say he stills sees this as a great thing. Because Fox News and Newsmax.
That sounds like a terrible experience but thank you for trying.
As a nation we already have to import degrees. Now, I anticipate bleeding the homegrown degrees out to other countries.
I’m a little shocked the money makers and corporate haven’t pushed Trump out to pasture via the 25th amendment to save the dollar and future innovation/$$$$.
I think for a few years now, the calculation the money makers have been running is that the long-term prospects of this system are fucked anyway and it’s time to extract everything they can right now.
I think we are learning in real time just how little there is in the way of practical curbs on the power of the executive.
Most of it was psychological, not unlike lines painted on a road acting like a divider. The only barrier, most places, is a mental one. Even when a road is empty, most people obey out of a sense of safety and respect for 3 ton bullets.
Windows on houses, also a psychological barrier to entry. They’re glass, anyone can break them with little effort. Take away the mental restraint and you have every zombie movie ever made.
Belief in the constitution, the democratic republic of America, and the rule of law does not exist with MAGA. As such, there are no mental guardrails to hold anything dictatorial or destructive back.
Political zombies. That’s a perfect analogy. Thank you.
This is a huge deal.
I wonder how easy it will be in practice for scientists to emigrate, I know macron announced a program
He said that, and announced some funding, but here in France we’ve also been cutting our budgets for a long time. University funding was decreased by 1.5 billion euros in just the latest budget. And research and teaching aren’t the only area losing funding.
We are not yet at the same stage as the US, but we could get there.
A big part of the reason I went to grad school was to get that golden visa. It’s a lot easier with high degrees. It’s harder for me to travel now, but I don’t regret it. The job seeking though, is pretty rough as is atm. I spoke to a PI about a postdoc and she said she got 60 or so applicants.
Academia was a tough way to make a living even before all of this. It’s a sad state of affairs. Just completely backwards in priorities and ideology. Its always been that way I suppose but in this moment it feels much more acute.
I see in the article that a staff member resigned. I feel like that furthers the bad guys’ plan, they will be replaced with a lackey.
On the other hand, I have no idea what this staff member could have done to fight.
Or what they’d have to endure for what little good they could do.
