In Case You Missed It

Statement of UC President James Milliken from the LA Times: Over the course of just three days recently, five scientists affiliated with the University of California won Nobel prizes... But the symbiotic relationship between the federal government and our universities — one that has delivered so much for America, its people and its economy — is now at risk. Currently in Washington, there are plans to cut research funding by as much as 50%, threatening to cede America’s position as a leader in research to other nations, including some of our most determined competitors.

America’s global leadership in science didn’t happen by accident. It took farsighted bipartisan policies and years of investment. In 1945, Vannevar Bush, an American scientist who oversaw key research programs that contributed to Allied victory in World War II, delivered to President Truman an ambitious plan to build on the technological advances that had helped win the war and position the United States for global leadership in the modern era...

Since 1945, scientists at American universities have won more than half of all Nobel prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine and economics. U.S. scientists have also published more research, been cited more often by other scientists and earned more patents than scientists from any other country.

...We’re already seeing the cracks in this system. The uncertainty around federal research funding over the last eight months has caused top researchers to leave prestigious positions at American institutions for opportunities in China, Canada and Europe. This “brain drain” will only continue if America doesn’t recommit to scientific research. Also, international student enrollment is down 20% this year, which means that some of the world’s most talented students are choosing to go elsewhere. And a new, expensive tax for every new post-doc or young investigator on an H1-B visa — a major source of expertise from abroad to fill unmet needs — will further restrict the talent flow.

Since 1945, America has successfully dominated scientific innovation thanks to visionary leaders, wise policy and bipartisan support for doing what is best for our country... Only by continuing these efforts will we ensure that the U.S. remains the leader in global discovery and progress. Without that, everything achieved for America through generations of investment and commitment is at risk.

Full statement at https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2025-10-28/nobel-prizes-university-of-california-research-funding.