Scientists fear 'brain drain' during Trump presidency

Adding to the anxiety that the US Presidential election results have caused, a large number of scientists in the country, according to a survey, now fear that a Donald Trump presidency might spark a "brain drain" as foreign-born researchers educated in American universities will be more likely to leave the country.

Thousands of people all across the US marched down the streets and inter-states opposing Republican Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election, the media reports said.

According to the survey of more than 1,600 professionals, from industry and academia, 46.78 per cent believe that during the reign of Trump scientists born in other countries but educated in the US will be more likely to make an exit.

On other hand, 49.81 per cent opined that overseas researchers will still seek academic positions or jobs in the US biotech industry, while 30.21 per cent said they were uncertain, and 19.97 per cent, disagreed.

"The biotechnology industry faces the possibility of a brain drain, and this is most alarming," said Mary Ann Liebert, founder and CEO of the the journal Genetic Engineering And Biotechnology News (GEN).

Further, 57.11 per cent, believe that the president-elect will hurt research funding of Health (NIH) -- a public biomedical research facility. As much as 24.26 per cent said it would not make a difference, and 9.79 per cent said Trump's presidency would prove positive.

While 51.74 per cent, believe that science-technology-engineering-mathematics (STEM) education will not be a priority under a Trump administration, 29.25 per cent are uncertain.

However, 19.01 per cent believe that a Trump administration will focus attention on STEM education, as during the campaign to the White House, Trump had hinted at possible support for higher NIH budgets, even as he has called for cutting federal spending.

"We must make the commitment to invest in science, engineering, healthcare and other areas that will make the lives of Americans better, safer and more prosperous," Trump had said.

Whether Trump will make measures that benefit biopharma industry, remains uncertain, the researchers noted in the journal Genetic Engineering And Biotechnolgy News (GEN).

--IANS

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