US researchers look to relocate as Trump slashes funding

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00:00Vera Kuklina is trying to remain positive.

00:03But the geographer has just received an email that many researchers in the US have been dreading.

00:08Her grant has been cut.

00:10That was shocking, it was concerning about the future,

00:14because my research is almost 100% depends on the National Science Foundation.

00:24In a few weeks, she was meant to head to the Arctic to study indigenous populations

00:29and how they're adapting to global warming,

00:31a topic of research that President Donald Trump is now refusing to fund.

00:36Since his return to the White House,

00:38Trump has sought to reshape higher education in the US,

00:41which he accuses of promoting an ideology that is too progressive.

00:45Among the topics in the firing line, climate studies, research on AIDS and the history of segregation.

00:52As a result, thousands of American researchers have lost their grants or have been laid off.

00:59Protesters have been taking to the streets to defend academic freedom.

01:03Some professors have gone even further, including this philosopher,

01:07who is considering leaving the US.

01:10In a democracy, universities are there to teach the facts.

01:14They're not there to breed patriotism.

01:17It's one reason that I am probably leaving the United States.

01:22Trump is also seeking to cut NASA's budget by around 24%.

01:27The proposed budget would slash science and climate programmes

01:30and prioritise Mars-focused initiatives.

01:33Initiatives that have been pushed by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk.

01:3775% of US scientists who responded to a recent poll said they are considering leaving the US

01:45as a result of the disruption sparked by Trump.

01:47They say they are strategicissen,

01:59especially this country one.

02:05It's a team where one Dana previously moved.

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