Targeting DEI in science sparks FEAR
The National Science Foundation's research grants have been unfairly targeted by Senate Republicans as "woke DEI" research, sparking confusion and fear among researchers. The list of 3,483 flagged projects totals over $2 billion and includes research aimed at helping cancer patients recover from radiation therapy faster, raising questions about the impact of politics on scientific funding. The NSF has a long history of promoting diversity in research, dating back to the 1990s when it established goals for increasing women and underrepresented groups in science.
- The politicization of DEI initiatives in research may have far-reaching consequences, potentially undermining decades-old bipartisan policies that strengthened US science.
- How will the ongoing targeting of DEI grants affect the long-term sustainability of these programs and the overall health of the scientific community?