NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
A poll from the journal Nature found that 75% of researchers in the U.S. are considering leaving the country. That includes a man who’s been dubbed the "Mozart of Math." Stephanie Sy examines what’s behind a potential scientific brain drain.
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WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- What is meant by the term "brain-drain"?
- Who is Terence Tao and what is his background?
- Where (from what institutions) are scientists considering leaving the U.S.?
- Why is the Trump administration cutting research grants?
- How are other nations taking advantage of the situation in the U.S.?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- What are some of the ramifications (effects) to scientists' themselves and, overall, to American society, if scientists leave the U.S.?
- What are some ways the U.S. government can support scientists from leaving the U.S.?
Media literacy: For decades, the United States has been the premiere choice of scientists seeking to do cutting-edge, life-saving science. How could you find out more about why the U.S. has been such the number one choice for scientists looking to do groundbreaking research?
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
Data science activity: Take a look at the graph showing where scientists in the U.S. are considering emigrating to? Are you surprised at the percentage and the places? Biochemist Stephen Jones, who went to Lithuania, mentioned that Americans' anti-science stance was one of the reasons he left during the COVID pandemic. Why do you think some Americans are anti-science?
Credit: PBS News Hour screenshot
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