[moderator's note: A little far afield, I know, but at least a
little bit on topic. - JAH]

US security bad for science?
AAAS meeting panelists say increased measures since September 11 have had
negative impact
By Eugene Russo

WASHINGTON, DC-A growing body of evidence suggests that policies resulting
from post-September 11 security measures are having a negative impact on
scientific research in the United States, according to speakers at an
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meeting last
Friday (April 23).

"To win the war on terror, we may lose our scientific preeminence," warned
David Heyman, director of the Homeland Security Program's Center for
Strategic and International Studies.

Widely reported visa delays and restrictions have been among the concerns.
John J. McGowan, director of the Division of Extramural Activities at the
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, pointed to the
Council of Graduate Schools Survey, released in March, which reported that
graduate school applications from international students declined 32% in the
last year. Based on responses from 113 graduate schools, the survey reported
that all major countries of origin and all major fields saw declines.

Roughly 50% of the graduate schools reported declines in applications for
programs in agriculture or the biological sciences, according to the survey.
Almost 80% of graduate schools reported decreases in international
applications for graduate engineering programs, and 65% reported declines in
physical sciences.

Read the rest at The Scientist.com
http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20040426/01

Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek.
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