How Scientists Reacted to the U.S. Election Results

Trump victory generates shock, disbelief and fear of funding cuts

A Donald J. Trump rally.

Tom Griscom *Getty Images*

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Nature rounds up reaction from researchers to Donald Trump's election as the next US president. Trump, a Republican, had trailed his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, in polls leading up to the 8 November election day, but pulled out a surprising victory.

Some foreign researchers working in the United States started thinking about leaving the country.

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@NatureNews this is terrifying for science, research, education, and the future of our planet. I guess it's time for me to go back to Europe

— María E. Escribano (@MariaEscEsc) November 9, 2016

@NatureNews As a Canadian working at a US university, a move back to Canada will be something I'll be looking into

— Murray Rudd (@DrMurrayRudd) November 9, 2016

Other researchers said they were scared that a Trump presidency might reduce funding for science.

@NatureNews I do breast cancer research for my PhD....Scared not only my future but for the future of research and next years @NIH budget��.

— Sarah Hengel (@science_SRH) November 9, 2016

@NatureNews good luck w funding.

ps my heart is *breaking* for all the young scientists I helped to teach and raise.

— michele ly (@themichele) November 9, 2016

@NatureNews Restrictions in funding opportunities, more scrutiny on research questions, no funding for climate change #Election2016

— Becky Carmichael (@bcarmi1) November 9, 2016

And some scientists had more existential worries.

@NatureNews i want to die right now so that's one fewer western blot for the world

— Kevin Ng (@KevinWNg) November 9, 2016

@NatureNews As a German scientist I'm scared shitless about how the presidential race will affect humanity. Way larger issues right now.

— Christina Scheel (@CHScheel) November 9, 2016

This article is reproduced with permission and was first published on November 9, 2016.

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