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.
@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.
— michele ly (@themichele) November 9, 2016
ps my heart is *breaking* for all the young scientists I helped to teach and raise.
@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.
