France is offering funding to 46 scientists through the “Choose France for Science” initiative, with the vast majority—41—relocating from the United States. The more than €30-million program, launched last April, aims to attract researchers seeking greater academic freedom.
Attracting Talent Amidst Uncertainty
The initiative is part of a broader European effort, including the EU’s “Choose Europe” initiative which is supported by nearly €900 million (US$1.1 billion) in research funding, to recruit research talent. Researchers from Columbia University, which had hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants cut and frozen last year, are among those relocating.
Award recipients include Zhongkai Tao, a mathematician formerly at the University of California, Berkeley, who will now work at the Institute of Advanced Scientific Studies (IHES) in Paris. Astrophysicist Kartik Sheth, previously associate chief scientist at NASA before being laid off, will take a three-year position at Aix-Marseille University.
US researchers have faced grant cuts, the dismantling of science-funding agencies, and increased federal control over universities. US foreign aid and awards to international collaborators have also been terminated. Sharon Milgram, who previously worked at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), noted that “enthusiasm and morale for doing science is low” in the United States.
While the influx of scientists is notable, Milgram cautioned that the number—a few dozen—is unlikely to significantly impact the more than 1.5 million faculty members at US academic institutions. She added that the multibillion-dollar budgets of funders like the NIH remain irreplaceable.
Almost half of the funded researchers will be based in and around Paris, with 12 heading to Aix-Marseille University, which launched its own ‘Safe Place for Science’ initiative. Alka Patel, a historian of art and architecture previously at the University of California, Irvine, is among those relocating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the “Choose France for Science” initiative?
It is a more than €30-million program launched by France last April to recruit 46 scientists, primarily from the United States, offering them funding and a more supportive research environment.
Why are scientists leaving the United States?
US researchers have experienced grant cuts, the dismantling of science-funding agencies, and increased federal control over universities, leading some to seek opportunities elsewhere.
How many of the recruited scientists are from the United States?
19 of the 46 award recipients are US nationals.
Will these shifts in scientific talent significantly alter the research landscape?
