The Trump administration is attacking Harvard University and universities across the country — an initiative originally targeted at addressing antisemitism that has now ballooned into a wide-scale attack on higher education. Harvard specifically has been the target of extensive funding cuts and freezes, unconstitutional demands to control the student and faculty, and most recently revoking Harvard’s opportunity to enroll international students.
My love of science was nurtured throughout my time as an elementary, middle, and high school student in the Northampton Public Schools. This passion has led to the beginnings of a career in science and medicine as a student in the Harvard-MIT MD-PhD program. Currently, I am studying how the brain controls complex motor behaviors. The grant through which my first three years were funded has been terminated. This and other funding supported my research and medical training, along with hundreds of other graduate and medical students.
American science creates new medical treatments, advances technology, and leads the world in drug discovery and development. Handicapping the scientific knowledge generation will have lasting, detrimental impacts to our country’s ability to innovate in this space and develop new treatments that benefit us all. Working to restore these cuts, reprioritize scientific and medical research, and ensure that the United States remains a country where anyone is welcome to pursue scientific discovery requires public support.
Here’s how you can help: 1. Contact your representatives: tell them that investing in science is investing in our country. 2. Complete the Citizens for Science pledge (tiny.cc/sciencepledge) 3. Encourage engagement with the scientific community. Be curious about the work happening around you!
Federal funding for scientific and medical research is investing in the health and future of this country. We can’t allow these resources to be revoked over political agendas.
Sophia Renauld
Northampton