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Pushed by Trump policies, top U.S. battery scientist is moving to Singapore

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Re: Pushed by Trump policies, top U.S. battery scientist is moving to Singapore

#21
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Moving, especially internationally, is disruptive. Even in bad times, you need to look to where things are going, not where they are in the moment. The USA is dropping on various freedom indices; if you move for this reason, you must ask if will it drop further, will it stabilise, or will it recover? And the same for the destinations you consider. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/human-rights-index-vdem?t...

Great chart! Thanks. I used it to compare a couple of other places too. Yeah I don't see the gap between the US and Singapore closing in the next 5, 10, or 50 years. The current drop in the US is temporary. The lower score for Singapore is structural. EDIT: but these are "just" stats, and do not speak to any person's personal position, like Meng's.

It's still to be determined if the drop is temporary. From the outside (EU) I see a downward uninterrupted trend since 9/11 and the Patriot Act.

Re: Pushed by Trump policies, top U.S. battery scientist is moving to Singapore

#22

> I was really searching for a position that would let me do my work, which is to translate the fundamental science into industry impact. I’ve been entrusted with a very high position in my home country, but at the same time, I’m seriously concerned that, if I were asked by the [U.S.] Department of War to perform certain tasks, I probably won’t be able to do it. Things like [making better batteries for] drones, or hu…

This a nice qoute and all but China has a civil-Military program that allows their government to annex any necessary technology for their military but also puts strict building practices on civil made projects. What makes anyone think that China as government won't do exactly what she fears, which is putting this battery technology inside drones, or humanoids for war fighting? The difference here is China won't ask.

nor will anyone else, the point isn't about weather generic use batteries will be used for military usage, or that someone who licence the technology builds military focused versions

the point is they themselves didn't want to _explicitly_ design components for specific forms of military usage

and they no longer feel safe to not be pressured by the US to do so

but that isn't even the main reason for moving mentioned in the article which are (in order they appear in): reduced funding, moving away from electrification, immigration policies and then the previous point

-----

as a side note your comment did sound a bit like you think Singapore is China, in the unlikely case you did idk. mix it up with Honkon: it isn't China in any form it was

Re: Pushed by Trump policies, top U.S. battery scientist is moving to Singapore

#23
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not the only reason cited, the first one: Meng took the job because she thinks the U.S. has turned away from a commitment to decarbonize its economy. Also: The Trump administration’s immigration policies

> Meng took the job because she thinks the U.S. has turned away from a commitment to decarbonize its economy. If they are mapping that to "reduction in green energy" or "reversal of green energy adoption" I think they are very wrong indeed.

> If they are mapping that to "reduction in green energy" or "reversal of green energy adoption" I think they are very wrong indeed.

Because there is a global trend towards green energy use, caused by economic factors. It's bound to be more expressive outside the US, because of politics.

Re: Pushed by Trump policies, top U.S. battery scientist is moving to Singapore

#24
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This a nice qoute and all but China has a civil-Military program that allows their government to annex any necessary technology for their military but also puts strict building practices on civil made projects. What makes anyone think that China as government won't do exactly what she fears, which is putting this battery technology inside drones, or humanoids for war fighting? The difference here is China won't ask.

Why is China relevant?

Singapore and China hold strong economic ties. Furthermore if the Chinese government asks one of its citizens to do something the citizen must keep in mind where the rest of their family lives. There are countless articles of how the CCP will do things like fire an aunt or uncle, or deny a sister or brother access to college for not complying with their wishes.

Do you think Singapore as an independent country is strong enough to keep the Chinese government out?

Re: Pushed by Trump policies, top U.S. battery scientist is moving to Singapore

#25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And so they chose Singapore, that bastion of human rights? More seriously, it will be interesting to track this person for a few years to see whether they thrive in Singapore. Good luck to her and hope she makes a difference.

When you think of the outlook of the USA, where for example the secretary of health and human services is a crusader against vaccination, do you feel like it’s a country that’s rising to meet the challenges of the future? Because to me it feels like we are in the beginning of a fall of civilization! I don’t have the perspective to really say I know what’s going on, but I trust the scientist knows her business and her…

> Because to me it feels like we are in the beginning of a fall of civilization!

That's a bit dramatic!

Re: Pushed by Trump policies, top U.S. battery scientist is moving to Singapore

#27

> I was really searching for a position that would let me do my work, which is to translate the fundamental science into industry impact. I’ve been entrusted with a very high position in my home country, but at the same time, I’m seriously concerned that, if I were asked by the [U.S.] Department of War to perform certain tasks, I probably won’t be able to do it. Things like [making better batteries for] drones, or hu…

And so they chose Singapore, that bastion of human rights? More seriously, it will be interesting to track this person for a few years to see whether they thrive in Singapore. Good luck to her and hope she makes a difference.

it isn't

but reading the article helps

her reason wasn't some my tech shouldn't be bad people high moral ground but that she felt she can't do here work on here previous job anymore and the next job happened to be in Singapore, and the reasoning in order was also

- reduced funding / many projects getting side lined

- US moving away from decarbonization

- immigration policies discrimination against Chinese born people (even if they have left Chinese citizenship behind/are US citizens)

- and here not wanting to be put in a position where she is pressured to work directly on batteries for weapon systems like drones (!= general use systems being used in a military context)

so she chose Singapore because someone in Singapore presented here with a good job offer where she doesn't have to worry about this things

i.e. this isn't about the US being "evil" and Singapore being better, but about the US no longer being as good a place for civilian use battery production scientist

Re: Pushed by Trump policies, top U.S. battery scientist is moving to Singapore

#28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Meng took the job because she thinks the U.S. has turned away from a commitment to decarbonize its economy. If they are mapping that to "reduction in green energy" or "reversal of green energy adoption" I think they are very wrong indeed.

> If they are mapping that to "reduction in green energy" or "reversal of green energy adoption" I think they are very wrong indeed. Because there is a global trend towards green energy use, caused by economic factors. It's bound to be more expressive outside the US, because of politics.

> Because there is a global trend towards green energy use, caused by economic factors. It's bound to be more expressive outside the US, because of politics.

"caused by economic factors" is precisely why I think the conclusion is wrong. The US, if nothing else, structurally prioritizes profit, even if it it does dumb, short-sighted things at times.

Re: Pushed by Trump policies, top U.S. battery scientist is moving to Singapore

#29
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is China relevant?

Singapore and China hold strong economic ties. Furthermore if the Chinese government asks one of its citizens to do something the citizen must keep in mind where the rest of their family lives. There are countless articles of how the CCP will do things like fire an aunt or uncle, or deny a sister or brother access to college for not complying with their wishes. Do you think Singapore as an independent country is stro…

[deleted]

Re: Pushed by Trump policies, top U.S. battery scientist is moving to Singapore

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great chart! Thanks. I used it to compare a couple of other places too. Yeah I don't see the gap between the US and Singapore closing in the next 5, 10, or 50 years. The current drop in the US is temporary. The lower score for Singapore is structural. EDIT: but these are "just" stats, and do not speak to any person's personal position, like Meng's.

It's still to be determined if the drop is temporary. From the outside (EU) I see a downward uninterrupted trend since 9/11 and the Patriot Act.

> It's still to be determined if the drop is temporary.

It better be! I think it is wrong to root for “downfall”, even if it makes sense to diversify your risk.

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