We're no longer attracting top talent: the brain drain killing American science

Post by tick_tock_tick » Fri, Feb 20, 2026, 12:04 AM UTC

tensor wrote: post #27

ProjectArcturis wrote: post #20

This kind of Level 1 analysis misses what is really going on. "Brain drain" is not really a concern. There is a tremendous glut of talented biomedical researchers. We have been overproducing them for decades. Even before the cuts, it was incredibly hard to go from a PhD to a tenured professorship. 5-15% would achieve that, depending how you measured. The cuts have made things worse, but European/RoW funding is even s…

This kind of analysis isn't much better. First, many countries are increasing funding substantially (e.g. [1]). Secondly, it's about more than funding. The US is also no longer safe for a great many of the scientists that would normally choose come to the US to work. And even for those that aren't too worried about ICE, scientists tend to be very liberal and value freedom and democracy a great deal. The US has sudden…

Post by direwolf20 » Fri, Feb 20, 2026, 12:05 AM UTC

oytis wrote: post #145

adgjlsfhk1 wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Canada and EU are currently far more attractive if not getting kidnapped by the government and sent to an El Salvadorian torture camp is a priority for you.

How many PhDs have been sent to El Salvador? EU doesn't nearly have the career opportunities as the US, even less so for foreigners. Canada might be slightly better, for its proximity to the US and being an English-speaking country

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Feb 20, 2026, 12:07 AM UTC

torstenvl wrote: post #175

Arainach wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It bears repeating: for everyone who insists that the US Executive Branch isn't compromised by our enemies, what different actions would someone who was compromised and trying to speedrun the destruction of American power, influence, and hegemony have taken?

[flagged]

Post by roughly » Fri, Feb 20, 2026, 12:09 AM UTC

robk wrote: post #111

roughly wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a thing that you don’t notice until you experience it. No more compelling argument that we’re doing something wrong as a nation than that first time stepping onto an American street after visiting a civilized country.

I live in a civilized European country and gravely miss the freedom of speech I had in the USA that I don't here. I'm terrified one tweet will get me jailed for 30 months.

Post by EdwardDiego » Fri, Feb 20, 2026, 12:11 AM UTC

tick_tock_tick wrote: post #201

tensor wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This kind of analysis isn't much better. First, many countries are increasing funding substantially (e.g. [1]). Secondly, it's about more than funding. The US is also no longer safe for a great many of the scientists that would normally choose come to the US to work. And even for those that aren't too worried about ICE, scientists tend to be very liberal and value freedom and democracy a great deal. The US has sudden…

> scientists tend to be very liberal and value freedom and democracy a great deal What is the alternative? Canada and Europe don't even have free speech.