Dear Perry and Junior US Scientists,
I hear your concerns about the silence from senior leaders in auditory science regarding government funding cuts and their or impact on early-career researchers. These cuts are deeply troubling, and I share your frustration. My colleague Joel Snyder recently wrote a brave piece in The Nevada Independent, highlighting just how acutely these cuts are being felt across science and healthcare.
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As Sarah mentioned, the Stand Up for Science movement is also bringing attention to these issues, pushing for a stronger collective response. We recently had some success in Canada with similar protests where we were finally able to bump up graduate funding to a level that is a true living wage.
While public advocacy is crucial, I want to assure you that many senior scientists are not, in fact, silent. Behind closed doors, we are working closely with junior colleagues to figure out a survival plan—how to navigate shrinking funding, support the next generation, and ensure that vital auditory research continues. One can only hope that this situation cannot persist indefinitely.
Personally, I am also afraid about the sphere of influence these cuts are having. I have decided to take an American graduate student this cycle, knowing that many excellent candidates are scrambling for positions. It’s a small step, but I believe those of us in positions of influence inside and outside the US should think about doing what we can to sustain the field and its future.
I also wanted to note that auditory science is a field defined by its deep humanity. Something about the act of listening seems to create a positive bias—an attentiveness to one another, a shared sense of responsibility. That gives me hope that, even in the face of these challenges, we will find ways to support each other and continue our work.
Sincerely,
Frank Russo
On Mar 18, 2025, at 5:57 AM, Gunter Kreutz <gunter.kreutz@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear list,the brutal reality is that the US administration has declared war on its democratic institutions, the legal system, the media, the checks and balances system, social security, science and humanities, and above all it (and that is not Trump alone, but equally the "masterminds" of the heritage foundation) declared war on the values shared by the so-called free world. - Is this exaggerated?Who could blame young US scientists to consider their future in Canada, Britain, the Far East, or in the EU?Sorry for being off-topic. I wholeheartedly support and applaud to scientists standing up and rally, wherever there is need to do so. But it seems to happen in a strange atmosphere as it becomes evident that the protection of democratic rights is crumbling. And the country where this is happening is not a small republic on the Balkan.Sorry also for having no suggestions for how to do better service to young researchers that getting rid of the current US admin ASAP. The whole world will hold its breath what the next US administration will look like and whether they will be able to restore the - in my view - inevitable brain drain that will hurt the US hearing sciences in the meantime, I am afraid.Slava UkraineGunterAm Di., 18. März 2025 um 05:29 Uhr schrieb Sarah Creel <000001009817b89f-dmarc-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:Hi Perry,I'm so sorry that this is such a stressful time for all of us. It's hard enough starting out in science without the entire edifice crumbling around one's ears.I think that what's going on right now is that there is a sense of science solidarity: scientists are fighting for scientists across the board, not just in auditory science. I've been to and seen lots of people at Stand Up for Science rallies across the country. People are pelting their elected representatives with demands not to silence science. I've also seen (and responded to) calls to write supportive notes to program officers, SROs, etc. at funding agencies who are currently under huge amounts of stress and anxiety. There is HUGE concern amongst all these groups about what this is going to do to the next generation of scientists.One big way that more senior folks can help more junior folks is to do our best to make sure funding opportunities stay in place. Without that, the support web for PhDs is really not there. So I think a lot of people are focusing their energies on advocating for maintaining NIH and NSF.I would love to see suggestions on Auditory list or other places for additional ways to advocate for junior scientists and for science generally.Hang in there and please know that we want you here.SarahOn Sun, Mar 16, 2025 at 9:23 PM T. T. Perry <trevortperry@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:Hi Auditory List,I'm a hearing scientist in America where science and s cientists are under extremely heavy attack, Orban style. Yet I've seen almost no statements from senior leaders in our field defending science and early career scientists. Perhaps I'm in a bubble and just haven't witnessed these statements myself.Where are the leaders of our field and why are they so quiet? Does auditory science have a future in America? Are "mid" and "late stage" career people just looking to comply and save themselves?What have you heard lately?Sincerely,Perrythey/them