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The US used to be a haven for research. Now, scientists are packing their bags

A recent survey of U.S. professors found that 75% were looking for work outside the country. The result is an exodus that has not been seen since European scientists sought refuge on U.S. shores during the World War II era.

As government funding for scientific research dries up, and as President Donald Trump wages pointed attacks against some of the nation’s top universities, more academics are looking to Europe and Asia as safe havens. The Education Department also has asked for enrollment data from universities to make sure that race isn’t being considered in admissions and has launched investigations into what it calls rampant antisemitism on campuses such as Harvard and Columbia. As part of the initiative, the university is also pushing French officials to create a special immigration status of “scientific refugee,” to recognize the current threat researchers face.

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