AR-News: U.S. Security Bad for Science?

[Mary Finelli]

US SECURITY BAD FOR SCIENCE?
AAAS meeting panelists say increased measures since September 11 have had 
negative impact
The Scientist, Eugene Russo, April 26, 2004

Full article (with links) at:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20040426/01


Washington, DC — A growing body of evidence suggests that policies resulting 
from post–September 11 security measures are having a negative impact on 
scientific research in the United States, according to speakers at an 
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meeting last 
Friday (April 23). “To win the war on terror, we may lose our scientific 
preeminence,” warned David Heyman, director of the Homeland Security 
Program's Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Widely reported visa delays and restrictions have been among the concerns. 
John J. McGowan, director of the Division of Extramural Activities at the 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, pointed to the 
Council of Graduate Schools Survey, released in March, which reported that 
graduate school applications from international students declined 32% in the 
last year. Based on responses from 113 graduate schools, the survey reported 
that all major countries of origin and all major fields saw declines.

Roughly 50% of the graduate schools reported declines in applications for 
programs in agriculture or the biological sciences, according to the survey.

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