SfN’s Commitment to the Scientific Enterprise
This message was sent to SfN members Friday, April 25.
Dear SfN Community,
Like you, I have watched with dismay and grave concern a number of actions taken by the Administration in the past few weeks that will prove devastating to scientific research in the U.S. The scientific enterprise depends on robust research investment from the federal government, much of it channeled into U.S. universities through federal grants. This system, which has been in place for the last 70 years, has allowed the U.S. to be the world leader on scientific and medical breakthroughs, attracting the best minds to the U.S from abroad and providing outstanding opportunities for young Americans that choose to enter science . The current actions threaten that leadership and put training of the next generation at serious risk.
I want you and all our members to know that SfN and its leaders are committed to doing as much as we can to try to protect and preserve the scientific enterprise in the U.S. during this difficult period. SfN has been very active in advocacy and carried out an important set of meetings with key Congressional offices on Capitol Hill in March. We have also issued a number of statements calling out the challenging actions that have been taken by the Administration. You can always find out the latest actions that we have taken or been a part of on our website at www.sfn.org/advocacyresponse.
But we recognize that there is only so much that we can do on our own. SfN has the greatest ability to have an impact when we act as part of the larger coalition of biomedical advocates. This includes other scientific and medical societies, specialized nonprofit advocacy groups, and universities and research institutes.
SfN works closely with its major coalition partners, such as Research!America, the Coalition for Life Sciences, the Ad hoc Group for Medical Research, the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), and the American Brain Coalition (ABC), among others. We have posted an article on the website that describes some of the recent actions and successes that have been carried out by organizations that SfN is a member of or actively collaborates with. For example, AAMC was one of the plaintiffs in the successful lawsuit that blocked the implementation of drastic cuts to F&A (Indirect) rates from NIH. SfN is an affiliate of AAMC through its Council of Academic Societies.
Beyond these organizations, the universities and medical schools that are leading centers of biomedical research are themselves by far the largest and best-funded members of the advocacy coalition. They are not only the employers for many of us, they are the actual recipients of federal funds, and the direct interlocutor with the federal government. The scientific community depends on universities to defend science, scientists, and the scientific enterprise. Our colleges and universities also play key cultural, educational, and academic roles in our local communities. Take every opportunity to interact with your neighbors to educate them on the key role that their local institution plays in research that improves the quality of life for everyone.
While many of our institutions have been stunned by what has been happening, I have been heartened to see some institutional leaders are beginning to speak out. For example, Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber and Wesleyan President Michael Roth were early leaders calling on universities across the United States to push back against limitations and requirements being imposed under the threat of losing federal funding. Significantly, Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the Administration and I expect and hope to see more of these types of lawsuits in the coming weeks. In the past week, more than 300 university presidents of institutions varying in size, wealth, geography, and other characteristics signed on to a letter denouncing the Administration’s intrusion of higher education in what is being called one of the biggest signs of unity among higher education institutions to date.
The power of resistance, especially at the level of universities, is crucial to protecting the future of U.S. scientific research and preserving the U.S. status as the leader in science. Lawsuits are expensive, and the universities are in the best position to mount legal challenges, as they stand to experience direct losses ranging from millions to hundreds of millions from the actions of the Administration. But our community, our coalition, and our enterprise are depending on our universities to stand strong in defense of science, research, academic freedom, and our core values. We encourage all SfN members to reach out to their university leadership and ask for them to take a stand. There is great strength if these major institutions stand together, and great risk to the enterprise if they choose to remain silent.
In the meantime, SfN will continue to work with its partners to do what we can to protect the scientific enterprise, including asking members to reach out to their representatives at key legislative moments and demand that science be protected. These days, I am constantly reminded of my favorite Tolkien quote, “All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given us.” Thank you for all that you do, particularly in this very demanding time.
John H. Morrison
SfN President
