The first American academics fleeing Donald Trump’s America for France have arrived.
Aix-Marseille University last week introduced eight U.S.-based researchers who were in the final stage of joining the institution’s “Safe Place for Science" program, which aims to woo researchers who have experienced or fear funding cuts under the Trump administration. AMU offers the promise of a brighter future in the sun-drenched Mediterranean port city.
While both France and the European Union have launched multimillion-euro plans to woo researchers across the pond since Trump assumed the U.S. presidency in January, AMU’s initiative was the first of its kind in the country — meaning the eight researchers who were welcomed are the first academic refugees planning to trade the United States for France.
Damn I gotta go back to school
Good on you expats, may Europe treat you with the respect you deserve.
god I wish I could go but I’m just a dork with an Associates 😭
“Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.”
Donald Trumps America is right. This isn’t my America.
Lower wages and lower research budgets in Europe are very tangible problems.
The reason USA attract so many high level scientists and researchers, is that they throw more money at it.
Despite that, I’m sure most researchers will find that you can do more with less here, both on research and with your private economy. And quality of life seems to me to be miles ahead in Europe compared to USA.Attracted
That’s what we thought last time under Trump. But it turned out most scientists go for the higher wages and budgets in USA.
scientists and researchers, is that they throw more money at it.
You seem to be using the present tense there rather than the past tense. Are you sure that’s still true. I was under the impression the Bibulous Bumbling Bill had slashed research budgets (among other things like medicaid) in order to fund billionaire tax cuts.
Not to mention the attempts to proscribe what can be researched that Harvard is currently litigating
Are you sure that’s still true
Yes.
A lot of the highest paying research is corporate. And despite the shit Trump is doing, the wages are still higher at for instance universities too.I have no idea how you can even doubt that, despite Trump is targeting everything that might be humane or to save the earth. Everything that has potential profits will probably receive more. Because USA has become very unattractive in many ways.
I feel like it’s very strange to not even mention the fact that many, many of these researchers have completely lost, or will lose the grants for the research that is the entire reason for their being in the field in which they are. They literally cannot do what they are there to do anymore. in addition, many additional folks are no longer allowed to work on or publish their projects because they are centered on or use some of Trump’s no-no words. There is way more than just salaries causing the brain drain out of the US right now.
Please expand on how the highest paying research is corporate, and how that proves your point. It sounds very much like the hand-wavy stuff people say before they start yelling because they have no argument, but I want to give you the benefit of the doubt. Are you yourself a researcher?
WTF?
The article even state this fact as a barrier to attract scientists to Europe from USA.
But here you go:Lyft: $175,144 Flexport: $174,532 Meta: $171,477 Netflix: $168,720 StubHub: $167,700 Google: $167,427 DoorDash: $166,792 eBay: $166,231 Waymo: $163,156 NVIDIA: $162,497Everybody who has followed this issue even superficially knows this!!
Universities in USA also pay more, because they are very commercially oriented, and American universities compete on prestige, and they have more money than other universities around the world.Try to look it up, and find info to the contrary if you don’t believe it. This is freaking common knowledge!
It has only been 6 months. The effects of this administration will not appear in tables of budgets and salaries yet. Although in simple terms it will probably still look ok, it is far less attractive.
Cost of living matters too. From simple things like how much broadband costs (uk: £30 pcm, usa: $78 pcm) to an ambulance ride (uk: free, usa:$2000). The higher salary is an illusion.
I also note that every company in your list is a tech company. Researchers in other fields are probably not going to be as lucky.
Buying in instrumentation is also now more expensive due to tariffs so your research budget was effectively cut as well as being actually cut. Scientists with approved grants for equipment have had them revoked. Universities are advising not spending funds to provide contingency funds.
Cost of living matters too.
Of course it does, the article also mention that, did you even read the article?
Cost of living is significantly lower, and the social safety net means you don’t need as much anyway.
My gut feel is wages are so much higher in the US because everyone is responsible for looking after themselves if life turns on them, so you’re obliged to stockpile wealth in case you’re suddenly jobless or have a giant medical or education bill to contend with.
I agree, but don’t forget that every year, things get harder because everything is trying to find more ways to take that extra money from you. From schools, companies, and government they are all figuring out ways to come up with new mandatory requirements for stuff that normally ends up being a new fee or payment on top of what you used to need. For example when you are in school, you probably need way more certifications in things which costs more money either by a 1 time fee or sometimes yearly fees and a lot of this never existed 20-30 years ago. I feel like we pay for literally everything, and it all keeps going up as well. It’s hard to get ahead when everyone wants a piece of your pie.
While that is true, academic wages are still laughably low in Europe, even compared to wages here.
You can earn more after 5 years in the industry than as a full professor in academia. We should pay academics more.
This. People can make more in the US because the country doesn’t give a fuck about it’s people. It’s like gambling the health and wellness of you and your family to horde up some Cash.
We call it savings, not hoarding. But yeah. You need it. If you lose your job here, you’re fucked.
For a lot of people in this country it’s hording. But I get what you mean.
One illness and it’s all gone. House, kit and kaboodle.
To be fair, it’s really one serious illness.
Not really. Could be something entirely fine but requiring monthly medication. If you can’t afford that. You’re fuck.
We have people rationing insulin in this country for Christ sake.
Well, sure, if we’re gonna bring in the do you have insurance factor, then it becomes a whole different game. If you don’t have insurance, I don’t even know. Death is probably imminent…
Absolutely free healthcare and education are big parts of doing more with less, and quality of life.
But it’s also easier to buy a house or apartment, and quality food is cheaper, and paid holidays and on and on.
We have so many privileges Americans don’t have it’s crazy.
Con on your new homes. We’ll miss you but know humanity is better off with you there.
-grats? new slang?
