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Liz Haswell's avatar

This WVA situation is very scary. It feels like things are escalating. And this: “Because they are working to transform what is considered foundational” is the scariest part!

I definitely hope that scientists will pay attention and advocate against this kind of “restructuring”. I know we can find the time for this kind of thing, because I saw it during the pandemic and in response to movements like BLM. But I am afraid that we are all kept so busy with so much work (and self-promotion), and different domains are so siloed at most universities, that scientists will find it too easy to ignore things. But we are in the slowly boiling pot, too!

I’m looking forward to your upcoming newsletters. One thing I’d love to hear you write about (maybe you have already) is something I saw a lot in the last couple of years (and discuss a bit in my newsletter that I hope to get out later today)--a big upsurge in students motivated only by applied work and a decline in interest in basic or fundamental science. Are you seeing this as well, and what might be behind it?

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