Current location:world >>
Curb on Chinese talent sparks strong backlash
world6173People have gathered around
IntroductionA Florida law barring public universities from hiring researchers from China is facing mounting crit ...
A Florida law barring public universities from hiring researchers from China is facing mounting criticism from academics and advocates for its potential to cripple scientific progress in the United States.
The National Postdoctoral Association, or NPA, a leading advocate for postdoctoral researchers, or postdocs, in the U.S., has recently joined the fight against the law, advocating for the freedom to hire top talent regardless of national origin.
"We oppose any bill that bans international students or postdocs from studying or working at public universities. This approach benefits no one and harms both the individual seeking to come to the U.S. and our national research efforts," Thomas Kimbis, executive director and CEO of NPA, told China Daily.
The law, SB 846, took effect on July 1, 2023. It prohibits Florida's 12 public colleges and universities from taking money from or partnering with entities in China and six other "countries of concern", including Russia, Cuba, Iran, Syria and Venezuela.
The list of banned interactions includes offering anyone living in one of those countries a contract to do research.
"The bill, intentionally or not, can cause a significant slowdown in the process of becoming a paid graduate student or postdoc at a variety of state institutions," said Kimbis.
"Postdocs in particular already face a difficult immigration journey and don't need to have any additional delays that are accompanied by a lack of clarity of process," he added.
Kimbis emphasized the crucial role of scientists born outside the U.S. in driving global innovation as well as U.S. economic, societal and health advancement.
"Nearly 60 percent of our postdoc population comes from outside the U.S. — a figure that is steadily increasing," he said, adding that this group plays a significant role in advancing research and development across various disciplines.
Lost opportunity
Kimbis also expressed concerns about a potential brain drain by turning away the brightest minds — "a lost opportunity for innovation that could threaten the very national security that SB 846 purports to protect", he said.
Faculty members at the University of Florida, or UF, which boasts the state's largest research portfolio, have been most vocal in opposition. More than 350 have signed a petition since December urging the university to disregard nationality when recruiting top graduate students.
They warn that "failure to act swiftly" will result in losing exceptional talent to other universities and cause "irreversible damage".
The law applies to all academic interactions with China and the other six countries. Exceptions are allowed only when the Board of Governors, which oversees higher education in the state, grants a waiver on a case-by-case basis. But it isn't clear how it would be implemented.
The law's ambiguity regarding implementation has left faculty members in a state of confusion. Professors across various disciplines at the UF have voiced their concerns, as shown in their comments on the petition's endorsement form.
Fred Gmitter, a professor of horticultural sciences, slammed the law as "counterproductive" and an attack on academic freedom.
"Excessive political interference in the affairs of a public university is counterproductive and contrary to the fundamental concepts of academic freedom," he said, "This bill is dragging UF down, not lifting us up."
Emma MacKie, assistant professor of geological sciences, highlighted the detrimental impact on accessing international talent.
"China and Iran are powerhouse incubators for geological talent, with a disproportionate number of students studying geology and geophysics, especially in industry or applied geoscience topics," she said. "We cannot strive to be a top 10 department if we can't access or collaborate with a significant fraction of the world's top geoscientists," she continued.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Stellar Station news portal”。http://tonga.downmusic.org/news-60f099868.html
Related articles
Chinese boy bands eye global stardom under new deal
worldUniversal Music Greater China and TF Entertainment announced a new strategic agreement on Wednesday ...
【world】
Read moreXi Sends Congratulatory Message to Lanting Forum on Chinese Modernization and the World
worldContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
【world】
Read moreXi Focus: Xi Inspects Navy of PLA Southern Theater Command
worldContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
【world】
Read more
Popular articles
- US CPI accelerates to 3.5% in March
- World Insights: Xi's Russia Visit Deepens Bilateral Cooperation, Contributes to Human Progress
- China's tourism market embraces robust recovery over May Day holiday
- Village benefits from ecological improvement of Erhai Lake in Yunnan
- Inside the lab where volunteers are paid £14,000 to lie upside down for 60 days NON
- Autumn scenery at Summer Palace in Beijing
Latest articles
Chinese boy bands eye global stardom under new deal
Migratory whooper swans winter in Sichuan
City view of China's Chongqing Municipality
Scenery of Minjiang River estuary wetland in Fuzhou
Emperor Qinshihuang's museum launches online ticket platform for overseas tourists
Lotus flowers at West Lake of Hanoi, Vietnam
LINKS
- 2 dead, 26 injured in Hebei gas explosion
- Countries need to foster synergy in restoring biodiversity
- Multinational enterprises confident of China's economic growth target
- (W.E. Talk) To Understand China, You Need to See China for Yourself
- Xi Story: Beacon of China's Reform and Opening up, Shenzhen Prospers Under Xi
- CPC Leadership Convenes Criticism and Self
- Xiplomacy: China
- CPC Leadership Convenes Criticism and Self
- Super deep
- Countries attempting to isolate Russia only hurt themselves: Putin