Overview
- Oliver Günther says academics must break out of the ivory tower to tackle real-world challenges and reach non-scientists.
- He argues that universities’ focus on topics such as diversity, inclusion and gender studies has alienated many outside academia.
- He warns that US policies under President Trump, which have frozen billions in Harvard funding and propose stricter vetting of foreign students, threaten the foundations of scientific research.
- Surveys indicate up to 75% of US researchers are considering leaving the country, with Germany emerging as a prime destination for displaced talent.
- Germany’s Meitner-Einstein and ’1,000 Köpfe’ programs aim to attract top scientists but face hurdles from visa rules and regulatory complexity.