Researchers in Argentina protest budget cuts, say "science is in mourning"
Thousands of researchers in Argentina joined a nationwide strike last week to protest the austerity measures announced by the government. The scientific community’s participation was triggered by the lack of job opportunities for trained young researchers who want the government to notice their plight. The community has been actively protesting the lack of federal support extended toward science. Early last month, several researchers and university students condemned the situation publicly using the slogan “Science is in mourning.”
Since 2015, Argentina is undergoing an economic crisis that has severely affected the scientific endeavors in the country. The National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), which employs over 20,000 researchers across Argentina, is in a lurch due to budget cuts. As a result, this year, it could offer only 450 new positions to first-time investigators, forcing unemployment on 2600 PhD graduates and postdocs. Moreover, the salaries of those who secured permanent positions have been slashed by 50% owing to the inflation the country is facing.
The dearth of opportunities is forcing Argentinian researchers to seek positions abroad. Several members of the scientific community are concerned about the brain drain and the long-term repercussions it could have on the research landscape of the country. “We have to stop the brain drain and keep the system alive,” said Alberto Kornblihtt, head of CONICET’s Institute of Physiology, Molecular Biology, and Neurosciences. The depreciation of Argentina’s currency and the growing inflation has led the government to slash the budget for science and research. Last year, the R&D investment was 0.26%, which has
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been the lowest in the past three years. This has made it difficult for research labs and institutions to continue their normal functioning. Vital resources such as oxygen tanks are becoming difficult to source owing to limited funds while animal facilities and other lab equipment are deteriorating due to lack of funds to maintain them. Reflecting on this situation, Juan Pablo Jaworski, a CONICET virologist, said, “You think 100 times before running an experiment and you pray it won’t fail.”
The protest is likely to continue until the problems related to budget cuts and unemployment are resolved by the government. It remains to be seen what measures the current administrations takes to improve the plight of science and scientists in the country.
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Published on: May 03, 2019
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