In brief
At the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Boston, scientists expressed their concerns regarding significant funding cuts and workforce reductions instigated by the Trump administration. Sudip Parikh, the association's leader, described the prevailing atmosphere as one filled with "angst and anxiety," particularly following news of layoffs affecting federal scientific agencies. Conversations at the conference reflected a collective resolve among researchers to combat these adversities, despite feeling "hit from all sides." As Trump’s second term unfolds, the scientific community faces intensified scrutiny on various fronts, including attacks on diversity initiatives and fears of deportations impacting undocumented students linked to scientific research.
