An Australian learned academy has demanded an emergency meeting of the National Science and Technology Council amid a growing tally of research contract cancellations by the Trump administration.
The Australian Academy of Science said Canberra could not afford to “take a wait-and-see approach” on a research funding threat that could “have profound implications for Australians”.
Academy president Chennupati Jagadish said Australia relied on US-funded research and infrastructure for necessities ranging from cyclone prediction and flu vaccine design to defence and global positioning systems. “[We must] set policy pathways so we are not over-reliant on one strategic partner,” he said.
US authorities have reportedly severed funding agreements involving seven Australian universities, with the Australian National University the first to provide confirmation.
A spokeswoman said that the university had received a US government letter “indicating an intent to terminate funding related to one research project” but provided no details on the topic or funding involved. “We are committed to working with our affected researchers and developing appropriate remediation plans,” she said.
The Guardian reported that the cancelled projects spanned topics including agriculture, geology, social science and foreign aid. The affected researchers were apparently required to fill out a 36-question survey to have any hope of resurrecting the grants.
Researchers who questioned the need for the survey were reportedly shown a memo from the Office of Management and Budget, which said US financial assistance should be dedicated to objectives including “unleashing American energy and manufacturing”, “promoting efficiency in government”, “making America healthy again” and “ending ‘wokeness’ and the weaponisation of government”.
Jagadish said the prime minister must call a meeting of the National Science and Technology Council, which he chairs, and compel all ministers to attend “so proactive risk mitigation strategies can be devised”.
He said Australia must also build collaborations “with responsible countries” elsewhere, in the first instance by associating with Horizon Europe – “the largest research fund in the world”.
Canberra quietly ended discussions to join Horizon Europe in June 2023, ignoring years of advocacy by local research lobbyists to become an associated member. Nineteen countries and regions have association agreements including New Zealand, Canada, the UK and a host of other jurisdictions in Europe, the Middle East and the Caucasus.
The European Commission has said it was “fully available to continuing the discussion if there is a renewed interest from Australia’s side”.
Jagadish said the government must also establish a “rapid talent attraction programme” to “immediately capture the exodus of smart minds from the US”. The European Union and Canada are rolling out such schemes, or considering doing so.
Times Higher Education sought comment from the prime minister’s office, which did not respond.
Southern Cross University research security expert Brendan Walker-Munro said it was a good time for Australian universities to “advertise our vacancies”, with many American academics likely to be looking for fresh opportunities. Local administrators could offer sweeteners such as relocation assistance and the government could consider tax incentives, he said.
But it was also bad timing for Australia, with universities strapped for cash and the government unlikely to do anything ahead of a looming election. “We’re not likely to really see any government-led policy in this particular space, I’d say, for about the next six months – and [people’s] decisions will more or less be made by then.”
