“Draconian” science cutbacks ordered by the Donald Trump White House are impeding essential research on Great Lakes ecosystems—to the extent of barring U.S. researchers from talking to their international colleagues or even exchanging emails without senior management approval.
The news lands as the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) braces for the loss of up to half its staff, an outcome that could send “ripple effects around the world,” CBC News reports.
NOAA “provides scientific information, research, and forecasting including daily weather reports, hurricane tracking, climate modelling, and marine monitoring,” CBC explains. And “given that the Great Lakes—and their aquatic life—straddle both sides of the border, having American scientists suddenly barred from meetings has had deep impacts. That, combined with funding freezes, is drastically altering the way science works in North America, at least for now.”
While the restrictions on “all upcoming international engagements” are set to expire at the end of March, there’s no indication of what rules will follow—or how many people at NOAA will still have jobs by then.
The ban covers everything from international travel to participation in virtual meetings or email exchanges. That meant Aaron Fisk, Canada Research Chair in Changing Great Lakes Ecosystems at the University of Windsor, couldn’t even connect with U.S. colleagues for a routine check-in on one of their projects.
“Virtual meetings are also required to be submitted for review if they touch on an array of topics including: climate, energy, offshore wind, ocean mapping and exploration, competitive seafood, aquaculture, ocean plastics, the World Meteorological Organization, Arctic security, and Arctic energy,” CBC writes.
Fisk told CBC he’s had U.S. research funds worth C$900,000 frozen on two projects, one of them designed to measure the impacts of climate change on Lake Erie.
“The Great Lakes is an excellent place to show where Canada and the United States come together to do really good research,” Fisk said. “It’s like the border doesn’t even exist.”
But since Trump’s inauguration January 20, “it’s very draconian.”
Read the rest of CBC’s coverage here.
