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American Science is in Dangerous Decline while Chinese Research Surges, Experts Warn
(www.scientificamerican.com)
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this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2024
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I was at a crossroads in my grad school career. I was getting my MSc paid for and studying something important in STEM, but the future to go PhD looked like shit, as you say. literally, my only compelling rationale to get a PhD in the US was it would make--emigrating out of the US on a path to citizenship elsewhere--more feasible.
but I knew the US was failing a decade ago when I saw how aggressively China was courting young, English speaking academics on campuses to do their research and scholarship in China. I was in the middle of my own program, but considered doing it when I finished.
then I saw articles about how many young academics were leaving to do research in China on like NPR and next thing you know, the US government threatens to withhold any DoD grants from any research university that allows the organization hosting those recruitment opportunities on campus. and overnight those doors all shut with perfunctory apologies from university administration for terminating exchange programs.
I knew we were falling way behind before, but once the US schools shut their doors because the US threatened the DoD money laundering bag, I knew we were completely fucked.
You can still leave tho, I have a family friend who has a PhD. They have little to no issue getting around and getting visas. Getting out of the country is still feasible. I would get an engineering PhD or material science PhD and see if I can book it to China.
yeah, the ability to leave easier wasn't worth the 5 more years in the shitty academy making poverty wages and being a serf for some careerist.
I chose to finish my MSc and work in environmental outreach and later government service, where the wage isn't sexy, but it pencils out for a simple life. I do not regret it, because now I have some formal education, broad experience and a few bucks in my pocket if I want to leave. cash in hand creates emigration opportunities too.
That is true comrade, I'm happy for you. It sounds like you have a plan B for when shit hits the fan.
Yeah getting a PhD just to be able to leave isn't feasible at all. Still the route they chose.
yeah totally. it's a real move and I was on the fence for a while about it. in the end, it felt less risky for me materially and emotionally, lol. I have enough cynicism already.
Distain for education and the arts is one of those
boxes.