Unlimited Potential, Vanishing Opportunity

“Unlimited Potential, Vanishing Opportunity” chronicles the difficulties that scientists face in trying to secure federal funds for research. Compiling and analyzing data from a survey of over 3,700 scientists from all fields of research, the report clearly depicts the negative effects of budget cuts and sequestration on individual scientists and the entire scientific research community.

The report’s authors strongly urge the federal government to overturn sequestration and return to a strong, sustained investment in scientific research.

• Download the report
• See the survey data

Background

In the summer of 2013, the ASBMB and fifteen other scientific societies conducted a survey of scientists, asking questions regarding cuts to nondefense discretionary spending by Congress since 2010. Over 3,700 scientists from all fields of research responded.

Respondents’ concerns about federal budget cuts fell into four specific categories:

• The benefits of scientific research.
• The next generation of scientists.
• The loss of the federal investment in scientists.
• U.S. global research leadership.

Media coverage

• Sam Stein at the Huffington Post wrote about the survey and report.
• This story on CNN Money focuses on the scientists who responded to our survey as having laid off or who are planning to lay off scientists.
• Chemistry World published a story with in-depth analysis of the data in the survey.
• Other stories that have mentioned the report appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Times, the Scientist, Inside Higher Ed and Nature.