In a significant shift over the past two weeks, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has halted funding for research initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This move aligns with Executive Order 14035, which seeks to eliminate government programs perceived as promoting such agendas. Additionally, the directive from Executive Order 14168 mandates the NSF, alongside other federal entities, to cease all research focusing on women, women in STEM fields, gender identities, and transgender populations. Notably, the order extends to encompass research on transgenic mice.
The NSF’s recent funding discontinuations also include research scrutinizing misinformation and disinformation—a field that has faced criticism from Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who contends such work promotes neo-Marxist viewpoints and class divisions.
Having served as a program officer at the NSF’s Science of Science (SOS) initiative for the past three years, I was involved in the evaluation and awarding of competitive research grants in science communication. My team reviewed and funded numerous projects that focused on effectively communicating scientific information to the public, conveying public priorities to researchers, and enhancing citizen engagement in science. Unfortunately, projects addressing misinformation, among many others, have now been canceled (a list of these projects can be accessed here).
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