Scientists are wary and uncertain as Trump returns to power

In the aftermath of the election, leaders in the scientific community are girding themselves for what Trump ’s return might portend.

Trump had called global warming a hoax and promiscuously spread misinformation and conspiracy theories.

Some scientists have not hesitated to enter the political fray, including this fall , when 82 Nobel Prize winners endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris .

Scientists who depend on government funding are keenly aware that any gutting of the discretionary budget would be devastating to their work.

Trump and the scientific community have generally had an oil-and-water relationship.

Watchdog organizations documented cases where Trump ’s political appointees interfered with, slowed or halted research findings.

Waddell urged scientists not to give in to despair, complacency or cynicism. Elias Zerhouni , who was appointed director of NIH by President George W. Bush , said he was optimistic about the future of science because it has bipartisan support, but acknowledged that “it’s all up in the air” at this point. “It’s such an evident truth that you cannot destroy your own science and technology enterprise and make the country stronger,” Zerhouni said..