Science Progress: Mounting evidence suggests that looming institutional shortcomings are eroding the ability of the so-called "science pipeline" to produce a healthy future national science infrastructureâmdash;and unless we shift the traditional paradigm rapidly, the consequences could be dramatic.
Two recent studies underscore this point: One, from the National Institutes of Health, reports that the current generation of young scientists may be turning away from careers in research due to funding issues and the need for institutional change. Concurrently, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences' new report, " ARISE: Advancing Research In Science and Engineering," concludes that early-career researchers face greater challenges today than ever. The continual and grueling search for funding, the Academy suggests, fosters overly conservative decisions about laboratory research directions, which in turn impede the impact of government-funded science and thwart the careers of younger talents.
