Argentinian Scientists Forced into Side Jobs Amid Government Cuts: A Crisis in Research
The Guardian2 weeks ago
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Argentinian Scientists Forced into Side Jobs Amid Government Cuts: A Crisis in Research

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
science
argentina
research
budgetcuts
braindrain
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Summary:

  • Argentinian scientists are taking side jobs like driving for Uber due to severe government budget cuts.

  • Conicet salaries have lost 35% of their purchasing power since President Milei took office.

  • Over 4,000 jobs have been lost in the national science sector, leading to a significant brain drain.

  • Scientists are protesting against what they call a "scienticide," but many cannot attend due to financial constraints.

  • Publicly funded science is under threat, with researchers struggling to afford basic lab supplies.

Leonardo Amarilla, a geneticist and PhD in biological sciences, is among the many Argentinian scientists facing dire circumstances due to President Javier Milei's sweeping budget cuts. Despite holding a prestigious position at Argentina’s national science council, Conicet, Amarilla has turned to driving for Uber to make ends meet. His story is not unique; many of Argentina’s top researchers are abandoning their studies or taking on additional work as electricians, school teachers, or artisans.

The Impact of Austerity Measures Since Milei took office, Conicet salaries have lost nearly 35% of their purchasing power. The government has also frozen the hiring of 850 researchers approved under the previous administration and targeted other state scientific institutions with severe budget cuts. Milei's administration has suspended contracts with academic publishing houses, defunded international cooperation programs, and dismantled procurement systems for lab equipment.

A Brain Drain in Progress The situation has led to a significant brain drain, with over 4,000 jobs lost in the national science sector since Milei took office. Many scientists are moving to the private sector or abroad, where their expertise is still valued. Valeria, a cancer researcher, has abandoned her research to teach high school biology, stating, "I don’t want my training to go to waste."

Protests and Public Outcry Thousands of scientists recently protested in front of the science ministry, dressed as the protagonist of Netflix’s Argentinian hit series The Eternaut, to denounce what they call a "scienticide." However, not all could attend; some, like economic geographer Jerónimo Montero, were working side jobs to support their families.

The Future of Argentinian Science The ideological campaign against science appears to be intensifying, with social sciences particularly under fire. Researchers across disciplines, however, emphasize the importance of publicly funded science, which is not commercially biased like the private sector. Despite the challenges, many scientists continue their work out of passion, though they struggle to afford even basic lab supplies.

Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, on Thursday. He has taken a “chainsaw” to the funding of public science institutions.

Students and staff in Buenos Aires call on the government to reverse university budget cuts.

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