‘I Just Have to Sit Here and Twiddle My Thumbs.’ Scientists Face Delays and Uncertainty As Government Shutdown Continues

As far as Douglas Holmes knows, he has to submit a research proposal to the National Science Foundation (NSF) on Monday. But as the partial government shutdown nears its two-week mark, leaving the NSF and other government agencies dark, Holmes, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Boston University who wants to study soft robots that would help surgeons perform minimally invasive procedures, has more on his mind than research. “Time typically spent refining the science of the proposal is now spent wondering about deadlines, submission protocol and technicalities,” Holmes says. “The proposal preparation process can be confusing under normal conditions, and these are far from normal conditions.” Holmes isn’t the only scientist grappling with uncertainty. Although the NSF is still accepting online applications during the shutdown, its program officers are unable to approve, review or even answer questions about submissions. At other totally or partially shuttered agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Department of Agriculture, furloughed employees have paused not only their research, but also their correspondence, conference schedules and business travel. Across fields, science has stalled — and the effects could potentially slow the flow of research findings, put funding for some projects in jeopardy and even threaten new scientists’ careers. &#...
Source: TIME: Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Uncategorized onetime Research Source Type: news