Figuring out what to focus on now & what to focus on next in science and higher ed
Many of us share the same problem: we want to find a way to stay informed without getting flooded. We need to figure out what is happening, how to think about it, and what to do. It’s a monumental, real-time, sensemaking challenge - and we have to figure out how to keep doing it for the foreseeable.
The focus of these ‘Meeting the Moment’ posts is on science and higher education, and our shared goal is what to focus on now and what to focus on next. Our solutions will evolve with us and the situation. This is week 1.
Since inauguration on Monday, there have been dozens of executive orders and actions. As I write this, they are not yet numbered or recorded by the Federal Register. I’m working from firsthand knowledge and linking out to trustworthy sources whenever possible, but good reporting takes time and we’re still in a gap between events and coverage right now.
Impacts on science now
- The most immediate impacts were on our colleagues who are federal employees. On Wednesday, federal employees were ordered to drop everything and comply with a massive content purge relating to civil rights. Directives were issued verbally in mandatory meetings, so the list of now-forbidden words is not published, but it is nauseating.
- By Thursday, we were wading through reports of NIH workshops cancelled mid-event, frozen research grant reviews, and withdrawn funding. This is all on top of the gag orders prohibiting public-facing communications from NIH, CDC, or FDA through February 1.
What’s next
There is much more, and firings and immigration issues are on the top of our worry list for next week. We’re inspired by good work in other sectors - like this summary of consequences of executive orders for 501(c)3s. If you know of similar efforts in science and higher ed, send them my way.
And meanwhile, take care of yourselves and each other. We’ll take this one step at a time.
- Liz