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Overseas scientists still welcome in United States
Overseas scientists still welcome in United States
Sir – I was pleased to see the headline of your Editorial "In praise of immigration" (Nature 427, 181; 2004). However, it was distressing to read the standfirst, which says "officials of the [US] federal government don't seem to recognize that the country's scientific strength depends in large part on foreign talent". Further, you go on to quote the National Science Foundation director, Rita Colwell, in support of this argument.
First, I must clarify that, although I am serving as chair of the National Science Board, the board has not yet had an opportunity to develop an official response to the Nature Editorial. However, I wanted to quickly provide my personal views to correct the potentially far-reaching and counterproductive impression conveyed by your Editorial.
Sadly, your Editorial seems to focus on a single, nine-word remark by Dr Colwell during a lengthy National Science Board press conference on the US scientific workforce. That remark, taken by itself, does not represent the view of the report presented by myself and other board members, including Dr Colwell. It is particularly frustrating that your article ignored a key theme of the Board's report (see http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/documents/2003/nsb0369/nsb0369.pdf): the continued need for the United States to attract science and engineering students and professionals from other countries. This fact was stressed repeatedly during our presentation. Indeed, the National Science Board recommends that future US policies "while enhancing our homeland and national security, maintain the ability of the United States to attract internationally competitive researchers, faculty and students".
Your editorial gives the false impression that US science-oriented officials are unconcerned about the impacts on international students and professionals of US efforts to enhance homeland security in the wake of 11 September 2001. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The board has publicly stated concerns with the frustrating — and in some cases damaging — impacts on the lives of individual scientists and engineers, and on the overall US science and technology enterprise, from the security-driven changes in our treatment of all international visitors.
The National Science Board has worked and will continue to work with US science officials, with Congress and with the White House, to reduce the burden on science and engineering students and workers arising from our national security needs. In October 2003, the National Science Board asked representatives from the White House Office of Management and Budget and the US Department of State to attend a board meeting for the express purpose of discussing our concerns about current and future US visa policy (http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/meetings/2003/nsb03138/nsb03138.htm).
We hope your readers recognize the commitment of federal science officials to ensuring that international researchers and students continue to feel welcome in the United States as partners in the US science and technology enterprise. At the same time, however, the federal government needs to take substantial steps towards increasing opportunities for US citizens to become more involved in science and engineering, in terms of both public awareness and potential careers that may directly or indirectly use these skills and knowledge. [标签:content1][标签:content2]
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作者:admin@医学,生命科学 2011-07-14 17:17
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