NZ should take advantage of Trump-induced science exodus

Scientists’ increasingly unfavourable conditions in the US present a great chance for NZ to attract top talent. (Image: Getty)

Mark Bregman

Mon, 07 Apr 2025

As political winds shift in the United States and ideological constraints tighten around scientific research, Aotearoa New Zealand faces a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform its research and innovation ecosystem by welcoming displaced scientific talent.The parallels between today's emerging scientific exodus and historical precedents are striking. In the 1930s, America's scientific capabilities radically transformed as it welcomed brilliant minds fleeing European fascism.Scientists like John von Neumann and Albert Einstein he...

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