APS Surveys Impacts of Security Policies, Suggests Reforms

The American Physical Society released survey results on Dec. 20 that it states demonstrate federal actions on research security are weakening the U.S. scientific enterprise by disrupting international collaboration and the recruiting and retention of foreign scientists.

Out of 1,445 non-student APS members working in the U.S. who responded to the survey, 9% reported being “directed to withdraw” from international collaboration opportunities and 16% reported having chosen to withdraw from such opportunities at their own discretion due to current research security policies.

APS adds that written responses to open-ended questions from the survey suggest some scientists are taking an “overly cautious approach out of fear,” such as “not writing recommendation letters for graduating students who are applying for positions in China and ending collaborations with former postdocs.”

In addition, among 137 physics graduate students from abroad who reported being familiar with research security policies, about half indicated the government’s current approach makes them less likely to pursue careers in the U.S. More broadly, among 356 graduate students and early career professionals from abroad, about 40% perceive that the U.S. is an “unwelcoming country for international students and scholars.”

Among its recommendations for modifying the government’s approach, APS suggests reforms to immigration policy and repeats its recent call for the Justice Department to overhaul its China Initiative. (APS is an AIP Member Society.)