Global science bodies pivot to capitalize on US brain drain

As US federal funding cuts and layoffs drive some researchers out of the nation, institutions in other countries are pivoting to position themselves as a refuge for top scientific talent. But while some research institutions see opportunities to advance their own agendas, others caution that there is a delicate balance to strike between showing solidarity and exploiting struggling colleagues. Several European science bodies, including the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, the Karolinska Institute, and the Free University of Brussels, have said they are exploring options for bringing in scientists from overseas. In France, Aix-Marseille University in February announced a Safe Place for Science program, which will invest between $10 million and $16 million to support about 15 researchers. And the European Commission is considering the creation of a special passport for scientists that would make it easier to study and work on the continent, Ekaterina Zaharieva, the