19 ms·

Pushed by Trump policies, top U.S. battery scientist is moving to Singapore

67 points by Metacelsus 5mo ago

mbeavitt 5mo ago
I wonder - everyone keeps talking about brain drain and how impactful it is, but is it quantifiable?
- whynotmaybe 5mo ago
  I guess the tax data can provide some insight but do we trust the current administration's reports?
- herbst 5mo ago
  Soon enough it will be
- deleted 5mo ago
  [deleted]
- embedding-shape 5mo ago
  [dead]
- chvid 5mo ago
  I think most researchers who loose their funding choose to do other things rather than migrate.
embedding-shape 5mo ago
> I was really searching for a position that would let me do my work, which is to translate the fundamental science into industry impact. I’ve been entrusted with a very high position in my home country, but at the same time, I’m seriously concerned that, if I were asked by the [U.S.] Department of War to perform certain tasks, I probably won’t be able to do it. Things like [making better batteries for] drones, or humanoids for war fighting. Maybe they already have their own expertise. But I just don’t want to risk it. > I also think it’s important that I maintain my reputation as someone who’s always building things, not destroying things. So, I decided it’s probably better for somebody else to [direct the DOE hub]. Really inspiring and hearth-warming to see a scientist to consider the full impact of their work, in such a direct way, and then not only thinking these things, but also acting on them to ensure she feels right with what she does. We really need more of these types of people in the world :)
- andsoitis 5mo ago
  And so they chose Singapore, that bastion of human rights? More seriously, it will be interesting to track this person for a few years to see whether they thrive in Singapore. Good luck to her and hope she makes a difference.
  - ndr42 5mo ago
    It's not the only reason cited, the first one: Meng took the job because she thinks the U.S. has turned away from a commitment to decarbonize its economy. Also: The Trump administration’s immigration policies
    - andsoitis 5mo ago
      > Meng took the job because she thinks the U.S. has turned away from a commitment to decarbonize its economy. If they are mapping that to "reduction in green energy" or "reversal of green energy adoption" I think they are very wrong indeed.
      - sergiosgc 5mo ago
        > If they are mapping that to "reduction in green energy" or "reversal of green energy adoption" I think they are very wrong indeed. Because there is a global trend towards green energy use, caused by economic factors. It's bound to be more expressive outside the US, because of politics.
        andsoitis 5mo ago
        > Because there is a global trend towards green energy use, caused by economic factors. It's bound to be more expressive outside the US, because of politics. "caused by economic factors" is precisely why I think the conclusion is wrong. The US, if nothing else, structurally prioritizes profit, even if it it does dumb, short-sighted things at times.
      - ndr42 5mo ago
xtiansimon 5mo ago
> “I’ve always been an internationalist,” says Meng, who became a Singapore citizen in 2004, “and I think that…” Choices and decisions. And what of the scientific community in the US who don’t have ties abroad? Who don’t choose to leave the country? If the government isn’t funding research, and a university position is not open, then you have to turn to industry. And if that doesn’t turn up, then you’re the most overqualified… librarian? I’m thinking about the more diffused pattern of students with the aptitude and disposition for science going into industry. Is this the environment which drives more manufacturing in the US? Is this the vision the administration is chasing? (If you look past the racism and corruption, and presume there is an economic outcome the president and all of the republican congress appears to support him for?)
jaybrendansmith 5mo ago
Completely predictable. Science will leave these shores, either due to lack of funding, threat, or ideological disagreement. The amazing post-WWII economy will become stagnant, then start to fail, just like an engine that is starved of oxygen it will begin to sputter and choke. And everybody will be shocked, and try to assert control to change the behavior, which will work briefly then make it worse. We can only hope that no good alternative will exist, so that the gains by the rest of the world are disperse enough to allow the US to recover if the current oligarchy is overthrown politically.

67 points by Metacelsus 5mo ago

mbeavitt 5mo ago

I wonder - everyone keeps talking about brain drain and how impactful it is, but is it quantifiable?

whynotmaybe 5mo ago
I guess the tax data can provide some insight but do we trust the current administration's reports?
herbst 5mo ago
Soon enough it will be
deleted 5mo ago
[deleted]
embedding-shape 5mo ago
[dead]
chvid 5mo ago
I think most researchers who loose their funding choose to do other things rather than migrate.

embedding-shape 5mo ago

> I was really searching for a position that would let me do my work, which is to translate the fundamental science into industry impact. I’ve been entrusted with a very high position in my home country, but at the same time, I’m seriously concerned that, if I were asked by the [U.S.] Department of War to perform certain tasks, I probably won’t be able to do it. Things like [making better batteries for] drones, or humanoids for war fighting. Maybe they already have their own expertise. But I just don’t want to risk it. > I also think it’s important that I maintain my reputation as someone who’s always building things, not destroying things. So, I decided it’s probably better for somebody else to [direct the DOE hub]. Really inspiring and hearth-warming to see a scientist to consider the full impact of their work, in such a direct way, and then not only thinking these things, but also acting on them to ensure she feels right with what she does. We really need more of these types of people in the world :)

andsoitis 5mo ago
And so they chose Singapore, that bastion of human rights? More seriously, it will be interesting to track this person for a few years to see whether they thrive in Singapore. Good luck to her and hope she makes a difference.
- ndr42 5mo ago
  It's not the only reason cited, the first one: Meng took the job because she thinks the U.S. has turned away from a commitment to decarbonize its economy. Also: The Trump administration’s immigration policies
  - andsoitis 5mo ago
    > Meng took the job because she thinks the U.S. has turned away from a commitment to decarbonize its economy. If they are mapping that to "reduction in green energy" or "reversal of green energy adoption" I think they are very wrong indeed.
    - sergiosgc 5mo ago
      > If they are mapping that to "reduction in green energy" or "reversal of green energy adoption" I think they are very wrong indeed. Because there is a global trend towards green energy use, caused by economic factors. It's bound to be more expressive outside the US, because of politics.
      - andsoitis 5mo ago
        > Because there is a global trend towards green energy use, caused by economic factors. It's bound to be more expressive outside the US, because of politics. "caused by economic factors" is precisely why I think the conclusion is wrong. The US, if nothing else, structurally prioritizes profit, even if it it does dumb, short-sighted things at times.
    - ndr42 5mo ago

xtiansimon 5mo ago

> “I’ve always been an internationalist,” says Meng, who became a Singapore citizen in 2004, “and I think that…” Choices and decisions. And what of the scientific community in the US who don’t have ties abroad? Who don’t choose to leave the country? If the government isn’t funding research, and a university position is not open, then you have to turn to industry. And if that doesn’t turn up, then you’re the most overqualified… librarian? I’m thinking about the more diffused pattern of students with the aptitude and disposition for science going into industry. Is this the environment which drives more manufacturing in the US? Is this the vision the administration is chasing? (If you look past the racism and corruption, and presume there is an economic outcome the president and all of the republican congress appears to support him for?)

jaybrendansmith 5mo ago

Completely predictable. Science will leave these shores, either due to lack of funding, threat, or ideological disagreement. The amazing post-WWII economy will become stagnant, then start to fail, just like an engine that is starved of oxygen it will begin to sputter and choke. And everybody will be shocked, and try to assert control to change the behavior, which will work briefly then make it worse. We can only hope that no good alternative will exist, so that the gains by the rest of the world are disperse enough to allow the US to recover if the current oligarchy is overthrown politically.