Exodus: Science Students Follow Innovation

The millennial generation has been raised in a “kill or be killed” kind of world. This generation has been bred to compete and focus on the survival of self. But what do you do when the government is a threat to that survival?

For science majors here at Yuba, the government is now a huge impediment to their future. The government calls scientists liars when it comes to global warming, accusing their data of being made up even though it has been backed by a majority of the scientific community. This is a large scale problem. But how is this effecting Yuba College students?

Judy Tran, a sophomore planning to transfer to UC Davis for a Pharmaceutical major, said, “I don’t understand how this is an issue. It makes no sense that they don’t believe the science.”
Andrew Hays, a biochemistry major, stated “If it wasn’t so hard to get a visa I would be gone already. America is just not where scientific advancement is happening anymore. It’s happening in Europe, so I would go to Sweden or Finland.”

So, with governments in other countries calling for the mass exodus of US scientists, the future for science majors is uncertain. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, called for scientists to abandon the United States upon its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, and to find a home in France. 

Although this may seem to fall on deaf ears for those not in the science field, it brought along a new option for the futures of those in affected areas.This has led to students contemplating finishing out their education in other countries.

Whereas many students will spend up to a year studying abroad to absorb a different culture and have new, exciting experiences, these students are using Study Abroad options to decide if they want to set up residence elsewhere.

Kaeleigh Pontif, an environmental science major, said “I could live in Spain for much cheaper than here. College and living is less expensive and you wouldn’t have to deal with the anti-science politics. I have definitely thought about it.” Ms. Pontif also stated “ The United States only innovates when it’s about war and competition. They don’t advance themselves in order to give people better lives.”

One Yuba college student, who wanted to remain anonymous stated, “I want to be a mechanical engineer. I know that my work will follow those who are innovating and if scientists are leaving America, then so will those making the technology that they use. It’s just not viable to stay.”

So whereas others may see this as a lack of patriotism and loyalty to one’s country, these students believe that those feelings are only used as manipulation tactics. Mr. Hays later explained, “Globalization has led to us seeing the reality around the world. We know that we aren’t the top country scientifically and they can’t pretend that we are.”

The problem for non scientific students is how this can affect the country as a whole and how it may lead to a very slippery slope. As scientists move out of the country, their advancements will follow, and so will those whose jobs assist science, such as technology and engineering.

This loss of advancement will lead to a slow deterioration of the scientific community and the United States will have to pay more for these technologies that will have to be imported. As the advancements slow and people relocate, there will be a loss to the job market and the economy.

This could lead to an exodus of more people who are not related to the science field but want to raise their children in a country with more opportunity. People will want their children to have the best education from the top scientific minds and those minds won’t exist in the United States. They will want to take their families to countries where they can see a future that is better than the one they have had. Where there is advancement occurring, there are possibilities and brighter future. The United States will then, in turn, become the immigrants that are being turned away.

Note: This article was featured in the Fall 2017 print edition of The Prospector.