Research & Developments is a blog for brief updates that provide context for the flurry of news regarding law and policy changes that impact science and scientists today.
Various U.S. federal agencies sent a 36-point survey to researchers abroad who receive U.S. funding, asking questions related to the Trump administration’s priorities. The questions cover topics such as “eradicating anti-Christian bias” and defending against “gender ideology,” and asked researchers to disclose ties to “entities associated with communist, socialist or totalitarian parties.”
The Conversation and The Guardian both published the communication in full. Specific questions include:
- Can you confirm this is not a climate or “environmental justice” project or include such elements?
- Does this project support U.S. energy independence or reduce global reliance on hostile countries for energy resources?
- Can you confirm that your organization has not received ANY funding from the PRC (including Confucius Institutes and/or partnered with Chinese state or non-state actors), Russia, Cuba, or Iran?
- Can you confirm that this is no DEI project or DEI elements of the project?
- Does this project take appropriate measures to protect women and to defend against gender ideology as defined in the below Executive Order?
Versions of the questionnaire were sent out to researchers in Australia, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada beginning 5 March, with deadlines between midnight on 7 March and 5 p.m. on 10 March, according to the New York Times. The survey has come from agencies including the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of State, on instruction (according to the email) from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Some academics “who conduct joint research with U.S. partners” were sent the questionnaire directly, while others were contacted through national agencies such as Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), with which the U.S. agencies had shared the survey.
Resources
• Office of Management and Budget: Outreach to Implementing Partners (survey)
• Trump team ‘survey’ sent to overseas researchers prompts foreign-interference fears (Nature)
• Trump Admin Questions Canadian, Australian Researchers (Inside Higher Ed)
• Trump Administration Sends Politically Charged Survey to Researchers (The New York Times)
• Get Involved: AGU Science Policy Action Center
Vicki Thomson, chief executive of the Group of Eight (Go8) consortium of Australia’s leading research universities, told Nature that the Australian government has suggested researchers respond to the survey, whereas several European universities told the outlet they are advising researchers not to respond. The president of the Canadian Association of University Teachers said the United States is trying to “impose a certain ideological viewpoint on research.”
Chennupati Jagadish, president of the Australian Academy of Science, told ABC Radio National that some of the primary concerns among researchers are how answering the survey—or not answering it—could affect their research and their ability to travel to the United States.
In a 17 March statement urging the Australian government to resist foreign interference, Chennupati noted that the United States is Australia’s largest research partner, and added, “If responses to the survey lead to reductions or cessation of US–Australian scientific collaborations, it will directly threaten our scientific and technological capability.”
—Emily Dieckman (@emfurd.bsky.social), Associate Editor
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