LANSING, Mich.(WZMQ) – It was another week with multiple protests at Michigan’s Capitol. Professors, scientists, researchers, and students held a rally to spread the word about the impacts of limiting funding for research institutes. Hundreds of protesters came out to stand up and protect federal money across the country.
Associate professor at Michigan State University, Jamie Barnard, was an organizer for the Stand Up for Science rally. She said she never expected to be planning rallies, but knew she wanted to do something to help her colleagues who may lose projects, staff, and funds.
“Science is currently being underfunded in the current administration. Grants are- review is being halted, council meetings that decide whether or not grants will be funded are being cancelled.” Barnard said. “We show how much this matters to so many people and that we empower our scientists and science enthusiasts that are here today to continue to talk to their neighbor, talk to their friends about why this is important, hold their congress people’s feet to the fire. We need to continue to get funding from the federal government.”
In February, a Trump order capped indirect costs for research projects funded by the National Institutes of Health at 15%. Professors, researchers, and students are standing up for their passions, and the funding that makes their work possible.
The Stand Up for Science movement is pushing back against the billions of dollars worth of suspended funding nationwide. Research institutes like Michigan State, Wayne State, the University of Michigan, and now Michigan Tech may be forced to suspend projects, lay off staff, shut down labs, or even stop admitting new graduate students if Trump’s plans are put in place.
Kailee Hartway is one of those students. She’s a PHD candidate at Wayne State University, and a scientist at the Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Center. Hartway said the orders could mean blocking life-saving research, and put a stop to treatments for diseases, viruses, and cancers.
“The uncertainty we face is suffocating. We live with the fear that our mentors and universities will lose funding, that our research will come to a halt, not because questions have been answered, but because the money has run out, with fewer and fewer opportunities to attain more.” Hartway said. “Is cutting the potential treatment that could save your life, your child’s life, or your friend’s life worth the price of cutting all research in the name of efficiency?”
Michigan’s Attorney General has filed lawsuit after lawsuit to keep the federal funding flowing to Michigan universities, but those cases will still need to see further action to permanently stop the order.
