Trump administration isn't listening to the science on vaccines or renewables Luke O'Neill said.
Professor Luke O’Neill unpacked growing fears that science in the US is being systematically undermined by the Trump administration, with billions in funding cuts and advisory committees being reshaped.
Professor O’Neill said that the main issue with cuts to science research funding was that the current administration "was not listening to the science".
The Economist recently reported on the ongoing threat the Trump administration posed to research funding across the country.
“The overall problem is that [the administration] is not looking at science, they’re denying the science.”
He pointed to Chris Wright, a fossil fuel executive who's now the energy secretary and the reconstruction of the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices.
“They're disbanding the advisory committees on these things that have been there for decades. or they're putting people in there who are vaccine sceptics”, he added.
Oppositely, America’s greatest competitor, China invests considerably in green energy and generates a significant amount of wind energy.
“The Chinese are massively investing in research in this area. They also export $200 billion worth of renewable equipment."
He warned against the rise of mistrust in science.
Covid-19 particles in an illustration. Picture by: Science Photo Library.“Trust in science is going to be eroded in the general public when they see everything happening in the United States.
“That's the most worrying thing for us scientists because mistrust in science is a feature anyway and now these people will get it wrong and then science will then begin to lose even more trust.
“That’s the fear.”
What does it mean that the Trump administration isn't listening to science
Professor Luke O’Neill reported a $30 billion cut in science funding in America overall and an increasing pattern of younger scientists leaving the field due to lack of support.
The areas receiving the least support have been identified as renewable energies and vaccine research.
America is currently facing its biggest measles outbreak since 1991 with The Economist estimating the cost of the spread to cost the healthcare system exponentially.
Measles, mumps, rubella, virus vaccine and syringe on blue background. Picture by: MedStockPhotos.“Children are now getting measles again in America”, he explained on The Pat Kenny Show Saturday.
“10% will be severely affected and end up in hospital. In Europe, children have up to 12 to 14 vaccines. In the USA, this has been reduced to 7.
“Immediately since those diseases are not being vaccinated, they will go up now in incidence and now measles is the first example of this.”
Professor O’Neill mentioned the rise of calls to RFK Jr to reintroduce the vaccines.
He urged parents to vaccinate their children completely if travel to the United States is expected. He emphasised the importance of the measles, given the increased likelihood to contact it.
“It'll be an infectious disease that is more common there now, it's a bit like we're told to get the yellow fever vaccine when we go to Brazil”, he said.
He added that President Trump had his sights on the green sector.
“He wants to drill, coal people have got a real boost and the green sector has been slashed”, The Pat Kenny Show heard on Saturday.
“Solar research has been cut by 31%, wind by 29%, but coal research is 260% and has seen an increase in research funding.
“If you're a coal scientist, you're living in clover at the moment in America. If you're into renewables of any kind, you're in trouble because you can't get funding to support your research.
Main Image: Scientific Testing At A Plant Science Lab. Picture by: ZUMA Wire.
