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Peter Kyle’s quest for UK’s first $1tn firm is honourable, but he is overselling state activism
Business secretary exaggerates role of the British Business Bank and the National Wealth Fund in nurturing firms
Pate lauds new Iowa law targeting fake business filings
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says a new state law is a good first step to address scammers using an actual Iowa address when filling out online forms to register the name of a fake business. “What they’re doing to these poor homeowners is now setting them up for concern about what liabilities they […]
U.K. Needs to Take More Risks to Retain Startups, Business Secretary Says
The government has taken stakes in startups like Kraken, Wayve and Oxford Quantum Circuits in recent weeks, in a bid to prevent them from moving out of the country to look for funding.
Iowa's STOP Fraud Act targets fake business addresses
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says the "STOP Fraud Act" is a key step in fighting business fraud, though more work is needed to address its root causes.
Republican Steve Hilton will advance to November election in California governor’s race, CNN projects
Republican Steve Hilton will advance to the November election in California’s gubernatorial race, CNN’s Decision Desk projects. Hilton, a former Fox News host who has President Donald Trump’s endorsement, will face former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat.
New Iowa law first step in efforts to combat fraudulent businesses, Iowa secretary of state says
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said he is working with organizations like the Better Business Bureau to help address fraud in the state.
Scheffler campaign: Voters win: WEC unanimously rejects challenge to Scheffler's ballot access
APPLETON, WI — Mark Scheffler for Congress campaign calls a press conference for 3:00 p.m. this afternoon at Houdini Plaza in Appleton to issue the following statement and to take questions from the media: “Last week, the Secretary of the Brown County...
Chasing Storms for Science
Storm chasers Jen Walton and Anastasia Tomanek, of Girls Who Chase, work with the Doppler On Wheels team to pursue the secrets of tornadoes and hailstorms.
Sabalenka named one of 100 most influential people in sports by 'TIME'
It's no secret that Aryna Sabalenka's influence now stretches far beyond the tennis court, and that growing reach has earned the World No. 1 a place on TIME's inaugural TIME100 Sports list.
Scientists Built a Tool to Predict When You’re Going to Die
Scientists are using the secrets of the genome to predict one of life’s most cryptic events.
Labour accuses Badenoch of wanting to ‘turn clock back’ with plan to scrap public sector equality duty
Technology secretary says legal requirement that protects women, older people and others from workplace discrimination is ‘really important’
The iOS 27 Beta Pretty Much Confirms That An Apple Foldable Is Happening
Can’t a multi-trillion-dollar company have secrets any more?
‘Marty, Life Is Short’ Director Lawrence Kasdan On His Buddy Martin Short’s Major Talent And Secret Skill: “The Key Word Is Resilience”
Actor Martin Short can go small, as in the movie Clifford, where he played a mischievous 10-year-old. Or he can go big, in a fat suit as Jiminy Glick, the portly entertainment journalist with the outs...
The Latest Trade Market for Secret 600-Yard Rusher
Following a spectacular 2025 campaign as a fill-in starter for Omarion Hampton, a Kimani Vidal trade is possible during this upcoming season.
Column: The secret to Xavier Becerra's success
Winning elections — or achieving any success — often is about being in the right spot at the right moment.
Can Marco Rubio convince Trump that a free Cuba is America First?
As Secretary of State, Marco Rubio has been a primary driver of President Trump’s foreign policy. But Cuba is his most personal challenge yet. And as he plots another potential run for the presidency in 2028, it’s the one whose success or failure could most closely define him.
Inside Apple’s Secret Meeting That Led It to Finally Take AI Seriously
Also: What to expect at WWDC 2026.
Inside California Politics: Hilton continues his pitch to voters
Editor’s Note: This episode of Inside California Politics was recorded Friday afternoon before the Associated Press projected former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra would b…
Hegseth Criticizes Europe Over Migration ‘Invasion’ in D-Day Speech
The remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reflect many of the Trump administration’s previous assertions on immigrants in Europe, which overlap with the language of European far-right political parties.
RFK Jr. Appears Disengaged on Many Health Department Matters Beyond Vaccines
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has demonstrated little interest in managing his sprawling department as he focuses on food and vaccine policies, according to colleagues.
Pigeons are famous long-distance flyers. And apparently the liver could be their GPS
From wartime messages to love letters, pigeons have carried our mail for centuries. A new study suggests the secret to how they find their way might be hiding in an unexpected place: the liver.
Beau Bayh wins Democratic secretary of state nomination. How will he fare in November?
Bayh's victory was boosted by a gargantuan fundraising haul and a name that evokes nostalgia for when Democrats held power in the state.
Hegseth warns of 'invasion' and 'dangerous ideologies' in D-Day anniversary speech
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a D-Day anniversary speech on Saturday to appear to link immigration by sea to the wartime liberation of Europe, warning that the freedom won by Allied troops could prove temporary if leaders failed to defend it.
D‑day’s secret weapon: How wetland science stopped Normandy landings from getting bogged down
Beneath the roar of gunfire and the chaos of D-day, an unlikely hero played a vital role — wetland science. Often overlooked amid military strategies and troop movements, the study of mud proved critical to the success of the largest amphibious invasion in history.
Democrat Becerra advances to November California election
The former federal health secretary has secured enough votes in California's primary election to advance. His challenger is still unknown.
Democrat Xavier Becerra will advance in California governor’s race, CNN projects
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, will advance to the general election in California’s governor’s race, CNN’s Decision Desk projects. It’s not yet clear who he’ll face in November.
Terry Winters review – flashes of magic in patterns science has yet to explain
Modern Art, LondonThe mathematically named new works of Along the River are disorienting, illusive and seem to offer a flash of the secret sequences that underpin the physical world
Scientists unveil 'living bandage' that could dramatically speed wound healing
Rice University researchers developed a "living bandage" that uses engineered cells to deliver healing proteins directly to wounds in animal trials.
Trump family, business tax shield: House Ways & Means Dems press Treasury secretary for answers
Spurs have one major issue against Knicks in NBA Finals
It’s no secret that the San Antonio Spurs have been dominant throughout the postseason, knocking off the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on their way to the NBA Finals. With only the New York Knicks standing in their way, the…
Scotland’s ancient human-made islands are dripping with secrets
Crannogs may have been built by the country's early inhabitants some 4,000 years ago.
Meet the official quietly leading Trump's science and tech push
Energy Department undersecretary Darío Gil is taking a long-term view of science and technology.
Five players who could be Perez’s secret ‘superstar’ signing
Last night, Florentino Perez dropped a bomb that has sent waves through the football community and seemingly could be enough to see him win the upcoming presidential election.Despite stating that he w...
Trump plans pedestrian bridge between Lincoln Memorial and Potomac River
The president and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum cast the proposed “Trump promenade” as fulfilling an early-20th-century vision to connect the National Mall with the nearby waterfront.
US announces science and AI partnership with Japan
The U.S. has announced a new partnership with Japan on science and artificial intelligence. Energy Department Undersecretary for Science Darío Gil told reporters Thursday that each country would in…
Decades in the making, Deb Haaland's political rise spurs both inspiration and scrutiny
Former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s political career has been defined by historic milestones
Does Salt Secretly Damage Your Brain? Scientists Finally Reveal the Truth - Futura-Sciences
The answer is not as simple as saying salt “damages” the brain directly. Current research suggests that excess salt may influence brain health indirectly, especially through blood pressure, blood vessel health, inflammation, and possibly the gut-brain connection. Why Salt Matters for the Body Salt contains sodium, a mineral the body...
Fmr Defense Secretary Panetta: the war in Iran ‘is very much turning into Trump’s Vietnam’
RFK Jr.’s second year: Vacancies, not vaccines
Assessing the health secretary's biggest challenges, and a look at new rules that inject politics into the NIH.
RFK Jr. seeks to peek at Americans’ medical records for clues on autism and vaccines
U.S. health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pursuing federal government access to most Americans’ medical records, in a quest to research a link between vaccines and autism — a connection the medical establishment studied for decades and flatly rejects.
Code Puppy: Walmart's secret weapon against AI lock-in
Walmart's viral Code Puppy AI tool helps avoid vendor lock-in, cut costs, and reduce dependence on Claude Code and Codex.
RFK Jr. Seeks To Peek at Americans’ Medical Records for Clues on Autism and Vaccines
To collect and scrutinize millions of Americans’ health data, U.S. health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. aims to work with state organizations that help health systems share medical records. In Nebraska, millions in federal dollars has flowed into one nonprofit cooperating with Kennedy’s project.
Rubio torches Democrat after bizarre hearing questions about his shoes: 'Is this a circus?'
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing "a circus" after Democratic California Rep. Sara Jacobs questioned him about shoes gifted by Trump.
WATCH: Rubio said he’s never seen Trump fall asleep in a meeting. Rep. Lieu showed him the videos
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-California, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a tense exchange in a congressional hearing Wednesday over President Donald Trump dozing off in public appearances, like Cabinet meetings.
Bessent sets record straight on Trump team dinner clash that nearly turned into a throwdown: ‘Kick his a--’
Treasury Secretary Bessent downplayed his reported feud with Bill Pulte, saying he called to congratulate him on his new role leading intelligence.
Alsobrooks, public health advocates warn of a 'leadership vacuum' at HHS under RFK Jr.
US Sen. Angela Alsobrooks calls again for removal of US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as deadly outbreaks of hantavirus and Ebola pose international public health threats
Secretary of State: Idaho’s rapid growth is reshaping state politics
Phil McGrane highlighted how voter participation will impact Idaho’s future
WATCH: Rubio scorches claim Trump weighed finances in Iran decisions: ‘Not even for a millisecond’
Secretary of State Rubio calls allegations that Trump considered personal finances in Iran decisions "completely false" during heated House hearing.
Trump Suggests Vance and Rubio Should Run Together in 2028 Election
President Trump said Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio should split a ticket, without mentioning who should be at the top.
Trump Says Vance and Rubio Teaming up for 2028 Run Would Be Unbeatable
June 3 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said in a podcast interview aired on Wednesday that Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, teaming up for a 2028 presidential run, would be unbeatable. Both men are seen as contenders for the 2028 Republican nomination, and ...
Alejandro Grimaldo wants to play in LaLiga
Bayer Leverkusen star Alejandro Grimaldo makes it no secret that he wants to play in LaLiga before his retirement. The Spaniard, who announced his dream last summer, has again reiterated his desire to...
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin refuses to commit to following court orders
Mullin faced the Senate Appropriations committee amid scrutiny over the agency's budget and immigration enforcement ahead of the World Cup.
Rubio spars with Democrats over Ebola outbreak, global health cuts
Secretary of State Marco Rubio fielded criticism from Democrats on Capitol Hill on Tuesday about the impact of the Trump administration’s cuts to global health programs on the response to an Ebola …
The Latest: Rubio testifies before Congress for the first time since the start of the Iran war
Secretary of State Marco Rubio faces a litany of questions Tuesday about the Trump administration’s fragile or stalling diplomatic efforts around the world
Mark Cruz (Klamath) Nominated to Head Indian Health Service
The White House announced on Monday, June 1, that Mark Cruz, a citizen of the Klamath Tribes, has been nominated to serve a four-year term as director of the Indian Health Service (IHS).The IHS director position has been vacant since the start of the second Trump administration, following the resignation of former Director Roselyn Tso […]
Kennedy's comments on public health draw reaction from congressional candidate Shaheen
Congressional candidate Stefany Shaheen is calling out Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for comments he made last week during a visit to New Hampshire.
Pentagon Bars Reporters From Its Press Office
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has repeatedly curtailed journalists’ access in the Pentagon.
DHS wants to block airlines from sanctuary cities. Experts say it would be chaos.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has a plan to punish cities that don’t enforce federal immigration policies
Interior Secretary Burgum on artists bailing on 250th concerts: ‘Some musicians seem to have segmented their audiences.’
Pulling Customs From ‘Sanctuary’ City Airports Would Cause Chaos, Business Groups Say
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s proposal could block hubs like Boston, New York and Los Angeles from accepting international flights.
Giant Study Reveals The Secret to Heart Health Isn't Low-Carb or Low-Fat
There's another factor that may matter more.
Giant Study Reveals The Secret to Heart Health Isn't Low-Carb or Low-Fat
There's another factor that may matter more.
CIA officer accused of stealing gold bars was no low-level agent
The officer worked for a CIA branch that pursues highly secret projects and had a professional relationship with the deputy defense secretary, sources told NBC News.
Scott Bessent says US seized roughly $1B in Iranian crypto as regime nears 'end of their tether'
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the U.S. has seized roughly $1 billion in Iranian cryptocurrency assets as Operation Economic Fury pushes Iran's economy toward collapse.
HHS Unveils Sweeping Plan to Combat Lyme Disease and Advance Treatment
U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. today announced a series of major initiatives to strengthen the nation’s response to Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
Stan Kroenke Is the Secretive Billionaire Who’s Conquering the World’s Richest Sports Leagues
Arsenal and Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke, ‘Silent Stan,’ explains in a rare interview why his teams can’t stop winning. And this weekend, his North London soccer team aims to conquer Europe in the Champions League final.
Mullin plan to punish sanctuary jurisdictions by targeting their airports faces fierce headwinds
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is getting pushback for his idea to pull resources from airports in sanctuary jurisdictions.
Secretary of State announces final wording for transgender sports referendum
Bellows’ office said the final wording was issued because the measure could still appear on the ballot if the secretary’s decision is overturned on appeal.
Italian Police Uncover Dead Mob Boss’s $230 Million Business Empire
When Matteo Messina Denaro died in 2023, many of his secrets died with him. That began to change with a tip about a wealthy Sicilian woman’s significant assets in a tiny European principality.
Bessent: Nothing 'untoward' about Trump appearing on $250 bill
The treasury secretary said his department has been preparing in case Congress approves legislation creating the $250 bills
Legislature overrides Erie County executive's veto of youth hunting law
The local law will take effect as soon as it is filed with the secretary of state.
New Jersey senator dares DHS to pepper-spray him again as Mullin slams 'political theater'
Sen. Andy Kim and DHS Secretary Mullin trade accusations over chaotic protests and pepper-ball spray incident at Newark's Delaney Hall facility.
Curing MAHA: How to Protect Public Health After Kennedy
INTRODUCTION When President Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to become his secretary of health and human services, it was possible to conjure a few faint reasons for optimism. Yes, his well-known rejection of mainstream vaccine science and general penchant for medical quackery were frightening. But Kennedy also offered one fundamentally correct critique of America’s […]
Polish scientists and students rally in campaign for 3% funding target
Polish scientists and students have been flooding social media with calls on the government to raise research and development spending as part of 3% for Science, 100% for Poland, a campaign born earlier this month out of frustration with chronic underfunding in the academic sector. On May 27, thousands took the slogan on to the streets.The EU has been trying to convince member states to raise their R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP for more than two decades, but the idea has never gained traction in capitals. Finance ministers were too busy plugging budget holes created in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, then the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and now the war in Iran.Critics say that countries missed or ignored the target because it is voluntary, but also because research communities have rarely raised their voice to put pressure on national governments. The European Commission hopes to make the target legally binding in the upcoming European Research Area Act, an EU-wide regulation that should be announced by the end of the year. Academia in Poland has been faced with a funding crisis for years, often leaving its members with no other choice but to work abroad in order to access better resources, or leave the sector altogether in the hope of earning a decent living. The risk, in the long-term, is that brain drain stifles local innovation capacity and technological competitiveness.In just a few weeks, the movement rallied nationwide support, including from major academic bodies and trade unions such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its public petition collected more than 23,000 signatures. On May 27, it formed the first large protest for science in Poland, gathering thousands of people in front of the parliament building in Warsaw.Ilona Uryga-Bugajska, representative of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Poland Chapter, was there. “The protest was peaceful, with no incidents reported, and the entire event took place in a respectful and calm atmosphere,” she said. Banners she saw in the crowd carried slogans such as “A little longer and I’ll be teaching in a supermarket,” “National culture, starvation salary,” “Stop the destruction of science,” “Passion will not pay the rent,” “Without action, don’t expect a better future,” and “Pull science out of the hole.” She also observed a strong presence of young researchers, who are on the frontline of Poland’s academic crisis.“Academics are usually people who prefer discussion, analysis, dialogue and compromise. We are not a group that protests easily,” said Katarzyna Marzec, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and AGH University of Krakow, who also took part. “But many of us feel that we have been pushed against the wall.”Aleksandra Rutkowska, translational neuroscientist and research group leader at the Medical University of Gdańsk, agreed. “Frustration in the scientific community is very high,” she said. “Science is often used politically as a symbol of innovation and modernity, but the everyday reality inside many institutions is much more difficult. There is a large gap between the public narrative and the actual condition of the sector.”Maria Wiktoria Górna, head of the structural biology group at the University of Warsaw and one of the organisers of the movement, told Science|Business that the campaign would continue without proven results. This might involve another strike in the autumn, she said. “Empty promises are not enough by now.”Campaign demandsAccording to Uryga-Bugajska, the organisers officially presented their demands and concerns to representatives of the government present at the event. These included Marek Gzik, deputy minister of science and higher education, and Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, secretary of state of that same ministry.The headline demand, for the government to increase national spending on R&D to 3% of GDP by 2030, should be within Poland’s economic capacity, Rutkowska said. “The real question is whether there is genuine long-term political commitment to treating science as a strategic priority rather than a slogan.”In 2024, R&D expenditure in Poland stood at 1.41% of GDP, which is slightly above the average for central and eastern Europe, with countries such as Czechia recording 1.82%, Hungary 1.31% and Romania 0.46%. However, it falls noticeably short of the EU average of 2.24%, which just a handful of countries exceed, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden.Campaigners are also asking for fair wages for scientific staff, including PhD stipends and junior academic salaries, which are widely considered uncompetitive. Starting doctoral scholarships amount to some €843 gross per month, when the statutory minimum wage stands at €1,135. By pushing early-career researchers out of Poland, growing precarity has caused a generational gap in the academic workforce, with just 25% of lecturers aged under 40. In this context, the movement fears that scientific careers could soon be accessible to a privileged minority only.Grzegorz Spólnik is a case in point. After 15 years working in mass spectrometry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he decided to leave partly “to earn enough money to live a normal life,” he said. “At that time, my earnings were similar to those of people working in grocery shops, and the work-life balance is something that does not exist in science, or is very hard to achieve.”Now a senior field service engineer for Polish laboratory equipment supplier Bioanalytic, he would consider going back to research, “but never in the public sector, maybe some start-up or a big private company with ambitious R&D.”The campaigners want to see more support for basic research and have called for €236 million to be added to the budget of the National Science Centre (NCN) in 2027 so that the average grant application success rate does not fall below 25%.“At the protest, there was a banner I particularly liked: ‘NCN is not a lottery.’ Unfortunately, for many researchers, it increasingly feels exactly like one,” Marzec said. “Personally, I am one of the lucky ones. I work at two of the strongest institutions in the country, where the research standards are very high. I know that in many other institutions, the situation is much worse and obtaining funding for research at an early-career stage is becoming nearly impossible.”Rutkowska also considers herself fortunate. After studying abroad and holding a postdoctoral position, she returned to Poland, where her pay was supported through an NCN-funded project linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. “This also made me very aware that good research conditions in Poland often depend on external competitive funding rather than on stable support from the system itself,” she said.Long-term strategyBeyond the lack of funds for both salaries and grants, scientists believe that the issue is structural. “The biggest problem at the moment is the complete lack of a clear long-term strategy for the development of science and research from the current government,” Marzec said. “Everything ends with declarations and promises that are never truly followed by concrete actions or structural reforms.”Rutkowska agreed, citing a lack of infrastructure, continuity and long-term institutional support.“Running a research group in Poland often means functioning as an entire institution at once,” she said. “I am a principal investigator, a mentor, a recruiter, a project administrator and, when needed, still someone who returns to the lab bench to help with experiments,” she went on. “This creates a large hidden workload that takes time and energy away from actual science. At times, it feels as though scientists are no longer expecting extra help; we simply hope the system will stop creating additional obstacles that make research unnecessarily difficult.”Related articlesStrategic thinking: Germany funds joint research with Poland and FrancePoland to transfer €30M of regional funds to boost Horizon Europe participationPoland is funding fewer basic research grants as high inflation hitsIn short, “academics are expected to teach, publish papers, apply for grants and conduct high-quality research, while funding and salaries remain very limited,” said Uryga-Bugajska, who returned to her home country after 13 years in the UK.According to Marzec, another issue is the way that research institutions are evaluated. Previously, this took place every four years, with a clear differentiation between stronger and weaker institutions. “The current government, perhaps to avoid political backlash, effectively concluded that everyone is doing well, so in practice no meaningful evaluation took place,” she said.But in her view, “some form of serious assessment is necessary” to ensure the excellence and international competitiveness of Polish institutions, and to determine how to best use public resources and where institutional structures need reform. “Some institutions may need to rethink hiring practices in order to attract ambitious young researchers who are capable of obtaining competitive grants and building internationally visible research groups.” Rutkowska has already had to adapt. “When hiring PhD students, I often have to combine different funding sources creatively to make positions attractive enough for talented people to stay in science,” she said. “Many young researchers do not see a stable future in academia in Poland, and that is deeply worrying.”
Polish scientists and students rally in campaign for better conditions
Polish scientists and students have been flooding social media with calls on the government to raise research and development spending as part of 3% for Science, 100% for Poland, a campaign born earlier this month out of frustration with chronic underfunding in the academic sector. On May 27, thousands took the slogan on to the streets.The EU has been trying to convince member states to raise their R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP for more than two decades, but the idea has never gained traction in capitals. Finance ministers were too busy plugging budget holes created in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, then the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and now the war in Iran.Critics say that countries missed or ignored the target because it is voluntary, but also because research communities have rarely raised their voice to put pressure on national governments. The European Commission hopes to make the target legally binding in the upcoming European Research Area Act, an EU-wide regulation that should be announced by the end of the year. Academia in Poland has been faced with a funding crisis for years, often leaving its members with no other choice but to work abroad in order to access better resources, or leave the sector altogether in the hope of earning a decent living. The risk, in the long-term, is that brain drain stifles local innovation capacity and technological competitiveness.In just a few weeks, the movement rallied nationwide support, including from major academic bodies and trade unions such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its public petition collected more than 23,000 signatures. On May 27, it formed the first large protest for science in Poland, gathering thousands of people in front of the parliament building in Warsaw.Ilona Uryga-Bugajska, representative of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Poland Chapter, was there. “The protest was peaceful, with no incidents reported, and the entire event took place in a respectful and calm atmosphere,” she said. Banners she saw in the crowd carried slogans such as “A little longer and I’ll be teaching in a supermarket,” “National culture, starvation salary,” “Stop the destruction of science,” “Passion will not pay the rent,” “Without action, don’t expect a better future,” and “Pull science out of the hole.” She also observed a strong presence of young researchers, who are on the frontline of Poland’s academic crisis.“Academics are usually people who prefer discussion, analysis, dialogue and compromise. We are not a group that protests easily,” said Katarzyna Marzec, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and AGH University of Krakow, who also took part. “But many of us feel that we have been pushed against the wall.”Aleksandra Rutkowska, translational neuroscientist and research group leader at the Medical University of Gdańsk, agreed. “Frustration in the scientific community is very high,” she said. “Science is often used politically as a symbol of innovation and modernity, but the everyday reality inside many institutions is much more difficult. There is a large gap between the public narrative and the actual condition of the sector.”Maria Wiktoria Górna, head of the structural biology group at the University of Warsaw and one of the organisers of the movement, told Science|Business that the campaign would continue without proven results. This might involve another strike in the autumn, she said. “Empty promises are not enough by now.”Campaign demandsAccording to Uryga-Bugajska, the organisers officially presented their demands and concerns to representatives of the government present at the event. These included Marek Gzik, deputy minister of science and higher education, and Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, secretary of state of that same ministry.The headline demand, for the government to increase national spending on R&D to 3% of GDP by 2030, should be within Poland’s economic capacity, Rutkowska said. “The real question is whether there is genuine long-term political commitment to treating science as a strategic priority rather than a slogan.”In 2024, R&D expenditure in Poland stood at 1.41% of GDP, which is slightly above the average for central and eastern Europe, with countries such as Czechia recording 1.82%, Hungary 1.31% and Romania 0.46%. However, it falls noticeably short of the EU average of 2.24%, which just a handful of countries exceed, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden.Campaigners are also asking for fair wages for scientific staff, including PhD stipends and junior academic salaries, which are widely considered uncompetitive. Starting doctoral scholarships amount to some €843 gross per month, when the statutory minimum wage stands at €1,135. By pushing early-career researchers out of Poland, growing precarity has caused a generational gap in the academic workforce, with just 25% of lecturers aged under 40. In this context, the movement fears that scientific careers could soon be accessible to a privileged minority only.Grzegorz Spólnik is a case in point. After 15 years working in mass spectrometry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he decided to leave partly “to earn enough money to live a normal life,” he said. “At that time, my earnings were similar to those of people working in grocery shops, and the work-life balance is something that does not exist in science, or is very hard to achieve.”Now a senior field service engineer for Polish laboratory equipment supplier Bioanalytic, he would consider going back to research, “but never in the public sector, maybe some start-up or a big private company with ambitious R&D.”The campaigners want to see more support for basic research and have called for €236 million to be added to the budget of the National Science Centre (NCN) in 2027 so that the average grant application success rate does not fall below 25%.“At the protest, there was a banner I particularly liked: ‘NCN is not a lottery.’ Unfortunately, for many researchers, it increasingly feels exactly like one,” Marzec said. “Personally, I am one of the lucky ones. I work at two of the strongest institutions in the country, where the research standards are very high. I know that in many other institutions, the situation is much worse and obtaining funding for research at an early-career stage is becoming nearly impossible.”Rutkowska also considers herself fortunate. After studying abroad and holding a postdoctoral position, she returned to Poland, where her pay was supported through an NCN-funded project linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. “This also made me very aware that good research conditions in Poland often depend on external competitive funding rather than on stable support from the system itself,” she said.Long-term strategyBeyond the lack of funds for both salaries and grants, scientists believe that the issue is structural. “The biggest problem at the moment is the complete lack of a clear long-term strategy for the development of science and research from the current government,” Marzec said. “Everything ends with declarations and promises that are never truly followed by concrete actions or structural reforms.”Rutkowska agreed, citing a lack of infrastructure, continuity and long-term institutional support.“Running a research group in Poland often means functioning as an entire institution at once,” she said. “I am a principal investigator, a mentor, a recruiter, a project administrator and, when needed, still someone who returns to the lab bench to help with experiments,” she went on. “This creates a large hidden workload that takes time and energy away from actual science. At times, it feels as though scientists are no longer expecting extra help; we simply hope the system will stop creating additional obstacles that make research unnecessarily difficult.”Related articlesStrategic thinking: Germany funds joint research with Poland and FrancePoland to transfer €30M of regional funds to boost Horizon Europe participationPoland is funding fewer basic research grants as high inflation hitsIn short, “academics are expected to teach, publish papers, apply for grants and conduct high-quality research, while funding and salaries remain very limited,” said Uryga-Bugajska, who returned to her home country after 13 years in the UK.According to Marzec, another issue is the way that research institutions are evaluated. Previously, this took place every four years, with a clear differentiation between stronger and weaker institutions. “The current government, perhaps to avoid political backlash, effectively concluded that everyone is doing well, so in practice no meaningful evaluation took place,” she said.But in her view, “some form of serious assessment is necessary” to ensure the excellence and international competitiveness of Polish institutions, and to determine how to best use public resources and where institutional structures need reform. “Some institutions may need to rethink hiring practices in order to attract ambitious young researchers who are capable of obtaining competitive grants and building internationally visible research groups.” Rutkowska has already had to adapt. “When hiring PhD students, I often have to combine different funding sources creatively to make positions attractive enough for talented people to stay in science,” she said. “Many young researchers do not see a stable future in academia in Poland, and that is deeply worrying.”
Mina the Hollower is the best old-school action adventure I've played in a while
Smooth movement, compelling combat, and tons of secrets make for an innovative throwback.
'One of the great unresolved embarrassments of physics': It's been 340 years since Newton and scientists still haven't solved the secret of gravity
"The mystery is not solved."
Gov. Whitmer (D-MI), Mike Pence & Pete Buttigieg on Bridging Political Divide
Former Vice President Mike Pence, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) gather at a policy conference in Mackinac Island, Michigan, addressing topics like bridging the political divide.
Maine's transgender sports initiative halted by invalid signatures
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine initiative intended to limit transgender students' ability to participate in sports has been removed from the ballot because of invalid signatures, the secretary of state ruled Tuesday.
Maine's transgender sports initiative halted by invalid signatures
Maine's secretary of state says an initiative intended to limit transgender students’ ability to participate in sports has been removed from the ballot because of invalid signatures
Maine's transgender sports initiative halted by invalid signatures
Maine's secretary of state says an initiative intended to limit transgender students’ ability to participate in sports has been removed from the ballot because of invalid signatures.
Secretary of State Bellows removes transgender sports referendum from November ballot
The initiative was spearheaded by Protect Girls Sports in Maine. The group says objections had been filed with the Secretary of State’s Office.
Secretary of State Bellows removes/keeps transgender sports referendum from/on November ballot
The Secretary of State's Office says the referendum, "An Act to Designate School Sports Participation and Facilities by Sex," will not make its way to voters following a hearing questioning the validity of its signatures.
In reversal, transgender sports referendum won’t be on Maine’s fall ballot
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows had ruled that the ballot question would appear before voters.
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Secretary of state to decide whether transgender sports referendum qualifies for Maine ballot
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